ComEd warned Hinsdale and the western suburbs of possible tornadoes, damaging straight-line winds, and frequent lightning Monday evening, July 20, as utility crews pre-staged across the region ahead of the storms.

Village President Greg Hart shared the ComEd alert on his personal X account at 6:53 p.m., flagging the threat for residents. ComEd said it had increased staffing levels and was prepared to respond if outages occurred. No storm damage or power outages in Hinsdale were identified in ComEd's outage reporting or village communications as of Tuesday, July 21.

A record tornado season

The alert arrives in a year when Illinois has already shattered its all-time tornado record. The state recorded at least 148 confirmed tornadoes through late June 2026, according to CBS News Chicago and the Chicago Tribune, far surpassing the previous record of 142 set in 2024. Illinois averages 54 tornadoes per year.

"It's a step change — it's not even a trend," Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford told the Chicago Tribune in June, describing the surge as unprecedented and not fully explained by climate change alone.

On June 11, a tornado outbreak brought at least 21 confirmed tornadoes to northern Illinois and northwest Indiana, including two EF-3 twisters with winds exceeding 135 mph.

What to do when sirens sound

DU-COMM, the DuPage Public Safety Communications center, operates Hinsdale's automated tornado siren activation system. Launched in May 2025, the system can trigger sirens faster than a National Weather Service phone alert reaches residents.

There is no "all clear" siren. If sirens sound multiple times, a new warning has been issued. Stay sheltered until the threat has clearly passed.

ComEd's standard storm guidance: raise thermostats by 4 degrees Fahrenheit, close window shades, unplug unused electronics, turn off unnecessary lights, and delay running major appliances.

Hinsdale public safety week ahead

Tuesday, July 21 — Village Board of Trustees meeting, Memorial Hall, 19 E. Chicago Ave. Agenda includes historic preservation subsidy requests. Public comment is permitted under Citizens' Petitions.

Residents can visit villageofhinsdale.org for tornado shelter guidance and DU-COMM siren information.