CHICAGO — Lollapalooza is back on after being evacuated due to severe weather.
WGN’s Marcus LeShock, who is at the music festival, tweeted the news of the evacuation Sunday afternoon.
#Lollapalooza is being evacuated due to approaching severe weather. Just made announcement over the speakers.
— Marcus Leshock (@marcusleshock) August 2, 2015
Lollapalooza issued the following statement:
Due to an approaching storm and warnings from the National Weather Service (NWS), Lollapalooza organizers have suspended the festival for a short period. Festival-goers are being evacuated from Grant Park and are being directed by staff and the Chicago Police Department to pre-established underground evacuation and shelter sites along Michigan Avenue.The three emergency evacuation shelters are the Grant Park North, Grant Park South and Millennium Lakeside Garages. All can be entered through vehicle entrances on Michigan Avenue.Lollapalooza officials are continuing to coordinate with the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) to monitor weather conditions and determine when the park is safe for festival-goers to return.“Our first priority is always the safety of our fans, staff and artists,” said Sandee Fenton, director of publicity for C3 Presents, the promoter behind Lollapalooza. “We regret having to suspend any show, but safety always comes first.”More information will be posted at www.lollapalooza.com.
Evacuating Lollapalooza due to severe weather pic.twitter.com/y75nVa5rZp
— WGN TV News (@WGNNews) August 2, 2015
Crowd at #Lollapalooza heading north on Columbus. Evacuating Grant Park. pic.twitter.com/XFMQPV5Ug7
— Marcus Leshock (@marcusleshock) August 2, 2015
Crowds attempting to exit At Balbao pic.twitter.com/N1FgEByqnP
— WGN TV News (@WGNNews) August 2, 2015
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning had been issued for Cook and DuPage counties until 3 p.m., right around when the storms hit Grant Park.
Latest updates at chicagoweathercenter.com