It is called the “Windy City” for a reason. As temperatures in Chicago rose to the mid-60s for the first time in 2016, winds gusted over 60 MPH in the city Friday afternoon.
Chicago O’Hare Airport peaked at 62 MPH Friday at 2:46 p.m. local time. Chicago Midway Airport clocked in at 61 MPH 15 minutes later. An unofficial wind gust of 72 MPH was measured near Douglas Park.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the powerful winds disrupted electricity service for 80,000 customers. More than 160 flights at O’Hare were canceled Friday.
Reports on Twitter showed that windows on one of Chicago’s many towers were no match for the gusty winds. There were also numerous reports of downed trees and power lines.
Justin Boggs is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @jjboggs.
Windows falling on Wacker Drive ??????? #Chicago #windycity #closedstreets pic.twitter.com/1GeFcBmTn0
— Elizabeth Zumba (@ZumbaE77) February 19, 2016
#WindyCity series photo 7: Dangerous situation in #Chicago, 70mph #wind #gusts - more damage @150NRiverside pic.twitter.com/8zMFKGdM0H
— Douglas Rahden (@DouglasRahden) February 19, 2016
Comstock family Christmas #tree felled in #Chicago wind storm. 52 years. @wgnweather pic.twitter.com/5niZSXRMu1
— SLComstock (@Brarian) February 20, 2016
So sad. #Chicago winds took our 52 yr old 50ft family Christmas #tree. @wgnweather pic.twitter.com/Kf96GFPBO9
— SLComstock (@Brarian) February 20, 2016
