Flood and Hail in Illinois, March 31, 2007

Name: Flood and Hail in Illinois, March 31, 2007
Start: 2007-03-31T19:14
End: 2007-03-31T21:25
Location: Illinois

March 31, 2007 · NWS LOT · 31 events in 11 counties and zones

Severe thunderstorms moved across northern Illinois during the evening hours of Saturday, March 31st, producing winds in excess of 60 mph across many locations.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 11
Property damage: $1.2 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 31

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.

Severe thunderstorms moved across northern Illinois during the evening hours of Saturday, March 31st, producing winds in excess of 60 mph across many locations.

What forecasters said that day

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 Mar 31, 5:40 PM CST, 1 hour 34 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 31, 5:40 PM CST, 1 hour 34 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO IL
640 PM CDT SAT MAR 31 2007

.DISCUSSION...AFTERNOON FCST
CONCERN OVER EVENING THUNDERSTORMS AND ANOTHER POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORM
THREAT ON TUESDAY PRECEDING A MAJOR SHIFT TOWARD COLDER WEATHER ARE
THE FORECAST ISSUES THIS AFTERNOON.

VIGOROUS VORTEX OVER KS/NEB WILL BEGIN TO WEAKEN AND MOVE NE
TONIGHT. THIS WILL AID SFC COLD FRONT NOW OVER WRN MO TO SWING
RAPIDLY ENE THROUGH NRN IL AND NW IN AFTER MIDNIGHT. SFC WARM FRONT
HAS EASED NORTHWARD DURING THE MIDDAY WITH DEW POINTS RISING INTO
THE 50S OVER MOST OF FCST. WIDESPREAD CLOUDS PERSIST ALBEIT WITH
SOME HOLES FOR HEATING. WDLY SCTD SHOWERS AND FEW TSTMS HAVE BUBBLED
UP. BLOW OFF FROM CONVECTION OVER ARK HEADING RAPIDLY NW THOUGH AND
THIS WILL CUT OFF ANY FUTHER HEATING IN MANY AREAS REST OF THIS
AFTERNOON.

STILL..WILL WATCH BAND OF CONVECTION OVER WRN MO AS FOCUS FOR PUSH
OF WESTERN COLD FRONT LATER TONIGHT. MODEL SOUNDING SHOW VERY MARKED
VEERING SIGNATURE WITH NEAR SATURATION IN THE COLUMN AROUND 03Z.
THIS COINCIDES WITH EXPECTED PUSH OF MAIN BAND OF RW/TRW DURING THE
EVENING. MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES MAY STEEPEN SOME AND BULK SHEAR
VALUES WILL MAX OUT ABOUT THIS TIME SO A BRIEF PERIOD/THREAT OF
TSTMS WITH PERHAPS HAIL AND LOCAL HEAVY SHOWERS IS REASONABLE
BETWEEN 00-06Z.

TRAILING AIRMASS FROM THE CENTRAL AND SRN PLAINS IS MODESTLY MILD SO
TEMPS SUN MAY BE CLOSE TO THOSE OF TODAY. FEW SHOWERS CONTINUING IN
CYCLONIC BACKWASH FLOW. THE NEXT SHORT WAVE IN A SOMEWHAT ZONAL FLOW
APPROACHES TUESDAY. TIME OF DAY WILL BE KEY TO TSTM THREAT BUT
SYSTEM IS PROGRESSIVE AND HAS GOOD UPPER LEVEL SUPPORT.  THIS MAY
OFFSET MARGINAL MOISTURE INFLOW.

