Storm cancels flights, floods streets in suburbs
Strong thunderstorms caused long delays and more than 450 flight cancellations Tuesday night at Chicago airports.
Large hail and standing water were reported across the Chicago area as the brunt of the storm arrived from the southwest early Tuesday evening.
The continuous rain fell more than an inch and a half in an hour at some points. Delays at O'Hare International Airport, where the vast majority of the cancellations occurred, were averaging 90 minutes Tuesday night, according to aviation officials.
Midway experienced “minor cancellations,” and some flights were facing delays of 30 minutes, the Chicago Department of Aviation said.
Rolling Meadows fire officials said James E. Conant High School was struck by lighting during the heavy storms Tuesday night. However, they said no one was injured, a fire did not spark due to the lighting strike, and damage to the roof of the school gymnasium at 700 E. Cougar Trail was minimal.
In St. Charles just under an inch of rain fell in a 15-minute period, Meteorologists measured hail ranging from .25 inches in Palatine to .88 inches in diameter in Oak Brook.
Standing water across the Chicago area stranded cars in localized flooding.
Runoff from the storm is expected to cause creeks and streams to rise and flood roads, highways and underpasses, according to the National Weather Service.
Temperatures will continue to stay below the seasonal average on Wednesday, hovering in the mid 40s and Thursday in the upper 40s to lower 50s, Nelson said.
Normal temperatures for this time of year are in the upper 50s and lower 60s, he said.