Overview
- A fast-moving line of severe thunderstorms swept east through the Plains into the Great Lakes on Wednesday, producing intense straight-line winds, radar-indicated rotation and more than a dozen tornado reports that damaged buildings and downed large trees.
- The storms cut electricity to hundreds of thousands across the region, with more than 200,000 ComEd customers affected in the Chicago area and utilities warning that repairs to downed poles and wires will take several days.
- Chicago O’Hare and Midway briefly halted operations and more than 1,000 flights were delayed or canceled Wednesday evening, while airlines and airports worked to clear backlogs into Thursday morning.
- Local officials and emergency crews began damage assessments overnight in hard-hit communities such as Horicon, Wisconsin, where collapsed barns, ripped roofs and blocked roads have displaced residents but no widespread fatalities have been reported.
- Forecasters say another round of severe storms is possible Thursday with threats of damaging winds, isolated tornadoes and localized flash flooding, a risk that could complicate power-restoration efforts and short-term shelter needs.