Here are some more amazing photos of the lightning from last night's storms.
Lightning Strikes Again
Heat Wave News Roundup
Yes, we know it's hot. Here are some news links to show how hot it is.
Morning Storm Fells Tree in Logan Square
The sun's out right now and the cleanup from this morning's thunderstorms have begun. Reader Rob Jacob shared some photos of what the storm did in Logan Square. Thunderstorm 1, Tree 0.
615,000 Without Power After Morning Thunderstorms
Watching rain being slammed into an apartment building bby 75 MPH wind gusts is pretty impressive. O'Hare and Midway are reporting delays and over 600,000 ComEd customers are without power.
Storms Leave 270,000 Without Power
ComEd estimated over 273,000 customers were left without power last night. Most of the power outages were in the northern suburbs, with downed trees the culprit.
Chicago Area on Tornado Watch
With today's storms comes threats of tornadoes and snarls in travel. The National Weather service has placed Kankakee, Kendall and Will counties under a tornado watch until 1 p.m., the heavy rains and winds led to 400 flight cancellations at O'Hare Airport this morning, and the bigger storms are on the way this afternoon. Meteorologists are forecasting 60 MPH gusts and golf ball-sized hail in some parts of the area. So glad we work out of the house.
Morning Box Score: Cubs Pounce on Mets, Quentin Powers Sox
Through rain, snow, sleet or hail, the White Sox played through and beat Texas last night.
Missouri Tornado Death Toll at 116
The death toll of 116 from Sunday's tornado makes this the deadliest single tornado in over 60 years. President Obama will survey the damage on Sunday.
Tornadoes Ravage the South
Monster storms and tornadoes roared through the southern United States yesterday, leaving entire neighborhoods razed in their wake and a death toll that currently stands at 173. Alabama appears to have suffered the brunt of the storm, with a death count currently at 128 in Alabama. The death toll is the largest total for a tornado since 1947.
The Polar Express: The Day After
What is understood doesn't need to be discussed. And, if you happened to go outside yesterday, you know that it was pretty bad from about noon through now. But we will share with you what havoc the weather did wreak yesterday, besides raising the heart rates of people who shoveled their sidewalks and driveways (twice right here) or the kids who, like folks at nearby Henry C. Palmisano Nature Park in Bridgeport, took advantage of the weather to toboggan and sled.
This Weekend's Weather: Blech!
Good Evening, crime stoppers! Before we tuck things in for the day we wanted to remind you that everyone with access to Doppler radar, a divining rod, or a window to peek outside is predicting some severe weather through midnight Monday.
Overblown 2010: The Day After
Although things down Bridgeport way were par for the course regarding yesterday's "worst storm in 70 years," other parts of the greater Chicago area weren't so lucky.
Break Out The Duct Tape: "Great Lakes Cyclone" Coming
The weather has really cleared up and been agreeable today after last night's sturm und drang. Apparently this is the intermezzo.
Another Storm Of The Century (Of The Week)
Another round of severe thunderstorms rumbled through the area yesterday evening, causing flooding, street closures, minor damage, heavy traffic delays, power outages, and even spurring a few tornado warnings as sirens across the city wailed. Once the storms moved on, though, we were left with a glowing, golden sky above and a gorgeous rainbow to the east. Enjoy these reader-submitted photos from our Flickr pool and, after the jump, check out amazing video of the storm over downtown shot by reader Craig Shimala.
Extra, Extra
- The severe weather is rolling in just at the thick of rush hour. Be safe.
- Break up the Blackhawks, literally? Rumors are flying that Dustin Byfulgien, Brent Sopel, and Ben Eager could be part of a huge trade sending the trio to Atlanta.
- A big head carp has been found in Chicago's waterway beyond the electric barriers.
Foul Weather Friday
The second round of storms for today has just moved through (the above pics were taken this morning looking north towards Navy Pier) and another round is right behind it. This got us wondering about tornadoes downtown. Last month, our pal Amy Freeze warned us of the possibility and we dug back into our archives for this old Ask Chicagoist post. And, just FYI, the northeast Illinois area is under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 3 p.m. while northwest Indiana is under a Tornado Watch until 7 p.m. (EDT). (Thanks, Lauren!)
Severe Storms Slam City
Over 230,000 ComEd customers are still without power following last night's powerful storms that swept through the area, downing trees and power lines. The Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation had reports of 1,438 damaged trees, 158 malfunctioning traffic signals, 69 damaged street light poles, 112 downed wires, and 212 city blocks without working street lights. The first line of storms pushed through the city shortly after 8 p.m. and were followed by a second, slightly weaker round shortly after 11 p.m. Tornadoes were reported in Schiller Park and in Elmhurst but there were no reports within the Chicago city limits.

