March 17--A high wind warning has been canceled for the Chicago area, but the National Weather Service said winds may still be dangerously strong with gusts as high as 50 mph in some places.
The area had been under a warning until 8 p.m., but around 11 a.m. the weather service downgraded it to a wind advisory. The weather service said the high winds could cause property damage and make travel difficult.
The Skydeck on the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower has been closed temporarily because of the high winds. Weather has led to the closure at least two other times this year. It was closed on Feb. 19 and Feb. 24.
As of 3:30 p.m. Wednesday there were 19,000 customers without power in the region due to the high winds, according to a ComEd spokesman. About 600 crews were out working to restore power due to the winds which at its height knocked out power to 55,000 customers, according to the spokesman.
On Tuesday night, thunderstorms and hail raked the region, mostly south and west of the city. A severe thunderstorm watch was canceled just before midnight.
Severe thunderstorms developed in western Illinois early Tuesday evening, with a report of a tornado spotted south of Le Claire, Iowa, on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River near Good Hope, according to the weather service.
In addition, a tornado may have hit Kankakee County, the weather service said. All or part of a silo was blown onto power lines about a mile northwest of the town of St. Anne, though it could not be immediately confirmed whether a tornado was responsible.
The storms produced high winds and dime- to nickel-size hail, according to the weather service.
Thursday will see a chance of showers and highs of about 50. It was expected to get cloudy and cooler Friday, with highs in the mid-40s.
The weekend was expected to start with sunshine but highs only in the low 40s on Saturday. Sunday likely will be partly cloudy, with highs in the mid-40s.
For more information check the Tribune's weather page.
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