Severe Storm Moving through Joliet

A severe thunderstorm with hurricane-strength wind is moving through Joliet right now, power out all over town -- including at Taste of Joliet at Joliet Memorial Stadium.

"We have power outages all over," according to the Joliet Police Department watch commander, who said they were watching to see if a new line of storms were developing.

He could provide no more specific information about any damage related to the storm, which came through with very strong wind and led to the early cancellation of the Taste at about 9:30 p.m.

One Joliet Patch Facebook reader whose daughter was at the Taste posted this note:

"My daughter went to see REO. I've been texting her and she said that it was so bad that the police were helping people climb over fences to get out. It felt like there was a tornado."

Facebook readers are telling us that they know of power outages at Caton Farm Road and Interstate 55, Theodore and Essington, Briggs Road and U.S. 6, and along University in Crest Hill.

A call to ComEd to learn the extent of outages has not yet been returned.

Reports are also coming in that there are several trees down all over Joliet, including at Theodore and Essington, and in Romeoville.

The National Weather Service in Romeoville has issued a severe thunderstorm warning in effect through 10:45 p.m.

This is the service's latest message, posted at 9:40 p.m.:

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL...AND DESTRUCTIVE HURRICANE FORCE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 80 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM NAPERVILLE TO JOLIET TO CHANNAHON...AND MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.