Illinois, 1999

Hail and Damaging Winds in Illinois, June 1, 1999

June 1, 1999 · NWS LOT · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

A line of thunderstorms caused wind damage across part of north central Illinois during the early evening hours of June 1. Trees and power lines were downed on the north side of Dixon.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
6

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS LOT wrote it up.

A line of thunderstorms caused wind damage across part of north central Illinois during the early evening hours of June 1. Trees and power lines were downed on the north side of Dixon. Winds were estimated at 70 mph. As many as 50 large stately oak trees were knocked down in a park in Amboy. Homes and vehicles were also damaged by falling limbs. A highway maintenance shed was destroyed. Six power poles were blown down west of Paw Paw and poles were also downed near Herman and Steward Roads, just west of I-39. Trees were split in Pecatonica in Winnebago County and trees were damaged in Peru and Rutland in LaSalle County. In DeKalb County, a 60 mph wind gust was recorded at the meteorology department and Northern Illinois University. Twenty power poles were blown over and a pole barn was destroyed in the southern part of the county northwest of Shabbona.

The radar

The Chicago radar (KLOT), 3 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:51 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Will

When
June 1, 4:50 PM CST
Where
Will County, Lockport
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.600, -88.050

Hail, Cook

When
June 1, 5:07 PM CST
Where
Cook County, Lemont
Measured
1.25 in hail
Reported by
METEOROLOGIST(NON NWS)
Coordinates
41.670, -88.000

Thunderstorm Wind, Lee

When
June 1, 5:45 PM CST to 6:15 PM CST
Where
Lee County, Dixon to Paw Paw
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
41.830, -89.480

Thunderstorm Wind, Winnebago

When
June 1, 6:10 PM CST
Where
Winnebago County, Pecatonica
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
42.300, -89.350

Thunderstorm Wind, La Salle

When
June 1, 6:18 PM CST to 6:20 PM CST
Where
La Salle County, Peru to Rutland
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
41.330, -89.130

Thunderstorm Wind, De Kalb

When
June 1, 6:25 PM CST
Where
De Kalb County, Shabbona to 3 mi of De Kalb
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.800, -88.900

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Illinois in 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, June 1999

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5709784, 5709785, 5709786, 5709787, 5709788, 5709884.