Fallen trees and flooded streets are blocking roads across Wheaton after severe storms tore through the city Monday afternoon, July 27, and public works crews are prioritizing the most dangerous obstructions first.
The City of Wheaton issued an alert as of 1 p.m. Monday stating that crews' first priority is clearing major hazards and roadway obstructions. The city did not provide a timeline for when all roads would reopen.
The storms hit as the National Weather Service issued tornado warnings for DuPage County and placed the entire Chicago area under a Level 3 "enhanced" severe weather threat. Winds reached 70 mph at Midway International Airport just after noon, according to NWS meteorologist Kevin Donofrio. More than 200,000 homes across the ComEd service area lost power by 1:40 p.m., ComEd reported.
A second round of storms was possible after 6 p.m. Monday, with a severe thunderstorm watch in effect for DuPage County through 8 p.m.
What Wheaton residents need to know
Flashing traffic lights: Treat any intersection where signals are flashing as a four-way stop, the city said.
Standing water: Do not drive through flooded streets. Water depth is difficult to judge from inside a vehicle.
Reporting non-emergency damage: Flooded streets, downed limbs, and other non-emergency problems can be reported through the city's online service request portal at wheaton.il.us/servicerequest. The portal also accepts reports for potholes and broken streetlights.
Power outages: Downed power lines and outages should be reported directly to ComEd at 1-800-334-7661, not to the city.
Emergencies: Call 911 for any life-threatening situation or downed power line blocking a road.
Weather outlook
NWS meteorologist Kevin Doom told the Chicago Tribune that Monday was forecast to be the last day of extreme heat and humidity, with a cold front moving through Monday evening and dry conditions expected through Thursday.
No city spokesperson was available for comment Monday afternoon. The city has not announced a damage assessment or a timeline for full cleanup.
