Chicago hit by severe storms as 500,000+ lose power, flights halted

Severe storms swept through Chicago and parts of the Midwest on Tuesday, leaving over 500,000 residents without power, grounding flights and causing extensive damage, according to PowerOutage.us. Lake and Porter counties in Indiana and Will County south of Chicago were among the hardest-hit areas. The storms brought torrential rain and winds up to 99 mph (159 kph), with a gust of 99 mph recorded in Gary, Indiana.

Preliminary reports suggest the storm system, which moved from Iowa into Indiana, qualified as a derecho, a long-lasting windstorm capable of causing damage similar to tornadoes.

Photos and videos from the Chicago suburbs and Indiana showed fallen trees, flooded roads, debris and homes with severely damaged roofs. In Orland Park, staff at Midwest Animal Hospital rushed to secure their facility as winds surpassing 70 mph tore parts of the roof away, leaving debris scattered and gutters damaged. Portage, Indiana, saw the most severe destruction, according to the local police chief, with schools canceling classes due to the extent of the damage.

The storm forced the cancellation of classes in parts of Chicago and northwestern Indiana, with some areas warning of further disruptions as crews assess damage and restore power. Ohio also felt the impact, with nearly 290,000 customers left without electricity. In Roseville, Ohio, one person died during a health emergency when flooding prevented first responders from reaching them, according to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.

Dayton, Ohio, reported 2.07 inches (5.25 cm) of rain in a single day, breaking a rainfall record set in 1915. Forecasters warned that additional rounds of heavy rain could lead to further flooding across the Ohio Valley through early Friday.