Powerful severe thunderstorms moved southeast across far northeast Illinois during the late evening hours of June 30th. Thousands of trees were blown down in eastern Lake County Illinois.
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.
Powerful severe thunderstorms moved southeast across far northeast Illinois during the late evening hours of June 30th. Thousands of trees were blown down in eastern Lake County Illinois. Hail as large as baseballs fell across many areas of the city of Chicago.
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 Jun 30, 6:03 PM CST, 1 hour 16 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
703 PM CDT THU JUN 30 2011
.DISCUSSION...
350 PM CDT
HAVE MADE LITTLE CHANGE TO GOING FORECAST. CONSIDERING HIGHER POPS
FOR TONIGHT ADVERTISED BY BOTH THE AVN AND MET MOS...WILL CONTINUE
TO MENTION LOW CHANCE POPS FOR THUNDER ACROSS FAR NERN IL AND NWRN
INDIANA FOR TONIGHT. HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL FOR
THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS AS SURGE OF HOT AIR FROM PLAINS MAKES ITS
WAY ACROSS THE UPPER MS VALLEY. CURRENT ACTIVITY OVER LAKE MI
SUGGESTS GREATEST LIKELIHOOD OF ELEVATED CONVECTION WILL STAY
GENERALLY NORTH ANS EAST OF MOST OF THE REGION. HOWEVER...SPC
ANALYSES STILL SHOW FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT MOISTURE CONVERGENCE UPSTREAM
OF THIS AREA...INTO WEST CENTRAL WI. WEAK DEVELOPMENT OF CU FIELD
OVER THIS AREA ALSO SUGGESTS CAPPING MAY NOT BE STRONG ENOUGH YET TO
INHIBIT ANY NOCTURNAL THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT TO OUR NORTH. THUS
WILL GO WITH A BLEND OF AVN AND MET POPS FOR TONIGHT.
BY FRIDAY...STILL LOOKS LIKE WE'LL BE IN A PRIME AREA FOR REALIZING
MAX HEATING...WITH AXIS OF 26+ DEGREE 850 MB THERMAL RIDGE OVER SRN
WI/FAR NRN IL. THIS COMBINED WITH UPPER RIDGING OVERHEAD...AND LOW
LEVEL FORCING FOR CONVECTION HEADING OFF TO THE EAST SHOULD ALLOW
FOR AMPLE INSOLATION JUST ABOUT FROM START TO FINISH THROUGH THE
DAY. DEW POINT POOLING ALONG A COLD FRONTAL BOUNDARY APPROACHING THE
UPPER MS VALLEY BY 00Z SAT. AS A RESULT...EXPECT HIGHEST HEAT INDEX
VALUES OF 105-107 TO BE OVER N CENTRAL IL...WITH RELATIVELY LOWER
READINGS OVER NWRN INDIANA. THEREFORE...WILL KEEP HEAT ADVISORY
HEADLINE GOING AS IS.
RATHER VIGOROUS SHORT WAVE OVER THE CENTRAL ROCKIES THIS AFTERNOON
IS FORECAST TO LIFT NEWD ACROSS MN FRIDAY NIGHT...ALLOWING THE COLD
FRONT TO OUR NW TO SAG SEWD ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA ON
SATURDAY...ACCOMPANIED BY ENOUGH CLOUDINESS AND POTENTIAL FOR
THUNDERSTORMS TO ALLOW FOR SOME COOLING. THIS COLD FRONT WON'T
COME BARNSTORMING THROUGH THE MIDWEST...BUT MAY HERALD A BREAK IN
THE THUNDERSTORM THREAT THAT EARLIER APPEARED AS THOUGH IT MAY
COMPROMISE MUCH OF THE UPCOMING HOLIDAY WEEKEND. ENOUGH HIGH
PRESSURE IS NOW FORECAST TO BUILD ACROSS THE UPPER GREAT LAKES TO
PROVIDE A DRY PERIOD FROM SATURDAY NIGHT THOUGH SUNDAY BEFORE
NORTHWEST FLOW SET UP BRINGS THE POSSIBILITY OF THUNDERSTORMS MONDAY
NIGHT INTO MIDWEEK.
WELL...AS PORKY PIG WOULD SAY...THAT'S ALL FOLKS! IT DOESN'T SEEM
LIKE 30 YEARS OF FEDERAL SERVICE HAS COME AND GONE, BUT AS MANY OF
YOU KNOW, THIS WILL BE MAY LAST ISSUANCE AS A PROUD EMPLOYEE OF THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. BUT, I DON'T INTEND TO FALL OFF THE
GRID. I CONSIDER THIS MORE OF A LATERAL, OR PCS INTO A DIFFERENT
LINE OF WORK. LIKE ANYONE ELSE, I HAVE REAL MIXED EMOTIONS THIS
AFTERNOON, BUT I KNOW I'M MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION. ROTATING
SHIFTS WHICH NEVER SEEMED TO BOTHER ME BEFORE HAVE BECOME MORE AND
MORE BURDENSOME. ON THE OTHER HAND, THIS EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN A
BLESSING. HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN SPEND THEIR PROFESSIONAL CAREER DOING
SOMETHING THEY LOVE, SURROUNDED BY COWORKERS WHO ARE SOME OF THE MOST
DEDICATED AND SELFLESS PEOPLE YOU'LL EVER MEET.
