Tornadoes · United States · Illinois · 2023
EF0 tornado, DuPage County, Illinois, July 14, 2023
This EF0 tornado ran 8.7 miles across DuPage County on July 14, 2023, touching down at 8:58 PM CDT and reaching 400 yards wide. It killed nobody.
The rating scale
Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Enhanced Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.
EF065 to 85 mphthis tornado
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
EF186 to 110 mph
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
EF2111 to 135 mph
Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.
EF3136 to 165 mph
Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.
EF4166 to 200 mph
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
EF5over 200 mph
Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.
Unrated
The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.
The record
- Rating
- EF0
- Date
- July 14, 2023
- Touchdown
- 8:58 PM CDT (01:58 UTC)
- Lifted
- 9:10 PM CDT (02:10 UTC)
- On the ground
- 12 minutes
- Path length
- 8.7 miles (14.1 km)
- Path width
- 400 yards (366 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- County
- DuPage County
- Touchdown point
- 41.817, -88.217
- Lift-off point
- 41.849, -88.053
- Record number
- 2307141958-01
The damage survey
30 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS LOT, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF0. The highest wind the damage implies is 75 mph.
- traffic lights without power
- twig debris. possible starting point
- 4 different trees with large tree limbs downed or damaged
Survey points are preliminary and are the raw material the published rating was built from. Source: NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit.
The warnings
No tornado warning for this county appears in the archive as in force at the moment the tornado touched down. One was issued for the county at another hour that day.
The county was under a severe thunderstorm watch, issued at 01:17 UTC and running to 03:00 UTC.
| Issued (UTC) | Expired | Product | Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01:17 UTC | 03:00 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | LOT |
| 01:42 UTC | 02:45 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LOT |
| 02:02 UTC | 02:25 UTC | Tornado Warning | LOT |
| 02:06 UTC | 02:31 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LOT |
Every warning and watch covering the touchdown point that day, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service products. Lead time is measured from the issue of the warning in force to the touchdown time in the database, both of which were recorded to the minute by different people.
The forecast that day
The Storm Prediction Center had this point in a Slight Risk. The outlook in force was issued at 00:53 UTC.
SPC's Day 1 convective outlook as it stood when the tornado began, read at the touchdown point. The same archive is on the radar archive.
The air that afternoon
The radiosonde launches on either side of the tornado, from the nearest station that was launching then, drawn and analyzed the way Storm Lab does: the same diagram, the same parcel and shear definitions SPC's mesoanalysis uses.
Lincoln, IL (KILX), 00:00Z
2.0 hours before the tornado, 191 km from the path. July 15, 2023.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1130 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -23 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 3004 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1704 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 28 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 12 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 57 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 53 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 2.2
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 8.0 K/km
Lincoln, IL (KILX), 12:00Z
10.0 hours after it, 191 km from the path. July 15, 2023.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 98 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -41 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 746 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 923 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 30 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 10 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -49 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 64 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- -0.0
- Supercell composite
- -0.6
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 5.1 K/km
The surface observations
Chicago/Dupage (DPA), 13 km from the path, in the two hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Temp (°F) | Dew point (°F) | Wind | Gust (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00:00 UTC | 210° 5 kt | 1009.5 | ||||
| 00:05 UTC | 200° 5 kt | 1009.5 | ||||
