The National Weather Service stated that “multiple tornadoes are being produced at the same time by this storm.
As numerous tornadoes were produced by storms that raced throughout the Chicago area on Monday night, many people were advised to seek shelter right once and watches and warnings were issued.
As of 9 p.m., the National Weather Service announced that a “radar confirmed” tornado had been detected close to Sugar Grove and was approaching the Aurora region. Another was confirmed soon after, close to Oswego, and it moved eastward into Plainfield and southern Naperville.
As the storms persisted, numerous more tornadoes were reported.
The National Weather Service said, “This storm is producing multiple tornadoes at the same time.”
All flights to and from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport were suspended “due to tornado” until at least 10:30 p.m. A ground halt was implemented. Metra’s Union Pacific West and Northwest lines saw the suspension of trains due to high wind warning.
As of 9:45 p.m., thousands of power outages were also reported throughout the region.
The National Weather Service had warned of a “complex of destructive storms” approaching northwest Illinois just before to the notice being sent out.
“Have multiple ways to receive warnings tonight and be ready to seek shelter if one is issued for your area,” the organization wrote on X.
The chance of destructive storms increased in the days preceding the arrival of the system, and the Chicago area was already elevated to a moderate risk of severe weather.
A four out of five is assigned to the moderate danger. The area had previously been classified as having a level three out of five danger, or “enhanced” risk.
“This evening, severe thunderstorms are predicted to affect parts of Arizona, the lower Great Lakes, the Midwest, and the central High Plains. The Storm Prediction Center of the National Weather Service stated in its update that the area with the highest chance of severe gusts is across eastern Iowa, extending into Illinois and Indiana.
The region was in danger from wind gusts as high as 85 mph, and widespread gusts over 60 mph were predicted.
Strong to severe thunderstorms were predicted by the NWS to enter the region late on Monday afternoon and last through the evening.
“Damaging winds are expected to be the primary severe hazard, though isolated large hail and a few tornadoes will also be possible,” the National Weather Service stated in an alert. “Torrential downpours may produce flash flooding.”
With “dangerous” heat and humidity levels predicted, particularly in the counties to the west and southwest where the peak “feels-like” temperatures might reach between 105 and 100 degrees, a heat alert was also in effect on Monday.
The NWS stated that the advisory was supposed to end on Monday at 7 p.m.
