Strong to severe thunderstorms moved across northern Illinois during the afternoon and evening hours of July 23rd producing strong winds. Additional thunderstorms developed in the late evening of July 23rd and lasted in the early morning hours of July 24th producing very heavy rain and widespread flash flooding in many parts of the Chicago Metro Area.
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 northern Illinois during the afternoon and evening hours of July 23rd producing strong winds. Additional thunderstorms developed in the late evening of July 23rd and lasted in the early morning hours of July 24th producing very heavy rain and widespread flash flooding in many parts of the Chicago Metro Area. Rainfall rates were as much as two to three inches per hour in some areas.
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 23, 3:58 PM CST, 2 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
458 PM CDT FRI JUL 23 2010
.DISCUSSION...
404 PM CDT
FORECAST CONCERNS STILL REMAIN WITH SEVERAL ISSUES THIS
AFTERNOON...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON...HIGH HEAT
INDEX VALUES...AND HEAVY RAIN POTENTIAL TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY.
CLEARING SKIES THIS AFTERNOON HAS ALLOWED THE CWA TODAY
DESTABILIZE ONCE AGAIN. THIS SUNSHINE COUPLED WITH HIGH DEWPOINT
AIR...HAS CREATED A MODERATE TO STRONGLY UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE OVER
THE ENTIRE CWA. ALTHOUGH...COOL AIR FROM THIS EARLY MORNINGS
CONVECTION HAS KEPT MOST OF FAR NORTHERN ILLINOIS SOMEWHAT STABLE
WITH LATEST RUC ANALYSIS INDICATING ALMOST 100 J/KG OF CIN.
DESPITE THIS AND THE FACT THAT WE ARE GOING INTO THE LATE
AFTERNOON HOURS...IT IS STILL POSSIBLE THAT MOST OF THIS CIN COULD
ERODE...ESPECIALLY WITH TRENDS OVER THE LAST HOUR INDICATING THIS
SCENARIO. ALSO...LATEST SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWING CU FIELD OVER
NORTHERN ILLINOIS BECOMING MORE DEVELOPED. RADAR IMAGERY SHOWING
THUNDERSTORM CLUSTER MOVING EAST/NORTHEAST OVER EASTERN IOWA AND
FAR WESTERN ILLINOIS. OVERALL TRENDS WITH THIS CLUSTER HAVE BEEN
INCREASING. WITH UPSCALE GROWTH TO THIS COMPLEX DUE TO AN
INCREASINGLY UNSTABLE ENVIRONMENT...MID LEVEL FLOW WITH AN
APPROACHING SHORT WAVE TROUGH AIDING IN 0-6KM BULK SHEAR VALUES OF
30-40 KT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR
PORTIONS OF THE CWA THROUGH THE EVENING. EXPECT THIS CONVECTION TO
CONTINUE TO PROPAGATE EAST/NORTHEAST THIS EVENING...BEFORE
ATTENTION SWITCHES TO MORE OF A HEAVY RAIN THREAT.
LINGERING FRONT TO THE NORTH WILL BE AN AREA OF FOCUS FOR
REDEVELOPMENT OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT. AS THIS FRONT
SLOWLY SAGS SOUTHWARD TONIGHT...LOW TO MID LEVEL FLOW WILL
INCREASE WITH LOW LEVEL JET RAMPING UP THROUGH THE EARLY MORNING
HOURS. THIS FLOW WILL HELP ADVECT WARM/MOIST AIR OVER THIS FRONT
CREATING A SITUATION FOR POSSIBLE HEAVY RAIN. IT APPEARS THAT THIS
SOUTHERLY LOW LEVEL FLOW OVER THIS FRONT WILL BE THE FOCUS FOR
CONVECTION OVER PORTIONS OF EASTERN IOWA AND NORTHWEST ILLINOIS.
