CHICAGO — Fallen trees and power lines were reported throughout the Chicago area after strong wind gusts tore through the region Wednesday afternoon — with more inclement weather looming.
The National Weather Service had much of the metropolitan area under a severe thunderstorm warning through 4:30 p.m. Wednesday as a large cold front quickly moved through, producing a short yet violent burst of thunderstorms. Wind gusts hit over 70 mph in some areas, according to the National Weather Service.
People across Chicago shared images of uprooted trees and downed power lines. Some reported that windows shattered in the South Loop and outside furniture was carried away.
Heavy tree damage covered the lawns outside homes near W 116th Place & S Oakley Avenue in Beverly Woods following a wave of strong storms on June 10, 2026. Credit: Stephanie Lulay
Powerful storms downed a tree near Jackson Boulevard and Lavergne Avenue in Austin on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. Credit: Courtesy Princess Shaw
“The storms produced anywhere from 60 to as much as 70-plus mph winds across the area,” National Weather Service meteorologist Kevin Birk said. “That resulted in some sporadic wind damage across portions of the area.”
Wednesday’s “very warm and humid conditions” were fuel for the onslaught of storms, Birk said.
“You get really warm and humid during the daytime, which causes the instability, and you get [a front] to come across the area to cause some lift in the atmosphere, and then all of a sudden you get these thunderstorms,” he said.
After the first round of storms cleared out, temperatures dropped from the high 80s to low 70s, according to the National Weather Service.
Cars drive through flooded streets around the intersection of Washington Boulevard and Homan Avenue in Garfield Park’s namesake park on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. Credit: Courtesy Princess Shaw
The storm also produced flash flooding across the city — including on the West Side, which has been hit with significant flooding in past storms. Extensive flooding was visible near the intersection of West Washington Street and South Homan Avenue, neighbor Princess Shaw said.
Across Austin and Garfield Park, there were areas with standing water, flooded underpasses and downed trees. A fallen tree on Jackson Boulevard between Lavergne and Leamington avenues created major traffic delays and bus reroutes, according to images provided by a neighbor. In Garfield Park, flooding on Washington Boulevard near Homan Avenue posed difficulties for drivers entering and leaving the park’s east end.
Wednesday’s flooding actually prompted the cancellation of a meeting at the Columbus Park Refectory, 5701 W. Jackson Blvd., for a West Side senior flood recovery group.
Shaw said she has been in contact with more than 10 West Siders who have flooded basements from Wednesday’s storms and another 10 to 15 people who lost power.
“In prior years, I never really paid too much attention [to the rain]. … We monitor all of that stuff now,” said Shaw, who is part of a volunteer community outreach team that connects with neighbors on days when flooding is possible. “We pay very close attention to the amount of rain that’s expected by the National Weather Service, to how frequently it’s going to come down.”
Storm damage near W 96th Street & S Damen Avenue in Beverly on June 10, 2026. Credit: Stephanie Lulay
Conditions were also rough on the South Side, where a Rock Island Metra train coming into Beverly from Downtown around 5 p.m. was forced to reverse because of a downed tree on the tracks. Passengers were able to get off at the 91st Street station.
Nearly 400 flights have been canceled at O’Hare as of 7 p.m. Wednesday, with 10 flights canceled at Midway, with delays at both airports averaging well over an hour, according to data from the Official Aviation Guide.
Another line of storms will similar wind speeds will slam the city about 9 p.m. Wednesday, with more storms headed for the region Thursday afternoon, Birk said. Thursday’s storms could even produce tornadoes.
By Friday, conditions will clear up, with highs nearing 80 and lows in the mid-60s.
Heavy storms uprooted a tree near W. 93rd Street and S. Damen Ave. in Beverly on June 10, 2026. Credit: Stephanie Lulay
