The Chicago area has had to deal with several days of potential severe weather, and as a cold front moves eastward Sunday night, that possibility was realized, with severe thunderstorms and reports of a tornado touchdown emerging from the storms.
Here are the latest headlines from around the area:
2:45 a.m.: Woodridge Resident Recounts Eerie Calm Before Storm Struck
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2:40 a.m.: Photos Show Widespread Damage From Tornado Across Chicago Area
Photos: Homes Damaged, Trees Toppled by Tornado in DuPage County
2:30 a.m.: Witness Recounts Moment Tornado Struck Woodridge
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2:25 a.m.: Several Injured, at Least a Dozen Homes Damaged in Likely Tornado in Naperville
Officials in suburban Naperville say that at least six people suffered minor injuries and at least a dozen homes suffered extensive damage after a probable tornado touchdown Sunday night.
According to Doppler radar and the National Weather Service, the likely touch down occurred just after 11 p.m. near suburban Woodridge. The tornado tracked to the east, causing damage in several communities and leading to several minor injuries.
Naperville Fire Chief Mark Pucknaitis says that at least six people suffered injuries during the storm, but all were considered to be minor at this time.
At least a dozen homes suffered extensive damage, with roofs, trees and windows damaged in several locations around the community. Several gas leaks have also been reported.
1:50 a.m.: Severe Thunderstorm Watch Will be Allowed to Expire
A severe thunderstorm watch in effect in Will and Kankakee counties in Illinois, along with Lake, Porter, Jasper and Newton counties in northwest Indiana, will be allowed to expire at 2 a.m., according to the National Weather Service.
The thunderstorms that sparked a slew of watches and warnings late Sunday and into early Monday have moved out of the NBC 5 viewing area.
1:42 a.m.: Clean-Up Begins After Powerful Storms Hammer Area
All severe weather warnings have been allowed to expire throughout the Chicago area, but a long night of clean-up and damage assessment is just beginning in the city and suburbs.
Road closures are still prevalent in several areas, including in Woodridge, where a tornado likely touched down on Sunday night. Darien, Naperville and Burr Ridge are also reporting street closures due to storm damage, fires and other challenges in the early morning hours of Monday.
Heavy rainfall was reported throughout the area, with areas just west of Chicago and areas of northwest Indiana hit particularly hard.
1:12 a.m.: Thousands of ComEd Customers Without Power as Severe Storms Hit Chicago Area
According to ComEd, more than 34,000 customers are without power as severe thunderstorms tore through the area on Sunday night.
According to the latest figures from the utility, more than 15,000 customers are without power in DuPage County. More than 15,000 customers in Cook County are in the dark.
Here are the latest totals as of 1 a.m.
Cook County: 15,993
DeKalb County: 487
DuPage County: 15,259
Kane County: 939
Kendall County: 106
Lake County: 469
LaSalle County: 496
Will County: 726
1:03 a.m.: No Injuries Reported in Darien
A likely tornado that struck Chicago's western suburbs did serious damage in Darien, but no injuries have been reported thus far, according to officials.
Downed power lines remain a hazard in the community:
1:02 a.m.: Road Closures Reported in Woodridge, Other Chicago Suburbs Due to Storm Damage
Roadways in several Chicago area communities have been rendered impassable by damage left behind by a string of severe thunderstorms, including one that likely spawned a tornado in the western suburbs Sunday night.
According to Total Traffic, several major streets are closed in suburban Woodridge after a tornado likely touched down around 11 p.m. Sunday.
According to Woodridge police, residents are being asked to avoid areas near Janes Avenue, Woodridge Drive and Woodward Avenue because of heavy storm damage and first responder activity.
In Naperville, the probable tornado caused a structure collapse in the area of Ranchview Drive and Princeton Circle, and residents are being asked to avoid the area.
The Stevenson Expressway between Kedzie and Pulaski Road is dealing with major flooding issues, which are causing stop-and-go traffic on the roadway.
Flooding has also caused the three left lanes of the outbound Kennedy near the Hubbard Street Tunnel to become impassable. Only the right lane is currently usable.
In suburban Darien, Lemont Road is closed in both directions between 83rd Street and 75th Street due to storm damage and a reported fire.
12:39 a.m.: Reports of Tornado Damage Continue to Come In From Woodridge
Officials in Woodridge have confirmed that a tornado touched down in the community late Sunday night:
Several structures were badly damaged in the tornado, and residents are being urged to avoid the areas of Janes Avenue, Woodridge Drive and Woodward Avenue.
