Weather Chicago: Storms down trees, narrowly missing woman
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued for Cook, Will, Kankakee counties has since expired
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Strong thunderstorms downed trees and caused some power outages across the Chicago area Wednesday morning. A fallen tree narrowly missed a woman on Chicago's North Side, and an elderly Joliet resident was found dead after lightning struck his home.
A cluster of rain and storms moved through from about 4:30 to 6 a.m., bringing periods of brief gusty winds up to 60 mph with them, ABC 7 Chicago meteorologist Tracy Butler said.
In Edison Park, a large tree fell on an SUV, blocking traffic on Harlem Avenue between Touhy and Milwaukee avenues. A woman was inside the car at the time.
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Niles and Chicago police were responding to the incident. City crews spent the morning removing the tree.
Roseann Cifone said she was very rattled, and it could've been even worse.
WATCH: Chicago tree narrowly misses woman driving on Harlem
She was on her way to work early Wednesday morning, when the giant tree toppled over, hitting her car.
"As I approached this area, the tree came down and hit my front end of my car," Cifone said. "And it's like a bad dream."
She said she was was shaken up.
"It happened in a second. I didn't even know where it came from. It just happened. I'm totally in shock," Cifone said. "I could have been dead. I'm alive to pick up the pieces I guess."
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The tree also crushed Joe Abrusci's Toyota Corolla, leaving him without transportation to work.
"It's a hassle, but I've been in worse situations, you know," Abrusci said.
Neighbors said the storms were intense, with lots of rain and high winds.
Fallen trees could also be seen in Palatine later Wednesday morning, and, at one point, over 8,000 people were without power, due to the storms.
Cook, Kankakee and Will counties all had Severe Thunderstorm Warnings issued Wednesday morning that have since expired.
Butler said the rest of the day is expected to be humid, and more storms are likely Wednesday night, especially in the northern suburbs, bringing more wind with them.
