Severe storms swept through the Midwest on Monday, July 15, 2024, leaving a trail of destruction and causing widespread power outages in Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana. The National Weather Service reported multiple tornadoes touched down during the evening hours. One woman was tragically killed when a tree fell on her home in Cedar Lake, Indiana.
The storms began in Des Moines, Iowa, where two tornadoes were confirmed by the National Weather Service. The first tornado hit around 7:16 p.m., and the second one touched down at approximately 9:59 p.m. Both tornadoes caused significant damage to buildings and infrastructure.
The storms then moved eastward, reaching Chicago, Illinois, where a tornado warning was issued for multiple areas including O'Hare International Airport. The National Weather Service reported that a tornado touched down near the airport around 10:30 p.m., causing damage to buildings and uprooting trees.
The storms also brought heavy rain, with some areas reporting between two and five inches of precipitation. This led to flash flood warnings in several locations, including Chicago.
Power outages were widespread across the affected areas, with over 460,000 customers and businesses left without electricity as of Tuesday morning. ComEd reported that 80% of their customers should have their power restored by 6 a.m. on Wednesday.
The storms caused significant damage to infrastructure, including downed trees and power lines, which led to numerous road closures throughout the affected areas.
Despite the destruction caused by the storms, there were no further reports of injuries or fatalities as of Tuesday morning. The National Weather Service advised residents in affected areas to stay indoors and avoid travel until conditions improved.
