CHICAGO (AP) — Storms that produced multiple reports of tornadoes ripped through Iowa, Illinois (including Chicago) and Indiana on Monday, downing trees and utility poles and cutting power to more than 460,000 customers and businesses. An Indiana woman was killed when a tree fell on her home, authorities said.
The 44-year-old woman died Monday night in Cedar Lake, Indiana, according to the Lake County Coroner’s Office.
There were some reports of tornadoes, but the main concern was damaging winds in Iowa, Illinois and Indiana, said Roger Edwards, chief forecaster for the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center. Edwards said there were numerous wind gusts ranging from 75 mph (120 kph) to 90 mph (145 kph), with a gust of 101 mph (162 kph) recorded in Ogle County, Illinois.
The National Weather Service confirmed that a tornado struck Des Moines, Iowa, as storms raged through the area Monday afternoon and into the evening, after Des Moines police responded to a call about a power pole that had apparently snapped in two.
The storm then moved eastward into northern Illinois, including the Chicago area, where multiple tornado warnings were issued and strong winds and heavy rain were reported. According to the National Weather Service, multiple tornadoes were reported along the storm’s path through the city, and the service plans to investigate multiple areas as a result.
About 390,000 customers in northern Illinois alone were without power, according to poweroutage.us.
“We are receiving numerous reports of downed power lines throughout the city as a result of this evening’s storm,” the Joliet, Illinois, police department said in an online post Monday night. “Many roads are partially or completely blocked by trees and branches.” Joliet is about 35 miles (56 kilometers) southwest of Chicago.
The National Weather Service in Chicago forced temporary evacuations and later reported extensive damage in the city, with wind speeds in the area reaching up to 75 mph (120 kph).
Flood warnings were also issued for the Chicago area through the early hours of Tuesday morning. No major flood damage had been reported as of Tuesday morning.
Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport reported 81 flight cancellations as of Tuesday morning, and Midway International Airport reported eight cancellations.
