Champaign’s blustery day Tuesday laid waste to homes, power lines, windows and more as gusts of wind reached 45 to 46 miles per hour. A high wind warning was in effect for Champaign County until 7 p.m. Tuesday night. According to the National Weather Service, strong winds that started at 25 to 35 miles per hour before reaching even strongest gust speeds ripped through the county throughout the day.
The winds were preceded by early morning thunderstorms that dissipated before 8 a.m.
“There (was) some light residential damage near the area of Alpine Drive and Bradley Avenue,” said Champaign Fire Station Lieutenant Brett Johnson.
Fire Station Lieutenant Kent Cobb said at least a few houses were damaged.
One of the damaged properties was a Champaign home that suffered severe roof damage and a blown-in garage door. Emergency officials said the family was lucky to be alive after a powerful gust of wind blew straight down on the house.
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Officials said other homes in the neighborhood had broken windows, blown-down gutters and other damage, mostly from debris flying from fences.
Most of the damage came before 7 a.m. on Tuesday. Damages to homes and buildings totaled $100,000, according to the city of Champaign’s website. The brunt of the damage came down on a two-block area on the northwest side of the city along Crestwood Drive, between Florence Drive and Bradley Avenue. One home suffered moderate damage with sections of roof sheeting blown off. Several homes experienced broken windows, siding, roofing and gutter damage.
In the same neighborhood, Bradley Avenue was forced into closure Tuesday morning after wind broke an electrical transmission pole.
The Champaign Police Department also reported a downed tree at the 2800 block of Valleybrook Drive at approximately 6 p.m.
Wind advisories have moved past Champaign and have gone northward; Cook, DeKalb and Dupage counties are among those expecting winds throughout the day Wednesday.
The National Weather Service warns of a strong wind advisory in effect Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Strong southwest winds sustained at 25 to 30 miles per hour will occur into the evening, with occasional gusts of 40 to 45 miles-per-hour winds. The winds will decrease toward sunset. At this time, no hazardous weather is expected for Thursday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
