Strong storms move through Chicago area, knock out power for 100,000
CHICAGO - More severe weather and dangerously warm temperatures were expected across northern Illinois Wednesday, a day after thunderstorms knocked out power to more than 190,000 customers.
By 6 a.m. Wednesday, more than 100,000 customers remained without power from a storm that packed wind gusts up to 70 mph, according to Commonwealth Edison
The storm also caused delays on CTA lines because of debris on the track, and blew down trees and caused other damage in the city as well as the northwest and southwest suburbs,
Residents in Evanston and Plainfield reported extensive tree damage, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Ricky Castro. In Evanston, about 6,000 customers lost power and there were reports of malfunctioning street lights, traffic signals and street flooding.
The storm, approaching from the west, passed through downtown Chicago around 8 p.m., Castro said, but the most significant damage was in the suburbs.
Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible late Wednesday afternoon or evening, with damaging winds, isolated large hail and a "limited" risk of tornados, the weather service said.
A heat advisory will be in effect from noon until 7 p.m., with the heat index around 105 degrees.