Chicago Tornado Swarm Causes Extensive Property Damage, 172 Canceled Flights

A tornado swarm that tore across Chicago caused significant property damage, 550 flight delays, and 172 flight cancellations.

Tornado Swarm in Chicago

On Wednesday night, a storm system spread several tornadoes across the Chicago metropolitan region, prompting hundreds of travelers at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport to take cover.

Homes and businesses suffered severe damage as a result of the tornadoes.

A sizable and highly destructive tornado touched down in Summit, Illinois, just before 6:30 PM CDT, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Chicago.

The tornado was headed toward Chicago. Chicago's downtown is 10 miles to the southwest of Summit.

The NWS confirmed that a tornado had touched down close to Chicago O'Hare International Airport about 30 minutes later.

The agency issued a warning that more circulations were possible and that the tornado was periodically impacting the ground.

550 Delayed and 172 Canceled Flights

Hundreds of travelers, pilots, flight attendants, and airport employees flocked to the terminal's lowest level as the tornado approached O'Hare International Airport.

According to FlightAware, at least 172 flights were canceled and over 550 arriving and leaving planes were delayed from O'Hare on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, a strong tornado passed dangerously close to the airport, as evidenced by a video posted on Twitter.

As planes waited at the airport's gates, it was possible to view the massive spiraling vortex spinning in the distance.

Nevertheless, there was no tornado damage at either airport, according to Kevin Bargnes, the O'Hare director of communications.

Extensive Property Damage

The tornado sirens on Wednesday night made for a frightening scene for many who resided near downtown Chicago.

Many people who reside in tall apartment complexes were concerned about ensuring that they could find shelter fast.

According to longtime Chicagoan Lynn Becker, who lives in an apartment building with 60 floors, her options are rather constrained.

She assumed everyone would have to enter the center of the structure, according to the Associated Press.

At least 20 to 30 residences in Elgin County, which is roughly 34 miles to the northwest of Chicago, were seriously damaged by the tornadoes on Wednesday, NBC5 Chicago reported.

Several barns and roofs were reported to have been damaged, and numerous trees along with powerlines were reported to have fallen.

The Storm Prediction Center reported damages on a warehouse close to O'Hare International Airport.

In Countryside, Illinois, a community about 15 miles southwest of Chicago, a tornado left a path of damage in its wake.

Many trees had been uprooted, and some houses were lacking their roofs.

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EF1 Tornado

No fewer than three tornadoes touched down throughout northeastern Illinois on Wednesday, according to confirmation from the NWS office in Chicago as of Thursday afternoon.

The survey team identified two tornadoes in Kane County with EF1 and EF0 initial ratings.

Kane County is 33 miles west of Chicago's city center.

The greatest wind speed of the EF1 tornado was 100 mph, whereas the maximum wind speed of the EF0 tornado was 85 mph.

The survey crew also verified a third twister that struck on Wednesday and made its way from Burr Ridge to Stickney, which are loacted in Southwest Chicago.

The tornado was classified as an EF1 by the NWS, and its top wind speeds were 110 mph.

As additional surveys are completed, according to the NWS, more information will become available, Accuweather reported.

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