At least three tornadoes caused destruction in areas outside Chicago on Thursday. These tornadoes leveled homes and uprooted trees and power lines. Power outages affected hundreds of thousands in the Midwest and Northeast. In Merrillville, Indiana, 33 miles southeast of Chicago, a large tornado led to warnings for residents to seek shelter. The storm left streets blocked by debris, damaged homes, and tore part of a high school’s roof.
Emergency teams responded in Streator, Illinois, another town hit by tornadoes. A reunification center for displaced persons opened at city hall, and the Red Cross provided a shelter. Streator’s Mayor Tara Bedei confirmed no deaths, expressing gratitude for the safety and quick response of emergency personnel.
Severe storms disrupted flights at major airports in Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York. The Northeast and mid-Atlantic experienced high heat and humidity, compounding challenges for many residents.
The storms had started earlier in the week, affecting regions like Des Moines, Iowa. A 54-year-old man in a homeless encampment died when a tree fell during storms.
Tornado warnings were active in Chicago and parts of Indiana and Michigan. In Chicago, a baseball game between the White Sox and the Atlanta Braves was postponed due to rain. In Elkhart, Indiana, Jennifer Hall witnessed a tree limb breaking through her roof during high winds and rain. Hall described facing multiple difficulties, including recovering from surgery and her husband’s absence.
In Unionville, Missouri, Shane Tipton’s daughter, Kylie Rouse, recounted her father evacuating his elderly father from their mobile home before a tornado demolished it. Debris scattered for miles, and they lost a hunting dog.
In Springfield, Illinois, residents suspect a tornado damaged the Animal Protective League shelter. Despite extensive damage, none of the nearly 150 cats and 28 dogs were injured. Community members assisted in providing temporary shelter for the animals.
The storm system, influenced by cool Canadian air and warm southern air, continued moving eastward. In the affected area, high winds and hail left a trail of damage, including at Springfield’s Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport.
The weather service warned of extreme heat and humidity on the East Coast, where records for high temperatures might be surpassed. Philadelphia declared a heat health emergency and activated services to support residents. New York officials urged precautions like staying hydrated and cool. Severe storms halted airport operations in cities like Chicago and New York. Power outages affected places like Pittsburgh International Airport due to an extraordinary power surge. Flight delays and cancellations exceeded a thousand in Chicago.
Commonwealth Edison Company worked on restoring power in northern Illinois, aiming for 80% restoration by late Saturday.
Associated Press reporters Hannah Fingerhut in Des Moines, Iowa, and Gene Johnson in Seattle contributed to this report.