Storms Moving In; Hot, Humid Afternoon On Tap
Some potentially strong thunderstorms were bearing down on the Chicago area Thursday morning, and could bring torrential rain, frequent lightning strikes, and winds of up to 50 mph.
Watch CBS News
Some potentially strong thunderstorms were bearing down on the Chicago area Thursday morning, and could bring torrential rain, frequent lightning strikes, and winds of up to 50 mph.
Heavy rains have caused major flooding across much of the Chicago area overnight, especially in the southwest suburbs, where at least two school districts were forced to cancel classes at all its schools.
Several inches of rain fell across the Chicago area overnight, particularly on the South and Southwest sides, prompting road closures and CTA delays.
Parts of the Eisenhower Expressway were closed for more than four hours and part of the CTA's Blue Line was shut down temporarily early Tuesday because of flooding from storms.
High waves on Lake Michigan have prompted a warning for boaters and swimmers, due to potentially deadly currents on the water.
Hot and humid conditions in the Chicago area on Tuesday could spark a severe thunderstorm by the end of the day, before giving way to much milder conditions on Wednesday.
Residents in much of Chicagoland typically ride out a tornado warning for anywhere from 45 to 60 minutes, according to data from the National Weather Service.
As of late Tuesday morning, the official temperature in Chicago was only 64 degrees, which is the normal low for mid-July. The average temperature for July 15 is 74 in Chicago, and the normal high is 85, according to the National Weather Service.
Monday's deluge resulted in isolated flooding, but four Chicago area rivers remain near their flood stage, according to the National Weather Service.
Tens of thousands of homes and businesses in the Chicago area were still without power Wednesday morning, more than a day after two severe storms pummeled the region.
Last night's storms were the equivalent of a boxer throwing a stiff jab followed by a devastating hook.
The NWS confirms two brief EF-1 tornadoes occurred Monday evening, with one near the town of Earlville and the second in Plainfield.
A line of severe thunderstorms hit the Chicago area Monday, causing power outages, flight cancellations and delays and other problems. By late Monday, a second wave of storms was expected.
CBS 2 Meteorologist Ed Curran reports a tornado watch had been issued for several counties in northern Illinois early Tuesday, but it was later cancelled several hours earlier than scheduled as the system fell apart in Illinois, and the heaviest storms moved into Wisconsin.
Though some of the flooding from Monday's thunderstorms has receded, the Des Plaines River was still overflowing its banks on Wednesday, and the North Branch of the Chicago River was near flood stage in some areas, with more rain on the way Wednesday evening.
Heavy rainfall from a series of thunderstorms that moved through the Chicago area on Monday and early Tuesday left several roads impassable, and many basements flooded, especially in the northern suburbs, where the rain was heaviest.
After the storms swept through the area, nearly 9,000 ComEd customers in the west, southwest and south suburbs were left without power, according to ComEd. The majority of outages were reported near Harvey in Blue Island, where more than 6,300 customers were without power Sunday night.
Researchers looked at 60 years worth of climatological data from the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center, and found tornadoes touch down most often in "transition zones" – areas where a dramatic change in landscape takes place.
Monday night's snowfall dropped 1.4 inches at O'Hare International Airport, pushing the seasonal total to 82 inches, just shy of the 2nd most seasonal snowfall for Chicago – when 82.3 inches fell in the winter of 1977-78.
Here is the latest guidance from the National Weather Service: It will snow tonight.
Snowfall beginning Monday afternoon could snarl the evening commute and drop up to an inch of snow, following a weekend of rollercoaster weather for Chicagoans.
Even from miles above the Earth's surface, it was clear this winter was one of the most severe we've ever experienced, and not just for Chicago.
This winter officially became the 3rd snowiest on record for Chicago on Wednesday, when 3.6 inches fell at O'Hare International Airport, bringing the season's total to 79.1 inches.
This winter moved up another notch on the list of snowiest winters in Chicago overnight, when more than 3 inches fell at O'Hare International Airport, making the total snowfall this winter the third most on record.
Lake Michigan set a new record for ice coverage over the weekend, when ice levels reached 93.29 percent.
The Obama Presidential Center is opening June 19 — Juneteenth — and tickets will go on sale soon.
Thieves stole an ATM in a crash-and-grab burglary at a BP gas station in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood early Monday.
A busy intersection where Chicago meets suburban Cicero, Illinois, was shut down early Monday after two police officers were injured in a crash.
A boil order has been issued for part of the southwest Chicago suburb of Hickory Hills.
A rally was set to be held in Daley Plaza Monday for a Chicago woman accused of killing her abusive boyfriend in 2022.
A U.S. crew member who went missing when an F-15E fighter jet was shot down over a remote area of Iran has been rescued by U.S. forces.
President Trump ordered the Department of Homeland Security to find a way to pay "each and every employee" of the agency.
The Illinois Accountability Commission is asking the federal officials who ran Operation Midway Blitz to testify at two hearings on federal agents' tactics during last year's immigration crackdown in Chicago.
Officials from 23 states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit seeking to block President Trump's executive order that aims to restrict mail voting.
A federal judge on Friday rejected efforts by the Justice Department to revive two subpoenas it served to the Federal Reserve.
A passenger on an American Airlines flight from New York to Chicago has been charged with making a false bomb threat that forced an emergency landing at Detroit Metro Airport last month, according to a federal criminal complaint.
Skyrocketing property taxes continue to be a hot-button issue in Cook County — particularly since last fall, when many residents saw their tax bills increase by 100% or more.
