A derecho packing 70 mph winds ripped through Elmhurst, Villa Park and Oakbrook Terrace on Tuesday, Aug. 11, knocking down power lines, igniting a garage fire and marking the third round of severe weather to slam the area in just over two weeks.

The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for DuPage County around 10:30 a.m. as a squall line capable of producing tornadoes and straight-line wind damage barreled east at 55 mph. NWS meteorologist Kevin Donofrio warned that morning that gusts could reach 70 to 80 mph. "The winds from the storm can be as strong as those produced by a tornado," Donofrio said.

No tornadoes touched down in DuPage County. The NWS later confirmed three EF-1 tornadoes in Will County and southern Cook County, south and east of the immediate coverage area. But the straight-line winds proved destructive enough: the NWS recorded 70 mph gusts in DuPage County near Lemont, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Villa Park garage fire

At approximately 11:10 a.m., downed power lines struck a detached garage in the 900 block of South Ardmore Avenue in Villa Park, igniting a structure fire, according to a Villa Park Fire Department press release. Crews arrived to find smoke pouring from the roof and extinguished the blaze while working around live wires.

The residents and their dogs evacuated safely. No injuries were reported, and damage was confined to the garage. The department's preliminary investigation determined downed power lines made direct contact with the structure during the storm. Deputy Fire Chief Brandon Mitsuka is the department's point of contact on the incident.

Eight fire departments assisted at the scene, including Elmhurst, Oakbrook Terrace, Addison, Lombard, Oakbrook, Glen Ellyn and York Center, along with the Villa Park Police Department.

Power outages and cleanup

ComEd reported outages peaking at 370,000 customers across northern Illinois, according to WTTW. The utility called the Aug. 11 storm its 19th major weather event of 2026, the highest count in two decades. Full restoration was expected by 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15.

In Villa Park, Public Works crews shifted to clearing downed parkway trees and large limbs blocking streets and driveways, according to a village update.

Third storm in two weeks

The Aug. 11 derecho followed two earlier severe weather events that battered the same communities. On July 28, storms dumped 2.41 inches of rain on Elmhurst, brought 70 mph gusts, flooded Route 83 and left 62,000 DuPage County customers without power, as we reported July 29. A second flooding threat followed July 31 through Aug. 1.

Illinois has now recorded more than 220 confirmed tornadoes in 2026, compared with a historical average of 54 per year from 1990 to 2020. The NWS Storm Prediction Center classified the Aug. 11 system as a derecho that traveled roughly 330 miles from eastern Iowa into northern Indiana.

What residents should do

To report a downed power line, call ComEd at 1-800-334-7661. To report an outage, text ADD OUTAGE to 26633 or use the ComEd app. Call 911 only for serious medical emergencies or immediate threats to life and safety. For downed trees not near power lines, contact Village Public Works.