NWS Confirms 5 Tornadoes and Derecho Hit Chicago Area, Leaving Widespread Power Outages
Updated
Updated · WLS-TV · Aug 12
NWS Confirms 5 Tornadoes and Derecho Hit Chicago Area, Leaving Widespread Power Outages
3 articles · Updated · WLS-TV · Aug 12
Summary
Five tornadoes and a derecho were confirmed by the National Weather Service after Tuesday’s storms tore across the Chicago area, with cleanup continuing in south and southwest suburbs.
An EF2 tornado tracked from Monee to Crete, an EF1 ran from Orland Park to Flossmoor, and additional EF1 and EF0 tornadoes were confirmed in Mokena, Wilmington and Oswego; two crossed into Indiana.
Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights lost power and suffered major roof damage, while downed lines blocked roads, reportedly sparked a house fire in Frankfort, and shut Cherie’s Garden Daycare serving 50 children.
Flossmoor and Crete residents said the latest damage came just weeks after earlier storms, with repeated outages forcing businesses to give away food and officials warning against running generators in garages.
The storm system also damaged Tinley Park’s Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, disrupted a West Side 100th-birthday celebration, and has been linked to a deadly house explosion in northwest Indiana.