Severe storms and multiple tornadoes caused widespread damage across several Midwestern states throughout Wednesday and Thursday. The National Weather Service reported more than a dozen tornadoes across northern Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, and Illinois on Wednesday, with trees and utility wires reported down across the region.
The destructive weather continued into Thursday evening and overnight, with more than a dozen tornadoes tearing through towns across Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. At least three tornadoes specifically struck communities outside Chicago on Thursday, leveling and shredding homes while ripping down trees and power poles.
These severe storms resulted in significant infrastructure failures, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of customers across the Midwest and Northeast. The weather also caused damage to buildings and led to the cancellation of flights.