Potentially severe storms with strong winds and heavy rain downed trees and power lines across the Chicago area on Monday, affecting travel for many before the afternoon rush hour.
Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for the entire area as the storms traveled through the metro area and northwest Indiana.
As of 2:00 p.m., reports of downed trees and wind damage could be seen from the northwestern suburbs to the southern suburbs. In South Elgin, fire officials urged caution after crews responded to “multiple downed wires” near South Elgin Boulevard and Walnut Street. Damage extended as far as Kankakee, where officials also reported downed power lines and poles.
Metra reported delays for some trains on the northern Milwaukee district line “due to a tree on the tracks.”
Evanston police said the storms caused power outages and downed trees that could cause traffic delays, particularly near Central Street, where damage was said to be “most significant.”
As of 2:15 p.m., O’Hare International Airport was seeing inbound flights delayed an average of nearly two hours, while all inbound flights were being “held at their origin” until 3:30 p.m. CT. Flights that were already in the air when the storms hit were delayed by an average of 40 minutes, while departing flights were delayed by up to two hours.
Meanwhile, Midway Airport saw all inbound flights held at their origin until 2:30 p.m. CT, and department delays averaged about an hour and growing.
The Chicago area had been under an “increased” risk of severe weather, with the biggest threats being frequent lightning, damaging winds of more than 75 miles per hour, quarter-sized hail and heavy rain, which possibly lead to localized flooding.
And while the risk for a tornado remained low, it couldn’t be ruled out, the NBC 5 Storm Team said.
The greatest risk for severe conditions, especially the highest winds, lay north of Interstate 80.
While Monday’s temperatures accompanying the storm will remain hot and muggy with highs in the upper 80s, a much calmer weather pattern is expected to hold through the week.
Dry, sunny skies and highs in the upper 70s to 80s are expected not only through the remainder of the work week, but also into the Labor Day holiday weekend.
Residents are urged to download the NBC Chicago app to receive the latest severe weather alerts and the latest live radar images from across the region.