SO, I PLAN ON ENJOYING SNOWSTORMS AND OTHER WILD WEATHER IN THE
COMING YEARS. AS MUCH AS I'M A LOVER OF WINTER WEATHER...I GUESS
IT'S KIND OF FITTING THAT I HEAD OUT AFTER ISSUING A HEAT ADVISORY
WITH THE PROSPECT OF MY FIRST DAY IN RETIREMENT BEING VERY SNYDER-
ESQUE.
ONE LAST TIP FOR LONG RANGE FORECASTING: MEDIO TUTISSIMUS IBIS...OR
THE MIDDLE PATH IS THE SAFEST. WITH THAT...I'LL SIGN OFF.
MERZLOCK
&&
.AVIATION...
//ORD AND MDW CONCERNS...UPDATED 00Z...
* SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING.
* LAKE BREEZE/OUTFLOW/WIND SHIFTS THIS EVENING.
* GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS FRIDAY. CMS
//DISCUSSION...UPDATED 00Z...
THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO MOVE SOUTH/SOUTHEAST ACROSS LAKE
MICHIGAN AND INTO NORTHWEST INDIANA. LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS
CURRENTLY EXTENDING EAST OF ORD/NORTHEAST OF MDW OVER THE LAKE
MOVING SOUTH AND WILL IMPACT GYY SOON. DEVELOPMENT ALSO NOTED TO
THE WEST OF THIS LINE ALONG THE SHORE/INLAND. ADDED VCTS TO MDW.
ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTH CENTRAL LAKE MICHIGAN PUSHING
SOUTH/SOUTHWEST AND WILL NEED TO BE MONITORED THRU THE EVENING.
LAKE BREEZE THAT WAS MOVING WEST BEGAN TO SLOW/STALL IN THE PAST
HR. HOWEVER...APPEARS AN OUTFLOW FROM CURRENT CONVECTION OVER THE
LAKE IS PUSHING THROUGH NORTHERN COOK COUNTY AND WINDS TURNING
EASTERLY AT PWK. THUS A WIND SHIFT EAST OR SOUTHEAST IS STILL
POSSIBLE.
WINDS MAIN CONCERN AFTER TONIGHT BECOMING SOUTHWEST AND
INCREASING FRIDAY MORNING WITH GUSTS 20-25KTS FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
CMS
//ORD AND MDW CONFIDENCE...UPDATED 00Z...
* LOW CONFIDENCE REGARDING THUNDERSTORMS.
* LOW CONFIDENCE REGARDING LAKE BREEZE/OUTFLOW WIND DIRECTION
SPEEDS/GUSTS THIS EVENING.
* MEDIUM CONFIDENCE REGARDING WIND SPEEDS/GUSTS FRIDAY. CMS
//OUTLOOK FOR ORD/MDW FOR 12Z SATURDAY-12Z THURSDAY...UPDATED 00Z...
SATURDAY...CHANCE OF TSRA. AFTERNOON COLD FRONT/WIND SHIFT.
SUNDAY...VFR.
MONDAY...VFR.
TUESDAY...CHANCE OF TSRA.
WEDNESDAY...CHANCE OF TSRA. CMS
&&
.MARINE...
350 PM CDT
WITH A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE CENTRAL LAKES REGION MOVING
TO THE LOWER LAKES AND UPPER OHIO VALLEY TONIGHT AND FRIDAY...AND
LOW PRESSURE MOVING EAST ACROSS NORTHERN CANADA WINDS SOUTHEAST
WINDS WILL BECOME SOUTHERLY AND INCREASE TO 15 TO 20 KT BY FRIDAY.
A COLD FRONT TRAILING SOUTHWESTWARD FROM THE CANADIAN LOW WILL MOVE
OVER THE UPPER MIDWEST FRIDAY...AND WILL CROSS LAKE MICHIGAN
SATURDAY. BEHIND THE COLD FRONT HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD FROM THE
NORTHERN PLAINS OVER THE UPPER MIDWEST...SETTLING OVER THE MIDWEST
SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY.
TRS
&&
.LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IL...HEAT ADVISORY...ILZ003-ILZ004-ILZ005-ILZ006-ILZ008-ILZ010-ILZ011-
ILZ012-ILZ013-ILZ014-ILZ019-ILZ020-ILZ021-ILZ022-ILZ023-
ILZ032...NOON FRIDAY TO MIDNIGHT SATURDAY.
IN...HEAT ADVISORY...INZ001...NOON FRIDAY TO MIDNIGHT SATURDAY.
LM...NONE.
