ROCKFORD, Ill. — Powerful storms and flash flooding knocked out power to nearly 2,500 customers across Winnebago County Thursday evening, leaving large parts of the Rockford area in the dark as severe weather swept through northern Illinois.
Data from ComEd’s outage map showed 81 active outages in the county as of late Thursday, with more than 1,200 outages reported in Rockford alone. Surrounding areas like Rockford Township, Machesney Park, and Loves Park were also hit hard, with hundreds of homes and businesses affected.
Outages weren’t limited to Winnebago County. Reports of power loss also came in from Boone, DeKalb, Lee, Ogle, and McHenry counties. Stephenson County saw minor impacts, with fewer than five customers reportedly affected.
For many residents, the timeline for restoring service remains unclear—ComEd’s map lists most estimates as simply “pending,” a frustrating reality as temperatures hover near 80°F (27°C) and cleanup begins.
Meanwhile, Rock Energy Cooperative reported no outages as of 8:00 p.m. on July 10, according to its online map.
The situation could worsen before it improves. The Storm Prediction Center continues to place the stateline region under a slight risk for more severe weather through Friday, meaning additional storms and disruptions are still possible.
