Tornadoes strike Chicago area, prompting cleanup and power restoration
Block Club Chicago reported that the National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for the Chicago region as powerful storms with wind gusts exceeding 70 mph battered the city, damaging trees, power lines and windows and causing flash flooding. The same storms produced flight cancellations at O’Hare and Midway airports and prompted crews to begin cleanup after a recent derecho. Later, the agency extended the watch through 9 p. m.
, warning of winds up to 80 mph, hail and additional flash flooding while city crews continued cleanup efforts, Block Club Chicago added. CBS News noted that the watch covered the entire Chicago area and a high-wind warning, with the greatest tornado risk forecast for the western suburbs between mid-afternoon and early evening. Following the warnings, tornadoes touched down in Streator, Northwest Indiana and several Chicago suburbs, prompting emergency declarations, opening shelters and spurring authorities to survey damage and restore power, according to ABC7 Chicago.
