Sunday, March 15, 2026 | View in browser
 The National Weather Service has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for the Evanston area today, Sunday, March 15. In addition, a Wind Advisory is in effect from 1 p.m. until 9 p.m. today.
Two rounds of thunderstorms are expected in the area today. The first round will likely impact areas west of I-55 late this morning into early afternoon and could produce hail. The second round is expected later this afternoon into early evening and may affect a larger area. This second round of storms could bring damaging winds, especially in areas near and east of I-55.
Late tonight, rain is expected to change to snow. The heaviest snow and most difficult travel conditions are expected west of a line from LaSalle-Peru to Woodstock, Illinois. Strong northwest winds may also cause blowing snow in open areas.
What you can do
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Secure loose outdoor items. Patio furniture, sports equipment, trash cans, and other items can become dangerous in high winds. Bring these items indoors, if possible, or make sure they're secure if outdoors.
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Listen for the emergency sirens. The City’s outdoor emergency sirens will sound in the event of a severe weather emergency. If the sirens sound, seek shelter indoors away from windows and glass.
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Report problems. See the infographic below for how to report a variety of issues, from power outages to downed tree branches.
City staff ready to respond
Evanston public works crews, forestry staff, 311, and first responders are on alert and prepared to respond to any issues that arise.
Stay informed
Check the City's website, Facebook, and X/Twitter for updates.
Help us respond by reporting issues
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Dial 911 to report downed power lines and emergencies. Always call 911 to report an immediate threat to life or safety.
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Report downed trees, flooding and other non-emergency issues to 311. Call or text 847-448-4311 or submit a service request online at cityofevanston.org/311.
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Report power outages. Check ComEd’s Outage Map for power outages in your area. Report any outages online or call 1-800-EDISON-1.
Conserve Water During Thunderstorms
Residents can help reduce basement backups and flooding by conserving water before, during, and after heavy rainstorms. In much of the Chicago area, rainwater and household wastewater share the same sewer system. When large amounts of water enter the system too quickly, it can cause sewers to back up into streets and basements, and in some cases overflow into nearby rivers. Even small conservation efforts can help reduce strain on the system.
Ways to conserve water include delaying showers, waiting to run the dishwasher or washing machine, and fixing leaking faucets, toilets, or showerheads. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District issues Overflow Action Alerts to remind people to conserve water when heavy rain is expected.
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Sign up for emergency notifications
Did you know? The City of Evanston uses the EvanstonAlerts emergency notification system to notify community members in the event of emergencies, such as critical police activity, evacuations, hazardous materials spill/release, and safety alerts. Sign up for EvanstonAlerts here.
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