{ "lastUpdated": "2026-08-15", "note": "Chicagoland storm events sourced from National Weather Service Chicago event write-ups, Storm Prediction Center reports, and local damage surveys. Coordinates approximate the centroid of each damage track or the hardest-hit community. NWS source URLs are provided per event for verification.", "events": [ { "id": "august-14-2026-flooding", "date": "2026-08-14", "year": 2026, "type": "flood", "title": "August 14-15, 2026 Flash Flooding", "severity": "moderate", "severityLabel": "NWS Flood Watch for the Chicago metro from 10 PM Friday through Saturday morning, focused south of I-80; Flood Warnings for Thorn Creek at Thornton in Cook County and the Kankakee River at Shelby", "lat": 41.5703, "lng": -87.607, "counties": [ "Cook", "Will", "DuPage", "Kankakee" ], "communities": [ "Thornton", "Calumet City", "Naperville", "Chicago", "Homewood", "Lansing", "Tinley Park", "Orland Park" ], "windMph": 0, "hailInches": 0, "summary": "Torrential rainfall moved across the Chicago metro overnight August 14 into August 15, prompting an NWS Flood Watch for the metro from 10 PM Friday through Saturday morning, with the greatest risk south of Interstate 80. NWS issued Flood Warnings for Thorn Creek at Thornton in Cook County and for the Kankakee River at Shelby. Creeks and streams rose out of their banks and urban areas with poor drainage flooded. Important distinction for homeowners: rising water and flash flooding are generally not covered by standard homeowner policies, which require separate flood insurance. Water entering through a roof damaged in the August 10-11 derecho is a different matter and is typically covered as storm damage.", "claimDeadline": "2027-08-14", "sourceUrl": "https://www.weather.gov/lot/", "sourceName": "NWS Chicago Flood Watch and Flood Warning products", "blogHref": "/blog/august-2026-flooding-roof-or-flood-damage/" }, { "id": "august-11-2026-derecho", "date": "2026-08-11", "year": 2026, "type": "tornado", "title": "August 10-11, 2026 Derecho and Tornadoes", "severity": "extreme", "severityLabel": "NWS confirms 5 tornadoes including an EF-2 from Monee to Crown Point; derecho straight-line winds of 70 to 100+ mph (97 mph Sugar Grove, 96 mph Shorewood); hail to 2.5 inches in Westmont", "lat": 41.56, "lng": -87.79, "counties": [ "Cook", "Will", "DuPage", "Kane", "Kendall" ], "communities": [ "Tinley Park", "Orland Park", "Mokena", "Monee", "Wilmington", "Oswego", "Westmont", "Sugar Grove", "Shorewood", "Frankfort", "New Lenox", "Homer Glen" ], "windMph": 99, "hailInches": 2.5, "summary": "Two rounds of severe weather beginning overnight August 10 culminated in a derecho on August 11 that swept northeastern Illinois with widespread 70 to 100+ mph straight-line winds. NWS Chicago confirmed five tornadoes: an EF-2 tracking from Monee into Crown Point, Indiana; EF-1s from Mokena to Tinley Park, from Orland Park into Hammond, and in Wilmington; and an EF-0 in Oswego. Measured gusts reached 97 mph in Sugar Grove and 96 mph in Shorewood, with 99 mph at Gary. A trained spotter reported 2.5-inch hail in Westmont, with golf-ball hail across the metro. Tinley Park officials reported widespread rooftop damage, shattered windows, and downed trees and power lines, and roughly 357,000 ComEd customers lost power. The hardest-hit corridor runs through the south and southwest suburbs.", "claimDeadline": "2027-08-11", "sourceUrl": "https://www.weather.gov/lot/2026_08_11_Derecho", "sourceName": "NWS Chicago event summary / damage surveys", "blogHref": "/blog/august-11-2026-derecho-chicagoland-recap/" }, { "id": "august-1-2026-flash-flooding", "date": "2026-08-01", "year": 2026, "type": "flood", "title": "August 1, 2026 Flash Flooding", "severity": "moderate", "severityLabel": "NWS