Strong to severe thunderstorms moved across far northern Illinois during the evening hours of July 7th.
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 episode as NWS LOT wrote it up.
Strong to severe thunderstorms moved across far northern Illinois during the evening hours of July 7th.
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 7, 5:50 PM CST, 1 hour 25 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL 650 PM CDT MON JUL 7 2008 .DISCUSSION...REGARDING AFTERNOON ZONES/GRIDS... 235 PM CDT HAVE BASED NR TERM OF FCST ON CURRENT SATLT TRENDS AND MESO ANALYSIS AS AIR MASS OVR IL HAS BEEN HIGHLY ALTERED BY CONVECTIVE OUTFLOW AND DEBRIS CLOUDINESS. RESIDUAL CLOUD COVER LEFT FROM TSTM CARCASS LINGERS OVR MUCH OF FA AND HAS ACTED TO STABILIZE ATMOSPHERE. THIS HAS ALL BUT ELIMINATED RAIN CHCS FOR ERLY THIS EVENING...AS WELL AS ANY SVR THREAT. INTENSE TSTM DVLPMT HAS ALREADY BEGUN OVR N CNTRL IA. THIS IS BEING FED BY VERY UNSTABLE AMS OVR IA WHERE SFC TEMPS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO REACH THE LWR 90S AND DEW POINTS ARE IN LOW-MID 70S. THIS PRETTY MUCH PUTS THE WRITING ON THE WALL CONCERNING OVERNIGHT POPS/WX. EXPECT PRE-FRONTAL LINEAR MCS TO DVLP OUT OF THIS AND TRACK EWD...WITH BULK OF PCPN JUST N OF FA. DESPITE PRAYERS AND BURNT (GRASS) OFFERINGS FOR RAIN OVER AREAS TO SW OF CHICAGO...AREAS MOST LIKELY TO RECEIVE SIG QPF AND GREATER TSTM COVERAGE WILL BE THE USUAL NRN TWO TIERS OF COUNTIES IN NRN IL...AS IA COMPLEX DVLPS EWD. BY 12Z...LLVL WIND FIELD IS FCST TO ALREADY VEER TO MORE WLY DIRECTION...FOCUSING BEST THETA-E CONVERGENCE INTO LWR MI AND NWRN IND. WILL KEEP CHC POPS IN NRN IL THRU TUES MRNG SINCE SFC COLD FRONT WILL STILL BE W OF AREA...BUT GIVEN TIME OF DAY...AND LOSS OF DECENT LLVL INFLOW/CONVERGENCE INTO FRONTAL ZONE...RAIN PROSPECTS LOOK MEAGER. MODELS STILL ADVERSTIZE A PRE FRONTAL SFC-LLVL TROF THAT IS PROGGED TO MOVE ACROSS NRN IL PORTION OF FA BY 18Z. EXPECT THIS TO BE FOCUS FOR TUESDAY AFTERNOONS REDEVELOPMENT OF STORMS. THERFORE...HAVE GONE WITH LIKELY POPS ACROSS NWRN IND AND E CNTRL IL PORTIONS OF FA...WHERE INSTABILITY WILL BE GREATER AHEAD OF PRE FRONTAL TROF...AND WHERE CONVERGENCE WILL BE INCREASING AHEAD OF THIS BOUNDARY. THESE STORMS ARE THEN EXPECTED TO LINGER OVER ERN FA INTO TUESDAY EVENING BEFORE SYNOPTIC COLD FRONT MOVES THRU...BRINGING SIG DROP IN DEW POINTS OVERNIGHT. SFC HI PRES TO BUILD IN BEHIND SHRT WAVE NOW LIFTING NEWD INTO WRN MN. THIS HI WILL SETTLE ACROSS WRN GRTLKS WED-WED NGT BRINGING DRY WX AND RATHER PLEASANT TEMPERATURES AND HUMIDITY LVLS LTL CHG TO EXTENDED PERIOD AS GUIDANCE REMAINS CONSISTENT IN DIGGING NXT SHRT WAVE INTO SRN PRAIRIE PROVNCES ON FRI. AS MID LVL FLOW BACKS AND SFC HI SLIDES OFF TO E OF RGN...RETURN INFLUX OF TRPCL AIR TO OCCUR HEADING INTO WEEKEND. SCENARIO FOR NXT WEEKEND THEN LOOKS QUITE SIMILAR TO WHATS GOING ON WITH DISTURBANCE NOW MOVG THRU. THEREFORE HAVE VERY WARM AND HUMID CONDITIONS FRI-SAT TIME FRAME WITH A DAY-TO-DAY CHC OF TSTMS...WITH FROPA CURRENTLY FCST TO PASS THRU RGN SAT NGT OR SUNDAY. MERZLOCK && .AVIATION... 