12:35 a.m.: Tornado Warning Issued for LaPorte County
A tornado warning has been issued for central LaPorte County and northeastern Starke County in northern Indiana until 1 a.m.
According to the National Weather Service, Doppler radar indicated rotation in a storm near Wanatah, moving east at 45 miles per hour.
Residents in the area are urged to seek shelter immediately.
12:31 a.m.: Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued in Indiana, Michigan
A new severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for wide swaths of northeastern Indiana and southeastern Michigan, according to the National Weather Service.
The warning, in effect until 2:15 a.m. Eastern (1:15 a.m. Central) includes LaPorte County, along with parts of Elkhart, St. Joseph, Pulaski, Fulton, Starke and Marshall counties in Indiana.
Southern Berrien and southwestern Cass counties in Michigan are also impacted.
Storms are traveling to the east at 60 miles per hour through the affected areas, with 70 mile-per-hour wind gusts and quarter-size hail.
12:29 a.m.: Severe Thunderstorm Watch Canceled in DuPage, Cook Counties
After severe thunderstorms and a possible tornado ripped through the region Sunday, the National Weather Service has now canceled a severe thunderstorm warning for DuPage and Cook counties.
The watch will remain in effect in Kendall, Grundy, Will and Kankakee counties until 2 a.m., according to the NWS.
12:24 a.m.: Tornado Warning Issued for LaPorte County
The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for the northern portion of LaPorte County until 12:45 a.m.
According to officials, the storm was located near Westville at 12:21 a.m., moving to the east at 55 miles per hour.
Storm damage reports are currently emerging from South Haven, Indiana, indicating a possible touch down of a tornado, but that information has not been confirmed at this time.
Rotation has been seen in radar images, according to the NWS.
12:16 a.m.: Tornado Warning Issued in Porter County
A new tornado warning has been issued in northeastern Porter County, according to the National Weather Service.
According to the alert, a severe storm capable of producing a tornado was located over Chesterton, moving east at 60 miles per hour.
Radar indicated rotation within the storm, according to officials, and residents are urged to seek shelter immediately.
12:07 a.m.: Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued in Porter, Jasper Counties
A new severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for parts of Porter and Jasper counties in northwest Indiana until 1 a.m.
According to the National Weather Service, eastern Porter and central Jasper counties are being impacted by the storm, which is heading southeast at 40 miles per hour.
The storm is packing wind gusts of up to 70 miles per hour, along with penny-size hail.
12:03 a.m.: Tornado Warning Issued for NW Indiana
A tornado warning has been issued for parts of Will County in Illinois and four Indiana counties, according to the National Weather Service.
The warning covers east-central Will County, along with all of Lake County in Indiana. Southwestern Porter County, northeastern Newton County and northwestern Jasper County are also impacted by the warning.
At midnight, a line of storms capable of producing tornadoes was located near St. John, moving east at 45 mph.
Doppler radar indicated rotation in the storm, according to officials.
11:54 p.m.: Severe Thunderstorm Watch Remains in Effect in Some Locations
A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect for DuPage, Cook, Kendall, Grundy, Will and Kankakee counties in Illinois, along with Lake, Porter, Newton and Jasper counties in Indiana, until 2 a.m.
The watch has been canceled in McHenry, Lake, DeKalb, LaSalle and Kane counties in Illinois.
11:49 p.m.: Tornado Warning Expires; New Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued in Indiana
A tornado warning for south central Cook County has been allowed to expire at 11:45 p.m., but the threat of severe weather still remains.
A new severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for all of LaPorte County in Indiana, along with Cass and Berrien counties in Michigan.
That warning will expire at 1:30 a.m. Eastern/12:30 a.m. Central, according to the National Weather Service.
11:43 p.m.: Severe Thunderstorm Warnings Issued for Multiple Illinois, Indiana Counties
The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for six counties in Illinois and Indiana until 1 a.m.
The warning impacts southern Will County and all of Kankakee County in Illinois. All of Lake and Porter counties, along with northern Newton and Jasper counties, are also impacted in Indiana.
The line of storms, stretching from Whiting to Elwood, is moving to the east at 35 miles per hour, packing wind gusts of 70 miles per hour and penny-sized hail.
Considerable tree damage is possible with the storms.
11:34 p.m.: Warnings Canceled in Some Locations as Storm System Continues to Push East
A tornado warning for north central Will County and southeastern DuPage County has been canceled, according to the National Weather Service.
A separate tornado warning for south-central Cook County remains in effect at this time.
A severe thunderstorm warning for northern LaSalle and southeastern DeKalb counties has also been canceled at this time.
