High Winds Crack High Rise Window, Close Downtown Streets
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The City of Chicago said high winds sent some debris raining down from at least one building in the Loop - and forced closure of several streets - possibly until 6 p.m. Thursday evening.
Tourists took the high wind in stride. WBBM's Steve Miller reports.
"It's a little much, but I'm OK with it."
The street closures started shortly after 2 a.m. when a window cracked at 155 N. Wacker, according to Chicago Police.
As of 5:30 a.m., Randolph was closed between Wacker and Wells, police said. Franklin was also closed near the intersection with Washington.
And the yellow caution tape rattled in the wind like a rattlesnake.
But still, people walked under it.
"Why don't they have somebody out here saying, 'Hey, you can't come through here,' - other than just having it roped off? Because everybody's ignoring it.
"If they really didn't want us in here, they would have somebody posted out here and say, 'Hey, you can't come in here.'"
Chicago's Office of Emergency Management and Communications said there were no reports of injuries.
The National Weather Service issued a high wind warning in Chicago until 4 p.m. Thursday. Winds of 30 to 40 mph could have gusts of 50 to 60 mph, leading to property damage, making for difficult driving and causing high waves along the Lake Michigan shoreline.
The Willis Tower Skydeck was closed for at least part of the morning - because of high winds - but reopened in the early afternoon.
(CBS Chicago & Sun-Times Media Wire attributed to this copy. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)