650 PM CDT FOR 00Z TAFS...MAIN FORECAST CONCERNS CONTINUE TO REVOLVE AROUND CONVECTIVE POTENTIAL NEXT 18 HOURS OR SO. DIFFUSE SURFACE TROUGH/STATIONARY FRONT STRETCHING FROM NORTHEAST WISCONSIN TO NEAR OMAHA LATE THIS AFTERNOON WITH MOST CONVECTION FOCUSED ALONG IT. THIS FRONT NOT EXPECTED TO MAKE TOO MUCH EASTWARD PROGRESS IN SHORT TERM...AS STRONG SHORT WAVE DIGGING INTO UPPER MIDWEST EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SURFACE LOW ACROSS UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY OVERNIGHT. THUS NEXT 8 TO 10 HOURS EXPECTED TO BE RELATIVELY QUITE ACROSS TERMINALS...ESPECIALLY CHICAGO AREA. FARTHER WEST... SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WHICH FORMED ALONG WEAK LOW LEVEL CONVERGENT AXIS OVER EASTERN IA WILL LIFT TOWARD NORTHWEST IL THIS EVENING... THOUGH THESE APPEAR TO BE RATHER PULSEY DISORGANIZED AS THEY REDEVELOP ON OUTFLOW FROM DECAYING CELLS. SPC/RUC MESOANALYSIS INDICATES MLCAPE INSTABILITY AXIS ACROSS MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY OF AROUND 3000 J/KG WHICH SUGGESTS ISOLATED CELLS MAY CONTINUE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS...THOUGH SHOULD SEE THIS ACTIVITY DIMINISH WITH LOSS OF INSOLATION THIS EVENING. OTHERWISE...APPEARS MORE ORGANIZED RW/TRW WILL HOLD OFF UNTIL VERY LATE TONIGHT AND TUESDAY MORNING AS NORTHERN PLAINS WAVE DIGS ACROSS AREA AND LOW LEVEL FORCING INCREASES WITH APPROACH OF SURFACE COLD FRONT. AS FOR WINDS...WITH SURFACE LOW DEVELOPING ACROSS UPPER MIDWEST TONIGHT EXPECT SOUTH/SOUTHWEST GRADIENT WINDS TO CONTINUE. GUSTS WILL DIMINISH WITH APPROACH OF SUNSET THIS EVENING...THOUGH WILL LIKELY REMAIN A BIT BREEZY AS WARM BOUNDARY LAYER WILL LIKELY BE SLOW TO COOL. TROUGH/COLD FRONT TRAILS ACROSS FORECAST AREA TUESDAY MORNING AS LOW LIFTS NORTHEAST INTO ONTARIO. FROPA EXPECTED 14-15Z OR SO AT KRFD...16-17Z FOR KORD/KMDW. WINDS TO SHIFT WEST INITIALLY...BECOMING SLIGHTLY MORE NORTHWEST TUESDAY AFTERNOON. RATZER && .MARINE... 1119 AM CDT STATIONARY FRONT RUNNING FROM JUST N OF THE N CHANNEL OF LK HURON W TO AROUND THE SOO AND CONTINUING ACROSS THE U.P. AND AND FAR NORTHERN WI. SURFACE WAVE TO RIDE ALONG THE BOUNDARY TONIGHT...MOVING ASHORE FROM EASTERN LK SUPERIOR INTO ONTARIO AROUND DAYBREAK. A COLD FRONT TRAILING SW FROM THIS LOW WILL BE PUSHING E ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST OVERNIGHT. COLD FRONT MOVES ACROSS NORTHERN AND CENTRAL PORTIONS OF LK MI DURING TUE AND CLEARS THE S END DURING TUE EVENING. HI PRESSURE TO THEN MOVE E ACROSS LK MI WED NIGHT AND THU MORNING WITH RETURN SSE-S FLOW LATER THU AS HI MOVES E ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN LAKES. LOW PRESSURE TO MOVE E FROM MANITOBA INTO WESTERN ONTARIO FRI AND SAT LIFTING A WARM FRONT THRU THE WESTERN LAKES. WINDS EXPECTED TO REMAIN SOUTHERLY THO WITH CENTER OF LOW PRES STILL TO THE NW OF LK MI. TRS && .LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...NONE. IN...NONE. LM...