Chicago area hit by strong storms; tornadoes elsewhere in region
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Showers and thunderstorms developed Thursday evening as a front moved through the area, clobbering downtown Chicago for a short time before sweeping on.
At about 6:40 p.m., a hard rain began pouring in downtown Chicago as lightning bolts flashed to the north. The storm moved on fast, and rain was completely out of the Chicago area by 10 p.m.
But when the storms hit Chicago, winds gusted at 60 mph at Navy Pier. Quarter-sized hail was seen in the Norwood Park neighborhood, while penny-sized hail fell in Niles, Joliet, and Minooka.
Tornado warnings was issued for southeastern Putnam County southwest of Chicago early Thursday evening. A tornado was spotted in Henry – just to the southwest in Marshall County.
The tornado in Henry, Illinois blew apart sheds and barns and snapped power lines.
Late in the afternoon, a tornado warning was issued for in northeastern Green County, and later for northwestern Rock and southeastern Dane counties in Wisconsin – south of Madison. A confirmed tornado hit the ground in that area.
CBS affiliate WISC 3 in Madison reported that as of 6:15 p.m., Alliant Energy reported more than 1,000 customers without power in southern Wisconsin – including 600 near Footville, 200 near Hoover, and dozens of others around Rock County after the tornado was first spotted in Evansville, Wisconsin.
The storms followed an unseasonably warm day.
Earlier in the day, Midway International Airport hit 60 degrees, and O'Hare reached 58 degrees. Clouds increased Thursday afternoon, with showers developing and the potential for stronger storms in the evening.
Behind the storm system, that warm air will remain in place Friday. Under mostly sunny skies, temperatures will climb into the mid to upper 50s, which is more than 20 degrees above normal for early February.
On Friday, a temperature record for Feb. 9 that has stood for 138 years is expected to be broken.
Thursday Night: Showers/t-storms early, then becoming partly cloudy. Breezy. Low 45.
Friday: Mostly sunny, breezy and unseasonably warm. High 57.
Saturday: Clearing skies. High 42.
