High winds caused a variety of damage in several areas of northern Illinois yesterday.
Splintered trees and pieces of sheet metal littered ditches along the 7900 and 8000 blocks of North Rockton Avenue in rural Rockford, the Rockford Register Star reports. The winds were also strong enough to rip part of the roof off of a large shed.
ComEd also reports almost 1,200 customers are without power in the area.
There were reports of debris blocking several main roads in Stephenson County. Flaming utility poles also were reported in Cedarville Road in Rock City and along the South Farwell bridge in German Valley.
Dust storms also caused poor visibility in the LaSalle County area. The News Tribune reports that traffic came to a halt on Interstate 80 after accidents in lanes north of Wyanet and east of Illinois 40 in Bureau County. Multiple fire departments also responded to accidents on I-80 and US 6.
Ameren reports 50 customers remain without power in Spring Valley, along with 551 in North Utica.