11:31 p.m.: Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for East-Central Cook County
A new severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for east-central Cook County until midnight, according to the National Weather Service.
The storm, located over Oak Park, is moving to the east at 45 miles per hour, packing wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour.
Residents can expect damage to roofs, siding and trees as the storm passes through.
11:19 p.m.: "Confirmed Large and Extremely Dangerous Tornado" Impacting Chicago Area
Calling it a "life-threatening situation," the National Weather Service is urging residents to seek shelter immediately as a "confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado" is causing damage in the western and southwestern suburbs of Chicago.
According to the NWS, the tornado was located over Darien at 11:15 p.m., and is moving east at 45 miles per hour.
Burr Ridge, Western Springs and Indian Head Park will be in the path of the storm at 11:20 p.m. Palos Hills, Justice, Summit and Bridgeview could be impacted at 11:25 p.m., and Oak Lawn, Midway Airport, Burbank, Alsip and Chicago Ridge could be impacted at 11:30 p.m.
Residents are being told to seek shelter immediately.
11:16 p.m.: Tornado Warning Issued for Parts of DuPage, Cook Counties
A new tornado warning has been issued for parts of DuPage and Cook counties, according to the National Weather Service.
The warning will impact east-central DuPage County and central Cook County, and will be in effect until midnight.
A storm capable of producing a tornado is moving to the east at 45 miles per hour, and was located over Westmont at the time of the warning.
11:13 p.m.: Debris Signature Indicates Tornado Touch Down Near Woodridge, Bolingbrook
According to the National Weather Service, a debris signature on Doppler radar indicates that a tornado has touched down near the border of Woodridge and Bolingbrook.
The storm that spawned the tornado is moving to the east at 50 miles per hour, according to the alert.
Homer Glen, Darien and Willowbrook are all in the path of the storm at approximately 11:15 p.m. At 11:20 p.m., Orland Park, Palos Hills and Justice will likely be in the storm's path.
11:07 p.m.: Tornado Warning Issued for Parts of DuPage, Cook and Will Counties
A new tornado warning has been issued for parts of Will, DuPage and Cook counties, according to the National Weather Service.
The warning, which expires at 11:45 p.m., includes northwestern Will County, southern DuPage County and south-central Cook County.
A storm capable of producing a tornado was located over Naperville at 11:05 p.m., moving to the east at 50 miles per hour.
Doppler radar has indicated rotation in the storm.
A separate tornado warning for parts of DuPage and Cook counties has been cancelled, according to the National Weather Service.
11:05 p.m.: OEMC to Sound Tornado Sirens in Parts of Chicago
A tornado warning remains in effect for the northeastern portion of Cook County, and as a result, tornado sirens will be sounded in parts of Chicago, including Lake View, Rogers Park, Edgewater and Uptown:
10:57 p.m.: Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for Three Counties; Tornado Warnings Remain in Effect
A new severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for several Illinois counties, including parts of DuPage, Cook and Will counties.
According to the National Weather Service, all of Will County, the southern portion of DuPage County, and the southeastern portion of Cook County are all impacted by the warning, which will expire at 12:15 a.m.
The storms, located along a line extending from Warrenville to Sheridan, are moving east at 35 miles per hour.
Wind gusts of up to 70 miles per hour are possible with these storms, along with plenty of lightning and torrential rains.
A pair of tornado warnings remain in effect for portions of Kane, DuPage and Cook counties at this time.
10:51 p.m.: Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for Five Illinois Counties
A new, far-reaching severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for parts of five Illinois counties until 11:45 p.m.
The new warning covers all of Kendall County, along with parts of DeKalb, Kane, LaSalle and Grundy counties, according to the National Weather Service.
Northern LaSalle, southern DeKalb, northern Grundy and southwestern Kane County are impacted by the warning.
The storm, located near Mendota, is traveling east at 40 miles per hour, with wind gusts of up to 70 miles per hour and quarter size hail. Heavy rains and localized flooding are also possible with these storms.
10:47 p.m.: Tornado Warning Issued for Parts of DuPage, Cook Counties
A new tornado warning has been issued for parts of DuPage and Cook counties in northeastern Illinois, according to the National Weather Service.
According to the alert, northeastern DuPage County and northeastern Cook County are affected by the warning.
Doppler radar has indicated rotation in the storm, which was located near Itasca at 10:46 p.m. The storms are moving to the east at 30 miles per hour.
Residents are urged to take shelter in the affected areas immediately.
