Weather

The National Weather Service says a tornado touched down near Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport prompting passengers to take shelter and disrupting hundreds of flights. There were no immediate reports of injuries. A confirmed tornado was on the ground around 7 p.m. Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service in Chicago. The National Weather Service had issued two tornado warnings for portions of the city Wednesday evening. Tornado sirens sounded at least twice across Chicago, warning people to take cover. The storm moved into Michigan before passing through the state and into Canada early Thursday. Tornado watches that were in effect for parts of Michigan, Indiana and Ohio all expired.

Millions of people around the Southwest are living through a historic heat wave. Even the heat-experienced desert city of Phoenix is being tested Wednesday as temperatures there hit 110 degrees Fahrenheit for more than a dozen consecutive days. Phoenix is currently America’s hottest large city with temperatures forecast to hit as high as 119 degrees Fahrenheit over the weekend. The National Weather Service in Phoenix says Wednesday the long-duration heat wave is extremely dangerous for people’s health. It could persist into next week as a high pressure dome moves westerly from Texas into central California, affecting people across Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and California.

Volunteers have showed up with snow shovels across Vermont to help communities clear the mud from epic floods. And now new flash flood warnings are in effect for much of the state as thunderstorms are on the way, promising hail and more misery in the disaster area. Vermont Public Safety Commissioner Jennifer Morrison is telling people to keep their guard up and not take any chances. Gov. Phil Scott toured the area with FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell. The total cost of the damage could be substantial. Even before these floods, a dozen other disasters this year have each caused more than $1 billion in damage across the United States.

Even desert residents accustomed to scorching summers are feeling the grip of an extreme heat wave smacking the Southwest this week. Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Southern California are getting hit with 100-degree-plus temps and excessive heat warnings. To add insult to injury, the region has been left high and dry with no monsoon activity. The National Weather Service says Tuesday that Phoenix has reached 110 degrees for the 12th consecutive day. That's approaching the longest recorded stretch of 18 days, recorded in 1974.