Chicago Weather: Severe storms down trees, flood streets
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Severe storms downed trees and power lines and dumped heavy rain and hail on parts of the Chicago area Wednesday afternoon.
Police in north suburban Wilmette said a microburst hit the area east of 15th Street. There was no reports of injuries or damage to homes, but officials said many trees were downed in the streets and on parked cars.
Heavy flooding was reported in Crystal Lake, Ill., where at least one vehicle was submerged in a parking lot near Route 176 and Terra Cotta. Drivers were urged to avoid the intersections of Route 176 near the Metra train viaduct and Keith Avenue near Virginia Street/Route 14 due to flooding issues. Those intersections were reopened by 7 p.m.
Chopper 7HD captured a mammoth shelf cloud above the northers suburbs. Evanston was in its path.
"It was crazy, it was very loud. We have a garden area and it blew through that window," said Anne Coulter, resident.
On Harrison and Elm tree were ripped from the ground and several parked cars were pummeled by branches.
"I was also scared myself, especially when the power went. That's what I was scared myself," said Noah Coulter.
Nearby at Northshore Evanston Hospital, part of the parking garage roof was blown off. No one was injured.
"Hospital operations are functioning as normal. Patients, visitors and the staff are all safe," said Jim Anthony, Northshore Evanston Hospital.
A large tree fell on a home in Long Lake, Ill. No one was inside the home at the time. No injuries were reported.
The fire department in Oglesby, Ill., reported downed tree limbs and power lines. Some damage to homes were reported as well, but there were no reports of any injuries.
Trained weather spotters reported quarter-size hail in Buffalo Grove and in Gilman, in Iroquois County. Flooding has been reported in parts of McHenry and Boone counties.
Hundreds of flights at Chicago's airports have been canceled or delayed due to the stormy weather. O'Hare International Airport reported 462 flights cancelled and delays averaging 51 minutes. Midway reported 30 cancellations and delays averaging 118 minutes. On Friday, 112 flights were canceled at O'Hare and six were canceled at Midway.
As of 9 p.m. 17,000 customers across the area were without power, according to ComEd.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 8 p.m. Wednesday for the following counties: Boone, Cook, DeKalb, Ford, Grundy, Iroquois, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, LaSalle, Livingston, McHenry, Ogle, Will and Winnebago in Illinois; Benton, Jasper, Lake, Newton and Porter in Indiana; and Berrien County in Michigan.
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