Flash Flood Warning and Flood Warning issued for the Chicago metro; heavy rain overwhelmed drainage", "lat": 41.8725, "lng": -87.9016, "counties": [ "Cook", "DuPage", "Will", "Kane" ], "communities": [ "Chicago", "Hillside", "Westchester", "Berwyn", "Oak Park" ], "windMph": 0, "hailInches": 0, "summary": "A slow-moving round of thunderstorms dumped heavy rain across the Chicago metro on August 1, prompting NWS Chicago to issue a Flash Flood Warning and a Flood Warning for the area. Events like this are when previously storm-damaged roofs reveal themselves: hail bruises and lifted shingles from the June and July storms let water in under sustained rain. Homeowners who saw ceiling stains or attic moisture during this rain likely had pre-existing storm damage from earlier in the summer.", "claimDeadline": null, "sourceUrl": "https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/vtec/?year=2026&wfo=KLOT&phenomena=FF&significance=W&eventid=0042", "sourceName": "NWS Chicago (via IEM VTEC archive)", "blogHref": "/blog/summer-2026-storm-timeline-chicagoland/" }, { "id": "july-27-2026-tornado-outbreak", "date": "2026-07-27", "year": 2026, "type": "tornado", "title": "July 27, 2026 Tornado Outbreak", "severity": "extreme", "severityLabel": "NWS surveys confirm EF-1 tornadoes (110 mph, 11.4-mile path) in the south suburbs; EF-0 tornadoes in Wheaton, Downers Grove, Romeoville, and Orland Park; 82 mph measured gust at Waukegan", "lat": 41.86, "lng": -88.08, "counties": [ "DuPage", "Will", "Cook", "Lake" ], "communities": [ "Wheaton", "Glen Ellyn", "Downers Grove", "Romeoville", "Orland Park", "Hazel Crest", "Country Club Hills", "Markham", "Glenwood", "Waukegan", "Beach Park", "Lake Forest", "Mettawa" ], "windMph": 110, "hailInches": 1.0, "summary": "A severe thunderstorm complex on the afternoon of July 27 produced multiple tornadoes across the Chicago metro, all confirmed by NWS Chicago damage surveys. An EF-1 with peak winds of 110 mph carved an 11.4-mile path through the south suburbs including the Hazel Crest, Country Club Hills, Markham, and Glenwood area. A second EF-1 with 110 mph winds and a 225-yard width was confirmed near Glenwood. EF-0 tornadoes were confirmed in Wheaton (starting just south of Wheaton College), Downers Grove (85 mph, 2.1-mile path), Romeoville (80 mph, 2.5-mile path), and Orland Park (85 mph, 2.9-mile path), with a photographed tornado and concentrated tree damage in north Glen Ellyn. Later, a measured 82 mph gust hit Beach Park near Waukegan, where a roof was blown off an apartment building on North Butrick Street and hangars were damaged at Waukegan Airport.", "claimDeadline": "2027-07-27", "sourceUrl": "https://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/260727_rpts.html", "sourceName": "SPC Storm Reports / NWS Chicago damage surveys", "blogHref": "/blog/july-27-2026-tornadoes-chicagoland-recap/" }, { "id": "june-24-2026-huntley-storms", "date": "2026-06-24", "year": 2026, "type": "hail", "title": "June 24, 2026 Huntley Area Tornado Report and Evening Hail", "severity": "moderate", "severityLabel": "Likely tornado with lofted debris reported near Huntley (barn roof damage); Severe Thunderstorm Warnings with 1.25 inch hail and 60 mph wind across the metro", "lat": 42.16, "lng": -88.48, "counties": [ "McHenry", "Kane", "Cook", "DuPage" ], "communities": [ "Huntley", "Elgin", "Carpentersville", "Algonquin" ], "windMph": 60, "hailInches": 1.25, "summary": "Evening severe thunderstorms on June 24 prompted NWS Chicago Severe Thunderstorm Warnings carrying 1.25 inch hail and 60 mph wind tags across the metro. Near Huntley in McHenry County, the county EMA reported roof damage to a barn along Harmony Road near Brier Hill Road, and video shared