A wave of violent storms and multiple tornadoes swept across Illinois on Thursday evening, adding to a multiday outbreak of severe weather hitting the Midwest hard.
The National Weather Service issued a rare “particularly dangerous situation” alert Thursday evening for north-central Illinois, between Peoria and Chicago, warning of a large and destructive tornado moving through the region.
Illinois State Police confirmed that a tornado touched down within the city limits of Streator, a town of roughly 12,000 residents located about 80 miles southwest of Chicago.
Significant damage was reported across the area, with police responding to downed power lines and gas leaks as crews worked to secure the affected zones.
To help residents cope with the aftermath, a family reunification center was set up at Streator City Hall, offering support to displaced families and those separated during the chaos.
The storm’s impact extended far beyond Streator. At the height of the severe weather, more than 1,400 flights across the country were canceled, with Chicago bearing the brunt of the disruption.
In a dramatic moment, the air traffic control tower at Chicago’s Midway Airport was evacuated after a tornado warning was issued for the area.
Authorities say the danger isn’t limited to Illinois — more than 90 million people from the Plains to the Great Lakes and into the Northeast remained under a severe weather alert Thursday.
This marks the second consecutive day of destructive weather battering the Midwest. In the 24 hours before Thursday’s storms hit, 16 tornadoes were already reported across five states — Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, and Illinois.
Forecasters at the NWS Storm Prediction Center raised Thursday’s risk level to a 4 out of 5 “moderate risk”, covering eastern Iowa, north-central Illinois, and far southern Wisconsin — including major cities like Chicago, Peoria, Davenport, Cedar Rapids, and Kenosha.
