Chicago Hit by Severe Thunderstorms, Causing Power Outages and Damage

Severe thunderstorms in the Chicago area caused power outages for about 125,000 customers overnight, with 14,000 homes still without power on Saturday afternoon. Wind speeds reached up to 81 miles per hour, causing damage to power lines in the southern and western areas. ComEd has restored power in 90% of affected homes and expects most remaining outages to be resolved by Sunday afternoon. Emergency facilities are being prioritized for repairs, and residents in life-threatening situations can contact ComEd for priority repairs. The National Weather Service is investigating for possible tornado activity, and a beach hazard warning is in effect due to rip currents along Lake Michigan beaches.