Tornadoes and storms hit Illinois, cancel over 1,400 flights

Multiple tornadoes and strong thunderstorms moved through parts of Illinois on Thursday evening as part of a multiday period of severe weather across the Midwest. The National Weather Service issued a particularly dangerous situation alert for north-central Illinois between Peoria and Chicago due to the threat of a large and destructive tornado.

Illinois State Police reported that a tornado touched down within Streator city limits, about 80 miles southwest of Chicago. Damage was reported in Streator, and troopers responded to downed power lines and gas leaks. A family reunification center was set up at Streator City Hall for displaced residents.

Flight disruptions More than 1,400 flights were canceled nationwide during the height of the severe weather, with Chicago airports seeing the largest impact. The air traffic control tower at Chicago's Midway airport was evacuated due to a tornado warning.

Weather alerts More than 90 million people from the Plains through the Great Lakes and into the Northeast were under severe weather alerts on Thursday. It was the second consecutive day of severe weather in parts of the Midwest. In the 24 hours before Thursday's storms, 16 tornadoes were reported across Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa and Illinois.

The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center had raised the severe weather risk for Thursday to a level 4 of 5 moderate risk for parts of eastern Iowa, north-central Illinois and far southern Wisconsin.