THEN MID LEVEL FLOW WILL HELP STEER THESE STORMS EAST...PROVIDING
A SITUATION OF TRAINING CELLS OVER ONE LOCATION. THIS WOULD HELP
PROVIDE HIGH RAINFALL AMOUNTS INITIALLY OVER NORTHWEST
ILLINOIS...THEN BEGIN TO SHIFT FOCUS TO NORTH AND NORTHEAST
ILLINOIS THROUGH SATURDAY WITH HIGHEST RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2-4
INCHES EXPECTED ALONG AND NORTH OF INTERSTATE 88. IF ANY STRONGER
STORMS WERE TO TRAIN OVER ONE AREA...LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS COULD
BE POSSIBLE. WITH LAST NIGHTS STORMS PRODUCING HIGH AMOUNTS AND
HIGH AMOUNTS EXPECTED TONIGHT...HAVE KEPT ONGOING FLASH FLOOD
WATCH. I HAVE ALSO EXPANDED AND EXTENDED THIS FLASH FLOOD
WATCH...SEE PRODUCT.
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE ON SATURDAY WITH SURFACE LOW
AND FRONT PUSHING THROUGH WITH LINGERING CHANCES INTO SATURDAY
NIGHT BEFORE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH AXIS SHIFTS EAST OF THE CWA. WITH
THIS SHIFTING EAST...A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS OVERHEAD.
WITH CLEARING SKIES AND COOLER TEMPERATURES...SUNDAY APPEARS TO BE
A PLEASANT DAY.
RODRIGUEZ
FOR THE EXTENDED...MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...
ONLY MINOR CHANGES WERE MADE TO THE FORECAST FOR NEXT WEEK. THE
SURFACE RIDGE WHICH WILL BE SITTING OVER THE AREA SUNDAY AND SUNDAY
NIGHT WILL SLOWLY MAKE ITS WAY EAST DURING THE EARLY PART OF NEXT
WEEK. CONVECTIVE CHANCES START OFF LOW SUNDAY AND MONDAY BUT
GRADUALLY INCREASE THROUGH THE WORKWEEK AS HIGHER MOISTURE MOVES
BACK INTO THE AREA ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE RIDGE. AM NOT SURE THAT
THE ENTIRE AREA WILL AVOID SHOWERS BOTH MONDAY AND TUESDAY...BUT AT
THIS TIME THESE DO APPEAR TO BE THE DAYS WITH THE GREATEST CHANCE OF
MOST PLACES STAYING DRY NEXT WEEK.
TEMPERATURES NEXT WEEK ALSO MAKE A QUICK RECOVERY BACK TOWARD THE
UPPER 80S TO LOWER 90S AFTER A SOMEWHAT COOLER PERIOD SUNDAY AND
MONDAY. IN TERMS OF HEAT INDICES...WEDNESDAY APPEARS TO BE THE DAY
WHERE HEAT AND HUMIDITY WILL CONVERGE TO BOOST APPARENT TEMPERATURES
TOWARD THE 100 DEGREE MARK. DEPENDING ON THE MODERATING EFFECTS OF
CONVECTION LATER IN THE WEEK...WE MAY CONTINUE TO AVOID AN EXTENDED
PERIOD OF DANGEROUS HEAT.
&&
.AVIATION...
//ORD AND MDW CONCERNS...UPDATED 22Z...
THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE INTO NORTHEAST ILLINOIS. AT THIS TIME
THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE SOUTH OF ROCKFORD. BUT MAY REACH
OHARE AND DUPAGE AIRPORTS BY 2230 UTC. THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL
REACH MIDWAY AIRPORTS BY 2230 UTC. THERE WILL BE STRONG GUSTS
OF WIND IN EXCESS OF 40 KNOTS WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS.
//DISCUSSION...UPDATED 18Z...
