A large area of showers and thunderstorms developed Tuesday afternoon after warm sunny skies in the morning. The storms were flowing in a mostly northerly direction just west of the Chicago area near Rockford, but about 3:00 p.m. a band of showers and thunderstorms developed over the south suburbs and moved north and then northeast. Then all storms began to move northeast toward the evening. The storms caused damage in near west suburbs, but only brought dark clouds, some lightning and a downpour to the northwest suburbs.
Showers & t-storms continue to move across northern IL. Should move into metro Chicago area by mid aftn. pic.twitter.com/FNDd4TI5Vp
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) May 31, 2016
Showers & t-storms continue to move thru bringing gusty winds, small hail and torrential downpours. pic.twitter.com/ZERnnpVSlW
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) May 31, 2016
Rain showers with some embedded storms are moving NE over far NE IL & NW IN. Coverage gradually diminishing. pic.twitter.com/usVeh86gEc
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) May 31, 2016
South suburbs, including Willowbrook, Berwyn and Forest Park received wind damage with downed trees. The winds were classified as possibly Straight Line Winds, with wind gusts 50 to 60 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
Residents of the Hinsdale Lake Terrace Apartments on Honeysuckle Rose Lane in unincorporated Willowbrook, DuPage County were evacuated at about 2:40 p.m. after wind blew the roof off the building.
In suburban Forest Park, about six or seven vehicles sustained major damage when winds blew an air conditioning unit off an Ultra Foods store and blew debris off of the Blue Monkey T-shirt store, according to police. Several grocery store patrons nearby were loading groceries in their vehicles at the time, but no injuries were reported. Several trees and branches were also reported down.
In Berwyn, village officials responded to several weather emergencies. One resident said there are several trees down on cars, garages and homes near 16th Street and South Oak Park Avenue. Berwyn’s fire chief reported the storm was a small cell that blew through town quickly.
Planes scheduled to fly to Midway Airport were not permitted to take off from departure cities at about 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. due to severe weather. Delays at Midway were about 20 minutes, while delays at O’Hare International Airport were about an hour by 6 p.m. Tuesday.
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