Hail and Damaging Winds in Illinois, September 11, 2000

Earlier in the afternoon, a line of severe thunderstorms rolled across much of northern Illinois. These storms were well in advance of a strong cold front approaching from the central plains. By evening, this cold front had moved into eastern Iowa, and a second line of severe thunderstorms developed across the same area, with much of the same results. Very strong thunderstorm winds caused damage across a large portion of northern and north central Illinois during the evening. In Winnebago County tree limbs were downed, especially in the northern part of the county. In Belvidere, Boone County large trees were blown down damaging automobiles and homes. In Ogle County a cooperative observer in Polo reported trees down and shingles ripped off a roof. Branches were blown down from Byron to Oregon as well. Trees were blown down in the northern part of DeKalb County at Kirkland, Genoa and Kingston. Gusty winds and tree damage was reported in parts of McHenry and Lake Counties. A semi-tractor trailer was blown over on Interstate 57 in Chebanse, and a funnel cloud was sighted along Interstate 55 near Braidwood and tree damage occurred in Braidwood. On the outskirts of Mazon a microburst destroyed a grain bin and tool shed, with a second grain bin severly damaged. Nearby fields of corn were flattend down in a southward direction, and a couple of telephone poles were snapped about five feet above the ground. The worst hail was reported in the community of Rutland, where several vehicles were damaged by golfball size hail. Elsewhere in LaSalle County large trees were blown down in Seneca and high winds were also reported in Marseilles and Tonica. Limbs were down at several locations in Kankakee County.