Chicago, IL – Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes swept through northern Illinois overnight, leaving more than 21,000 residents without power as of early Saturday morning. High winds, large hail, and possible tornadoes caused significant disruptions, with widespread outages reported across the region.
According to COMED, there are currently 416 active outages affecting communities from Chicago to Rockford and beyond. Crews are working to restore service, but some areas may experience prolonged outages due to downed power lines and storm damage.
The National Weather Service confirmed that storms brought wind gusts up to 80 mph and hail as large as two inches in diameter. Reports of structural damage and debris have emerged, though full assessments are still underway.
Residents are urged to check on neighbors, avoid downed power lines, and conserve battery power as restoration efforts continue. Travelers should be cautious of debris on roads and potential flash flooding in low-lying areas. Officials advise staying updated through local utility reports and emergency management channels as recovery progresses.
