1 thunderstorm wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Chicago, IL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 21, 5:45 AM CST, 3 hours 45 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL 645 AM CDT THU JUL 21 2005 .DISCUSSION FOR ZONES/GRIDS... LAST OF TSRA MOVG OT OF FAR SERN FA AS TAIL END OF SHRTWV TROF MOVE INTO CNTRL GRTLKS. MEANWHILE...NEXT MCS THAT DVLPD IN PLAINS AS NEXT SHRTWV MOVS FM DKTS INTO MN AND IA PUSHING ACROSS IA. SIMILAR SCENARIO AS OCCURED YTDY EXPECTED FOR TDY WITH TSRA MOVG INTO NWRN IL DURG MORNING AND ACROSS NRN IL BY MID AFTERNOON AS SHRTWV AND ASSOCIATED LO AND MID LVL CIRCULATION MOVE ESE ACROSS MS RIVER LATER TODAY. PD OF SKC THIS MORNING WILL ALLOW GOOD HEATING AND INCRG INSTABILITY WHILE REMAINING BNDRYS FM PREV TSRA PROVIDE FOCUS AS STORMS. MOIST GROUND WILL KEEP TEMPS DOWN A BIT THO WILL ALSO ADD TO HUMIDITY AND WL FEEL VERY MUGGY WITH DWPTS IN 70S. STORMS SHUD TAPER OFF DURG TONIGHT AS SHRTWV CONTS INTO GRTLKS AND OH VALLEY OVRNGT. MODERATE COOLING AND DRYING FOR FRI AS SCF BNDRY PUSHES INTO MID MS VALLEY. HEAT AND HUMIDITY RETURNS IN FORCE SUN AS NEXT SHRTWV TRAVERSES NRN PLAINS AND UPR MIDWEST SAT AND SAT NITE. WHILE GFS PUTS THERMAL RDG ACROSS CNTRL IL AND SRN PORTION OF FA...STILL APPEARS MID AND SOME UPR 90S TO BE REACHED ON SUNDAY. TRS && .AVIATION DISCUSSION REGARDING 12Z TAFS: MAIN WX PROBLEM WILL BE ONGOING LINEAR MCS NOW MOVG THRU SERN MN-ERN IA. FCST IS FOR THIS LN TO CONTINUE EWD-ESEWD ACROSS NRN IL DURG MID-LATE MRNG...AND PERHAPS INTO NWRN IND ERLY THIS AFTN. CURRENT SATLT LOOPS SHOW MID LVL DYNAMICS SUPPORTING THIS LINE AS SHORT WAVE TROF EMBEDDED IN WNWLY FLOW IS EXTRAPOLATED INTO NRN IL BY 18Z. VFR CONDS AHD OF THIS LN SUGGEST THAT MODEST DIURNAL HEATING WILL OCCUR. THIS WILL ALLOW AMS TO DESTABILIZE WITH SFC TEMPS IN 85 TO 90 RANGE AND DEW POINTS IN MID 70S POOLING ACRS AREA ATTM. BASED ON THIS WENT WITH TEMPO GROUP AGAIN TDY WITH ACTIVITY FCST INTO RFD AREA BY 15Z...AND ACRS CHICAGO BY 17Z. QUESTION IS HOW WELL SQLN WILL HOLD TOGETHER GIVEN ETA DURG WHAT IS TYPICALLY DIURNAL DOWN TIME FOR TSTMS. LN SHOULD CLR AREA BY 19-20Z WITH VFR CIGS CURRENTLY FCST INTO TNGT. HOWEVER...AS WAVE PASSES THRU...WINDS FCST TO SHFT INTO NE BHD TSTM LN. GIVEN HIGH LLVL RH...MVFR CIGS COULD PERSIST INTO THIS EVENING AS WELL WITH FLO OFF LK MI. WILL HAVE TO WATCH THIS...BUT AS FOR NOW...JUST LOOKING AT A SCENARIO VERY SIMILAR TO YDY. MERZLOCK && .WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... .IL...NONE .IN...NONE .LK MI...NONE
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL 600 AM CDT THU JUL 21 2005 ILZ003>006-008-010>014-019>022-023-032-033-039-INZ001-002-010-011- 019-212200- WINNEBAGO-BOONE-MCHENRY-LAKE IL-OGLE-LEE-DE KALB-KANE-DU PAGE-COOK- LA SALLE-KENDALL-GRUNDY-WILL-KANKAKEE-LIVINGSTON-IROQUOIS-FORD- LAKE IN-PORTER-NEWTON-JASPER-BENTON- 600 AM CDT THU JUL 21 2005 THIS PORTION OF THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST ILLINOIS...AND NORTHWEST INDIANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED IN NORTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS BY LATE MORNING...AND ACROSS NORTHEAST ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA THIS AFTERNOON. THE STORMS WILL END IN NORTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS BY EARLY EVENING...AND IN NORTHEAST ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA LATE THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. THERE IS A CHANCE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS SOUTH OF A FREEPORT TO JOLIET TO LAFAYETTE LINE. THE MAIN THREAT WOULD BE STRONG...DAMAGING WINDS. HEAT INDICES WILL REACH 100 TO 105 FROM THE KANKAKEE AND ILLINOIS RIVER VALLEYS SOUTHWARD THIS AFTERNOON. THESE LEVELS MAY POSE A HAZARD WITH PROLONGED EXPOSURE OR EXTENDED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY....ESPECIALLY TO THOSE WITH SENSITIVITY TO HEAT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY ON SUNDAY...HEAT INDICES WILL REACH 100 TO 105 NORTH OF I-80...AND 110 TO 115 FROM THE KANKAKEE AND ILLINOIS RIVER VALLEYS SOUTHWARD. HEAT ADVISORIES MAY BE NECESSARY ON SUNDAY DUE TO TEMPERATURES IN THE MID AND UPPER 90S COMBINED WITH VERY HUMID AIR. THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS TUESDAY NIGHT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED TODAY AND TONIGHT. && COMPLETE FORECAST INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE NWS CHICAGO WEBPAGE: WEATHER.GOV/CHICAGO (LOWER CASE) LMZ740>745-766-212200- WINTHROP HARBOR IL TO MICHIGAN CITY IN- LAKE MICHIGAN- 600 AM CDT THU JUL 21 2005 THIS PORTION OF THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE ILLINOIS AND INDIANA WATERS OF LAKE MICHIGAN. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD PRODUCE GUSTY WINDS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS TUESDAY NIGHT. && COMPLETE FORECAST INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE NWS CHICAGO WEBPAGE: WEATHER.GOV/CHICAGO (LOWER CASE)
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
638 AM CDT THU JUL 21 2005
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1215 AM TSTM WND DMG PIPER CITY 40.76N 88.19W
07/21/2005 FORD IL CO-OP OBSERVER
LARGE TREE LIMBS DOWN
&&
MERZLOCKPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
828 AM CDT THU JUL 21 2005
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0716 PM DOWNBURST COAL CITY 41.29N 88.28W
07/20/2005 GRUNDY IL NWS EMPLOYEE
MEASURED 69 MPH WINDS.
