O’Hare, Midway see almost 500 flights delayed, cancelled as dense fog rolls into Chicago area
SUN-TIMES MEDIA November 21, 2012 9:42AM
Sunrise on the morning of Nov. 21 was met with dense fog at Beverly Cemetery near Alsip and throughout the area. The weather caused hundreds of flight cancellations and delays at Midway and O'Hare airports. | Larry Ruehl~Sun-Times Media
Related Stories
Updated: November 21, 2012 10:32AM
A dense fog rolling into the Chicago area created some headaches for Thanksgiving travelers as almost 500 flights were either delayed or cancelled at O’Hare and Midway airports Wednesday morning.
As of 7:40 a.m., O’Hare saw 65 flights cancelled and 302 flights delayed, according to FlightStats.com. Delays were averaging about 1 1/2 hours for flights arriving and departing, according to Chicago Aviation Department spokeswoman Karen Pride.
At Midway, flights were experiencing “major delays,” Pride said. The airport saw 107 delays and 25 cancellations, according to FlightStats.com.
“It is expected that the fog will lift shortly and the airlines will resume normal operations,” Pride said.
The National Weather Service has issued a dense fog advisory that will remain in effect until noon for all Chicago-area counties in Illinois and Northwest Indiana.
The fog began rolling into the area Tuesday night and became more dense thanks to light winds, clearing skies and a moist air mass, according to the weather service.
The fog will stick around through mid to late Wednesday morning, and will likely “significantly impact” airports, the weather service said.
The fog could reduce visibility to less than a quarter of a mile, or even as little as 100 feet in some places during the morning rush hour, and drivers are urged to take caution.