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL 430 PM CDT MON JUL 7 2008 ILZ003>006-008-010>014-019>023-032-033-039-INZ001-002-010-011-019- 080930- WINNEBAGO-BOONE-MCHENRY-LAKE ILLINOIS-OGLE-LEE-DE KALB-KANE- DUPAGE-COOK-LA SALLE-KENDALL-GRUNDY-WILL-KANKAKEE-LIVINGSTON- IROQUOIS-FORD-LAKE INDIANA-PORTER-NEWTON-JASPER-BENTON- 430 PM CDT MON JUL 7 2008 /554 AM EDT MON JUL 7 2008/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS...NORTHEAST ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER PORTIONS OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS...TO THE WEST OF A LINE FROM 10 MILES NORTH OF MCHENRY...TO NEAR DEKALB...TO 10 MILES SOUTH OF AMBOY. WEATHER HAZARDS EXPECTED: THUNDERSTORMS. WINDS GUSTING TO 60 MPH. HEAVY RAIN AND LOCALIZED FLOODING. AREAS AFFECTED AND TIMING: NORTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS LATE THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. DISCUSSION: INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEGUN TO DEVELOP OVER NORTH CENTRAL IOWA. THESE STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO EVOLVE INTO A MULTICELL CLUSTER AND TRACK EASTWARD INTO SOUTHERN WISCONSIN AND EXTREME NORTHERN ILLINOIS OVERNIGHT. STRONGER CELLS WITHIN THIS COMPLEX MAY PRODUCE BRIEF DAMAGING WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. GIVEN THE TROPICAL ENVIRONMENT...THERE WILL BE A THREAT OF LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL...MAINLY OVER NORTH CENTRAL AND EXTREME NORTHERN ILLINOIS. PORTIONS OF THE ROCK RIVER WILL REMAIN IN FLOOD. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY TUESDAY AS A COLD FRONT APPROACHES FROM THE NORTHWEST AND ACTS ON UNSTABLE AIR OVER THE REGION. A FEW SEVERE STORMS WITH HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS ARE POSSIBLE...MAINLY EAST OF A GARY INDIANA TO PONTIAC...TO BLOOMINGTON ILLINOIS LINE. HEAVY RAIN WITH LOCALIZED FLOODING IS ALSO POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS. PORTIONS OF THE ROCK RIVER WILL REMAIN IN FLOOD. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS MAY BE NEEDED TODAY AND TONIGHT. && COMPLETE FORECAST INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE NWS CHICAGO WEBPAGE: WEATHER.GOV/CHICAGO LMZ740>745-080930- WINTHROP HARBOR TO WILMETTE HARBOR- WILMETTE HARBOR TO NORTHERLY ISLAND- NORTHERLY ISLAND TO CALUMET HARBOR-CALUMET HARBOR TO GARY- GARY TO BURNS HARBOR-BURNS HARBOR TO MICHIGAN CITY- 430 PM CDT MON JUL 7 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS NEARSHORE WATERS OF LAKE MICHIGAN AND THE INDIANA NEARSHORE WATERS OF LAKE MICHIGAN. