Tornadoes and Flooding in Illinois, March 31, 2023

A remote NWS survey found an EF-U tornado had touched down near the community of Rowe, Illinois. It's estimated that the tornado had a total lifespan of only several seconds. Aside from kicking up some dirt, the tornado had produced no damage.

A report of quarter size hail was received from mPING.

One foot of standing water was reported near the intersection of 159th St and Cicero Ave.

A photo received showed one to two feet of standing water on a residential street and on front yards. The location at which the photo was taken was not specified.

A photo shared on Twitter showed flood waters covering a residential street near Mill Rd and Arlene Dr.

This tornado began just south of Illinois Highway 92 in northwest Bureau County. It then tracked through far southeast Whiteside County within 3 miles of the town of Deer Grove. This tornado would continue for 6 additional miles into southwest Lee County, where it dissipated near Maytown Road and Atkinson Road. The damage from this tornado included numerous heavily damaged outbuildings, several snapped power poles, and dozens of trees. The worst damage was to a large farmstead outbuilding along the Whiteside-Bureau county line with the roof and two of the four walls destroyed and debris slung well into a field.

This tornado began southeast of Lanark in Carroll County near Harvest Rd west of Shannon Rte. It tracked to the northeast crossing into rural Ogle County at N Brookville Rd north of W White Oak Rd. Shortly before dissipating, the storm crossed into Stephenson County at N Mt. Vernon Rd. It then lifted as it approached Florence Rd west of IL Rt. 26 S. Extensive damage was done to several farm buildings and a few trees were downed as well.

A report was received of at least one foot of water on Green Bay Road near Melrose Avenue and Roger Avenue.

Numerous reports were received of flooded roadways in Morton Grove.

Traffic was stopped at the underpass at I-94 and Winnetka Rd due to flooding.

Numerous reports were received of flooded roadways in Des Plaines and Park Ridge.

The tornado touched down in the Woodhaven Lakes campground south of Amboy. There, multiple campers were damaged by the tornado including two that were rolled. Farther along its northeastward track, two trees had fallen onto a home destroying it. The tornado appeared to have reached its maximum intensity with wind speeds estimated at 115 mph shortly after crossing US Hwy 52 where it destroyed a large garage and snapped several trees at their trunks. Several dozen other large trees were snapped and many branches sheared off along its path. Toward the end of its lifespan, the tornado also did minor damage to an outbuilding before lifting near Butler Hill Rd north of West Brooklyn.

A photo shared by the public via social media shows a barn that had been destroyed. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

A grain bin was damaged at Maplehurst Farms west of Amboy. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

This tornado developed just south of the town center of Sublette snapping multiple utility poles as it crossed US Rt. 52. The tornado strengthened as it progressed into the town of West Brooklyn. There, it downed several large trees, folded an approximately 120-foot tall tower, and tore the roof off of a bank in downtown West Brooklyn. A wooden beam from the roof of the bank impaled a nearby garage roof to the north-northeast of the bank. The tornado then lifted north of Shaw Rd just west of Carnahan Rd just over 2 miles northeast of West Brooklyn.

Five mobile homes were reported to have their roofs peeled off. Additionally, heavy duty 6-inch girders were tossed across the street into a parking lot. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

Several trees and power lines were reported down in Mendota. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

Power poles were downed near the LaSalle-Bureau county line in Peru. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

Two semi trucks were reported to had blown over on I-39 northeast of Mendota. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

A large tree with a diameter of around two feet snapped on Maple Road in La Salle. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

The tornado touched down about 3 miles southwest of Davis Junction. It then went on to track trough the Davis Junction town center where it did mostly minor, EF-0 damage. EF-1 damage was done to a single family home on the north side of town. This tornado then crossed into Winnebago County south of Rockford, and eventually on into Boone County where it would later cause the partial roof collapse of the Apollo Theatre in Belvidere resulting in one fatality and 40 injuries.

A photo shared via social media showed two grain bins heavily damaged along with five large trees either with their trunks snapped or toppled/uprooted. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

Several trees were reported down in Earlville. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

Several outbuildings were damaged or destroyed in the Lee and Shabbona areas. Several trees were also uprooted. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

This tornado touched down about 1 mile southeast of downtown Rockford southwest of the intersection of Railroad Ave and 8th St. It then tracked northeastward through the city of Rockford for about 7 minutes and just under 6 miles before lifting as it approached the intersection of Riverside Blvd and Mulford Rd. The tornado caused widespread tree damage, which was most concentrated at and near the Sinnissippi Golf Course, where the tornado reached its peak width of about 300 yards. Most structural damage was caused by trees that were uprooted and fell onto houses, but the tornado itself did also cause mostly minor roof damage to multiple homes.