MAIN BNDRY REMAINS NORTH OF NORTHERN IL STRETCHING FROM CENTRAL
IA NORTHEAST THRU CENTRAL LWR MI. CU FIELD HAS PUSHED SOUTH OF
NORTHERN IL AIRFIELDS ALONG AN OUTFLOW BNDRY FROM EARLY MORNING
CONVECTION. LLVL ENVIRONMENT HAS BECOME WELL MIXED WITH GUSTS BTWN
18 TO 22KTS FROM THE SW. WITH THE LACK OF A CU FIELD ACROSS
NORTHERN IL/NORTHWEST IND...TSRA DEVELOPMENT THIS AFTN COULD BE
DELAYED UNTIL AFT 21Z. CONVECTION WAS BEGINNING TO DEVELOP WELL
UPSTREAM IN IA...AND SHUD EVENTUALLY SLIDE NE TWRDS KRFD ARND
21-23Z. WITH LACK OF ORGANIZED CONVECTION AND NOT KNOWING HOW
THINGS WILL DEVELOP...HAVE OPTED FOR VCTS RATHER THAN PREVAILING
GROUP. ONCE CONVECTION APPROACHES FROM THE WEST...ANTICIPATE THAT
ADDTL CLOUDS WILL POOL NE TWRDS NORTHERN IL AIRFIELDS. SO THIS
AFTN WE WILL MONITOR CONVECTION ACROSS CENTRAL IA...AS DEEP LAYER
FLOW SUGGESTS A NE TRAJECTORY.
BNDRY WILL REMAIN ACROSS THE REGION THRU THE OVERNIGHT
PERIOD...DRIFTING SOUTH. EXPECT ADDTL TSRA/SHRA TO DEVELOP
OVERNIGHT AND FEED OVER NORTHERN IL AIRFIELDS. CURRENT THINKING IS
NEW GROWTH WILL BE ARND 03Z...THEN CONTINUE THRU 15Z SAT. WINDS
WILL GRADUALLY TURN WESTERLY/NORTHWESTERLY BY 21-23Z SAT AS BNDRY
APPROACHES FROM THE NW AND SLIDES SE.
/ORD AND MDW CONFIDENCE...UPDATED 22Z...
MEDIUM TO HIGH CONFIDENCE IN THE THUNDERSTORM FORECAST. THE
THUNDERSTORMS ARE ON THE RADAR NOW.
//OUTLOOK FOR
ORD/MDW FOR 06Z SUNDAY-12Z THURSDAY...UPDATED 18Z...
SATURDAY NIGHT...MAINLY VFR. SCT SHRA W/MVFR CIGS.
SUNDAY...VFR.
MONDAY...VFR.
TUESDAY...VFR.
WEDNESDAY...CHANCE OF TSRA.
&&
.MARINE...
355 PM...LOW PRESSURE JUST NORTH OF LAKE SUPERIOR WILL MOVE
NORTHEAST INTO QUEBEC SATURDAY. A TRAILING COLD FRONT FROM THIS LOW
WILL SLOWLY MOVE SOUTH ACROSS NORTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN LATE TONIGHT
CLEARING SOUTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN SATURDAY AFTERNOON. GRADIENT ON THE
SOUTHEAST SIDE OF THIS LOW WILL TIGHTEN SOME THIS EVENING WITH GUSTS
20-25KTS POSSIBLE THIS EVENING AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT. AS THE FRONT
SAGS SOUTH SATURDAY...A WEAK LOW MAY DEVELOP ON THE FRONT NEAR
NORTHERN IL...WHICH COULD TIGHTEN THE GRADIENT OVER THE SOUTH END OF
THE LAKE PRIOR TO THE COLD FRONT PUSHING SOUTH. AGAIN...SOME GUSTS
IN THE 20-25KT RANGE ARE POSSIBLE DURING THIS TIME.
WINDS TURN NORTHERLY BEHIND THE COLD FRONT. AN AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE
WILL MOVE EAST ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS AND MIDWEST SATURDAY INTO
SATURDAY NIGHT...REACHING THE WESTERN LAKES SUNDAY AFTERNOON. AS
THIS HIGH APPROACHES...THE NORTHERLY GRADIENT TIGHTENS SLIGHTLY AND
APPEARS THE NORTHERLY FLOW COULD STRENGTHEN TO 20KTS OR SO AND WITH
COOLER AIR FLOWING OVER THE NOW WARM WATERS...COULD SEE SOME HIGHER
WAVE HEIGHTS...SHOULD WINDS BECOME THIS STRONG. LATER FORECASTS WILL
NEED TO REFINE SPEEDS/WAVE HEIGHTS. THE HIGH CROSSES THE LAKE SUNDAY
NIGHT WITH WINDS BECOME SOUTHERLY BY MONDAY MORNING. CMS
&&
.LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IL...FLASH FLOOD WATCH...ILZ003-ILZ004-ILZ005-ILZ006-ILZ008-ILZ010-
ILZ011-ILZ012-ILZ013-ILZ014-ILZ019-ILZ020-ILZ021-ILZ022
UNTIL 4 PM SATURDAY.
