Severe weather delay flights at Chicago airports

Severe thunderstorms Monday evening delayed flights from departing O’Hare Airport.Departures from O’Hare were delayed by over an hour as of 8 p.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Delays were expected to increase as thunderstorms passed through. The National Weather Service issued severe thunderstorm warnings in several Chicago suburbs. Heavy rainfall and gusty winds up to 60 mph began Monday afternoon but were expected to taper off by late evening., weather officials said.“We’re starting to see storms weaken from strength, but there will be ongoing scattered showers overnight and Tuesday morning,” meteorologist David King said. As of 7 p.m., O’Hare and Midway airports had accumulated half an inch of rain, King said. A flood advisory was in effect in Chicago and surrounding suburbs until 5:45 p.m., weather officials said. Storms could accumulate up to an inch of rain every 30 minutes and affect waterways and other poor drainage areas. There were no reports of flooding in Chicago on Monday evening. Winds will also weaken overnight to between 5 and 10 mph. On Tuesday, temperatures will be much cooler, with a high of 55 and a low of 43 degrees. Scattered thunderstorms have begun to develop in the area and will continue through this afternoon into the evening. Locally heavy rainfall may lead to localized minor flooding, and a few storms may also produce gusty winds and small hail.