Flight Delays Average 2.5 Hours As O'Hare Snarled By Snowfall

CHICAGO ? Winter weather was causing major issues Sunday at O?Hare International Airport, where flights were running hours late, with the entire contiguous U.S. and much of the Atlantic Ocean under a ground delay for the airport until 9 p.m.

Departures to O?Hare were delayed an average of two hours and 38 minutes as of mid-afternoon Sunday, with the Federal Aviation Administration citing snow and ice as the cause.

The airport received nearly 5 inches of snow overnight through noon Sunday, according to the National Weather Service, and there?s more in the forecast.

Blowing snow with gusts up to 25 mph was affecting the area Sunday afternoon with a 50 percent chance of scattered showers overnight, according to the service. Tuesday into Wednesday, the service forecast snow becoming rain as temperatures rise into the mid-30s.

Snow is also possible all day Thursday and Friday, according to the service.