HEAT ADVISORY...ILZ013-ILZ014-ILZ019-ILZ020-ILZ021-ILZ022-ILZ023-
ILZ032-ILZ033-ILZ039 UNTIL 7 PM FRIDAY.
IN...HEAT ADVISORY...INZ001-INZ002-INZ010-INZ011-INZ019 UNTIL 7 PM
FRIDAY.
LM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY...NEARSHORE WATERS
UNTIL 7 PM FRIDAY.
&&HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL 340 PM CDT FRI JUL 23 2010 ILZ003>006-008-010>014-019>023-032-033-039-INZ001-002-010-011-019- 242045- 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- 340 PM CDT FRI JUL 23 2010 /440 PM EDT FRI JUL 23 2010/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS... NORTHEAST ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. WEATHER HAZARDS EXPECTED: HEAT INDEX VALUES IN THE 100 TO 105 DEGREE RANGE WILL CONTINUE INTO EARLY EVENING...ESPECIALLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 80 WITH ACTUAL AIR TEMPERATURES RANGING FROM 90 TO 95. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS...WHICH MAY PRODUCE: DAMAGING WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. HAIL...UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. AREAS AFFECTED AND TIMING: SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE INTO MUCH OF THE OUTLOOK AREA LATE THIS AFTERNOON WITH ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT POSSIBLE AHEAD OF THESE STORMS. THESE STORMS MAY REACH SEVERE LEVELS. THUNDERSTORMS ARE THEN EXPECTED TO INCREASE IN COVERAGE ACROSS FAR NORTHERN ILLINOIS AGAIN LATER TONIGHT...WITH THE MAIN THREAT SHIFTING TO LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL ESPECIALLY FOR AREAS CLOSE TO THE WISCONSIN STATE LINE. DISCUSSION: SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS EASTERN IOWA LATE THIS AFTERNOON WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE EASTWARD INTO THE OUTLOOK AREA. THE ATMOSPHERE AHEAD OF THE STORMS HAS DESTABILIZED WHICH WILL LIKELY LEAD TO AN INTENSIFICATION AS THEY MOVE INTO THE OUTLOOK AREA. A LARGER SCALE MID LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL MOVE INTO THE UPPER MIDWEST TONIGHT AND EARLY SATURDAY WHICH MAY RESULT IN MORE WIDESPREAD THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS THE NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE OUTLOOK AREA TONIGHT. VERY WARM AND MOIST ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS WILL RESULT IN THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL...AND DEEP LAYER SHEAR AND INSTABILITY WILL BE SUFFICIENT FOR THE STRONGER STORMS TO PRESENT A DAMAGING WIND THREAT THROUGH TONIGHT. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS WHERE LOCALIZED RAINFALL AMOUNTS IN EXCESS OF THREE INCHES ARE POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE OUTLOOK AREA SATURDAY. SOME STORMS MAY BE SEVERE WITH DAMAGING WINDS THE MAIN THREAT. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. THERE IS ANOTHER CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS TUESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY. THERE IS AN INCREASED THREAT OF RIP CURRENTS SUNDAY IN THE NEARSHORE WATERS OF INDIANA. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS MAY BE NEEDED LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING. && COMPLETE FORECAST INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE NWS CHICAGO WEBPAGE: WEATHER.GOV/CHICAGO LMZ740>745-242045- 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- 340 PM CDT FRI JUL 23 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE ILLINOIS NEARSHORE WATERS OF LAKE MICHIGAN AND THE INDIANA NEARSHORE WATERS OF LAKE MICHIGAN. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. HAZARDOUS WINDS FOR SMALL CRAFT WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING. PERIODS OF THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE...SOME OF WHICH MAY PRODUCE WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 50 KNOTS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS SATURDAY...AND AGAIN TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY. THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE STRONG SATURDAY WITH WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 35 KNOTS. && 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- 870-872-874-876-878-242045- 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 TWO 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- 340 PM CDT FRI JUL 23 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE OPEN WATERS OF LAKE MICHIGAN. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY MAINLY OVER SOUTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN. SOME STORMS MAY BE SEVERE WITH WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 50 KNOTS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS SATURDAY...AND AGAIN TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY. && COMPLETE FORECAST INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE NWS CHICAGO WEBPAGE: WEATHER.GOV/CHICAGO MDB
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
1118 AM CDT FRI JUL 23 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0745 AM HEAVY RAIN KIRKLAND 42.09N 88.85W
07/23/2010 M3.50 INCH DEKALB IL TRAINED SPOTTER
24 HOUR TOTAL
0920 AM HEAVY RAIN ROCKFORD 42.27N 89.06W
07/23/2010 M3.56 INCH WINNEBAGO IL TRAINED SPOTTER
AT TIME OF THE REPORT 1 INCH IN THE LAST 2 HOURS.
