Overview
- Multiple tornadoes tore through communities south of Chicago on Thursday, flattening homes in Merrillville and Streator and causing major structural damage to schools and neighborhoods.
- The National Weather Service has confirmed at least seven tornadoes in the Chicago forecast area with preliminary EF3 ratings reported and crews continuing detailed damage surveys.
- Hundreds of thousands of customers lost power across Illinois, Indiana and nearby states after trees and poles were toppled, and utilities have begun phased restorations prioritizing transmission lines and critical sites.
- Air travel was heavily disrupted with ground stops and more than 1,000 Chicago-area flights delayed or canceled, and local authorities opened shelters and reunification centers for displaced residents.
- Officials continue search, cleanup and damage assessment work and warn of continued short-term severe-weather risk that could produce damaging winds and isolated tornadoes over the coming days.