10:43 p.m.: Tornado Warning Issued for Parts of Kane, DuPage Counties
The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for parts of Kane and DuPage counties until 11:15 p.m.
According to the alert, southern Kane and northwestern DuPage counties are impacted by the warning.
A storm, located near North Aurora, is showing rotation in radar images, according to the NWS. The storm is moving to the east at 40 miles per hour.
All residents in the affected area are urged to seek shelter immediately.
10:41 p.m.: Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for Parts of DuPage, Cook Counties
A severe thunderstorm warning has now been issued for northern DuPage and northern Cook counties until 11:30 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.
According to the alert, the storm, located over Roselle and near Hanover Park, is moving to the east at 35 miles per hour.
Wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour, along with heavy rains and frequent lightning, have been reported with the storm.
Chicago, Elgin, Cicero, Evanston, Elmhurst and Lombard are all among the communities potentially impacted by the storm.
10:36 p.m.: More Than 1,500 ComEd Customers Without Power
While power outages haven’t become a significant issue Sunday night, there are some ComEd customers in the dark, as more than 1,500 are without power.
According to the utility, 430 of those customers are located in Winnebago County, with another 374 in Lake County.
A line of strong-to-severe thunderstorms is moving through the area, tracking eastward at 45-to-50 miles per hour. Wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour, along with frequent lightning, have been reported.
More information can be found on the ComEd outage website.
10:23 p.m.: Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for Kane County, With 'Weak Rotation' in Storm
A new severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Kane County until 11:15 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.
The storm, located near Hinckley, is moving east at 40 miles per hour. Ping pong ball-sized hail and 60 mile per hour wind gusts have been reported with the storm.
NWS also says that "weak rotation" has been seen on radar in the storm, raising the possibility of a tornado warning in the area.
Residents are urged to move to an interior room on the lowest floor of their building.
10:14 p.m.: Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for DeKalb County
A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for all of DeKalb County until 10:45 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.
According to models, a severe storm is located near Rochelle, moving to the east at 50 miles per hour. A second severe thunderstorm is located near Waterman, and is moving to the northeast at 45 miles per hour.
Wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour, along with frequent lightning and heavy downpours, have been reported with these storms.
DeKalb, Sycamore and Sandwich are among the communities that could potentially be impacted by the storm.
10:05 p.m.: Thunderstorm Line Tracks Eastward Across Illinois
The National Weather Service has posted updated forecasts and models, indicating that a line of thunderstorms moving through the area is continuing eastward at 40 miles per hour.
Plenty of lightning and heavy downpours have been reported, and wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour have been reported with these storms.
Forecasters have not ruled out the possibility of an isolated tornado, but none have been reported, and no tornado watch is currently active.
9:40 p.m.: Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued for Most of Northern Illinois, Northwest Indiana
A severe thunderstorm watch has now been issued for a massive swath of northern Illinois and northwest Indiana, and will remain in effect until 2 a.m., according to the National Weather Service.
In Illinois, McHenry, Lake, Kane, DuPage, Cook, Kendall, Grundy, Will and Kankakee counties are all impacted by the watch.
In Indiana, Lake, Porter, Newton and Jasper counties are also impacted, according to the National Weather Service.
Strong-to-severe thunderstorms are beginning to fire in western Illinois, with gusty winds, torrential downpours and the threat of large hail and even isolated tornadoes, according to forecast models.
9 p.m.: Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for Ogle County
A severe thunderstorm, located over Lanark, triggered a severe thunderstorm warning just after 9 p.m.
The storm, packing 60 mile per hour wind gusts and quarter-size hail, was proceeding to the east at 40 miles per hour.
The storm moved out of the area just before 10 p.m., and the warning was allowed to expire.
Timeline of Events in the Area -
Sunday Evening/Night:
A wave of storms could potentially develop as a cold front begins to work its way into the area, with forecast models suggesting the possibility of severe weather.
The exact timing of the front’s arrival is still unknown, but it could arrive any time after 9 p.m., according to the NBC 5 Storm Team.
The wave of showers and thunderstorms could produce heavy downpours, localized flooding, large hail, gusty winds, and isolated tornadoes.
Monday and Beyond:
After the earlier front moves through the area, a cooldown awaits cities throughout the Chicago region. While highs could approach 90 degrees on Sunday, highs on Monday will likely climb only into the low-to-mid 70s, below their seasonal averages for the latter part of June.
Those cooler temperatures will likely stick around Tuesday as well, with highs climbing back into the 80s by Wednesday. Even warmer temps, along with another chance of thunderstorms, could pop into the forecast by Thursday.