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BECOME LIKELY OVERNIGHT...MAINLY NORTH OF DOWNTOWN CHICAGO. SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY BE SEVERE WITH STRONG...GUSTY AND SHIFTING WINDS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE INTO TUESDAY EVENING...ESPECIALLY OVER THE INDIANA NEARSHORE WATERS. FEW SEVERE STORMS WITH HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS ARE AGAIN POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS TUESDAY. && COMPLETE FORECAST INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE NWS CHICAGO WEBPAGE: WEATHER.GOV/CHICAGO LMZ080-261-362-364-366-563-565-567-669-671-673-675-777-779-868- 870-872-874-876-878-080930- LAKE MICHIGAN FROM MICHIGAN CITY IN TO ST. JOSEPH MI 5 NM OFFSHORE TO MID LAKE- LAKE MICHIGAN FROM SEUL CHOIX POINT TO ROCK ISLAND PASSAGE 5 NM OFFSHORE TO MID LAKE- LAKE MICHIGAN SOUTH OF A LINE FROM SEUL CHOIX POINT TO THE MACKINAC BRIDGE AND NORTH OF A LINE FROM CHARLEVOIX MI TO SOUTH FOX ISLAND 5 NM OFFSHORE- LAKE MICHIGAN FROM CHARLEVOIX TO POINT BETSIE MI 5 NM OFFSHORE TO MID LAKE- LAKE MICHIGAN FROM POINT BETSIE TO MANISTEE MI 5 NM OFFSHORE TO MID LAKE- LAKE MICHIGAN FROM ROCK ISLAND PASSAGE TO STURGEON BAY WI- LAKE MICHIGAN FROM STURGEON BAY TO TWO RIVERS WI 5 NM OFFSHORE TO MID LAKE- LAKE MICHIGAN FROM TOW RIVERS TO SHEBOYGAN WI 5 NM OFFSHORE TO MID LAKE- LAKE MICHIGAN FROM SHEBOYGAN TO PORT WASHINGTON WI 5 NM OFFSHORE TO MID LAKE- LAKE MICHIGAN FROM PORT WASHINGTON TO NORTH POINT LIGHT WI 5 NM OFFSHORE TO MID LAKE- LAKE MICHIGAN FROM NORTH POINT LIGHT TO WIND POINT WI 5 NM OFFSHORE TO MID LAKE- LAKE MICHIGAN FROM WIND POINT WI TO WINTHROP HARBOR IL 5 NM OFFSHORE TO MID LAKE- LAKE MICHIGAN FROM WINTHROP HARBOR TO WILMETTE HARBOR IL 5 NM OFFSHORE TO MID LAKE- LAKE MICHIGAN FROM WILMETTE HARBOR IL TO MICHIGAN CITY IN 5 NM OFFSHORE TO MID LAKE- LAKE MICHIGAN FROM PENTWATER TO MANISTEE MI 5 NM OFFSHORE TO MID LAKE- LAKE MICHIGAN FROM WHITEHALL TO PENTWATER MI 5 NM OFFSHORE TO MID LAKE- LAKE MICHIGAN FROM GRAND HAVEN TO WHITEHALL MI 5 NM OFFSHORE TO MID LAKE- LAKE MICHIGAN FROM HOLLAND TO GRAND HAVEN MI 5 NM OFFSHORE TO MID LAKE- LAKE MICHIGAN FROM SOUTH HAVEN TO HOLLAND MI 5 NM OFFSHORE TO MID LAKE- LAKE MICHIGAN FROM ST. JOSEPH TO SOUTH HAVEN MI 5 NM OFFSHORE TO MID LAKE- 430 PM CDT MON JUL 7 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF THE OPEN WATERS OF LAKE MICHIGAN. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BECOME LIKELY TONIGHT. SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY PRODUCE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 50 KNOTS AND LARGE HAIL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS...SOME POSSIBLY SEVERE...WILL CONTINUE THROUGH TUESDAY ACROSS SOUTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN. && COMPLETE FORECAST INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE NWS CHICAGO WEBPAGE: WEATHER.GOV/CHICAGO MERZLOCK
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
415 PM CDT MON JUL 07 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0800 AM TSTM WND GST DE KALB 41.93N 88.75W
07/07/2008 M60.00 MPH DE KALB IL TRAINED SPOTTER
MEASURED GUST TO 60 MPH ONE QUARTER MILE NORTH OF
DOWNTOWN WITH TREE LIMBS DOWN.
