Severe Storms Hammer Chicago with Damaging Winds, Airport Delays, and Widespread Outages

TNW Breaking News | TNW Weather Center | Wednesday, July 16, 2025

A line of fast-moving severe thunderstorms swept across the Chicago area Wednesday afternoon, triggering damage reports, airport disruptions, and widespread power outages.

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings were issued throughout the metro as the system advanced. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 8 p.m. for Kankakee County (IL) and Lake, Porter, Jasper, and Newton counties (IN), although early cancellation is likely due to the storm’s rapid movement.

Both O’Hare and Midway International Airports experienced ground stops as the storms hit, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Those stops have since been lifted, but delays persist. O’Hare is averaging two-hour ground delays and departure delays of over 60 minutes. Midway is seeing delays near 15 minutes and increasing.

Wind gusts exceeded 60 mph throughout the city, with a peak gust of 67 mph recorded at O’Hare around 3:50 p.m. Numerous reports of downed trees and large branches were received, including a road-blocking tree in Cicero.

ComEd is reporting over 11,000 customers without power across Chicago and nearby suburbs. The highest impact appears to be in western suburbs like Elmhurst, Lombard, and Addison.

According to the TNW Weather Center, the storms intensified rapidly as they approached the urban core, fueled by heat and humidity. Rain began falling downtown just after 3:45 p.m., with heavy downpours, frequent lightning, and rumbling thunder. The storm cell moved quickly, limiting flood risks compared to last week's slower-moving storms.

Temperatures reached the low to mid-90s prior to the storms, with heat index values near 100°F. The storm system will bring a sharp cooldown: Thursday’s highs are expected to top out in the low 70s, with some lakefront areas remaining in the upper 60s — the coolest readings in more than a month.

The cooler air mass behind the storms will also push onshore winds across Lake Michigan. The TNW Weather Center is tracking dangerous wave action and rip currents. A Beach Hazard Statement is expected from Thursday through Friday, warning swimmers and boaters of hazardous conditions along the shoreline.

TNW Breaking News and the TNW Weather Center will continue to monitor any remaining severe threats and provide updates on recovery from Wednesday’s high-impact storms.