Severe storms have unleashed widespread destruction across the Midwest, with new tornadoes touching down in communities outside Chicago on Thursday, June 12, 2026. The powerful weather system knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of customers, damaged buildings, disrupted air travel, and claimed at least one life — leaving a trail of damage stretching from Missouri to Michigan.
Tornadoes Confirmed Southwest of Chicago
The National Weather Service confirmed tornadoes had touched down in Streator and Odell, Illinois — both located southwest of Chicago. Streator, a manufacturing and farming city roughly 100 miles from the city, reported preliminary building damage. The confirmed tornadoes came just a day after the weather service received more than a dozen tornado reports across northern Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, and Illinois on Wednesday, June 10.
Trees and utility wires were downed across the region as the storm system pushed aggressively through the central United States.
What Is Driving the Severe Weather?
According to National Weather Service meteorologist Frank Pereira, the storm system is being driven by a clash of opposing air masses — cool air pushing down from Canada colliding with warm, humid air rising from the South. The frontal system continued moving eastward on Thursday, with the weather service warning of another area of severe weather expected to develop across portions of the central Plains and Midwest.
A slight risk of severe thunderstorms was also flagged for parts of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions as the system moved on.
Massive Power Outages Across the Midwest
The storm knocked out electricity for an estimated 390,000 customers across the Midwest as of Thursday. Illinois bore the brunt of the outages, with nearly 226,000 customers losing power — including around 150,000 in Cook County alone. Michigan saw an additional 85,000 homes and businesses without electricity, according to data from PowerOutage.us.
Commonwealth Edison (ComEd), which serves northern Illinois, confirmed that downed poles and wires were responsible for the widespread outages. The company posted on X that it expected 80% power restoration by Saturday, June 13, at 11 PM.
Building Damage Reported Across the Region
Significant structural damage was recorded in multiple locations. A building in Stickney, Illinois had its roof torn off by the severe storms. Damage was also reported at Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield, Illinois. In Missouri, a home in Unionville was left in ruins after a tornado struck on Wednesday, June 10, with photos showing complete structural destruction.
Chicago Airports Grounded — Flights Canceled and Delayed
Air travel in and out of Chicago took a severe hit. Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Chicago Midway International Airport both temporarily halted all flights on Wednesday evening due to the thunderstorms. More than 1,000 flight delays and cancellations were recorded at Chicago airports combined.
Rate Field in Chicago — home of the White Sox — was soaked before Wednesday night’s scheduled game against the Atlanta Braves, forcing grounds crew to remove standing water from the field.
Fatality Reported in Des Moines, Iowa
In Des Moines, Iowa, a 54-year-old man was killed at a homeless encampment in a city park after a tree broke apart and fell on him during strong storms Wednesday. Police confirmed the death in an official statement. The fatality underscores the life-threatening nature of the multi-day storm system that has swept across the region.
Storm System Continues to Expand East
As of Friday, June 12, 2026, the storm system continues to push eastward. Forecasters warn that residents in the central Plains, Iowa, and parts of the broader Midwest should remain alert for another potential round of severe weather. The National Weather Service emphasized that damaging winds, large hail, and tornado threats remain active concerns.
Residents are urged to monitor local weather alerts, have emergency plans ready, and stay indoors during active warnings.
FAQs: New Tornadoes Touch Down Outside Chicago
Q: Where exactly did the tornadoes touch down near Chicago? A: The National Weather Service confirmed tornadoes in Streator and Odell, Illinois — communities located southwest of Chicago, approximately 100 miles from the city.
Q: How many people lost power due to the Midwest storms? A: Roughly 390,000 customers across the Midwest lost power, with about 226,000 of those outages in Illinois, concentrated heavily in Cook County.
Q: Were any flights canceled at Chicago airports? A: Yes. Both O’Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport temporarily halted all flights Wednesday evening, contributing to more than 1,000 delays and cancellations across Chicago-area airports.
Q: Were there any deaths from the storms? A: At least one death was confirmed — a 54-year-old man in Des Moines, Iowa, who was struck and killed by a falling tree during the storms on Wednesday, June 10.
Q: When will power be fully restored in Illinois? A: Commonwealth Edison stated it expects 80% power restoration by Saturday, June 13, at 11 PM, though complete restoration may take longer in harder-hit areas.
Q: What is causing the severe storms in the Midwest? A: The storms are fueled by cool air from Canada clashing with warm, humid air from the South — a volatile combination that has generated tornadoes, hail, and damaging winds across multiple states.
If you or someone you know was impacted by the tornadoes outside Chicago, share your story in the comments below — and stay updated as this developing weather situation continues to unfold across the Midwest.