06/17/2026
ComEd Prepares for Another Round of Severe Weather, Including
Tornadoes, Across Northern Illinois
Customers should sign up for alerts to receive information about outages and restoration
CHICAGO (June 16, 2026) — ComEd is preparing for another round of severe weather expected to impact its northern Illinois service territory on Wednesday with forecasts indicating the potential for tornadoes, amaging straight-line winds and large hail.
This forecast comes less than a week after multiple rounds of severe storms, the most damaging to strike ComEd's service territory since the 2020 Derecho, caused more than 674,600 customer outages across northern Illinois. The National Weather Service has confirmed at least 20 tornadoes from last week's outbreak, including an EF-3 tornado near Streator with winds of up to 165 mph, and an EF-2 tornado that tracked from Hickory Hills to near Midway Airport.
ComEd has completed restoration for customers impacted by last week's storms and is now focused on readying its workforce and infrastructure for the next threat.
"Our crews demonstrated extraordinary dedication restoring power to customers after last week's historic storm event, replacing nearly 500 poles and more than 295,000 feet of cable wire in the process," said David Perez, executive vice president and COO of ComEd. "We understand how difficult the past few days have been for our customers. As another round of severe weather approaches, your safety and well-being remain our top priority. We are pre-positioning crews, equipment and materials across our service territory now so that if storms strike again, we're ready to respond as quickly and safely as possible. We are committed to being there for our communities every step of the way.”
ComEd's storm preparations include:
• Pre-positioning crews and equipment at strategic locations across the service territory to enable faster response once outages occur.
• Staging materials including utility poles, cable wire and transformers in areas most likely to be impacted.
• Coordinating with local officials across northern Illinois communities.
Because last week's storms brought down thousands of trees and left weakened limbs throughout the service territory, Wednesday's storms could cause additional tree-related damage to the electric grid, even at lower wind speeds. Customers should be aware that restoration times may be extended if multiple waves of storms pass through the area.
What Customers Should Do Now to Prepare
ComEd urges all customers to take the following steps ahead of Wednesday's severe weather:
• Sign up for Outage Alerts at https://www.comed.com/Alerts to receive real-time updates on outages and restoration progress.
• Have a plan. Identify the safest room in your home — an interior room on the lowest floor, away from windows — in the event of a tornado warning.
• Charge devices. Fully charge cellphones, laptops and other battery-operated devices before storms arrive.
• Assemble an emergency kit with flashlights, batteries, bottled water, a first-aid kit and any necessary medications.
• Download the ComEd App to report outages and check restoration status from your mobile device.
• Monitor weather conditions through the National Weather Service and local media and have multiple ways to receive emergency alerts.
Public Safety Reminders
Public safety is paramount. ComEd encourages customers to take the following precautions during and after severe weather:
• If you see a downed power line, immediately call ComEd at 1-800-EDISON1 (1-800-334-7661). Spanish-speaking customers should call 1-800-95-LUCES (1-800-955-8237). Never approach a downed power line — always assume it is energized and extremely dangerous.
• Do not approach ComEd crews working to restore power. Crews may be working on live electrical equipment, and the perimeter of the work zone may be hazardous.
• Use generators safely. Never operate a generator indoors or in an enclosed space.
Place generators at least 20 feet from your home and away from windows to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Stay away from flooded areas. Never walk or drive through standing water, which may be hiding downed power lines or other hazards.
• Turn off or unplug sensitive electronics to prevent damage from power surges when electricity is restored.
How to Report and Track Outages
• Online: https://www.comed.com/Outages
• By text: Text OUT to 26633 (COMED)
• By phone: 1-800-EDISON1 (1-800-334-7661)
• ComEd App: Available for download on the App Store and Google Play
• Outage Map: https://www.comed.com/OutageMap
Climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of severe weather events.
ComEd continues to invest in power grid upgrades and proactive tree trimming to minimize the impact of storms on customers. Since smart grid upgrades began in 2011, ComEd has avoided more than 24.7 million power outages and improved overall reliability by more than 57 percent.
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ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NASDAQ: EXC), a Fortune 200 company and one of the nation’s largest utility companies, serving more than 10.7 million electricity and natural gas customers. ComEd powers the lives of more than 4 million customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state’s population. For more information, visit ComEd.com, and connect with the company on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and YouTube
⚠️ ComEd Weather Alert: Severe thunderstorms with damaging straight-line wind gusts and a possibility of tornadoes are forecast for our area today. Our crews are monitoring the forecast and preparing right now to restore power as quickly and safely as possible if interruptions occur.
Please stay safe and stay prepared.
Here are ways to quickly report an outage:
