Photos: Fallen trees, wind damage near Chicago amid high winds from cold front

A very sharp cold front sent damaging winds and snow through areas near Chicago, Illinois.

"There were numerous reports of high winds and wind damage in and near Chicago Saturday afternoon between about 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. CDT," AccuWeather Meteorologist Frank Strait said.

Strait said 60-mph winds were reported at Midway Airport and in Romeoville. There was a gust to 61 mph in Rockford and at O’Hare International Airport. A 63-mph gust was reported in Michigan City, Indiana. The strongest wind reported was 65 mph in Somonauk, Illinois, Strait said.

There were many reports of downed trees or large tree branches. Some homes had siding damage.

"In a few instances, trees fell onto homes and caused serious damage. In other places, trees fell across roadways and this disrupted traffic flow," Strait said.

The damage occurred as snow squalls moved through the Chicagoland area, which briefly limited visibility below a quarter of a mile.

"There was no snow accumulation because the ground was very warm as highs have been in the 50s F in recent days and, this morning, temperatures reached near 50 ahead of the snow squalls," Strait said.

According to Strait, this was caused by a very sharp cold front that moved through the area.

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