0920 AM HEAVY RAIN ROCKFORD 42.27N 89.06W
07/23/2010 M4.00 INCH WINNEBAGO IL TRAINED SPOTTER
24 HOUR TOTAL. STILL RAINING AT TIME OF REPORT.
1058 AM HEAVY RAIN KINGSTON 42.10N 88.76W
07/23/2010 M4.28 INCH DEKALB IL TRAINED SPOTTER
TOTAL THROUGH 945 AM
&&
RS/RCPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
1217 PM CDT FRI JUL 23 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0745 AM HEAVY RAIN KIRKLAND 42.09N 88.85W
07/23/2010 M3.50 INCH DEKALB IL TRAINED SPOTTER
24 HOUR TOTAL
0920 AM HEAVY RAIN ROCKFORD 42.27N 89.06W
07/23/2010 M3.56 INCH WINNEBAGO IL TRAINED SPOTTER
AT TIME OF THE REPORT 1 INCH IN THE LAST 2 HOURS.
0920 AM HEAVY RAIN ROCKFORD 42.27N 89.06W
07/23/2010 M4.00 INCH WINNEBAGO IL TRAINED SPOTTER
24 HOUR TOTAL. STILL RAINING AT TIME OF REPORT.
1058 AM HEAVY RAIN KINGSTON 42.10N 88.76W
07/23/2010 M4.28 INCH DEKALB IL TRAINED SPOTTER
TOTAL THROUGH 945 AM
&&
RLSSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
428 PM CDT FRI JUL 23 2010
ILZ010-019-032-232230-
LA SALLE IL-LEE IL-LIVINGSTON IL-
428 PM CDT FRI JUL 23 2010
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT LA SALLE...SOUTHERN LEE AND
WESTERN LIVINGSTON COUNTIES...
AT 421 PM CDT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALONG A LINE FROM 14 MILES
SOUTH OF ROCK FALLS TO 28 MILES WEST OF PRINCETON TO 47 MILES
NORTHWEST OF PEORIA...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.
WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH...HAIL UP TO PENNY SIZE...FREQUENT DEADLY CLOUD
TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS WILL ACCOMPANY THESE
STORMS.
THESE STORMS WILL BE NEAR SUBLETTE AROUND 445 PM...MENDOTA...AND TROY
GROVE AROUND 500 PM...SERENA...SHERIDAN...EARLVILLE...AND LELAND
AROUND 515 PM...OTTAWA...LEONORE AND LOSTANT AROUND 530 PM.
ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS MAY DEVELOP AHEAD OF THIS LINE OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS.
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM FRIDAY
EVENING FOR NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS.
LAT...LON 4173 8962 4166 8894 4163 8894 4162 8865
4075 8859 4076 8894 4092 8894 4093 8906
4110 8907 4111 8917 4158 8918 4158 8962
MDB/BEACHThe Chicago radar (KLOT), 86 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:58 UTC.
16 thunderstorm wind, 7 flash flood, 7 flood, 3 lightning, 2 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
A few large trees were blown down, one along Stroble Avenue and a couple by the skate park at Lake Mendota. Numerous tree limbs and power lines were also blown down.
