Intense storms swept the Midwest on Wednesday, knocking out electricity for hundreds of thousands and grounding flights at the region’s busiest hub. By 5 p.m. Eastern, more than 300,000 customers in Illinois and 90,000 in Wisconsin were without power, affecting both residential and commercial customers, while Chicago‑area airports saw dozens of cancellations and delays, according to FlightAware.

Forecasters had warned that the greatest risk centered near the Great Lakes, with hail, heavy rain and destructive winds forecast from Texas to Southern Canada. Brief tornado warnings dotted Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin, several carrying the rare “particularly dangerous situation” tag. No widespread damage has been reported, but utility spokesman Thomas Francis said ComEd prioritized restoring service to hospitals, police stations and other critical facilities.

Power outages strain local grids and raise short‑term revenue pressure for utilities, while airline cancellations erode ancillary fees for carriers operating out of O’Hare and Midway. Investors will watch ComEd’s restoration timeline for clues on cost overruns, and insurers may see a spike in claims tied to wind and hail damage. The storm underscores vulnerability of Midwestern infrastructure during peak summer weather.