70 MPH Wind Gusts Leave Path Of Destruction Through Chicago, With More Storms Ahead
Block Club Chicago • • nation
Key Points:
- Strong wind gusts over 70 mph caused fallen trees, downed power lines, and shattered windows across Chicago on Wednesday afternoon amid severe thunderstorms triggered by a fast-moving cold front.
- The storms produced flash flooding in multiple neighborhoods, including the West Side, Austin, and Garfield Park, leading to traffic disruptions, flooded underpasses, and the cancellation of a local flood recovery meeting.
- Nearly 400 flights were canceled at O’Hare and 10 at Midway airports, with significant delays reported, while a Metra train had to reverse due to a downed tree on the tracks.
- Additional severe storms with similar wind speeds are expected around 9 p.m. Wednesday and again Thursday afternoon, with the possibility of tornadoes, before conditions improve by Friday.