Chicago Weather: Trees, Power Lines Come Down Around Chicago Area, Roadways Flooded As Severe Storms Sweep Through; Chill To Follow
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Severe storms brought down trees and power lines and left roadways flooded throughout the Chicago area early Tuesday evening.
As CBS 2's Jermont Terry reported, the dark clouds first blanketed the area – causing that already early sunset to arrive even earlier Tuesday. What followed brought strong winds and rapid rain falling across Chicago and the suburbs.
Power lines came tumbling down on the Northwest Side, bringing darkness to the Montclare neighborhood.
And in the 2800 block of North Newland Avenue in the Montclare neighborhood, Chicago Police were on the scene after a power line, sending a shower up a shower of sparks and producing a menacing buzzing sound. CBS 2 Political Investigator Dana Kozlov provided video of the scene.
Meanwhile on the Far South Side, traffic was snarled on Interstate 57 near Halsted Street. So much rain fell that drains couldn't handle it – forcing a backup right at the Bishop Ford-Dan Ryan Expressway split and forcing state authorities shut I-57 down.
In Naperville, getting home wasn't easy either – especially with the hail of showers coming in sideways. Visibility was limited.
And you needed to see what was in front of you, especially in Lake County. Huge limbs came crashing down onto the road, and big branches blocked much of the streets after the storm took down mature trees.
They even took down a flagpole too.
Police were out to keep people alert. Thankfully, no one was injured form the heavy branches that also knocked out power to the area.
Beyond the Chicago area in the town of Winnebago, high wind sent a tree crashing into the side of a home. Some of the branches broke out windows on the upper floor.
Wind howled and blew rain sideways shortly before that incident, which caught drivers off guard just outside of Rockford.
In rural Winnebago County, a power line came down and was seen sparking on the ground near a barn.
"I was sitting at my dining room table working and I heard glass breaking. I grabbed my dog, ran to the basement – when I came back up, I think the glass was from that upper attic window, but not good," said Winnebago resident April Haeflinger. "We haven't even paid for the siding and the roof we just put on in May."
No one was hurt, but there is substantial damage in Winnebago. The local high school tweeted Tuesday night that there is too much damage to the school, so there will be no in-person learning on Wednesday.
Tens of thousands of ComEd customers lost power on account of the fast-moving storms, which brought heavy rain, dangerous wind, and even tornado warnings to the greater area.
Following the storms was a big change back to normal November temperatures, CBS 2 Meteorologist Mary Kay Kleist reported. The highs hit the mid-70s on Tuesday, but the low for Tuesday night drops to 35.
Chilly winds Tuesday may gust to 45 mph for our northern counties. A Wind Advisory has been extended until 3 a.m.
It will be clearing and much colder on Wednesday with a 30-degree drop in spots. The high of just 49.
On Thursday, it will be sunny with a high of 55.
CBS 2 Meteorologist Mary Kay Kleist contributed to this report.
Also From CBS Chicago:
- Multiple Vehicles Damaged In Arson At Car Dealership In East Side
- Pfizer Announces COVID-19 Vaccine Is 90% Effective, Seeking Emergency Authorization
- Boy, 7, Struck And Killed By Vehicle In Oak Lawn