THIS MID WEEK SYSTEM USHERS IN A PATTERN CHANGE AS TUE TROUGH
DEEPENS OVER THE EASTERN STATES AND EASTERN CANADA.  THIS HAS BEEN
ADVERTIZE FOR MANY RUNS NOW.  INCREASING AMPLITUDE UPSTREAM FROM
THIS TROUGH WILL LIKELY MAINTAIN A COLD NW FLOW INTO EASTER WEEKEND.
TEMPS DURING THIS PERIOD WIL BE BELOW BELOW AVE WITH AT LEAST A
COUPLE NIGHTS OF FROST/FREEZG TEMPS.  NEAR TERM CONDITIONS WILL BE
MONITORED FOR CONVECTION THIS EVENING.  MOS TEMPS/POPS LOOK
REASONABLE AT THIS TIME. KML

&&

.AVIATION DISCUSSION FOR 00Z TAFS...
640 PM CDT

WARM FNTL BNDRY LAYING ACROSS NRN IL AND NWRN INDY FROM MLI TO VPZ.
THIS BNDRY PUSHING NWD AND SHUD BE MOVING THRU TERMINALS EARLY THIS
EVENING. SOME HAZE AND FOG NORTH OF THIS LINE SHUD IMPROVE WITH
PASSAGE AS WINDS SHIFT FROM ESE TO MORE SLY DIRECTION. WIND SPEEDS
FAIRLY BRISK OVERNIGHT FROM 15 TO 20 KTS IN RATHER TIGHT PRESS
GRADIENT OUT AHEAD OF LOW PRES IN WRN IA. BEST CAPE ARE ALONG AND
SOUTH OF THIS BNDRY BUT PERSISTENT CLOUD COVER OVER TERMINALS SO FAR
CAPPING ANY MAJOR OUTBREAK LIKE THAT ALG MS RVR WHERE MOST ACTIVE
AREA IS BREEDING AND SLOW EDGING EAST. RFD MAY SEE SOME SUN BFR IT
SETS BUT NOT LIKELY FOR DPA AND ORD ON EAST. WILL SEE HOW MUCH
STORMS STABLILIZE AT SUNSET...BUT FOR NOW AM CARRYING BEST CHANCE
BTWN 02Z AND 05Z. CIGS GENERALLY VFR BUT VSBY MVFR TO HIGH IFR IN
TSTMS BTWN THOSE HOURS. ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT WITH THIS SYSTEM
WRAPPING ACRS MO INTO WRN IL NOW AND SWINGING THRU ERN IL AS IT
OCCLUDES AROUND MIDNGT WITH WINDS SHIFTING TO SW. LARGE PRESS RISES
AND STRONG CAA SUNDAY INDICATING WINDS GUSTING TO 30 KTS ALL DAY
FROM THE SW WITH LOW VFR CIGS THRU 00Z SUN EVENING.

RLB
&&

.LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
.IL...NONE.
.IN...NONE.
.LM...NONE.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 31, 4:35 PM CST, 2 hours 39 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
535 PM CDT SAT MAR 31 2007

ILZ003>006-008-010>014-019>022-023-032-033-039-INZ001-002-010-011-
019-010930-
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-
535 PM CDT SAT MAR 31 2007

THIS PORTION OF THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL
AND NORTHEAST ILLINOIS...AND NORTHWEST INDIANA.

.DAY ONE... TONIGHT

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH MIDNIGHT ALONG AND WEST OF
ILLINOIS ROUTE 47. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
FOR THE REST OF THE OUTLOOK AREA THROUGH THIS EVENING. THUNDERSTORMS
OVER EASTERN MISSOURI AND EASTERN IOWA WILL PIVOT NORTHEAST ACROSS
NORTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS THIS EVENING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN... SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

THERE WILL BE A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH
TUESDAY. THE NATURE OF ANY THREAT IS YET TO BE DETERMINED.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER REPORTS ARE REQUESTED THIS EVENING.

&&

COMPLETE FORECAST INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE
NWS CHICAGO WEBPAGE: WEATHER.GOV/CHICAGO (LOWER CASE)

LMZ740>745-766-010930-
WINTHROP HARBOR IL TO MICHIGAN CITY IN-
LAKE MICHIGAN-
535 PM CDT SAT MAR 31 2007

THIS PORTION OF THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE ILLINOIS
AND INDIANA WATERS OF LAKE MICHIGAN.

.DAY ONE... TONIGHT

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING.  THE
PRIMARY THREAT IS HAIL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN... SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

THERE WILL BE A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH
TUESDAY.