0935 AM MARINE TSTM WIND 4 NE CHICAGO 41.92N 87.57W
07/07/2008 M60.00 MPH LMZ741 IL C-MAN STATION
WIND GUST MEASURED TO 52 KNOTS AT THE HARRISON-DEVER
CRIB.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
416 PM CDT MON JUL 07 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0800 AM TSTM WND GST DE KALB 41.93N 88.75W
07/07/2008 M69.00 MPH DEKALB IL TRAINED SPOTTER
TREE BRANCHES DOWN ACROSS NIU CAMPUS.
0800 AM TSTM WND GST DE KALB 41.93N 88.75W
07/07/2008 M68.00 MPH DEKALB IL TRAINED SPOTTER
DEBRIS SCATTERED ACROSS ROADS.
0800 AM TSTM WND DMG DE KALB 41.93N 88.75W
07/07/2008 DEKALB IL TRAINED SPOTTER
LARGE TREE BRANCHES DOWN ACROSS WEST SIDE OF NIU CAMPUS.
0800 AM TSTM WND DMG DE KALB 41.93N 88.75W
07/07/2008 DEKALB IL TRAINED SPOTTER
DAMAGE TO ROOF OF DORLAND BUILDING ON NIU CAMPUS.
0800 AM TSTM WND DMG DE KALB 41.93N 88.75W
07/07/2008 DEKALB IL TRAINED SPOTTER
ROOF DAMAGE TO SEVERAL BUILDINGS ON NIU CAMPUS.
0800 AM TSTM WND DMG DE KALB 41.93N 88.75W
07/07/2008 DEKALB IL TRAINED SPOTTER
TRAILER OVERTURNED AND ROLLED ON WESTSIDE OF NIU CAMPUS.
0800 AM TSTM WND GST DE KALB 41.93N 88.75W
07/07/2008 M60.00 MPH DE KALB IL TRAINED SPOTTER
MEASURED GUST TO 60 MPH ONE QUARTER MILE NORTH OF
DOWNTOWN WITH TREE LIMBS DOWN.
0830 AM HEAVY RAIN 4 NE MILFORD 40.67N 87.64W
07/07/2008 M5.60 INCH IROQUOIS IL BROADCAST MEDIA
STORM TOTAL.
0919 AM HEAVY RAIN REMINGTON 40.76N 87.15W
07/07/2008 M2.30 INCH JASPER IN PUBLIC
HEAVY RAIN BETWEEN 0600-0830 AM LST...COCORAHS OBSERVER
0935 AM MARINE TSTM WIND 4 NE CHICAGO 41.92N 87.57W
07/07/2008 M60.00 MPH LMZ741 IL C-MAN STATION
WIND GUST MEASURED TO 52 KNOTS AT THE HARRISON-DEVER
CRIB.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
7 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees were blown down near Owen Center and Latham Roads.
Penny size hail was reported in Machesney Park.
Tree limbs and power lines were blown down in Machesney Park.
Quarter size hail was reported in Loves Park.
Numerous trees were blown down in Popular Grove.
Numerous trees were blown down in Capron.
Lightning struck a home on Ruth Circle but only caused damage to cables and appliances, no fire or structural damage was reported.
Tree limbs and power lines were blown down.
Wind gusts were estimated to 60 mph.
A tree was blown down near Route 64 and Meridian Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, July 2008
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: 114831, 114826, 114832, 114829, 114817, 114820, 124347, 114821, 114833, 114823.