Chicago First Alert Weather: Severe thunderstorms move on after bringing damaging winds

CHICAGO (CBS) — Parts of the Chicago area saw downpours and dangerous winds late Wednesday as severe storms passed through.

A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for parts of DuPage, Kendall, and Will counties Wednesday afternoon, but was allowed to expire at 4:45 p.m. A storm system also worked its way northeast into the city of Chicago just in time for the afternoon rush.

Scattered showers will persist through the evening. Although an isolated storm could still produce a wind gust above 45 miles per hour, the area-wide severe weather threat had ended by 6:15 p.m.

The severe storms are the result of a cold front colliding with the very warm air in place.

The NWS also issued a Special Marine Warning for the Lake Michigan shoreline from the Wisconsin state line through Northwest Indiana. Wind gusts of nearly 50 knots are expected, and small watercraft could be damaged.

Wind gusts of more than 50 mph were reported at O’Hare International Airport late in the afternoon

The storms Wednesday afternoon brought strong and damaging winds. A tree fell at 167th Street and California Avenue in south suburban Markham, blocking 167th Street from Kedzie Avenue to the Tri-State Tollway. A tree also came down at 88th Street and Luella Avenue in Calumet Heights.

A semi-trailer truck was also knocked over by the wind just outside of Peotone.

Severe weather may also have been to blame for leaving mess at a construction site on the city’s West Side. A building under construction was reduced to a mess of boards Block-It house wrap on Jackson Boulevard near Washtenaw Avenue.

Storms may to blame for West Side building collapse

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There were no injuries, and no workers were on site at the time.

An isolated tornado was also deemed possible Wednesday, but no tornadoes developed.

Overnight, expect a clearing sky with falling temperatures and gusty west winds. Lows will be in the upper 30s.

A Wind Advisory is in effect for Thursday as wind gusts as high as 50 miles per hour will be possible. It will be partly cloudy and much cooler for Thursday afternoon with highs only in the low 50s.