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias this weekend issued a warning about a surge in text messages that falsely claim to come from his office or the DMV within it.
Tenants at a South Loop luxury high-rise that has been plagued with problems like broken elevators are vowing to fight five-day eviction notices.
It's become an annual March Madness tradition at CBS Chicago, pitting our city's best eateries in direct competition in a foodie bracket challenge. We did pizza, we've done Italian beef, we've done Chicago dogs. This year, we're taking flight with wings.
Allergy season is here, and the dreaded pollen can trigger sneezing, congestion, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
Northwestern Medicine and the American Red Cross teamed up for a community blood drive in Chicago on Monday morning.
Ending domestic violence is the goal of groups and advocates all over the world, and some experts in Chicago say it is time to become less reactive and more proactive when it comes to the people causing harm.
A new Iowa law bans local nondiscrimination protections on the basis of gender identity after the state became the first in the U.S. to roll back its civil rights code last year.
Food containing norovirus may smell and taste normal but still cause serious illness if consumed, FDA warns.
A new restaurant has joined the busy stretch of Halsted Street toward the south end of Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood that is also home to Alinea and Boka.
The federal government is suing Illinois, Connecticut and Arizona over efforts to regulate prediction market operators such as Kalshi and Polymarket.
The owners of the popular Uncommon Ground restaurant, live music venue, and brewery in Chicago's Wrigleyville community announced this week that they're looking for a successor to take over the business.
Chicago consistently ranks in the top three cities in Fortune 500 company headquarters, and now a competition has been launched to build on Chicago's power in business.
The flagship Ann Sather restaurant on Belmont Avenue in Chicago's Lakeview community will be moving later this year, a restaurant representative said Tuesday.
"Beverly Hills, 90210" actress Tori Spelling was involved in a two-car crash in Temecula on Thursday night, according to her manager and Riverside County Sheriff's Office officials.
Chicago blues legend Muddy Waters' birthday is Saturday, and in his memory his eldest son is putting on a concert in Chicago.
A federal judge in New York has tossed out actor Blake Lively's sexual harassment claims against actor Justin Baldoni over their roles in the movie "It Ends With Us," but left intact a claim for retaliation.
Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane was lured to a Dallas studio for a meeting, then allegedly kidnapped and robbed by a group including rappers Pooh Shiesty and Big30.
When Jean-Luc Godard's "Hail Mary" opened in Chicago on April 4, 1986, it drew a throng of angry protesters who considered the film an affront to their faith.
Thieves stole an ATM in a crash-and-grab burglary at a BP gas station in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood early Monday.
The unnamed “Spaceballs” sequel is due in theaters April 23, 2027, two months shy of the original “Star Wars” parody’s 40th anniversary.
The Obama Presidential Center is opening June 19 — Juneteenth — and tickets will go on sale soon.
A busy intersection where Chicago meets suburban Cicero, Illinois, was shut down early Monday after two police officers were injured in a crash. Derek Peters reports from CBS Skywatch.
Have you ever had a long to-do list, but for some reason, also had a burning need to clean your entire house first? It turns out not to be that bad an idea for clearing your mind, as Dr. Debra Kissen with Light on Anxiety tells Marie Saavedra.
A busy intersection where Chicago meets suburban Cicero, Illinois, was shut down early Monday after two police officers were injured in a crash.
Thieves stole an ATM in a crash-and-grab burglary at a BP gas station in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood early Monday.
In March 2021, in Little Village, a police officer chased Adam Toledo on foot after shots were fired on a street corner.
The Obama Presidential Center is opening June 19 — Juneteenth — and tickets will go on sale soon.
A boil order has been issued for part of the southwest Chicago suburb of Hickory Hills.
A Morgan Park family is still in shock after a staggering 300% spike in their latest property tax bill, and the man poised to take over as Cook County Assessor at the end of the year says it's an error he wants to make sure doesn't happen again.
Researchers at the University of Chicago have built a "self-driving" lab that uses robotics and artificial intelligence to accelerate work that would take humans weeks or months to complete.
Johnson said the position was temporary, but when the chief homelessness officer was first appointed, she told CBS News Chicago that her role was funded for three years, not two.
A former stand-out college football star with a criminal history has been convicted of sexually abusing foster children who were in the care of a Chicago facility at the center of a massive investigation.
Two more women have filed lawsuits against Massage Envy, accusing the company of failing to protect them against sexual assaults by two of their therapists.
Dansby Swanson hit a two-run homer and Matt Shaw and Happ added solo shots for Chicago in Game 2.
The Bulls missed four shots on their next possession, including three straight at point-blank range by Leonard Miller, before Booker made a 3 to make 117-108 with 1:33 remaining.
Amaya's hard shot to right-center field off Connor Brogdon (2-1) scored pinch-runner Dylan Carlson from second base.
Miguel Vargas had an RBI triple, and Lenyn Sosa and Austin Hays each drove in a run as the White Sox opened 3-0 at home for the first time since 2004.
UCLA finished the season 37-1 by defeating the three-time national champion South Carolina Gamecocks.
Thieves stole an ATM in a crash-and-grab burglary at a BP gas station in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood early Monday.
A man shot and killed someone who came into his home and started charging at him in Chicago's South Deering community, police said early Monday.
A man was due in court Sunday after being arrested and charged with hitting a woman with a vehicle last week and then running off in Chicago's South Austin neighborhood.
A man was stabbed to death in a fight in Chicago's Washington Heights neighborhood early Sunday morning.
Two people were injured early Sunday in a shooting on the Bishop Ford Freeway alongside Chicago's Pullman community.