| 00:10 UTC | 200° 5 kt | 1009.5 | ||||
| 00:15 UTC | 210° 5 kt | 1009.5 | ||||
| 00:20 UTC | 210° 4 kt | 1009.5 | ||||
| 00:25 UTC | 200° 5 kt | 1009.5 | ||||
| 00:30 UTC | 210° 4 kt | 1009.5 | ||||
| 00:35 UTC | 220° 4 kt | 1009.5 | ||||
| 00:40 UTC | 220° 5 kt | 1009.5 | ||||
| 00:45 UTC | 220° 4 kt | 1009.5 | ||||
| 00:50 UTC | 220° 2 kt | 1009.5 | ||||
| 00:52 UTC | 81 | 71 | 220° 3 kt | 1009.5 | ||
| 00:55 UTC | 230° 2 kt | 1009.5 | ||||
| 01:00 UTC | 230° 2 kt | 1009.5 | ||||
| 01:05 UTC | 240° 2 kt | 1009.5 | ||||
| 01:10 UTC | 240° 4 kt | 1009.5 | ||||
| 01:15 UTC | 230° 4 kt | 1009.5 | ||||
| 01:20 UTC | 240° 5 kt | 1009.5 | ||||
| 01:25 UTC | 240° 5 kt | 1009.5 | ||||
| 01:30 UTC | 250° 4 kt | 1009.1 | ||||
| 01:35 UTC | 320° 2 kt | 1009.1 | ||||
| 01:40 UTC | 330° 4 kt | 1009.1 | ||||
| 01:45 UTC | 350° 4 kt | 1009.1 | ||||
| 01:50 UTC | 0° 0 kt | 1009.1 | ||||
| 01:50 UTC | 80.6 | 71.6 | 0° 0 kt | 1009.1 | VCTS | |
| 01:52 UTC | 80 | 71 | 0° 0 kt | 1009.5 | VCTS -RA | |
| 01:55 UTC | 170° 2 kt | 1009.8 | -RA | |||
| 02:00 UTC | 190° 5 kt | 1010.2 | -RA | |||
| 02:01 UTC | 77 | 73 | 190° 5 kt | 1010.2 | -TSRA | |
| 02:08 UTC | 71 | 67 | 250° 30 kt | 45 | 1012.2 | +TSRA BR |
| 02:10 UTC | 32 | 1012.5 | +RA BR | |||
| 02:13 UTC | 68 | 67 | 240° 27 kt | 45 | 1012.9 | +TSRA FG |
| 02:15 UTC | 42 | 1012.9 | +RA FG | |||
| 02:16 UTC | 67 | 66 | 240° 29 kt | 45 | 1012.9 | +TSRA FG |
| 02:25 UTC | 18 | 1012.2 | +RA FG | |||
| 02:25 UTC | 66 | 65 | 220° 13 kt | 35 | 1012.2 | +TSRA FG |
| 02:30 UTC | 220° 11 kt | 1011.9 | +RA BR | |||
| 02:31 UTC | 67 | 64 | 220° 10 kt | 25 | 1011.5 | +TSRA BR |
| 02:38 UTC | 68 | 64 | 180° 5 kt | 16 | 1011.2 | TSRA BR |
| 02:45 UTC | 100° 9 kt | 1010.8 | RA | |||
| 02:49 UTC | 69.8 | 62.6 | 100° 12 kt | 1010.5 | -RA | |
| 02:50 UTC | 1010.5 | -RA | ||||
| 02:52 UTC | 68 | 64 | 90° 14 kt | 1010.2 | RA | |
| 02:55 UTC | 14 kt | 1010.2 | RA | |||
| 03:00 UTC | 1010.2 | |||||
| 03:05 UTC | 1009.8 | |||||
| 03:10 UTC | 120° 8 kt | 1009.8 | ||||
| 03:20 UTC | 180° 4 kt | 1009.5 | ||||
| 03:25 UTC | 200° 5 kt | 1009.5 | ||||
| 03:30 UTC | 200° 5 kt | 1009.8 | ||||
| 03:40 UTC | 190° 7 kt | 1009.8 | ||||
| 03:45 UTC | 180° 10 kt | 1009.8 | ||||
| 03:50 UTC | 170° 9 kt | 1010.2 | ||||
| 03:52 UTC | 69 | 64 | 180° 8 kt | 1010.2 | ||
| 03:55 UTC | 170° 8 kt | 1009.8 |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.
The radar
The Chicago radar (KLOT), 26 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 01:58 UTC.
Open the radar archive at this moment, over the track
Reflectivity and velocity, decoded from the Level II archive in the browser. Volumes take a few seconds to open the first time.
What was reported nearby
Local storm reports within 60 km of the path, in the three hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Report | Where | County | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01:17 UTC | TSTM WND GST 55 | 3 N Leland | De Kalb, IL | Personal weather station measured a gust to 55 mph. |
| 01:39 UTC | TSTM WND GST 64 | Plano | Kendall, IL | Personal weather station measured a wind gust to 64 mph. |
| 01:42 UTC | TSTM WND GST 61 | Sugar Grove Airport | Kane, IL | Measured gust to 61 mph at ARR ASOS. |
| 01:45 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Sw North Aurora | Kane, IL | Corrects time of previous tstm wnd dmg report from 3 SW North Aurora. Large tree landed on car in west side of Aurora off Orchard Road. |
| 01:52 UTC | TSTM WND GST 69 | 2 Nw North Aurora | Kane, IL | Measured at KILBATAV3. |
| 01:56 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Wnw Batavia | Kane, IL | Numerous 6 inch diameter branches and limbs down all over the area, particularly between McKee and Fabyan Parkway, east towards Route 31. |
| 01:57 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Ene Batavia | Kane, IL | Fallen one foot diameter tree limb took out three power poles on N Van Buren and Spring Street. |
| 01:58 UTC | TORNADO | 2 W Warrenville | Dupage, IL | An NWS damage survey determined an EF-0 tornado with estimated peak winds of 75 mph, path width of 400 yards, and path length of 8.8 miles started near Fermilab and lifted in Glen Ellyn near the College of DuPage. Damage |
| 02:00 UTC | TSTM WND GST 87 | 3 E North Aurora | Kane, IL | Personal weather station measured a wind gust to 87 mph. |
| 02:01 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Ssw Naperville | Dupage, IL | 4 inch diameter tree limb downed on West St. Time estimated. |
| 02:01 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Nnw Bolingbrook | Dupage, IL | 6 inch diameter branch down at Wehrli and Lisson Roads. |
| 02:02 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Sse Naperville | Dupage, IL | Multiple 3 inch diameter tree limbs downed. Time estimated from radar. |
