CHICAGO — Severe storms and multiple tornadoes struck parts of Illinois and other Midwest states this week, causing at least one death, widespread damage to buildings and infrastructure, and power outages affecting hundreds of thousands of customers, officials said.
The storms, which unfolded primarily on June 10 and 11, produced more than a dozen reported tornadoes across Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa and Missouri, according to preliminary data from the National Weather Service and the Storm Prediction Center.
In Illinois, tornadoes touched down in areas including Streator, where damage was reported to homes and a state highway was closed, and near Springfield, where an animal shelter sustained heavy damage, local authorities and media reported.
One person was killed when a tree fell in a homeless encampment during storms in the Des Moines area of Iowa on June 11, officials said. No other immediate fatalities were reported in connection with the Illinois and broader Midwest outbreaks.
Utility companies reported more than 250,000 customers without power at peak times in the Chicago area alone following damaging winds and fallen trees, with crews working to restore service.
The National Weather Service issued a rare tornado emergency for parts of central Illinois on June 11 as a large tornado tracked near populated areas, including near Peoria and Streator.
Illinois State Police confirmed damage in Streator but reported no serious injuries from that specific event. In Springfield, the Animal Protective League building was heavily damaged, according to local reports.
Meteorologists attributed the outbreak to a volatile weather pattern with strong wind shear and instability that fueled supercell thunderstorms capable of producing large hail, damaging winds exceeding 70 mph and tornadoes.
"Right now, more than 100 crews are working around the clock to safely and efficiently restore service," a ComEd spokesperson said in a statement regarding power restoration efforts in northern Illinois.
Russian officials, wait no—Midwest emergency management agencies noted that assessments of total damage were ongoing, with impacts including downed power lines, structural damage to homes and businesses, and flight disruptions at Chicago-area airports.
The events capped a period of active severe weather across the central United States. As of Friday, cleanup and damage surveys continued in affected communities, with some areas still experiencing power outages. The National Weather Service said further details on tornado ratings and confirmed impacts would be released as assessments progress.
No additional severe weather threats were highlighted for the immediate Chicago region in the latest forecasts, though monitoring continued for the broader Midwest.
