More severe storms, damaging winds may hit south suburbs; over 142,000 still without power in Chicago area
<p>As hundreds of thousands of Illinois and northwest Indiana residents remain without power following severe storms that brought at least three tornadoes to the area Tuesday, another threat of severe weather — with potentially twister-like winds — was moving through the area Wednesday. </p><p>A <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/weather/2026/08/12/more-severe-storms-damaging-winds-may-hit-south-suburbs-over-142-000-still-without-power-in-chicago-area" target="_blank" >severe thunderstorm watch</a> was in effect for Joliet, Kankakee, DeKalb until 1 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.
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<p>As hundreds of thousands of Illinois and northwest Indiana residents remain without power following severe storms that brought at least three tornadoes to the area Tuesday, another threat of severe weather — with potentially twister-like winds — was moving through the area Wednesday. </p><p>A <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/weather/2026/08/12/more-severe-storms-damaging-winds-may-hit-south-suburbs-over-142-000-still-without-power-in-chicago-area" target="_blank" >severe thunderstorm watch</a> was in effect for Joliet, Kankakee, DeKalb until 1 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. Severe weather could bring downpours and gusty winds, though the storms may not be as strong as Tuesday’s storms.</p><p>“Most areas are not gonna see severe winds, but if you do, you could see winds as high as 70 miles per hour,” Gino Izzi, a meteorologist with the weather service said.</p><p>Residents in Illinois and northwest Indiana were left reeling from Tuesday's storms, where <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/weather/2026/08/11/severe-weather-expected-in-chicago-area-and-other-areas-of-illinois" target="_blank" >t</a><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/weather/2026/08/11/severe-weather-expected-in-chicago-area-and-other-areas-of-illinois" target="_blank" >hree tornadoes with gusts of 86 to 110 mph</a> were confirmed Tuesday: One in southern Cook County, another in eastern Will County, and the third in the Mokena area, also in Will County.</p><p>In south suburban Mokena, where one of the three confirmed tornadoes hit, winds took down trees and cut power to many homes.</p><p>Rick Johnson, a Mokena resident of more than 30 years, said he’s never experienced so many powerful and destructive storms in a single summer.</p><p>“It’s been an odd year,” he said.</p><p>With more tornado-like conditions approaching the Chicago area and northwest Indiana, here's what you need to know. </p><h3><b>Why are there so many tornadoes in Illinois this year?</b></h3><p>So far this year, Illinois has experienced a record number of tornadoes.</p><p>Meteorologists say multiple rounds of severe weather this spring and summer have contributed to the elevated tornado count.</p><p>Illinois has already broken the state record for most tornadoes in a year.
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- What's the story?
- <p>As hundreds of thousands of Illinois and northwest Indiana residents remain without power following severe storms that brought at least three tornadoes to the area Tuesday, another threat of severe weather — with potentially twister-like winds — was moving through the area Wednesday. </p><p>A <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/weather/2026/08/12/more-severe-storms-damaging-winds-may-hit-south-suburbs-over-142-000-still-without-power-in-chicago-area" target="_blank" >severe thunderstorm watch</a> was in effect for Joliet, Kankakee, DeKalb until 1 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.
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What to know after latest round of tornadoes tear through south suburbs
Sources1TypeCoverageChicago Sun-Times