to social media showed a likely tornado with lofted debris in the vicinity.", "claimDeadline": "2027-06-24", "sourceUrl": "https://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/260624_rpts.html", "sourceName": "SPC Storm Reports / NWS Chicago", "blogHref": "/blog/summer-2026-storm-timeline-chicagoland/" }, { "id": "july-2-2026-overnight-storms", "date": "2026-07-02", "year": 2026, "type": "wind", "title": "July 2-3, 2026 Overnight Severe Storms", "severity": "moderate", "severityLabel": "Overnight Severe Thunderstorm Warnings (60 mph wind, 0.75 inch hail); tree fell onto a St. Charles home, occupants rescued", "lat": 41.914, "lng": -88.31, "counties": [ "Kane", "Cook", "DuPage" ], "communities": [ "St. Charles", "Geneva", "Batavia" ], "windMph": 60, "hailInches": 0.75, "summary": "A line of severe thunderstorms crossed northern Illinois during the evening of July 2 and the early hours of July 3. NWS Chicago issued Severe Thunderstorm Warnings with 60 mph wind and 0.75 inch hail tags, and multiple Flood Advisories followed as heavy rain fell. In St. Charles, a tree fell onto an elderly couple's home; firefighters rescued them from the home uninjured.", "claimDeadline": "2027-07-02", "sourceUrl": "https://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/260702_rpts.html", "sourceName": "SPC Storm Reports / NWS Chicago", "blogHref": "/blog/summer-2026-storm-timeline-chicagoland/" }, { "id": "july-4-2026-severe-storms", "date": "2026-07-04", "year": 2026, "type": "wind", "title": "July 4, 2026 Severe Storms and Flooding", "severity": "major", "severityLabel": "Severe Thunderstorm Warnings (60 mph wind, hail, tornado possible) plus Flash Flood and Flood Warnings; 1 fatality near Millbrook when a tree fell on a camper", "lat": 41.59, "lng": -88.54, "counties": [ "Kendall", "Kane", "DuPage", "Cook", "Will" ], "communities": [ "Millbrook", "Oswego", "Aurora", "North Aurora" ], "windMph": 60, "hailInches": 0.75, "summary": "Independence Day severe thunderstorms moved across the western and southern suburbs on July 4. NWS Chicago issued Severe Thunderstorm Warnings carrying 60 mph wind and hail tags with tornadoes possible, followed by a Flash Flood Warning and a Flood Warning as heavy rain trained over the metro. In Fox Township near Millbrook in Kendall County, a tree fell onto a camper trailer off Millbrook Road, killing one person. Trees were reported down across the Millbrook area.", "claimDeadline": "2027-07-04", "sourceUrl": "https://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/260704_rpts.html", "sourceName": "SPC Storm Reports / NWS Chicago", "blogHref": "/blog/summer-2026-storm-timeline-chicagoland/" }, { "id": "june-11-2026-tornado-outbreak", "date": "2026-06-11", "year": 2026, "type": "tornado", "title": "June 11, 2026 Tornado Outbreak", "severity": "extreme", "severityLabel": "23 tornadoes in NWS Chicago area; EF-3 (165 mph) near Kouts, IN; EF-2 in Chicago (Hickory Hills to Garfield Ridge)", "lat": 41.7378, "lng": -88.0993, "counties": [ "Cook", "DuPage", "Will", "La Salle", "Livingston", "Kankakee", "Lake (IN)", "Porter (IN)", "Newton (IN)", "Benton (IN)" ], "communities": [ "Long Point", "Streator", "Wenona", "Graymont", "Dwight", "Paxton", "Loda", "Ludlow", "Naperville", "Lisle", "Bartlett", "Hickory Hills", "Garfield Ridge (Chicago)", "Merrillville", "Hobart", "Cedar Lake", "Schneider", "Hebron", "Kouts", "Watseka" ], "windMph": 165, "hailInches": 0, "summary": "A regional tornado outbreak on June 11 produced at least 51 tornadoes across Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan, including 6 rated EF-2 or higher. In the NWS Chicago area of responsibility there were 23 tornadoes, making it the 2nd largest local outbreak on record behind July 15, 