Published: 16:51 BST, 11 August 2026 | Updated: 21:55 BST, 11 August 2026
Roughly five million people across the Midwest were placed under an urgent tornado warning as severe storms tear through the densely-populated Chicago area.
The National Weather Service issued tornado warnings for multiple counties in both Midwest states as extreme winds and heavy rain move through the region on Tuesday, causing flooding and blackouts.
'Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!'
Meteorologist Max Velocity reported that weather stations in Illinois have registered wind gusts exceeding 130 mph.
He added that radar scans made it clear multiple tornadoes had likely touched down in northern Illinois, with the severe weather moving East into Indiana, Ohio and Michigan as well.
'This is an extremely dangerous situation. I cannot stress enough that you have to take shelter. Even if you are not under a tornado, you have to take shelter, even if you are under a severe thunderstorm warning,' Velocity said in a YouTube livestream following the storms.
Drivers in Illinois and Indiana were seen taking shelter under overpasses, which Velocity noted was a potentially deadly mistake, as winds actually get stronger and more dangerous under an overpass.
Torrential downpours and high winds were seen in Indiana at 12pm ET as the tornado warning stretched into Gary, Indiana, just 30 miles from Chicago. Meanwhile, the winds were so strong in Ohio, cars were being blown off the road.
Cameras captured the moment a moving car was flipped by extreme winds in the Ohio area on August 11
National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for the Chicago area on August 11. Approximately five million people were in the path of the supercell
NWS warned residents throughout the area to find somewhere indoors to hide even if you cannot actually see or hear a tornado forming.
'This cluster of thunderstorms is capable of producing tornadoes and widespread significant wind damage. Do not wait to see or hear the tornado. For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building,' the agency wrote.
The widespread supercell, meaning a thunderstorm strong enough to create twisters, has also affected nearby states including Ohio, where roughly 180,000 customers have lost power.
According to PowerOutage.us, more than 300,000 customers have lost power in Indiana, and around 290,000 are in the dark in Illinois as of 1.40pm ET. Another 40,000 customers have lost power across Virginia and West Virginia combined.
