Kankakee, Illinois – Severe thunderstorms and a tornado-producing storm knocked out electricity to more than 4,000 homes and businesses Tuesday evening across the Kankakee area.
According to outage data from Commonwealth Edison (ComEd), over 4,000 customers were without power Tuesday evening as strong storms moved through Kankakee County.
The outages were concentrated in Kankakee, Bourbonnais, Bradley, and Aroma Park, where a powerful line of thunderstorms swept across the region during the evening commute. Utility officials reported dozens of outage clusters, with crews being dispatched while the exact causes remain under investigation.
The storm system moved through the Interstate 57 corridor and surrounding communities as severe weather pushed east across northern Illinois. The National Weather Service issued multiple tornado warnings in the region, and emergency officials confirmed a tornado earlier near Herscher in eastern Kankakee County, where early reports described catastrophic damage to homes.
According to emergency officials and the National Weather Service, the storm developed in Livingston County before moving northeast toward Kankakee County, producing destructive winds and possible tornado damage east of the city.
Security cameras at Kankakee Community College captured video showing the tornado moving through the area, providing early visual confirmation of the storm’s strength.
Utility officials say downed power lines, wind-damaged trees, and lightning strikes are the most likely causes of the outages as restoration crews begin work across the county.
Residents are urged to treat any downed power lines as energized and avoid debris-covered or flooded roads overnight as response crews continue damage assessments.
Search and rescue operations remain underway in eastern parts of the county as officials work to determine the full extent of the storm damage and whether injuries occurred.
For many commuters, students, and workers across the Kankakee area, the outages could continue affecting evening travel and overnight routines.