This tornado had crossed into Winnebago County from Ogle County in the far south side of Rockford along Edson Rd just west of S Mulford Rd. While in Winnebago County, the tornado caused generally EF-0 damage to farmland. The tornado had done mostly EF-0 damage while in Ogle County with one instance of EF-1 damage done to a home. The storm then crossed into Boone County south of Cherry Valley where it would later cause the partial roof collapse of the Apollo Theatre in Belvidere resulting in one fatality and 40 injuries.

This tornado began southwest of the intersection of Elmwood Rd and Rockton Ave on the north side of Rockford and tracked northeastward for almost 9 miles, straddling the Rock River as it tracked through the west side of Machesney Park before weakening and lifting over Roscoe. This tornado caused damage to several trees and outbuildings, as well as multiple homes, which primarily suffered roof damage. A couple of homes had entire portions of their roofs removed where the tornado was at its peak intensity and featured 90-100 mph winds.

This tornado crossed into Boone County south of Cherry Valley from Winnebago County. The tornado, which originated in Ogle County, traversed northeastward doing minor damage to farms. As it moved through the town of Belvidere, the storm produced multiple instances of damage to businesses, homes, and trees. Included in this is the partial roof collapse of the Apollo Theatre downtown which resulted in one fatality and 40 injuries. From there, the tornado would travel another 7 miles doing additional damage to trees before lifting near Orth Rd just west of the Boone-McHenry county line.

Photo shared shows a semi truck blown over to the east on I-39 just north of the Prairie Road exit. Wind gust was estimated from trained spotter. Time was estimated based on radar.

A private weather station measured an 83 mph gust north of Meridian.

A private weather station measured a 75 mph gust north of Leland.

Several trees were blown down and a garage door had been blown in northeast of Somonauk. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

This tornado touched down southwest of the village of Caledonia moving through mostly farmland along its northeastward track. The storm destroyed numerous outbuildings, heavily damaged a silo, and caused a grain bin to collapse. In the Candlewick Lake neighborhood southeast of Caledonia, a few homes sustained roof and siding damage. Several trees were also damaged. The tornado then crossed into the village of Sharon in southwestern Walworth County, Wisconsin. The storm would go on for nearly another four miles mostly doing damage to barns and trees before lifting near Town Hall Rd and Chilson Rd.

A private weather station measured a 64 mph gust east of Waterman.

A handheld anemometer measured a 74 mph gust. Tree damage and minor roof damage were also reported.

Wooden utility poles were found leaning along IL Rt. 38 between Schrader Rd and Howard Rd southeast of Maple Park. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

Roofing material was blown off of the northwest corner of a barn on IL Rt. 38 at Howard Rd southeast of Maple Park. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

Roofing material was blown off of a barn and blown to the northeast at Francis Rd and Beith Rd northwest of Elburn. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

Strong winds produced damage to multiple trees, blew down a section of a fence, and ripped a few shingles off of a home in the Lakewood Creek neighborhood in west Montgomery. This wind damage immediately preceded the development of an EF-0 tornado that tracked from Montgomery to Aurora.

The tornado touched down near the intersection of Concord Dr and Columbia Ln in southwestern Montgomery. It produced minor damage to an outbuilding shortly after dropping and to a few trees before crossing into Kane County just a couple of minutes after forming. The storm then continued northeastward through Montgomery damaging mostly trees before lifting on the south side of Aurora.

Just a couple of minutes after touching down in far northern Kendall County, this tornado crossed into Kane County in Montgomery just west of Albright Rd. The tornado had caused minor damage to an outbuilding while still in Kendall County but most of the damage in Kane County was to trees. The tornado lifted on the south side of Aurora near the intersection of Hill Ave and Binder St.

A semi truck was blown over on I-88 near the junction at IL-56.

Power lines were blown down near Herget Middle School.

A section of metal roofing panels was torn off of the Huntoon Stables on the east side of Highland Park in North Aurora.

This tornado began in an open field south of Engstrom Family Park and tracked east northeast towards downtown Batavia before lifting shortly after it crossed the Fox River near Wilson St. Damage along the tornado's path consisted of several uprooted and damaged trees, downed fences, downed power lines, roof shingles peeled off of houses, and a toppled chimney.

Strong wind blew a residential corrugated steel garage door inward. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

A tree was blown down across Route 25 near Ridge Rd.

A tree was blown down across N Randall Rd north of W Indian Trail.

A report was received noting streets and yards flooded in Monee.

This tornado began south of Dean St near 15th St in St Charles and tracked northeast. It passed over Boy Scout Island and the Fox River before lifting near the intersection of Stonehedge Rd and Persimmon Dr. Damage along the tornado's path consisted of several uprooted and damaged trees, downed power lines, roof shingles peeled off of houses, and a damaged HVAC unit on the roof of a construction facility.

