Tornadoes touch down, wreak havoc in Chicago

Severe storms spawning multiple tornado reports swept through Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana on Monday. The storms downed trees and power lines, cutting power to over 460,000 customers and businesses. A 44-year-old woman died in Cedar Lake, Indiana, when a tree fell onto her home.

From NWS Chicago “Dozens of circulations continue along this line of destructive thunderstorms moving across Cook County (including Chicago), the southern Suburbs south into Kankakee County. These will soon move into NW Indiana.” pic.twitter.com/JdGknSAoEF

— James Spann (@spann) July 16, 2024

Dangerous thunderstorm complex with potential for extremely high winds and a few tornadoes continues to move quickly in the direction of Chicago tonight pic.twitter.com/sPlmAZr7z8

— James Spann (@spann) July 16, 2024

Her death highlights the severity of the storms, which saw damaging winds as the main concern across the affected states. Roger Edwards, lead forecaster with the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center, noted numerous wind gusts ranging from 75 mph to 90 mph. A record report of a 101 mph gust was recorded in Ogle County, Illinois. In Des Moines, Iowa, a tornado was confirmed, snapping utility poles and causing widespread damage.

Many trees are down in Chicago. Power lines have been broken. Areas with no power. Some transformers are burning. No injuries reported.

— Chicago Fire Media (@CFDMedia) July 16, 2024

As the storms moved eastward, northern Illinois, including the Chicago area, experienced multiple tornado warnings, heavy rain, and significant wind damage. Poweroutage.us reported nearly 390,000 customers without power in northern Illinois alone. The Joliet Police Department in Illinois stated that many roadways were obstructed by downed trees and power lines.

Tornadoes wreak havoc in Midwest

This indicates the storm’s impact on local infrastructure.

"As of 9:45 p.m. the NWS reports 10 active tornadoes in the Chicago area amid intense storms." https://t.co/J8TqsKKS3T

— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) July 16, 2024

The National Weather Service in Chicago reported wind speeds up to 75 mph and issued a flash flood warning for the area into early Tuesday. However, major flood damage was not reported. Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport faced flight cancellations due to the severe weather. Hundreds of passengers at these airports were stranded and ordered to shelter in place due to possible tornadoes hitting the region. Video footage shows an enormous crowd of people inside Chicago O’Hare International Airport taking cover as potential tornadoes passed through. Similarly, video from Chicago Midway International Airport captures an unmoving plane at the gate as storms gusted around the aircraft. Authorities continue to assess the damage, with the National Weather Service planning to survey the affected areas. The aftermath of the storms poses significant challenges for recovery and restoration of power across the Midwest.