Powerful storms swept across the Chicago area on Friday, leaving more than 70,000 people without electricity and forcing many Fourth of July plans to fall apart. The system brought damaging winds, downed trees, flooding, and widespread cancellations across the region.
Wind gusts reached up to 70 mph with the first line of storms, according to NBC Chicago. The damage stretched from Harvey to Chicago to Sugar Grove and beyond, with trees uprooted across roadways and neighborhoods.
Storm damage spread quickly across the region
In Arlington Heights, police warned residents about downed trees and intersections left without power. The department said public works crews and first responders were working to clear hazardous conditions as fast and safely as possible.
| Area | Main Impact | Reported Result |
|---|---|---|
| Arlington Heights | Downed trees and power outages | Intersections left without power |
| Wrigley Field | Flooding | Footage showed water inside the ballpark during the Cubs-Cardinals game |
| Tinley Park | Storm damage at Country Fest | Collapsed tents and event closure |
| Wauconda | Heavy rain | 2.5 inches flooded fireworks launch and spectator areas |
| Oak Park | Flooding and electrical hazards | Taste of Oak Brook 2026 was canceled |
Flooding also disrupted major holiday events. Festivals and fireworks shows across the suburbs were canceled or postponed after repeated rounds of severe weather left parks, event sites, and launch areas damaged.
Tinley Park’s Country Fest was shut down while officials assessed the damage, and NBC Chicago photographer Steve Curelo captured collapsed tents at the site after the storms passed. Wauconda postponed its fireworks event after officials said 2.5 inches of rain flooded the launch and spectator areas.
Oak Park officials canceled the Taste of Oak Brook 2026, including fireworks, a drone show, and live entertainment. The city said repeated attempts to deal with weather-related issues had been overwhelmed by flooding, safety problems, structural issues, and electrical hazards.
More disruptions reached Chicago and beyond
At Wrigley Field, footage showed flooding inside the stadium as fans gathered for the Cubs-Cardinals game. Chicago residents were also asked to limit water use after the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District issued an Overflow Action Day Alert, urging people to delay showers and flush toilets less frequently.
Farther north in Wisconsin near Lake Geneva, crews searched for three missing children who disappeared from a boat that capsized during the storms. WTMJ Milwaukee reported that neighbors said the weather changed rapidly while families were out celebrating the start of the holiday weekend.
The Walworth County Fire Department reported multiple structural collapses and water rescues happening at the same time. As crews worked across the region, the storm’s impact remained visible in downed trees, flooded streets, and canceled holiday celebrations.
