Thousands Lose Power as Thursday Storms in Chicago Topple Trees and Power Lines

CHICAGO (WLS) — Thousands woke up without power on Friday morning in the Chicago area after storms moved through the area.

The National Weather Service issued a Tornado Watch and Severe Thunderstorm Warning for numerous counties in Illinois and northwest Indiana on Thursday evening. These warnings have now expired.

Clean up began since Thursday night for city and sububran public works.

ComEd said more than 47,000 woke up without power on Thursday.

In Gardner, Illinois, the fire chief says damage was extensive and repairs could take several days.

The severe weather caused trees to fall on Chicago’s Northwest and Southwest Sides, as well as further north in the Round Lake area where firefighters were actively working.

The worst of the fast-moving storms moved through between 4 and 8 p.m., ABC7 Chicago meteorologists said.

Record-breaking heat

On Thursday, temperatures reached 95 at Midway Airport and 93 at O’Hare Airport; breaking the previous record high of 91 degrees.

In light of the severe weather, Beyoncé’s “COWBOY CARTER TOUR” concert, scheduled to begin at Soldier Field at 7 p.m. on Thursday, was postponed until at least 9 p.m., according to a spokesperson for Soldier Field.

Friday will be very windy, with a high risk of spreading brushfires. Winds could gust above 45 mph.

Highs on Friday will be in the mid to upper 80s again.

Wisconsin Tornado

A tornado touched down Friday night in Dodge County, Wisconsin.

Damage was left in the area, which is about 60 miles northwest of Milwaukee.

The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office said Juneau and Mayville were the hardest hit.

Shelters were set up for people who no longer have a home.

A confirmed tornado moved through far western Wisconsin near the border with Minnesota.

Cook County Radar | DuPage County Radar | Will County Radar | Lake County Radar (IL) | Kane County Radar | Northwest Indiana Radar