More flooding is possible as storms continue into the afternoon and evening in the Chicago area Wednesday, forecasters said.
The inclement weather was causing issues for air travelers, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, which issued a ground delay at O’Hare Airport, in effect until 2 a.m. Thursday.
According to FlyChicago.com, as of about 2:30 p.m., average delays for arrivals at O’Hare were 82 minutes, while average delays for departures were an hour. Delays in arrivals and departures at Midway were less than 15 minutes as of the same time, and there have been about 167 flight cancellations at O’Hare and 78 at Midway.
The first, less severe, round of storms hit the area between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. while a second round, expected between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., has “the better chance for severe weather,” National Weather Service meteorologist David King said. The South Side of the city and southern Cook County appear to be at a higher risk for more severe weather.
Weather service meteorologist Kevin Doom urged people to keep an eye on the weather Wednesday afternoon because conditions are expected to change quickly.
The tornado threat looks “markedly better” south of Chicago, particularly south of Interstate 80, said Doom. That does not mean there is no tornado threat in Chicago, but the threat is much lower in the city than farther south, Doom added.
The tornadic risk depends on a warm front that is surging north from central Illinois, King said Tuesday. There is uncertainty about how far north it will reach, but it is possible it could reach beyond I-80.
Several weather alerts have been issued, including a beach hazard in effect through Thursday morning, warning waves could reach 4 to 6 feet high, and swimming conditions could be life-threatening, according to the weather service.
A flood advisory issued by the weather service is in effect until 6:15 p.m. for portions of Illinois including Chicago and Cook County.
Also, a wind advisory was in effect until 2 p.m. Wednesday for central Cook, northern Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake and McHenry counties, according to the weather service.
Strong southeast winds following rain and thunderstorms could gust as high as 50 mph. Winds Wednesday afternoon could blow around unsecured objects, knock down tree limbs and cause power outages. Driving could be difficult, officials said.
Additionally, an Overflow Action Day alert was put into effect Wednesday by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, which urges the community to conserve water usage to reduce water in sewers.
“Regardless of where that warm front sets up [Wednesday], the morning and afternoon rounds — these are going to be very efficient rainmakers, so we can expect torrential rainfall” and rain rates that exceed 2 inches per hour, King said.
That rainfall, on the heels of the heavy rainfall and storms that struck Chicago last week, could mean a high risk of flash flooding, especially in the city and areas that are more prone to flooding, such as viaducts.
King said that Tuesday, before the severe weather hit, was the best time to prepare for any flooding, damage or loss of power.
“Double-check that you have batteries, that you have multiple ways to receive warnings, that you know where to go or what to do if there is a severe thunderstorm warning, a tornado warning, a flash flood warning,” King said.
The forecast for Thursday, Friday and Saturday is sunny skies and temperature in the 70s.