0725 PM DOWNBURST COAL CITY 41.29N 88.28W
07/20/2005 GRUNDY IL TRAINED SPOTTER
6 INCH TREE LIMBS DOWN
0735 PM DOWNBURST KANKAKEE 41.12N 87.86W
07/20/2005 KANKAKEE IL AMATEUR RADIO
LARGE TREE COVERING ROAD
0805 PM TSTM WND DMG PAPINEAU 40.97N 87.72W
07/20/2005 IROQUOIS IL TRAINED SPOTTER
LARGE TREE LIMBS DOWN.
1215 AM TSTM WND DMG PIPER CITY 40.76N 88.19W
07/21/2005 FORD IL CO-OP OBSERVER
LARGE TREE LIMBS DOWN
&&
JALLSOPPPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
900 AM CDT THU JUL 21 2005
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0716 PM DOWNBURST COAL CITY 41.29N 88.28W
07/20/2005 GRUNDY IL NWS EMPLOYEE
MEASURED 69 MPH WINDS.
0725 PM DOWNBURST COAL CITY 41.29N 88.28W
07/20/2005 GRUNDY IL TRAINED SPOTTER
6 INCH TREE LIMBS DOWN
0735 PM DOWNBURST KANKAKEE 41.12N 87.86W
07/20/2005 KANKAKEE IL AMATEUR RADIO
LARGE TREE COVERING ROAD
0805 PM TSTM WND DMG PAPINEAU 40.97N 87.72W
07/20/2005 IROQUOIS IL TRAINED SPOTTER
LARGE TREE LIMBS DOWN.
0830 PM TSTM WND DMG WATSEKA 40.78N 87.73W
07/20/2005 IROQUOIS IL EMERGENCY MNGR
TREE LIMBS AND POWER LINES WERE BLOWN DOWN IN WATSEKA,
DONOVAN AND DANFORTH BETWEEN 830 AND 900 PM.
1215 AM TSTM WND DMG PIPER CITY 40.76N 88.19W
07/21/2005 FORD IL CO-OP OBSERVER
LARGE TREE LIMBS DOWN
1245 AM LIGHTNING WOODLAND 40.71N 87.73W
07/21/2005 IROQUOIS IL EMERGENCY MNGR
LIGHTNING HIT A HOUSE AND CAUSED 100K IN DAMAGE.
&&
JALLSOPPSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL 1011 AM CDT THU JUL 21 2005 ILZ003>004-008-010>011-019>023-032-211615- BOONE-DEKALB-GRUNDY-KANKAKEE-KENDALL-LASALLE-LEE-LIVINGSTON-OGLE- WILL-WINNEBAGO- 1011 AM CDT THU JUL 21 2005 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS CANCELED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 655 FOR THE FOLLOWING AREA... IN ILLINOIS THIS CANCELS 11 COUNTIES IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS LIVINGSTON... IN NORTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS BOONE... DE KALB... LA SALLE... LEE... OGLE... WINNEBAGO... IN NORTHEAST ILLINOIS GRUNDY... KANKAKEE... KENDALL... WILL... THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...BELVIDERE...DEKALB...DIXON... JOLIET...KANKAKEE...MORRIS...OREGON...OSWEGO...OTTAWA... PONTIAC AND ROCKFORD. ILZ005>006-012>014-211800- COOK-DUPAGE-KANE-LAKE-MCHENRY- 1011 AM CDT THU JUL 21 2005 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 655 REMAINS VALID UNTIL 1 PM CDT FOR THE FOLLOWING AREA... IN ILLINOIS THIS WATCH INCLUDES 5 COUNTIES IN NORTHEAST ILLINOIS COOK... DUPAGE... KANE... LAKE ILLINOIS... MCHENRY... THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...AURORA...CHICAGO... WAUKEGAN AND WOODSTOCK.
The Chicago radar (KLOT), 67 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:30 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A large tree was uprooted and fell onto a house causing minor damage to the roof. Tree limbs were also blown down across some areas.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2005Every state in 2005This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, July 2005
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: 5463065.