Storms Leave Over 500,000 Without Power in Chicago Area

Powerful storms swept across the Chicago area and northwest Indiana on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, leaving more than half a million customers without electricity, causing widespread damage, and shattering state records for severe weather. The intense system brought damaging winds, heavy rain, and tornado warnings, forcing a ground stop at both of Chicago's major airports and prompting emergency declarations in several communities.

The storms, which moved across Illinois from Iowa during the late morning, produced wind gusts up to 100 mph and triggered numerous tornado warnings in counties throughout the region. By early afternoon, more than 280,000 ComEd customers in Illinois and over 280,500 NIPSCO customers in Indiana were without power. The entire town of Schererville, Indiana, lost electricity, and more than 290,000 NIPSCO customers remained in the dark by late afternoon.

Damage was widespread, with reports of trees toppled onto cars, flooded streets, and buildings damaged. In Tinley Park, south of Chicago, several roofs were blown off and windows blown in along and south of 183rd Street. Portage, Indiana, Mayor Austin Bonta signed an emergency proclamation after the storms,...