Tornado Watch for Chicago as millions brace for destructive storms ...

CHICAGO — A line of severe storms with embedded tornadoes raced through northern Illinois, including the Chicagoland area, on Monday evening. The storms also produced hurricane-force wind gusts as the nocturnal tornadoes tracked through the Chicago suburbs. 

Line of severe storms race through Northern Illinois University's campus in Dekalb, IL, on Monday, July 15, 2024. 

(NIU Dept. of Meteorology / FOX Weather)

A tornado was spotted at Chicago O'Hare Airport, and the NWS Chicago said power flashes were seen at Chicago Midway Airport due to a possible tornado. Numerous tornadoes were also reported across the Chicago suburbs. 

Tornado Warning issued for Chicago

 

A line of severe storms continues to barrel across the Midwest, triggering numerous Severe Thunderstorm Warnings within its path.

A Tornado Warning was issued for Cook County, including downtown Chicago, through the late evening hours. 

A Tornado Watch was issued for parts of Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana on Monday evening. 

 

The SPC has placed nearly 11 million people across southern Wisconsin, eastern Iowa and northern Illinois, including Chicago, in a Level 4 out of 5 risk on its 5-point severe thunderstorm risk scale. The SPC said this area is facing an increased risk of tornadoes and damaging winds. 

A wider area across the Midwest was also under the threat of severe weather, including more than 40 million people.  

 

A level 3 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms is possible across a wider area of the Midwest during the day on Monday, including those heading to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin. 

Those living in or traveling to Indianapolis or Detroit should be prepared for the possibility of severe weather.

Widespread wind gusts up to 70 mph are expected, with 95 mph gusts possible in parts of eastern Iowa, southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. 

The FOX Forecast Center said the environment could also favor the development of a derecho.

Be sure to download the free FOX Weather app and enable notifications to receive severe weather alerts and stay up-to-date on any forecast changes.

Tornado sirens wail in Chicago as severe weather sweeps across Midwest on Sunday

The severe weather threat comes after a destructive weekend of storms from the Plains to the Upper Midwest, with numerous reports of severe weather, including a video that showed a tornado spinning across a field in Barney, North Dakota, with wind gusts as strong as a Category 2 hurricane in South Dakota, softball-sized hail in Montana and major damage to buildings south of Chicago.

A video recorded Sunday night shows ominous storm clouds approaching the city while tornado sirens could be heard wailing in the background.

According to a report from FOX 32 Chicago, damage was reported in several communities after the severe weather Sunday night, including a roof that was blown off a home in Maple Park and several trees and large branches that were knocked down in Chicago.

This photo shows major damage left behind after severe weather in Joliet, Illinois, on Sunday, July 14, 2024.

(Joliet Police Department / FOX 32 Chicago)

Earlier in the day, a powerful thunderstorm tore across the city of Joliet to the south of Chicago, leaving extensive damage behind.

Thousands of people were left without power after the storm, and officials say damage was reported at the Rock and Roll Museum in town. In addition, the roof of a building there was torn off and landed in the middle of a road.

On Saturday, heavy rain led to flooding in Rockford, Illinois, which turned fatal after a passenger in a pickup truck became trapped and drowned. 

Over the weekend, the severe weather also produced a tornado in Barney, North Dakota. A video recorded there shows the tornado spinning across a field and kicking up dirt and debris into the air.