Chicago-area residents reported golf ball-sized hail as severe storms brought destructive and life-threatening wind gusts over 100 mph to parts of the area, leaving thousands without power as the threat for more storms looms.
The storms downed trees, flooded streets, grounded planes and left a trail of damage across several suburbs as they powered through the region.
Wind speeds in excess of 100 mph were reported with a “severe squall line” that moved through several suburbs, as forecasters warned of “extensive straight line wind damage.”…