A tree had fallen on a home in Harvard. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

This tornado began near the intersection of Arbeiter and Black Roads in unincorporated Joliet. Several homes were damaged including to shingles and one chimney had collapsed. Just about a minute after touching down, the tornado crossed into Will County near Hadrian Dr and continued damaging shingles and trees lifting just before reaching IL Rt. 59.

This tornado originated in Vermillion County south of the town of Rankin east of N 2800E Rd and north of 3700 N Rd. The tornado tracked northeastward crossing into Iroquois County just west of N 1600 East Rd. The storm then dissipated about 8 miles later north of the town of Wellington just east of E 400 North Rd at N 2300 East Rd. While in Vermillion County, the tornado destroyed a couple of sheds and farm outbuildings, uprooted a number of trees, and did some roof damage to a home. In Iroquois County, a few trees were damaged along with the roofs of a couple of outbuildings.

After dropping in far eastern Kendall County just about a minute sooner and doing damage to shingles and collapsing a chimney, this tornado crossed into Will County near Hadrian Dr in far west Joliet. It continued to do damage to shingles and trees before lifting a couple of minutes later near the intersection of Bedford Dr and Brighton Ln.

The tornado began near W 135th Street just west of Meadow Lane in Plainfield and tracked east-northeast before dissipating near the intersection of Golden Meadow Dr and Golden Sunset Dr just west of IL Rt. 59. The damage was confined to primarily trees, but some shingles and siding were removed from homes along the path.

Tree damage was reported at Alden Rd and State Line Rd. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

A Davis personal weather station measured a 72 mph gust. A large pine tree was blown down and multiple air conditioning units were blown over near Meadow Lane and 135th St.

A strong thunderstorm wind surge produced a concentrated swath of notable damage to the northeast side of Channahon. The corridor of damage roughly runs along Canal Rd N and W McClintock Rd between US Rt 6 and Ingolsby Rd. Most of the damage was to trees with multiple trees uprooted and several more snapped and with branches torn off. However, there was also some minor siding and roofing damage done to a couple of homes.

Strong winds had blown down a tree west of Woodstock. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

Shingles were blown off of a roof and patio furniture was blown up and over a house near US Rt. 30 and 135 St. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

Wooden and metal roofing panels were removed from a farm building. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

A two foot diameter tree was blown down and was blocking River Rd at Townline Rd. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

A private weather station recorded a 64 mph gust.

A semi truck was blown over on I-55 near the junction at Weber Rd. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

Strong winds had blown down a tree northwest of Greenwood. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

A tree trunk approximately 12 inches in diameter was uprooted. Many small to medium size branches were also blown down in the area. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

Power lines were blown down on Theodore St and Cedarwood Dr. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

A 63 mph gust was measured at the National Weather Service office in Romeoville.

The tornado dropped in an industrial park near N Main St just north of N North Ave on the far north side of Lombard. There, it caused roof damage to a couple of buildings. It continued on into the town of Addison where it caused roof damage to office buildings. The tornado then caused primarily tree damage as it tracked across a residential area of Addison south of Fullerton Ave before lifting as it crossed Fullerton Ave at Hale St. South and east of the tornado's track was a large swath of additional damage caused by straight line winds.

A semi truck was blown over on I-355 as it crossed the Des Plaines River north of Lemont. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

Power lines were blown down on Riverside Dr south of McCullom Lake Rd in McHenry. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

An NWS storm survey confirmed that a swath of damage across the south and east sides of Addison was caused by strong straight-line winds of up to approximately 85 mph. These straight-line winds occurred to the immediate south and east of the EF-1 tornado that tracked from Lombard into Addison. Damage included roofing material peeled off of office buildings and an apartment complex, a semi truck blown over on I-290, and damage to sound barriers along I-290.

Power lines were blown down along Algonquin Rd in Rolling Meadows. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

A brief tornado occurred south of Stockland dropping just south of E 600 North Rd and east of N 2700 East Rd. The storm damaged trees and power poles and destroyed a small farm outbuilding. The tornado lifted after only a few minutes east of N 3100 East Rd and south of E 880 North Rd just west of the Illinois-Indiana state line.

A 61 mph gust was measured at the Lemont Emergency Operations Center.

A tree was blown down on the northeast corner of Rand Rd and Elmhurst Rd in Mt. Prospect. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

A tree was blown down in Chicago's Dunning neighborhood. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

A pine tree was uprooted on S 55th Ave near W 89th St in Burbank. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

An 11-inch branch broke off of a tree on Lakewood Blvd in Park Forest. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

A photo was shared via Twitter that shows a portion of a parapet wall that had been blown off of a strip mall on the southwest corner of Governors Hwy and Sauk Trail in Richton Park. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.