A wind gust to 70 mph was estimated along Route 251 about one half mile south of Interstate 80.
Half of a large oak tree was blown down on East 9th Street.
Numerous trees, tree limbs and power lines were blown down across Ottawa. Two homes were damaged by falling tree limbs. Route 23 was closed due power lines that fell across the road.
Trees, tree limbs and power lines were blown down. A large tree limb fell on a pickup truck.
Damage to multiple two foot diameter trees was reported in Sheridan. Shingles were also blown off of a house.
Trees and limbs were blown down.
The blade of a wind turbine was damaged.
A large tree was blown over.
Wind gusts were estimated between 60 and 70 mph.
Large tree limbs and power lines were blown down in the Morris and Coal City areas.
Large trees and power lines were blown down on the west side of Joliet.
Lightning apparently struck a pole at a bank on Burlington Avenue. This pole then fell onto a chimney and then the chimney fell over, damaging a roof. Several pieces of electronic equipment were no longer working after the strike, including credit card readers.
A house on Essington Road was struck by lightning and set on fire.
Trees and limbs were blown down. A large tree limb fell on a car.
Shingles were blown off the roof of a house.
Numerous ten inch diameter healthy tree limbs were blown down. Numerous power lines were also blown down.
Lightning struck an underground gas line on Wild Deer Trail and a second underground gas line on Huntsboro Lane. Lightning also struck a home on Pin Oak causing a fire to start in the garage.
Very heavy rain fell across north central Dupage County during the early morning hours of July 24th producing widespread flooding and flash flooding. Widespread street and basement flooding was reported. North Avenue at Interstate 290 was flooded with a car stuck in the water. Lake Ellyn overflowed its banks with six inches or more of water covering nearby streets. The Village Links Golf Course was flooded with waist high water and a mail truck was submerged in the flood waters. In Elmhurst, Interstate 290 was closed near York Street with two cars floating in water at least four feet deep; Route 83 was flooded and closed under the Union Pacific tracks with several cars floating in the water; Robert Plamer Drive was flooded and closed below the railroad tracks and all roads near Memorial Hospital were impassible. In Lombard, the Main Street viaduct was flooded with stranded cars in the flood waters and 15 residents were evacuated by boat along Finley Road. In Villa Park, significant flooding occurred near Wildwood and Monterey Avenues. Salt Creek quickly rose out of its banks and flooded nearby areas. In the Graue Mill Condominiums, 250 residents were evacuated after four feet of water surrounded the community when Salt Creek overflowed its banks. Storm total rainfall amounts included 7.26 inches one mile northwest of Villa Park; 7.19 inches near Carol Stream; 7.08 inches one mile northwest of Glen Ellyn; 7.01 inches two miles west of Elk Grove Village; 6.98 inches in Oak Brook; 6.92 inches one mile northwest of Lombard; 6.52 inches near Wheaton; 5.57 inches two and a half miles north of West Chicago; 4.51 inches two miles southwest of Burr Ridge; 4.40 inches one mile southeast of Westmont and 3.45 inches in Lisle.
Very heavy rain fell across much of north central Cook County producing widespread flooding and flash flooding during the early morning hours of July 24th. Hundreds of streets and thousands of basements were flooded. Numerous homes were surrounded by flood waters with water damage on the first floor. Several hundred vehicles were submerged or floating in flood waters, many were a total loss. Areas that suffered some of the most widespread flooding and extensive damage included Westchester, Western Springs, La Grange, Oak Park, Bellwood, Riverside, Berwyn, Brookfield, Hillside and Forest Park. In Westchester, 40 residents were evacuted by boat when their homes were completed surrounded by flood waters. In Hillside, 56 residents of a convalescent home were evacuated onto a bus because of flood waters. The bus then became stranded in flood waters and was pushed out by a front-end loader. Twelve feet of water (which was overflow from the Chicago River) flooded the basement of a 17-story building in River City in Chicago. No structural damage was reported but 80 to 90 cars in the basement were a total loss. Portions of both Interstate 94 and Interstate 290 were closed due to flooding, including Interstate 290 just east of Des Plaines Avenue in Forest Park. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago estimated that over 60 billion gallons of water fell on Chicago and parts of Cook County, which quickly filled all 190 miles of the Deep Tunnel system. Once this tunnel filled, floodgates were opened in Wilmette and on the Chicago River, releasing untreated stormwater into Lake Michigan. Storm total rainfall amounts inclueded 7.89 inches one mile southwest of Oak Park; 6.43 inches at O'Hare Airport; 6.16 inches one mile northeast of Countryside; 5.84 inches about a half mile southwest of La Grange Park; 5.82 inches one mile west of Stickney; 5.58 inches near Streamwood; 5.47 inches two miles northwest of Melrose Park and 5.19 inches a half mile northwest of Des Plaines.
