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Tornado Outbreak Knocks Out 880K Power, Halts O’Hare Flights

8/12/2026

Summary

NWS Tornado Warnings

The U.S. National Weather Service issued tornado warnings for northern Indiana and southwestern Michigan on August 11, 2026.
PowerOutage.us reported 880,232 customers lost power, with Illinois (293,952), Indiana (291,643) and Ohio (178,820) most affected.
ComEd said about 4,100 outages left 263,000 Illinois customers without power and caused a 69% loss in Homewood after the storm.
The Federal Aviation Administration halted departures at O’Hare until 3:15 p.m.
Midway flights resumed by Tuesday afternoon.

Summary

Iowa Under Threat

Heat Advisory is in effect through 8 PM for southeast Iowa, warning of dangerous temperatures.
A flood watch remains active for the region through Wednesday morning as officials monitor water levels.
Forecasts predict downpours of two inches per hour, with some Greater Cincinnati locations expected to receive 3-6 inches of rain by Wednesday evening.
Meteorologists note a low-level jet could generate damaging winds and isolated large hail, adding to the severe-storm threat.

Summary

Officials Urge Shelter

Fayette, Greene, Clark and Madison counties were urged to shelter in a basement after the tornado warning was cancelled, as a thunderstorm warning remained in effect.
Drivers were told not to outrun a tornado, to pull off highways for shelter, or to lie in a ditch and cover their heads.
Officials warned mobile homes are especially vulnerable, expecting roof, window, vehicle and tree damage in southwestern Grayson and Smyth counties.

History

Historical Context

On May 3 1999 an F5 Bridge Creek–Moore tornado ripped through Oklahoma, killing 36 people, causing roughly $1 billion in damage and prompting the National Weather Service’s first tornado-emergency warning. Federal aid and stricter building codes followed. The August 11 2026 storm that battered Indiana, Michigan and Illinois triggered tornado warnings, massive power outages and FAA flight suspensions, underscoring the Midwest’s enduring tornado vulnerability.

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NWS Tornado Warnings

The U.S. National Weather Service issued tornado warnings for northern Indiana and southwestern Michigan on August 11, 2026.
PowerOutage.us reported 880,232 customers lost power, with Illinois (293,952), Indiana (291,643) and Ohio (178,820) most affected.
ComEd said about 4,100 outages left 263,000 Illinois customers without power and caused a 69% loss in Homewood after the storm.
The Federal Aviation Administration halted departures at O’Hare until 3:15 p.m.
Midway flights resumed by Tuesday afternoon.

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