Chicago tornado: Warning issued for Will, DuPage, Cook and Lake counties; ground stop in effect at O’Hare Int'l Airport
The National Weather Service (NWS) on Tuesday issued a tornado warning for the Chicago area, advising residents to seek shelter as a series of thunderstorms is anticipated to bring strong winds and heavy rainfall to the region.
The warning encompasses Will, DuPage, Cook, and Lake counties and will remain in effect until mid-morning. Additionally, a severe thunderstorm watch is active until 2 p.m. for northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana.
Chicago tornado: O’Hare International Airport flights departure impacted
Due to the storms, departures from O’Hare International Airport have been halted, as announced by the Federal Aviation Administration. This ground stop is currently in place until 11:15 a.m., although it may be prolonged.
The Federal Aviation Administration has also implemented a ground stop at Midway Airport until 11:30 a.m.
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Kevin Donofrio, a meteorologist with the NWS’ Chicago station, stated that the agency is observing a system of thunderstorms moving across the Mississippi River and advancing into Illinois.
According to Donofrio, the NWS has already received reports of wind gusts exceeding 60 miles per hour. These winds are anticipated to intensify as they approach the Chicago area, potentially reaching speeds of 70 to 80 miles per hour.
“The winds from the storm can be as strong as those produced by a tornado,” Donofrio stated.
Chicago tornado: Residents warned against potential power outages
People are advised to get ready for potential power outages and significant rainfall, as noted by Donofrio.
The storms are anticipated to arrive in Chicago during the late morning hours, approximately between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., as reported by the National Weather Service.
Residents are also advised to take refuge in a basement or an interior room.
The storms have the potential to generate damaging winds exceeding 75 miles per hour, which may result in heavy rainfall and flooding concerns, as stated by the weather service.
At approximately 10:30 a.m., warning sirens were audible in various neighborhoods of Chicago. By 11:05 a.m., the most intense storms were situated in the southwest suburbs and northwest Indiana, while powerful storms traversing Chicago moved across Lake Michigan.