More rounds of severe and drenching thunderstorms hit Chicago area
Severe thunderstorm warnings popped off in the greater Chicago area through the evening Thursday.
While the weather quieted down later in the night in Chicago, dangerous weather continued. A tornado warning was issued for central Bureau County until 11 p.m., after a storm capable of producing a tornado was spotted.
Severe thunderstorm warnings have also been issued for parts of Putnam, Henry, and Bureau counties in north central and northwestern Illinois.
This line of storms was also bringing drenching rain and a risk of flash floods, and was expected to hit the more immediate Chicago area through the midnight hour.
Earlier, severe thunderstorm warnings popped up one by one, beginning during the evening rush. These storm systems brought drenching rain to downtown Chicago earlier in the evening.
Events had to be evacuated as the storms approached, including the Windy City Smokeout Country Music and BBQ Festival outside the United Center.
Everyone at the festival was told to leave through the main entrance and shelter in the Malcolm X College parking garage nearby.
At Rate Field, the Chicago White Sox had to postpone their game against the Cleveland Guardians.
In Lake in the Hills, the Rockin Rotary Rib Fest in Sunset Park was evacuated. Around 5:15 p.m., Lake in the Hills police ordered everyone to leave the festival. Police said there were lightning strikes in the area, and told everyone to return to their cars or return home.
The four-day festival is supposed to run through Sunday. Alt 101 had been scheduled to perform at 6:45 p.m.
A concert in Burr Ridge was also canceled.
Southwestern McHenry County was hit particularly hard in the early round of storms, with 50-cent piece-sized hail and 60 mph wind gusts. This storm also had rotation associated with it, and there was concern about a tornado warning, but no tornado warnings were issued.
Power outages and downed power lines were reported in the area of the McHenry County storm.
In the Marengo area, heavy rain and winds toppled trees, blocked roadways, and ripped down power lines. The Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts said River, Millstream, and Garden Prairie roads in unincorporated McHenry County, and Randall Court in Marengo, were blocked.
The fire department urged residents to avoid any downed power lines, and report them immediately to 911 or ComEd.
A flood watch has also been issued through Friday morning for most of the Chicago area — including all of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake and McHenry counties and northern Will County.
A weather alert is also in place for Friday and Saturday for several rounds of storms that could become severe and produce flash flooding in the area.
