High winds hit southern, central Illinois
Severe storms raked portions of southern and central Illinois late Tuesday, damaging homes, blowing rail cars off of tracks and leaving thousands of people without power.
Several tornadoes were reported, but there were no reports of injuries. The storm also pelted the region with golf ball-sized hail and driving rain.
Near Girard in Macoupin County, northeast of St. Louis, Emergency Management Director Jim Pitchford said two homes were destroyed and 15 others damaged.
"It's pretty clear to us it was a tornado — at least one, maybe two," Pitchford said.
Ameren Illinois said about 35,100 customers were without power by late Tuesday.
According to the National Weather Service in Lincoln, high winds reportedly managed to blow some rail cars off the tracks in Christian County's Taylorville, where a deluge also left flooding that include pooling water a foot deep on some streets.
In Montgomery County, just north of Litchfield, high winds damaged two homes and downed power lines, according to Litchfield Fire Department Captain Chris Handshy.
Midland Fire District Assistant Chief Guy Choate said "trained eyes" spotted a tornado in central Christian County. According Choate, strong winds damaged a house, a couple of grain bins and a shed near Kincaid, southeast of Springfield. They also knocked down a few power lines.
The twister, which Choate says the spotters lost sight of because of "rain wrapping," missed populated areas of the county.
Flash flood warnings were in effect across central and southern portions of the state.
In northern Illinois, torrential rainfall and hail forced the cancellation of about 450 flights at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Midway International Airport was reporting delays of up to 30 minutes.