Heavy rains, high winds lash Illinois, Indiana, Michigan

HAMMOND, Ind. (AP) - Strong wind gusts and heavy rains from remnants of Tropical Storm Cristobal flooded roads and knocked out power Wednesday to thousands of customers across Indiana, Illinois and Michigan.

The Indiana Department of Transportation reported some lanes of Interstate 80/94 in Hammond were flooded after heavy rains that he National Weather Service said dumped 2 inches (5 centimeters) of rain in 30 minutes on parts of the Chicago metropolitan area. Hail up to 2 inches (5 centimeters) in diameter also was falling in the area, the weather service said.

Utilities in the three states reported more than 20,000 homes and businesses without power as of late morning.

Hopkins Village President Terry Weik was taking down flower baskets from his porch Tuesday when the tree in front of his home south of Grand Rapids, Michigan, started to fall toward him, WOOD-TV reported.

'œThe tree lifted up, it twisted, and it came at me so quick,'ť Weik said.

It punched through the home's roof. No one was hurt.

The weather service issued a gale warning through Wednesday evening on Lake Michigan because of the possibility of strong winds creating waves of 6 to 10 feet (1.8 to 3.1 meters). Scattered severe thunderstorms were possible Wednesday in Michigan, forecasters said.