What was anticipated to be a dangerous thunderstorm capable of crippling Lake and McHenry counties ended up being some high winds and minimal rain as the storms traveled north into Wisconsin.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing, however, as some scattered tree limbs fell due to high winds and power outages were reported in select areas across Lake and McHenry counties Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.
A massive tree limb hit a house in the 100 block of Ferndale Drive in Round Lake Beach, mobilizing rescue crews to remove the tree limb from the house.
No injuries were reported in that incident Tuesday night.
ComEd reported more than 2,200 homes in Lake and McHenry counties were without power at the height of the storms Tuesday night. That number has reduced to about 100 customers without power early Wednesday morning.
The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory for Lake and McHenry counties at about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday saying gusting winds reaching as high as 50 mph could dislodge unsecured objects and cause scattered power outages. The wind advisory expired at 2 a.m.
The National Weather Service warned throughout Tuesday a potentially dangerous line of severe thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes and destructive winds was expected to move through Lake and McHenry counties between 7 p.m. Tuesday until 1 a.m. Wednesday.
The line of storms resulted in the National Weather Service issuing a tornado watch for McHenry County from 7 p.m. until midnight.
The National Weather Service said the storm could be capable of producing 70 mph straight line winds and potentially causing an EF 2 tornado.
The coming forecast is expected to be sunny for the next two days with highs of 79 degrees Wednesday and 81 on Thursday, the National Weather Service is reporting.
Weather officials said the next thunderstorm could roll through Friday when high temperatures reach 84 degrees.