&&HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL 354 PM CDT THU JUN 30 2011 ILZ003>006-008-010>014-019>023-032-033-039-INZ001-002-010-011-019- 012100- 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- 354 PM CDT THU JUN 30 2011 /454 PM EDT THU JUN 30 2011/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS... NORTHEAST ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. THERE IS A CHANCE SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP THIS THIS EVENING...GENERALLY ALONG AND NORTH OF A LINE FROM ROCKFORD TO CHICAGO TO RENSSELAER. THE THREAT FOR SEVERE STORMS IS LOW. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO REACH INTO THE MIDDLE AND UPPER 90S ON FRIDAY. IN COMBINATION WITH DEW POINTS IN THE LOWER 70S...HEAT INDEX VALUES AROUND 105 ARE EXPECTED FRIDAY AFTERNOON...MAINLY NORTH AND WEST OF A LINE FROM PONTIAC TO CHICAGO WITH VALUES OF AROUND 100 ELSEWHERE. THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS NORTHWEST INDIANA FRIDAY MORNING. A COLD FRONT WILL BRING ADDITIONAL CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS FRIDAY NIGHT OVER PORTIONS OF FAR NORTHERN ILLINOIS. THERE WILL BE PERIODIC CHANCES OF MORE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE ENTIRE OUTLOOK AREA FROM SATURDAY...AND AGAIN SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NECESSARY THROUGH TONIGHT. && COMPLETE FORECAST INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE NWS CHICAGO WEBPAGE: WEATHER.GOV/CHICAGO LMZ740>745-012100- 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- 354 PM CDT THU JUN 30 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE ILLINOIS NEARSHORE WATERS OF LAKE MICHIGAN AND THE INDIANA NEARSHORE WATERS OF LAKE MICHIGAN. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THERE WILL BE PERIODIC CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY...AND AGAIN SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY. && 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- 870-872-874-876-878-012100- 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- 354 PM CDT THU JUN 30 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE OPEN WATERS OF LAKE MICHIGAN. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. PERIODS OF THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH TONIGHT...MAINLY OVER CENTRAL AND NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE LAKE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THERE WILL BE PERIODIC CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY...AND AGAIN SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY. && COMPLETE FORECAST INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE NWS CHICAGO WEBPAGE: WEATHER.GOV/CHICAGO MERZLOCK
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
632 PM CDT THU JUN 30 2011
INZ001-002-010000-
LAKE IN-PORTER IN-
632 PM CDT THU JUN 30 2011
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR EASTERN LAKE AND WESTERN PORTER
COUNTIES UNTIL 700 PM CDT...
AT 628 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR WHEELER...MOVING SOUTH AT 25 MPH.
NICKEL SIZED HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...LINCOLN HILLS AROUND 640 PM...LAKES OF
THE FOUR SEASONS AROUND 645 PM...BOONE GROVE...AND HEBRON AROUND 655
PM AND KOUTS AROUND 700 PM.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
LAT...LON 4130 8701 4129 8724 4149 8730 4155 8728
4162 8716
IZZIPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
636 PM CDT THU JUN 30 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0635 PM HAIL LAKE STATION 41.57N 87.26W
06/30/2011 E1.00 INCH LAKE IN TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
RSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
657 PM CDT THU JUN 30 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0655 PM HAIL PORTAGE 41.59N 87.18W
06/30/2011 E1.00 INCH PORTER IN TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
RSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
818 PM CDT THU JUN 30 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0655 PM TSTM WND GST 4 NE CHICAGO 41.92N 87.57W
06/30/2011 M55.00 MPH LMZ741 IL C-MAN STATION
&&
RSThe Milwaukee radar (KMKX), 82 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:19 UTC.
13 hail, 7 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Numerous large trees were uprooted or blown down in Zion along with tree limbs and power lines.
Over 1,000 trees were either uprooted or split in half at the Illinois Beach State Park. Various structures as well as mobile campers sustained damage from the falling trees.
Trees greater than 12 inches in diameter and light poles were blown down at North Point Marina.
In Beach Park, a tree fell onto a car and structural damage was reported to a house after a tree fell on it.
Wind gusts were estimated to 60 mph.
Hail 1.5 inches in diameter was reported in University Park.
Wind gusts were estimated to 60 mph in University Park.
Quarter size hail was reported near Route 1 and Crete-Monee Road.
Nickel size hail was reported near Irving Park Road and Lake Shore Drive.
Hail 1.5 inches in diameter was reported near Erie Street and Racine Avenue.
Half dollar size hail was reported in the Lakeview neighborhood.
Quarter size hail was reported in Ravenswood.
Hail 2.0 inches in diameter was reported in Logan Square.
Hail 2.0 inches in diameter shattered thousands of glass panes at the Garfield Park Conservatory. Clean up costs were estimated at $2 million while repair and replacement costs were estimated at $15 million.
Hail 2.0 inches in diameter was reported near 26th Street and Pulaski Road.
Hail 2.0 inches in diameter was reported near 5th Avenue and Pulaski Road.
Hail as large as baseballs was reported near 26th Street and Kedzie Avenue. Hundreds of vehicles were damaged including at least 130 police cars that suffered broken windshields and smashed rooftop lights.
A large tree was blown down on to power lines near 102nd and Wood Streets.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, June 2011
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: 323808, 323817, 323806, 323814, 323716, 323717, 323718, 323719, 323720, 323721, 323722, 323728, 323723, 324007, 323729, 323754, 323757, 323759, 343490, 323761.