Calmer Weather Ahead After Storms, Tornado Hit Illinois

Flooding concerns remain, but drier conditions expected for Saturday

Apr. 18, 2026 at 12:24pm

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A sweeping, atmospheric landscape painting in muted tones of grey, blue, and green, with heavy storm clouds dominating the frame and casting dramatic shadows over the distant horizon, conveying the raw power and sublime scale of the weather event.The powerful storm system that swept through Illinois leaves behind an ominous, yet serene, natural landscape in its wake.Chicago Today

After a very active weather pattern on Friday that included storms and even a tornado in parts of Illinois, the forecast calls for much calmer conditions on Saturday. Power outages affected thousands of ComEd and NIPSCO customers, but the lingering rainfall has exited the area and some sunshine is expected as temperatures drop into the lower 50s.

Why it matters

Severe weather events like storms and tornadoes can cause significant damage and disruption, leaving many without power. While the worst of the weather has passed, there are still concerns about potential flooding as the region recovers.

The details

As of around 7 a.m. on Saturday, more than 8,300 ComEd customers in Northern Illinois and 8,600 NIPSCO customers in Northern Indiana were affected by power outages. Any lingering rainfall has exited the area, but clouds were still expected to remain for a bit. As the afternoon approaches, some sunshine is possible, and the calmer weather pattern will bring temperatures in the lower 50s, much cooler than recent days.

  • On Friday, storms and a tornado hit parts of Illinois.
  • As of 7 a.m. on Saturday, thousands of customers were still without power.

The players

ComEd

A utility company that provides electricity to northern Illinois, including the Chicago metropolitan area.

NIPSCO

A utility company that provides natural gas and electricity to northern Indiana.

Mark Strehl

A Fox Chicago meteorologist who provided the weather forecast for the region.

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What they’re saying

“As the afternoon approaches, we could also see some sunshine. The calmer weather pattern will come with temperatures in the lower 50s so much cooler than recent days.”

— Mark Strehl, Fox Chicago Meteorologist

The takeaway

While the severe weather has passed, the region is still dealing with the aftermath, including power outages and potential flooding concerns. The calmer conditions expected on Saturday will provide a much-needed respite and allow for recovery efforts to continue.