Very heavy rain fell across Winnebago County producing widespread flooding and flash flooding, including creek and river flooding. Significant flooding was reported near Keith Creek in the Churchill Park area on the east side of Rockford. Route 2 was flooded and impassible near South Beloit Road.
Heavy rain fell across Ogle County on July 23rd and July 24th. The heaviest rains fell during the early morning hours of July 24th. Forreston reported a storm total rainfall of 9.67 inches for both days. Numerous roads and basements were flooded. Several creeks and rivers overflowed their banks, causing additional flooding. A church near Brookville sustained major water damage after the Elkhorn Creek overflowed its banks.
Heavy rain fell during the early morning hours of July 24th and produced flooding across central and southern Boone County. The intersection of Flora Church and Wheeler Roads was closed due to flooding. Storm total rainfall of 4.40 inches was measured in Belvidere.
The roof of a storage facility near 66th Street and Narragansett partially collapsed during heavy rain which fell during the early morning hours of July 24th.
Very heavy rain fell across north central De Kalb County during the early morning hours of July 24th producing widespread flooding and flash flooding. Street and basement flooding was reported. A trailer park in Sycamore was evacuated with almost 8 inches of rainfall reported in Sycamore. Many roads were flooded and closed in Sycamore. Route 72 was flooded in Kirkland. Storm total rainfall of 5.46 inches was measured two miles southwest of Genoa.
Very heavy rain fell across north central Kane County during the early morning hours of July 24th. Some street flooding was reported in St. Charles. Basement flooding was reported in several areas in addition to flooding along creeks and rivers. Storm total rainfall amounts included 6.74 inches in St. Charles; 6.47 inches in Elgin; 4.93 inches one mile north of Geneva and 3.20 inches in Elburn.
After heavy rain fell during the early morning hours of July 24th, flooding continued across many areas of Dupage County, especially near creeks and rivers. A 56 year old man drowned in a pond in Keeneyville after his paddle boat capsized.
After heavy rain and flash flooding during the early morning hours of July 24th, flooding continued through the evening hours, especially along creeks and rivers.
After heavy rain and flash flooding during the early morning hours of July 24th, flooding continued through the evening hours in several areas of north central Cook County.
After heavy rain and flash flooding during the early morning hours of July 24th, flooding continued through the evening hours across parts of Ogle County. By late morning, significant flooding was reported along Killbuck Creek.
After heavy rain and some flash flooding during the early morning hours of July 24th, flooding continued into the evening across parts of north central Kane County.
After heavy rain and flash flooding during the early morning hours of July 24th, flooding continued through the evening hours across parts of north central De Kalb County.
After heavy rain and flash flooding during the early morning hours of July 24th, flooding continued through the evening hours.
The roof of an auto body shop on Western Avenue collapsed during the afternoon of July 24th. The exact cause of the collapse was not known but heavy rain that fell across the area during the early morning hours of July 24th was the likely cause of the collapse. Six cars inside the shop were damaged.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flood, Du Page | 2010-07-24 | 56 | Male | In Water | Indirect |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, July 2010
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: 254456, 251695, 251696, 251701, 254498, 251704, 254499, 254500, 251705, 251706, 254299, 251707, 251713, 254444, 254502, 254503, 251714, 251715, 259455, 254324, 254362, 254330, 254377, 254504, 254522, 254325, 254399, 254474, 254478, 254482, 254485, 254486, 254489, 254507, 254512.