CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Holiday travelers in Chicago were hit with dangerous wind gusts of 60 mph on Wednesday, causing thousands to lose power and sending debris flying through a taxi’s windshield in the Loop.
The greatest threat will be from mid-morning through late afternoon. The weather service warned of gusts up to 65 mph.
By noon Wednesday, the weather service reported wind gusts of 61 mph at O’Hare International Airport, and gusts of 56 mph at Midway.
More than 5,300 ComEd customers have lost power in Cook County, according to the company.
Despite the heavy wind, airlines reported minimal cancellations and delays at O’Hare and Midway airports, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation.
The warning applies to portions of northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana, stretching from Rockford to Portage.
More than 55 million people are expected to travel in the U.S. for Thanksgiving, according to AAA.