&&

COMPLETE FORECAST INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE
NWS CHICAGO WEBPAGE: WEATHER.GOV/CHICAGO (LOWER CASE)

The radar

The Lincoln radar (KILX), 96 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:14 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

29 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, La Salle

When: March 31, 7:14 PM CST
Where: La Salle County, 0.52 mi E of Rutland
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.980, -89.040

Hail, La Salle

When: March 31, 7:39 PM CST to 7:41 PM CST
Where: La Salle County, 0.52 mi E of Ottawa
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.350, -88.840

Penny size hail was reported on Route 23, just south of Interstate 80.

Thunderstorm Wind, La Salle

When: March 31, 7:39 PM CST
Where: La Salle County, Troy Grove
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.470, -89.080

Tree limbs blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lee

When: March 31, 7:40 PM CST
Where: Lee County, 0.86 mi SE of The Burg
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.690, -89.090

Tree limbs blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lee

When: March 31, 7:46 PM CST
Where: Lee County, 0.69 mi N of Paw Paw
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.690, -88.980

Thunderstorm Wind, La Salle

When: March 31, 7:58 PM CST
Where: La Salle County, 0.52 mi W of Sheridan
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.530, -88.690

Large tree limbs were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, De Kalb

When: March 31, 8:00 PM CST to 8:22 PM CST
Where: De Kalb County, De Kalb to Sycamore
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.930, -88.750

A large tree was blown down at Route 23 and Lucerne Lane, two blocks north of Interstate 88. Several branches were blown down from this location north to Route 38. A tree was blown down at Route 23 and Hillcrest. At Hopkins Park on Royal Drive, 19 trees were blown down along with numerous large limbs. In a wooded area south of the Park, another 9 trees were blown down. Across from Hopkins Park, a utility pole was blown down at Route 23 across from Hopkins Park. Two pine trees across from Ranger Road were snapped. Trees were blown down in Greenwood Acres just southwest of Route 23 and Bethany Road. A building under construction collapsed at Route 23 and Mercantile Road in Sycamore.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kendall

When: March 31, 8:11 PM CST
Where: Kendall County, 0.69 mi N of Newark
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.540, -88.580

Tree limbs blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kendall

When: March 31, 8:19 PM CST
Where: Kendall County, 1.48 mi NNE of Bristol Station
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.700, -88.420

A gust to 70 mph was measured in Bristol.

Thunderstorm Wind, De Kalb

When: March 31, 8:20 PM CST
Where: De Kalb County, 2 mi S of De Kalb
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 41.901, -88.750

At South Pointe off Gurler Road, a large portion of a roof was blown off including the roof liner, insulation and roofing. Two trees were blown down onto Gurler Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kane

When: March 31, 8:23 PM CST
Where: Kane County, 0.52 mi E of Montgomery
Measured: 68 kt (78 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.730, -88.340

Thunderstorm Wind, Kane

When: March 31, 8:25 PM CST
Where: Kane County, 1.55 mi E of Aurora
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Unknown
Coordinates: 41.770, -88.290

Tree limbs blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kane

When: March 31, 8:25 PM CST
Where: Kane County, Aurora
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 41.770, -88.320

A maintenance building and two condo buildings were damaged by high winds. Ten large trees were also uprooted.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kane

When: March 31, 8:28 PM CST
Where: Kane County, 3.5 mi N of Sugar Grove
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.800, -88.460

Thunderstorm Wind, Will

When: March 31, 8:29 PM CST
Where: Will County, 0.52 mi E of Crystal Lawns
Measured: 54 kt (62 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.530, -88.120

Thunderstorm Wind, Du Page

When: March 31, 8:37 PM CST
Where: Du Page County, 1.03 mi W of Warrenville
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Unknown
Coordinates: 41.820, -88.190

Tree limbs blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kane

When: March 31, 8:40 PM CST
Where: Kane County, 1.03 mi E of Batavia
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.850, -88.300

Tree limbs blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Boone

When: March 31, 8:44 PM CST
Where: Boone County, 0.51 mi E of Capron
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 42.400, -88.740

A tree was blown down on Burr Oak Road in Leroy Township. Another tree was blown down on Caledonia Road in Caledonia Township and wires were blown down on Denny Road in Bonus Township.

