Wild videos show ‘crazy’ clouds filled with lightning as severe storms ravage Chicago area – NBC Chicago

As severe storms swept across the Chicago area Tuesday night, many were quick to notice the wild scenes unfolding in the skies.

A spectacular lightning show could be seen in several places.

According to some reports, the lightning struck in the middle of a squall cloud that had formed on the edge of a rapidly developing thunderstorm, eventually leaving a trail of devastation in its wake.

Just as the storm began to build, many residents of Chicago's northwest suburbs reported seeing the large cloud with persistent lightning moving from east to west.

According to the National Weather Service, “a squall line is usually associated with a passing storm front.”

“The wind comes first, followed by rain. It may appear to rotate on a horizontal axis,” the NWS reports.

Storm damage was reported in several suburbs, including Glenview, Bolingbrook, Wauconda, Mt. Prospect and Lincolnshire, where huge uprooted trees damaged sheds, roofs and facades.

Photos and videos of the damage across the region show fallen tree branches on streets and yards, and debris littered along roads.

Early Wednesday morning, thousands of people were still without power.

Here you can see more pictures that spectators took of the bright and stormy spectacle:

Photos: undefined