Northwest Indiana Faces Historic Power Outages After Derecho
Northwest Indiana Faces Historic Power Outages After Derecho
US · Published Aug 14, 2026
A powerful derecho swept through Illinois and Indiana on Tuesday, causing unprecedented damage to the power grid and infrastructure.
According to the National Weather Service, wind gusts reached nearly 100 miles per hour in parts of the Chicago area, marking one of the worst derechos ever recorded in Illinois.

Impact & Risks

The derecho has caused widespread disruptions, including power outages, damaged homes, downed trees, and flooding. In northwest Indiana, nearly 96% of customers in Lake County were without power at the storm's peak. The outages have also impacted fuel and food supplies, creating additional challenges for affected communities. ComEd and NIPSCO are working to restore power, but the scale of the damage means recovery will take time. Residents are advised to avoid unnecessary travel in storm-impacted areas to ensure safety and facilitate restoration efforts.

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