![\"chicago](\"http:\/\/us.weatheramerica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/chicago-airports-2507.jpg\")
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Chicago<\/strong> is bracing for strong-to-severe thunderstorms<\/strong> this Thursday afternoon<\/strong>, triggering a ground stop<\/strong> at both O’Hare International Airport<\/strong> and Midway Airport<\/strong> due to the intensifying weather threat<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As of 2:45 p.m. local time<\/strong>, planes bound for Chicago<\/strong> are being held at their departure points<\/strong>, with no takeoffs permitted toward the city. The storm front<\/strong> sweeping across Northeastern Illinois<\/strong> is unleashing powerful wind gusts<\/strong> reaching up to 60 mph (96 km\/h)<\/strong>, and meteorologists warn that gusts may surge to 70 mph (113 km\/h)<\/strong> in isolated areas.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Along with the high winds, torrential rain<\/strong> is expected to accompany these storms, significantly increasing the risk of flash flooding<\/strong> across urban neighborhoods<\/strong> and low-lying zones<\/strong>. The National Weather Service<\/strong> has issued a severe thunderstorm watch<\/strong> effective for most of the Chicago metropolitan area<\/strong> until 9 p.m. local time<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The low-pressure system<\/strong> fueling this volatile weather is expected to shift eastward by early Friday<\/strong>, allowing cooler air<\/strong> and reduced humidity<\/strong> to filter into the region. However, forecast models<\/strong> are already tracking a renewed storm threat<\/strong> for Saturday<\/strong>, possibly bringing another round of severe weather<\/strong> to Northern Illinois<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Forecasters continue to monitor conditions closely as these fast-moving systems develop through the late afternoon<\/strong> and evening hours<\/strong> across Cook County<\/strong> and surrounding areas.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Chicago is bracing for strong-to-severe thunderstorms this Thursday afternoon, triggering a ground stop at both O’Hare International Airport and Midway Airport due to the intensifying weather threat. As of 2:45 p.m. local time, planes bound for Chicago are being held at their departure points, with no takeoffs permitted toward the city. The storm front […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":6441,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6440","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n