A powerful storm system tore through parts of the Plains and Upper Midwest on Wednesday, bringing intense winds, heavy rain, and even tornado warnings to several areas. Communities south of Chicago braced for impact as severe thunderstorms rolled in, though the storm wasn’t as destructive as the deadly outbreak that hit the South last week.
Millions of people across the Midwest, including those in Chicago, Indianapolis, Peoria, Decatur, and Champaign, were at risk as the system moved through. One of the hardest-hit areas was Gary, Indiana, where winds topping 75 mph knocked down trees, damaged homes, and caused flooding.
City officials confirmed that residents spotted a funnel cloud near 21st Avenue and Hendricks on March 19. Emergency response teams were quickly deployed to assist those affected by the storm.
While meteorologists didn’t expect a historic weather event, signs like “dirty rain” and swirling dust clouds—known as “gustnadoes”—indicated strong winds capable of causing significant damage. Storm tracker Brandon Copic caught one of these gustnadoes on camera near Stanford, Illinois, as tornado-warned storms swept through the area southeast of Peoria.
Several locations, including Hammond, Indiana, and Chicago Heights, were briefly under a tornado warning for a radar-indicated twister. Meanwhile, the first wave of severe weather hit Nebraska and Iowa earlier in the day, bringing a mix of blizzard conditions and even thundersnow.
As the storm continued into the evening, power outages climbed in Nebraska, Kansas, and Iowa. In Lincoln, Nebraska, wind gusts reached 74 mph. Hail also caused major issues, covering highways like Interstate 72 with ice and leading to multiple crashes. Reports from across Illinois described hail the size of pennies and quarters, blanketing grassy areas like an early spring snowfall.
While the worst of the storm has passed, officials continue to assess the damage and assist those affected.
