Intense storms, lightning sweep through Midwest this week

( NewsNation ) — Strong storms from the past few days , with intense wind gusts and lightning streaking the sky, were captured in photos and videos taken by those living in the Midwest.

Millions in the region had already been enduring high levels of heat and humidity , with a record high of 99 degrees set at Chicago, Illinois’ O’Hare International Airport. Excessive heat warnings and advisories were issued  Tuesday in large swaths of Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and into Mid-Atlantic states including Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Relief from the heat wave could come soon, as cooler temperatures set in Wednesday.

“The heat still persists across the middle part of the country but there is some much cooler air working in by the end of the month,” Josh Weiss, a National Weather Service meteorologist said to the Associated Press.

Still, people can continue to expect more severe weather for the remainder of the week, The Weather Channel cautions. Thunderstorms will continue to affect parts of the northern tier, and bring damaging winds, large hail and an isolated tornado threat.

A Minnesota resident captured lightning and a rainbow in Ramsey on Monday, in the midst of what the National Weather Service called “severe” storms, with forecasted wind gusts of up to 70 mph.

On Tuesday, severe storms caused flashing lightning and heavy rain in southern Michigan, toppling trees and snapping power poles. Crews for two of Michigan’s largest utilities worked Wednesday to restore power to hundreds of thousands of residences and businesses left in the dark.

Severe thunderstorms were seen in northern Indiana on Tuesday, the National Weather Service said on X.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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