Chicago Weather: Tornado Touches Down in Kankakee, Flood Watch Active as Storm Hammers the Region
Chicago's overnight storm is not winding down quietly. A tornado confirmed on the ground in Kankakee Tuesday evening kicked off a severe weather outbreak that continues to push northeast — with flood watches, thunderstorm warnings, and a temperature cliff on the other side.
Active Alerts Right Now
A Flood Watch is in effect until 3 a.m. Wednesday for Cook, DuPage, Will, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, and LaSalle counties in Illinois, as well as Lake and Porter counties in Indiana. A Tornado Watch covers Grundy, Kankakee, LaSalle, and Livingston counties in Illinois and Jasper, Newton, Lake, and Porter counties in Indiana until 11 p.m. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is active for Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties until midnight.
A ground stop was in effect at Midway International Airport due to thunderstorms. The earlier ground stop at O'Hare International Airport has been lifted.
Tornado on the Ground in Kankakee
A stovepipe tornado was spotted near the Kankakee Airport, moving toward Aroma Park and then Momence. A separate touchdown was reported at the Kankakee County Fairgrounds. CBS News Chicago meteorologist Kylee Miller, reporting from Kankakee County, confirmed significant damage in the area — including destroyed homes and downed power lines.
The Kankakee County Sheriff's Office confirmed wires are down throughout the county and urged motorists to use extreme caution. Hail damage has also been reported across Kankakee.
Why This Storm Is Particularly Dangerous
The setup is textbook severe weather geography. Cooling temperatures in the 40s across the Chicago metro clashed with near-80-degree air south of Interstate 80, generating the kind of atmospheric instability that produces the worst outcomes.
The entire Chicago area is rated at high risk for flooding and tornadoes, with a medium-to-high risk for wind damage through 1 a.m. Wednesday. The corridor along and south of I-80 and into Northwest Indiana carries a Level 4 severe storm threat — the greatest risk of long-tracked tornadoes.
National Weather Service meteorologist Kevin Doom warned that slow-moving storm cells could repeatedly pass over the same areas overnight, compounding rainfall totals and dramatically raising flash flood risk in low-lying neighborhoods.
What Wednesday Looks Like
The storm clears — but it doesn't warm up. Current conditions show 40°F and moderate-to-heavy rain. Wednesday's high drops to 38°F with a 45% chance of snow. Thursday through Saturday stays in the low-to-mid 40s with additional snow chances each day.
A Small Craft Advisory remains in effect on Lake Michigan through 4 a.m. Thursday, with north-to-northwest winds up to 30 knots and waves reaching 8 to 10 feet Wednesday night. Anyone near the lakefront should stay well clear.
What to Do Right Now
If a Tornado Warning is issued for your location, move immediately to the lowest level of your building or a basement. No basement — get to an interior room away from windows. Do not attempt to drive through flooded roadways. Six inches of moving water can knock a person off their feet; 12 inches can sweep a car away.
Call 311 to report downed trees, broken utility lines, or clogged catch basins across the city. For emergencies, call 911.
