Fog Hits Chicago, Cancels Over 100 Flights

Chicago woke to a blanket of thick mist that made driving feel like navigating through smoke. The city’s traffic cameras revealed streets shrouded in almost zero visibility, making the morning commute a risky affair. Meteorologists warned that the fog would linger until noon and could last all day along Lake Michigan, where it seemed stubborn. The National Weather Service issued a dense fog advisory that could keep visibility below a quarter‑mile, putting drivers and pilots on edge. Midway Airport saw more than 100 flights grounded, about half of its daily schedule, while O’Hare cut 25 departures. A single‑engine plane also crashed overnight in Deerfield, killing its pilot after it plunged into a neighborhood.The mist was expected to persist with chances of drizzle or light rain in the afternoon, especially toward downstate areas. Temperatures were forecasted to stay in the 40s by the lake and climb into the 50s inland, rising into the 60s and 70s on Friday. Friday’s heat could match a record high from 2000, and two rounds of showers were on the calendar. The first wave might start early in the west, with heavier rain and stronger winds later, though a severe storm was not guaranteed. By midday, the entire northeastern Illinois region would face a slight risk of severe weather, with possible hail, wind gusts up to 60 mph, and a very low tornado chance. Rain was expected to taper off by evening.