CHICAGO (WLS) — On Monday afternoon, the Chicago area was rattled by severe weather systems, with tornado warnings sweeping through multiple regions.
Residents of Kankakee County are currently under a Tornado Warning, which will remain in place until 5 p.m.
Additionally, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued affecting the counties of Grundy, Kankakee, and Will. This alert is expected to last until 4:45 p.m.
In LaPorte County, residents should brace for severe thunderstorms, with warnings extending until 5:15 p.m.
Cook and DuPage counties are not spared from these weather conditions either, as a Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect until 5:30 p.m.
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for Lake and Porter counties in Indiana until 5:30 p.m.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for Cook, DuPage, Kankakee, Lake and Will counties in Illinois and Benton, Jasper, Lake, Newton and Porter counties in Indiana until 7 p.m.
There is a Flash Flood Warning for Cook County until 5 p.m.
There is a Flash Flood Warning for Kendall and Will counties until 6:45 p.m.
Two contractors are trapped in a storm sewer in Downers Grove, village officials said.
Police were flagged down about 12:50 p.m. in the 800-block of Curtiss Street.
Downers Grove fire crews are working to rescue them, officials said.
Ground Stops are in effect at O’Hare and Midway.
There were about 440 flights canceled at O’Hare as of 4 p.m. About 50 flights were canceled at Midway.
Delays at both airports were about 90 minutes.
ComEd said nearly 300,000 customers were without power at around 3 p.m.
Nearly 30,000 NIPSCO customers are affected.
The CTA Purple Line train is suspended due to debris near Central, the CTA said just before 2 p.m.
The No. 201 Central/Ridge bus is still running.
Shuttle buses are available from Howard to Linden to provide connecting service through the affected area.
The Yellow Line is also suspended due to debris on the tracks near Dodge.
The No. 97 Skokie bus is still running.
Shuttle buses are available from Howard to Skokie.
The village of Burr Ridge offices are closed Monday due to a power outage.
Storms began moving in late Monday morning, with quarter-size hail reported in some suburbs such as Clarendon Hills and potentially baseball-size hail in Bolingbrook.
Radar was indicating rotation near the Darien area around 12:15 p.m. At about 12:38 p.m., the storm was moving near Orland Park.
Orland Park police asked residents to stay inside amid traffic lights out, trees and wires down and flooding.
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Wheaton officials also said crews were responding to localized flooding and fallen trees.
Wilmette officials said storms have downed trees there as well.
In Wisconsin, the National Weather Service confirmed a tornado in Winnebago County, about 90 miles northwest of Milwaukee.
The twister was moving over Lake Winnebago and moving southward toward Fond du Lac County around 12:25 p.m., the National Weather Service said.
Images posted to social media showed extensive damage in Appleton, including homes stripped of roofs and siding, cars flipped over and streets littered with tree limbs.
In Menasha, the electric utility said the entire city of about 18,000 people is believed to be without power because of a downed transmission line.
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There is a Flood Warning for the Little Calumet River at Munster until 1 p.m. Tuesday.
There is a Flood Warning for Cook County and Lake County, Indiana until 1 p.m. Tuesday.
In Little Village, cars were getting stuck in flooded streets Monday.
At one point a suburban man said the water was up to the window of his black Lexus sedan near California Avenue and 31st Street. He said he thought he could make it. His brother spoke for him.
“He just couldn’t move his car like off now; I think the engine is broken because of water. The water was tough on his window,” Ousame Sidi said.
Melissa Mosqueda was getting a ride to work from her boyfriend, and even in their Jeep their engine was steaming after getting through the viaduct.
“It’s really bad right now; the weather is crazy. The traffic, all the bridges are full of water,” Melissa Mosqueda said.
Heat index values in western parts of the Chicago area could exceed 110, while the rest of the area could see heat index values more than 100, ABC7 AccuWeather meteorologist Tracy Butler said.
An Extreme Heat Warning is in effect for DeKalb, Grundy, La Salle and Livingston counties until 9 p.m. Monday.
A Heat Advisory is in effect for Boone, Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will counties in Illinois and Lake, Newton, Jasper and Benton counties in Indiana until 9 p.m.
How to stay cool in Chicago area amid rising temperatures this summer: LIST
A Beach Hazards statement is in effect until 10 a.m. Wednesday at Lake Michigan beaches.
A reminder during this heat: Community cooling centers are open.
You can also cool off at Chicago Park District facilities, public libraries and police stations.
Seniors are welcome at any city senior center.
To request a well-being check, call 3-1-1.
Cooling centers are also open across the suburbs.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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