2024. The strongest tornado was an EF-3 near Kouts, IN with peak estimated winds of 165 mph, based on high-tension power line towers sheared apart at the base and a demolished home. An EF-2 tracked from Hickory Hills to Garfield Ridge in Chicago, and an EF-0 tracked from Naperville to Lisle. Destructive straight-line wind damage hit parts of the Chicago metro south of the Kankakee River.", "claimDeadline": "2027-06-11", "sourceUrl": "https://www.weather.gov/lot/2026_06_11_SevereWeather", "sourceName": "NWS Chicago", "blogHref": null }, { "id": "june-10-2026-derecho", "date": "2026-06-10", "year": 2026, "type": "wind", "title": "June 10, 2026 Northern Illinois Derecho", "severity": "major", "severityLabel": "Derecho with 80-85 mph wind gusts; EF-0 tornado in Palos Heights/Alsip", "lat": 41.7, "lng": -87.79, "counties": [ "Cook", "DuPage", "Kane", "Will", "Lake (IN)", "Porter (IN)" ], "communities": [ "Palos Heights", "Alsip" ], "windMph": 85, "hailInches": 0, "summary": "Multiple rounds of thunderstorms moved across northern Illinois and northwest Indiana on June 10. The afternoon line was formally classified as a derecho, producing wind gusts up to 80-85 mph that caused widespread wind damage across much of northern Illinois. A brief EF-0 tornado was confirmed in Palos Heights and Alsip. A derecho is a long-lasting thunderstorm complex producing damaging winds of at least 58 mph along most of its length, with several well-separated 75 mph+ gusts, over an area at least 250 miles long.", "claimDeadline": "2027-06-10", "sourceUrl": "https://www.weather.gov/lot/2026_06_10_Derecho", "sourceName": "NWS Chicago", "blogHref": null }, { "id": "may-18-2026-paxton-tornado", "date": "2026-05-18", "year": 2026, "type": "tornado", "title": "May 18, 2026 Morning Storms / EF-0 near Paxton", "severity": "moderate", "severityLabel": "Brief EF-0 tornado near Paxton, IL; 79 mph gust at Midway Airport", "lat": 40.4592, "lng": -88.0954, "counties": [ "Cook", "Kankakee", "Lake (IN)" ], "communities": [ "Paxton", "Chicago (Midway Airport)" ], "windMph": 79, "hailInches": 0, "summary": "A line of thunderstorms moved across northern and central Illinois and northwest Indiana on the morning of May 18. The storms produced areas of wind damage in Cook, Lake (IN), and Kankakee counties, and a brief EF-0 tornado near Paxton, IL. A localized 79 mph wind gust was observed at Midway Airport as the storms moved through, resulting in tree and power line damage nearby.", "claimDeadline": "2027-05-18", "sourceUrl": "https://www.weather.gov/lot/2026_05_18_SevereWeather", "sourceName": "NWS Chicago", "blogHref": null }, { "id": "april-27-2026-wake-low-winds", "date": "2026-04-27", "year": 2026, "type": "wind", "title": "April 27, 2026 Wake Low Wind Event", "severity": "major", "severityLabel": "Wake low winds 45-77 mph; 72 mph peak gust in Sandwich, IL; 1 fatality in Grand Rapids, MI", "lat": 41.645, "lng": -88.6225, "counties": [ "Ogle", "La Salle", "Winnebago", "DeKalb", "McHenry", "Kane", "DuPage", "Cook", "Will", "Lake", "Lake (IN)", "Porter (IN)" ], "communities": [ "Sandwich", "Sugar Grove", "Leland", "Sycamore", "Elgin", "Warrenville" ], "windMph": 72, "hailInches": 0, "summary": "A powerful wake low moved across the Great Lakes region during the late morning and early afternoon of April 27, producing a 1 to 2 hour period of damaging non-thunderstorm winds. Measured gusts ranged from 45 to 77 mph, with the strongest local gust at 72 mph in Sandwich, IL. There was one fatality in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Thunderstorms that tracked across central Illinois and central Indiana produced severe winds and wind damage across parts of Ford, Iroquois, and Benton