A tornado disrupted hundreds of flights on Wednesday evening when it touched down near Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
Event Overview: The confirmed tornado was on the ground around 7 p.m., and had moved east by 8 p.m., leaving Chicago’s forecast tornado-free.
* The tornado triggered shelter protocols at O’Hare’s airport, with hundreds of passengers seen taking refuge in the concourse.
* This resulted in approximately 169 flight cancellations and nearly 500 delays, according to flight tracking service FlightAware.
Citywide Impact: Tornado warnings were issued twice across Chicago, causing sirens to sound across the city, pushing residents to take cover.
* Warehouses near O’Hare airport were reported damaged.
* The weather service reported severe damage to rooftops and uprooted trees in various parts of the city, including the community of Huntley.
Historical Context: The Chicago metropolitan area has a history of tornadoes, with several hitting within the city limits.
* Between 1855 and 2021, the National Weather Service recorded 97 significant tornadoes in the Chicago metropolitan area.
* The deadliest tornado formed on April 21, 1967, in Palos Hills, Cook County, traveling 16 miles, causing over $50 million in damage, 33 fatalities and injuring 500 people.
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