By Blessing Nweke
Powerful storms swept across the U.S. Midwest on Tuesday, killing at least two people, damaging homes and leaving nearly one million customers without electricity, officials said. The storms brought destructive winds, tornadoes, heavy rain and flooding across parts of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.
One of the fatalities was a 4-year-old child in Jennings County, Indiana, after a tree fell on the family’s home, according to local authorities. In Ohio, another person died after emergency responders were unable to reach the individual during a health emergency because flooding made roads impassable.
The storms caused widespread power outages, with more than 600,000 customers losing electricity in Illinois and Indiana and at least 250,000 more affected in Ohio. Utility crews began working to restore service as residents faced damaged homes, blocked roads and fallen trees.
The Chicago area was among the hardest-hit locations. Two tornadoes were reported south of the city, while a wind gust of 99 mph was recorded in Gary, Indiana. The severe weather also temporarily halted flights at Chicago’s major airports, creating delays for travelers.
Meteorologists said the storm system may have met the criteria for a derecho, a long-lasting line of thunderstorms capable of producing widespread destructive winds. The region is also experiencing a “ring of fire” weather pattern, which can bring repeated rounds of thunderstorms and heavy rainfall.
Officials warned that the threat had not ended. Additional storms and flooding were expected across parts of the Ohio Valley through the week, prompting residents to remain alert and follow local weather and emergency warnings.
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