Chicago – August 12, 2026
A powerful line of severe thunderstorms swept across parts of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio on Tuesday, causing widespread damage, power outages and disruptions to travel.
More than 600,000 customers were without electricity at the height of the storms, particularly in the Chicago area and northwestern Indiana. The storms produced damaging winds, heavy rain and suspected tornadoes, while wind gusts reached 99 mph near Gary, Indiana.
Chicago-area airports also experienced significant disruptions as severe weather affected flights. In Ohio, lightning struck the Grafton Reintegration Center, injuring 16 inmates, while flooding created additional hazards for communities across the state. At least one death was reported in Ohio.
Forecasters described the weather as part of a “ring of fire” pattern, in which repeated rounds of thunderstorms develop around a persistent area of heat and high pressure. Authorities warned that additional severe weather and flooding could continue in parts of the Midwest in the coming days.
