High Winds Cause Damage Across Chicago Area

CHICAGO, IL — High winds throughout the Chicago area caused power outages, car crashes and property damage. The Chicago National Weather Service Forecast Office extended its Wind Advisory for northeast Illinois until 6 p.m. Tuesday. The office warned of winds gusting up to 45 miles per hour throughout the region.

According to ComEd, more than 2,000 homes were without power on and off Monday night and Tuesday in Cook County. ComEd warned people to keep a safe distance away from downed power lines and report them immediately by calling 1-800-EDISON-1.

A traffic light was out at the intersection of Canal and Cermak in Chinatown and reportedly caused a car crash that injured two people, police said.

High winds knocked down a canopy at an Alsip gas station late Monday afternoon. Two cars were under the canopy at the time of the collapse but did not appear to be damaged.

NBC 5 reported that winds blew furniture off a high-rise balcony in the 1700 block of South Michigan Avenue, and took out fences near Aberdeen and Randolph. There have been several reports of damaged construction sites in the Loop.

High winds were also suspected to have caused two windows to shatter in the city's Lakeview neighborhood Monday, police said. Clean up crews were on scene after glass fell 14 stories from a high rise at Halsted and Bradley place.

This was a map of power outages throughout Cook County as of 10 a.m. Tuesday:

A fuel tanker truck flipped onto its side near 127th Street and Cicero Avenue in Alsip, however it hasn't been confirmed whether wind was the cause.

Main photo by Patch Editor Lorraine Swanson