| 02:03 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | West Chicago | Dupage, IL | EM relayed a photo of a snapped tree branch at least 12 inches in diameter from a healthy tree. Time estimated by radar. |
| 02:04 UTC | TORNADO | 2 Ne Warrenville | Dupage, IL | Radar indicated damage. |
| 02:05 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Sw Romeoville | Will, IL | 12 to 14 foot tall pine tree blown down. Time estimated from radar. |
| 02:06 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Woodridge | Dupage, IL | Numerous limbs and branches down in the vicinity, some blocking roadways. |
| 02:06 UTC | TSTM WND GST 53 | Dupage Airport | Dupage, IL | Measured gust to 53 mph at DuPage Airport. |
| 02:07 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 N Nws Chicago-Romeovi | Will, IL | Small pine tree uprooted. Time estimated from radar. |
| 02:07 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Bolingbrook | Will, IL | Numerous 6 inch diameter branches down. Reported via social media. |
| 02:10 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Ne Downers Grove | Dupage, IL | Corrects time of previous tstm wnd dmg report from 1 NE Downers Grove. Tree uprooted out of ground near Fairview and Ogden in Downers Grove. |
| 02:11 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Nw Carol Stream | Dupage, IL | 4 to 6 inch diameter tree branch snapped. Time estimated from radar. |
| 02:18 UTC | TSTM WND GST 65 | 1 Nnw Roselle | Cook, IL | Estimates 65 to 70 mph wind gusts. |
| 02:20 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Nnw Roselle | Cook, IL | Numerous medium sized tree branches down in Roselle at corner of May Street and Arthur Avenue. Power is also out on the west side of May Street. Relayed via spotter network. |
| 02:20 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Addison | Dupage, IL | Two trees downed in Addison. Time estimated from radar. |
| 02:20 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Bartlett | Cook, IL | Trees and power lines downed in Bartlett. Time estimated from radar. |
| 02:22 UTC | NON-TSTM WND DMG | 1 Se Schaumburg | Cook, IL | 1 foot diameter tree limb through a car windshield. Picture shared on social media. |
| 02:25 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Nnw Elk Grove Village | Cook, IL | Pictures on social media shared of numerous large trees snapped and downed in the vicinity. One tree 2 feet in diameter. |
| 02:25 UTC | TSTM WND GST 70 | 1 N Medinah | Cook, IL | CoCoRAHS observer reported 60-70 mph winds. |
| 02:25 UTC | TSTM WND GST 80 | 1 Nnw Elk Grove Village | Cook, IL | An NWS storm survey confirmed that widespread tree damage across Elk Grove Village was caused by strong straight-line winds. Damage was most severe and concentrated in the vicinity of Elk Grove High School, where peak wi |
| 02:26 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Se Schaumburg | Cook, IL | Multiple large tree limbs downed across the east side of Schaumburg. Time estimated from radar. |
| 02:27 UTC | TSTM WND GST 70 | Schaumburg | Cook, IL | |
| 02:29 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Sse Mount Prospect | Cook, IL | 30 foot long limbs and many other smaller diameter limbs down. |
| 02:29 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Sse Mount Prospect | Cook, IL | 30 foot long limbs and many smaller-diameter branches down in the vicinity. |
| 02:29 UTC | TSTM WND GST 58 | Ohare Airport | Cook, IL | Measured gust to 58 mph at OHare Airport. |
| 02:33 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Ese Mount Prospect | Cook, IL | Several trees downed in the Mount Prospect and Des Plaines area. Time estimated from radar. |
| 02:35 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Sw Jefferson Park - C | Cook, IL | Photos shared on social media of large tree limbs downed onto a garage in the Jefferson Park community area of Chicago. Time estimated from radar. |
| 02:40 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Nnw Mckinley Park - C | Cook, IL | Large tree branch down on car 1800 S Damen, person was briefly trapped in the car. |
| 02:40 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 S Logan Square - Chic | Cook, IL | Large limb down on a couple of cars at 1441 N California. |
| 02:42 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Logan Square - Chicago | Cook, IL | Power lines down at Maplewood and Belden. |
| 02:57 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Nw Romeoville | Will, IL | Large branches downed. |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2023 tornado in IllinoisEvery tornado in Illinois since 1950Warnings in force in Illinois nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of July 14, 2023
2 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
What this means
Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.
Sources
NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.