counties.", "claimDeadline": "2027-04-27", "sourceUrl": "https://www.weather.gov/lot/2026_4_27_WakeLow", "sourceName": "NWS Chicago", "blogHref": null }, { "id": "april-17-2026-tornadoes", "date": "2026-04-17", "year": 2026, "type": "tornado", "title": "April 17, 2026 Tornado Outbreak", "severity": "major", "severityLabel": "Multiple NWS-confirmed tornadoes", "lat": 41.835, "lng": -88.312, "counties": [ "Kane", "Cook", "Will", "McHenry", "Lake" ], "communities": [ "Batavia", "Geneva", "St. Charles", "Aurora", "Elgin", "Schaumburg", "Palatine", "Arlington Heights", "Joliet", "Plainfield", "Bolingbrook", "Orland Park", "Tinley Park" ], "windMph": 76, "hailInches": 2.25, "summary": "Multiple NWS-confirmed tornadoes swept across five counties on the afternoon and evening of April 17. Peak measured wind gusts reached 76 mph with hail up to 2.25 inches. Damage surveys still in progress.", "claimDeadline": "2027-04-17", "sourceName": "NWS Chicago", "blogHref": "/blog/april-17-2026-tornadoes-chicagoland-recap/" }, { "id": "march-2026-dupage-hail", "date": "2026-03-14", "year": 2026, "type": "hail", "title": "March 2026 DuPage County Hailstorm", "severity": "major", "severityLabel": "Baseball-sized hail (4.8 inch stones)", "lat": 41.7528, "lng": -87.9806, "counties": [ "DuPage" ], "communities": [ "Darien", "Woodridge", "Naperville", "Downers Grove", "Lisle" ], "windMph": 62, "hailInches": 4.8, "summary": "Severe supercell dropped 4.8 inch hailstones on Darien and Woodridge. Widespread roof, siding, vehicle, and window damage across the DuPage County suburbs. One of the largest verified hail reports in Illinois in the past decade.", "claimDeadline": "2027-03-14", "blogHref": "/blog/prepare-roof-for-spring-storms-illinois/" }, { "id": "july-15-2024-plainfield-tornado", "date": "2024-07-15", "year": 2024, "type": "tornado", "title": "July 2024 Southwest Suburbs Tornado Outbreak", "severity": "major", "severityLabel": "32 tornadoes, largest local outbreak on record", "lat": 41.6167, "lng": -88.2034, "counties": [ "Will", "Cook", "DuPage" ], "communities": [ "Plainfield", "Joliet", "Naperville", "Bolingbrook", "Chicago" ], "windMph": 130, "hailInches": 1.0, "summary": "32 tornadoes made this the largest tornado outbreak on record in the NWS Chicago area. Multiple EF-1 and EF-2 tornadoes tracked through the southwest suburbs causing widespread damage.", "claimDeadline": null, "blogHref": null }, { "id": "august-2020-derecho", "date": "2020-08-10", "year": 2020, "type": "wind", "title": "August 2020 Midwest Derecho", "severity": "major", "severityLabel": "Historic derecho, 100+ mph winds", "lat": 41.85, "lng": -88.0, "counties": [ "Cook", "DuPage", "Kane", "Will", "Lake" ], "communities": [ "Chicago", "Naperville", "Aurora", "Joliet", "Elgin", "Waukegan" ], "windMph": 100, "hailInches": 1.0, "summary": "Historic derecho tracked across the Midwest with peak winds over 100 mph. While Iowa bore the brunt, Chicagoland saw widespread damage with trees down, power outages, and significant roof damage across all collar counties. One of the costliest thunderstorm events in US history.", "claimDeadline": null, "blogHref": null }, { "id": "august-2019-hail", "date": "2019-08-06", "year": 2019, "type": "hail", "title": "August 2019 North Shore Hailstorm", "severity": "moderate", "severityLabel": "Tennis ball sized hail", "lat": 42.05, "lng": -87.75, "counties": [ "Cook", "Lake" ], "communities": [ "Evanston", "Skokie", "Highland Park", "Glenview", "Northbrook" ], "windMph": 60, "hailInches": 2.5, "summary": "Supercell thunderstorm produced tennis ball sized hail across the North Shore suburbs. Significant damage to vehicles, roofs, and windows. One of the largest hail events on the North Shore in over a decade.", "claimDeadline": null, "blogHref": null } ] }