Severe storms cause damage on hot, steamy first day of summer

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Summer in Chicago got off to a hot, steamy, windy - and for some stormy - start across the area Monday.[br /][br /]The high was 92 degrees, well above the 81 degree average, and humidity was thick, but as a cold front moved in scattered storms developed primarily south of the city and in Indiana.[br /][br /]In Shorewood, Ill., the storms knocked down trees and penny-sized hail was reported.[br /][br /]A pounding storm roared through White County, Ind., leaving destruction in its wake. Brookston resident Sue Taylor's Ford Fusion was destroyed. She said she was just grateful she wasn't in it.[br /][br /]"We don't know if lightning hit that tree or whatever, but that's my car right there," Taylor said.[br /][br /]Hal Miley says he witnessed the storm as it headed onward Lafayette, Ind.[br /][br /]"I thought, well I'd better go back in, and as soon as I turned around I heard a big crack, and I turned around just in time to see it fall on it," Miley said.[br /][br /]Some were left without power, and in LaPorte County, Ind., the roof was blown off a building. Residents are left surveying the damage, but no injuries have been reported.[br /][br /][media ID="1393681" /][br /][br /]Ominous clouds and scattered showers in Clarendon Hills didn't dampen the first day of summer for kids having fun at day camp trying to catch flying marshmallows.[br /][br /][url HREF="http://abc7chicago.com/weather/doppler/chicago-and-collar-counties/" TARGET="new" REL=""][img[br /][br /]SRC="http://cdn.abclocal.go.com/three/wls/weather/radar/webradar-metro_00_300.jpg" ALIGN="left" /][/url] [b][url[br /][br /]HREF="http://abc7chicago.com/weather/doppler/chicago-and-collar-counties/" TARGET="new" REL=""]CLICK HERE to see the latest radar view from LIVE Doppler 7 MAX[/url][/b][br /][br /]If the weather got too hot and humid, there were places to cool down indoors and plenty of water fountains to fill up bottles brought from home.[br /][br /]"We do lots of water breaks," said Emily Golembiewski, recreation supervisor for youth, teen and adult programming. "We try to have our activities near where there are trees. If it's a certain degree we will try to keep outside activity limited."[br /][br /]Camp directors said they're keeping a close eye out for signs of heat exhaustion. One mom says she always makes sure her three kids stay cool and hydrated.[br /][br /]"Lots of fruit, lots of water," said Christine Podolak. "We always have water with us."[br /][br /][post ID="110063" /][br /][br /]In Chicago, it was breezy but it definitely looked and felt like summer at the 31st Street Beach.[br /][br /]"We just rode out bikes on this trail here and ended up on the beach," said Danny Degirolamo.[br /][br /]There were families enjoying the sun and sand and a few people swimming. Those who did dare venture into the water told said even though it's the first day of summer, in Lake Michigan it still feels like winter.[br /][br /]"It's like chilly freezing temperatures like ice cubes," said one man.[br /][Ads /][br /]There was a constant line at Ferro's Italian ice Monday. On real scorchers the owner says he sells more than 150 pounds of Italian ice.[br /][br /]