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Severe storms pummel city, suburbs

Severe storms caused commuter problems across the Chicago area Wednesday night and into Thursday morning as heavy rains caused delays on roadways and at airports.

O'Hare International Airport was reporting delays on about 250 flights early Thursday morning, while about 70 flights were canceled overnight.

No cancellations and a handful of delays are being reported at Midway Airport, the Chicago Department of Aviation said.

Several rain accidents were being reported throughout the suburbs as torrential downpours have caused some driving issues. Accidents were reported in Round Lake Beach, Addison and Lake Zurich early Thursday, causing longer than normal commutes.

The problems recorded Thursday morning, though, was nothing compared to the issues in Chicago and south suburbs Wednesday night.

The city of Chicago saw 70 mph gusts of wind and up to 3-inches of rain hit the ground during flash storms.

A man working in a storm sewer on the north side of the city was killed during the torrential downpours Wednesday night. The 25-year-old contractor was swept away by floodwaters while he was trying to reline a sewer. His body was recovered several hours later.

Parts of the South Side Bronzeville neighborhood were hit with more than three inches of rain Wednesday. Nearly two inches of rain fell in south suburban Burnham in about 55 minutes, while quarter-sized hail was reported in Des Plaines, according to the National Weather Service.

All Metra trains are reporting that they are running on time.

ABC 7 contributed to this report

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