Thunderstorm Wind, Will

When: March 31, 8:45 PM CST
Where: Will County, Braidwood
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.270, -88.220

Tree limbs blown down on roadways.

Thunderstorm Wind, Du Page

When: March 31, 8:49 PM CST
Where: Du Page County, Carol Stream to Glendale Hgts
Measured: 83 kt (96 mph) estimated gust
Injuries: 11 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $1.0 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 41.920, -88.130

A microburst caused significant wind damage in Carol Stream and Glendale Heights. The damage occurred across an area about one half mile long and 250 yards wide, just to the east of Schmale Road near the intersection with North Avenue. |The most severe damage occurred at an apartment complex east of Schmale Road between Willow Woods Drive and Burns Street in Carol Stream. Here a three story apartment building had a substantial portion of its roof entirely peeled off by winds and many windows were blown out. Two other apartment buildings lost significant portions of their roofs, while six other buildings sustained significant roof damage. Many large trees were uprooted around the grounds.|Located adjacent to and to the north of the apartment complex, a church sustained significant damage to its roof. This structure was formally a large discount store. Debris from the apartments was strewn throughout the church's parking lot and onto North Avenue. Further to the north, across North Avenue, a few large trees were uprooted or blown down. There was also significant damage to the roof at a manufacturing company in Glendale Heights. Here a 60 by 80 foot section of roof was peeled off on the southeast corner of the structure. There were also two or three holes about 8 to 10 feet across punched in the roof.|Located to the south of the apartment complex, there was damage to the roof facade on a medical office building located along the south side of St. Charles Road just east of Schmale Road. Further south, there were trees blown down and shingles and small sections of siding peeled up from roofs at two other apartment complexes.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kane

When: March 31, 8:50 PM CST
Where: Kane County, 1.38 mi S of Marywood
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 41.780, -88.280

A utility shed and a farmhouse were damaged at Farnsworth and Indian Trail roads.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cook

When: March 31, 8:52 PM CST
Where: Cook County, 0.51 mi E of Hanover Park
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 42.020, -88.170

Thunderstorm Wind, McHenry

When: March 31, 8:55 PM CST
Where: McHenry County, Huntley
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Unknown
Coordinates: 42.170, -88.420

Tree limbs blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, McHenry

When: March 31, 8:55 PM CST
Where: McHenry County, Huntley
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Unknown
Coordinates: 42.170, -88.420

Thunderstorm Wind, Du Page

When: March 31, 8:57 PM CST
Where: Du Page County, 0.86 mi NW of Bensenville
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 41.960, -87.940

Four trees blown down at White Pines and Pine Grove.

Thunderstorm Wind, Du Page

When: March 31, 8:59 PM CST
Where: Du Page County, 1.48 mi SSE of North Lake
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Unknown
Coordinates: 41.900, -87.940

Thunderstorm Wind, Lake

When: March 31, 9:01 PM CST
Where: Lake County, 0.86 mi SE of Lake Zurich
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 42.190, -88.090

A tree limb fell on a car and broke the windshield.

Thunderstorm Wind, Will

When: March 31, 9:07 PM CST
Where: Will County, 0.52 mi E of Crete
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Unknown
Coordinates: 41.450, -87.620

Tree limbs blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, McHenry

When: March 31, 9:10 PM CST
Where: McHenry County, Marengo
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 42.250, -88.600

Tree limbs were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cook

When: March 31, 9:17 PM CST
Where: Cook County, Lansing
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Unknown
Coordinates: 41.570, -87.550

Flood, Kendall

When: March 31, 9:25 PM CST
Where: Kendall County, 2.77 mi S of Oswego
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.640, -88.350

Four to five inches of water on Minkler and Reservation Roads.

What these are

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.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Illinois in 2007 Every state in 2007 This day in weather history Warnings in Illinois, March 2007

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: 20985, 20966, 20986, 20987, 20988, 20967, 20969, 20968, 20989, 22935, 20990, 20970, 22154, 20991, 20992, 20971, 20972, 20974, 20977, 20984, 20979, 20993, 20980, 20994, 20981, 20996, 20982, 20997, 20983, 20999, 21001.