Storm Knocks Out Power for Lake Forest, Lake Bluff Residents

The trees that provide beauty and shade during the summer months in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff took a major hit Tuesday night.

On the first day of summer (June 21), a portion of Lake Forest and Lake Bluff residents spent the night in the dark after the storm rolled through after 9 p.m. producing high winds and rain. It didn't last long. Most of the storm and tornado warnings expired by 9:30 p.m., but the damage was already done.

At 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, this much was evident:

• There were no lighted intersections on Waukegan Road at Atkinson Road near the Sanctuary in Lake Bluff, nor the lighted intersection at the southern end of the Abbott Labs on Waukegan Road, about a mile south of Route 137.
• Several tree branches were down. Many had fortunately not fallen on roadways or had already been cleared by then. In Lake Forest, residents had already stacked their branches along Green Bay Road for collection.
• There was a dangling power line in the 100 block of Laurel Avenue, just east of Green Bay Road, due to a tree that had fallen and was resting on the street.
• The same scenario appeared on Vine Avenue just east of Green Bay Road. Again, power lines were down and a fallen tree branch lay on the street.
• Commonwealth Edison crews had already been out to put up roadblocks and make sure the dangling power lines were disconnected.
• Traffic appeared to be flowing, though the surprise downed trees will obviously alter routes along neighborhoods.
• Green Bay Road was unobstructed from Route 176 all the way south to at least Westleigh Road and beyond.
• At 10 a.m., Route 41 was a parking lot.