More than 16,000 customers in the Chicago metropolitan area were left without electricity on August 9, 2026, after severe thunderstorms swept through northern Illinois. The outages began around 3:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time, when strong winds and heavy rain damaged sections of the electric grid.
ComEd confirmed that the storm’s impact was felt across several counties, including McHenry, Lake, Kane, DuPage and Cook. Residents in both urban neighborhoods and outlying suburbs reported sudden loss of power as trees fell onto power lines and equipment suffered from the intense weather. The utility has mobilized crews to assess the damage and begin restoration efforts, prioritizing critical infrastructure and areas with the highest number of customers affected.
The weather system that caused the outages is part of an anticipated multi‑day severe weather event for the region. Meteorologists expect additional thunderstorms to move through the area over the coming days, potentially extending disruptions if further damage occurs. Officials have urged customers to stay informed about safety precautions during the outage, including the use of flashlights instead of candles and avoiding downed power lines.
ComEd’s response teams are working to restore service as quickly as possible, though the extent of the damage may require several hours before full power is returned to all affected locations. The utility has set up a hotline and online portal for customers to report outages and receive updates on restoration timelines.
The current outage follows a pattern of increasing storm intensity during the summer months, highlighting the vulnerability of the region’s electrical infrastructure to extreme weather. Residents are advised to monitor local forecasts and prepare for possible continued service interruptions as the storm system moves through the area.