July 15, 2024: Derecho Produces Widespread Wind Damage and Numerous Tornadoes (2024)

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Summary:

Satellite imagery indicates that a tornado began in a corn field west of Byron before tracking southeast into Byron. The tornado remained at EF-0 intensity as it tracked through Byron, producing tree damage across town and blowing roofing material off of a car wash before ending just east of the Rock River.

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Summary:

An EF-0 tornado tracked through the north side of Davis Junction, producing a corridor of tree damage.

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Summary:

A tornado tracked for approximately 1.2 miles along Montague Road southwest of Rockford, causing damage to corn crops, trees, and power lines.

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Summary:

Radar data from KLOT depicted a circulation with a brief tornado debris signature. Satellite imagery from Sentinel2 depicted possible damage to crops in the path of rotation. The tornado will be rated EF-Unknown (EF-U) as it did not cause damage to any qualified damage indicators.

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Summary:

This tornado developed just inside the entrance to Big Rock Campground, tracked across Sugar Grove, and then dissipated on the west side of Aurora. Extensive primarily EF-0 tree damage was noted along the path. The tornado reached its strongest (EF-1) intensity in Sugar Grove, where several healthy trees were uprooted and/or snapped, and tossed some distance. Minor structural damage occurred to the Sugar Grove Fire Department, including that caused by flying tree debris. An approximately 2,000 lb partial roof for firefighter training was lifted and moved a couple feet. Additional minor structural damage occurred at some residences in nearby subdivisions, with sporadic shingle and fascia damage noted into Aurora. The tornado then likely dissipated, with straight line wind damage continuing downstream into portions of western and central DuPage County.

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Summary:

This tornado developed on the campus of Waubonsee Community College where several trees were blown down, characteristic of higher end EF-0 damage. A concentrated path of EF-0 tree damage and localized pole damage was found all the way into North Aurora. The tornado then likely dissipated near I-88, with straight line wind damage continuing into portions of western and central DuPage County.

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Summary:

This tornado developed on the north side of Yorkville and tracked across Bristol, Oswego, far southeast Aurora, and then across portions of southwest and south Naperville. It produced extensive tree damage along the path, including a corridor in which numerous large trees were uprooted and snapped in a subdivision near IL-71 in Oswego, where the tornado reached its strongest (EF-1) intensity. The downed trees in this area also brought down power poles and wires. Aside from the EF-1 damage in portions of Oswego, the tree damage was EF-0 caliber. Some minor structural damage was noted along the path as well, primarily fascia or shingle damage, along with damage caused by flying tree debris.

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Summary:

The tornado began in rural portions of western Minooka, where tree damage and loss of material on several outbuildings was noted. The tornado continued into Shorewood where crop damage was noted before entering Joliet. Several trees were uprooted in a community near the Joliet Regional Airport. In the vicinity of US Highway 52 just east of Larkin Ave, several wooden power poles were snapped. Wind damage continued into downtown Joliet before the tornado dissipated.

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Summary:

Roof damage to Plainfield South High School, followed by tree damage until additional roof damage was noted at St John Lutheran Church, continuing eastward. The path just barely started in Kendall County before continuing into Will County and ending near Cedar Road just east of I-355.

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Summary:

The tornado touched down northeast of Morris along Bungalow Road where damage to trees was observed. The tornado then intensified as it tracked eastward along the Illinois River into southern Channahon where it snapped and uprooted several trees and power poles along Lauren Drive. Additionally, roof damage to an outbuilding and home near McKinley Woods Road was also noted. From here, the tornado continued east-northeast across I-55 where it downed several high tension power lines and collapsed two metal support trusses, resulting in the EF-2 rating. Several semi-trucks and trailers were also overturned along I-55 along with significant roof damage to an office building. The tornado continued east-northeast through Drummond and northern Elwood at a weaker intensity but still strong enough to snap and uproot numerous trees and cause roofing damage to homes. The EF-0 to EF-1 caliber damage continued as the tornado crossed Illinois Route 53 and US 52 near Manhattan with mainly tree damage observed along the path, but damage to homes and garages was noted also. The tornado continued northeast into Frankfort before eventually dissipating northwest of Matteson near I-57 in southeastern Cook County. This tornado tracked 34.6 miles during its 32 minute lifespan and did result in two injuries.

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Summary:

This tornado touched down in the vicinity of Bryant Avenue and Revere Road just south of Benjamin Franklin Elementary School. It tracked northeast and produced a concentrated corridor of tree damage between Spring and Woodstock Avenues and immediately south of Roslyn Road where several large, healthy trees were either snapped or had limbs removed. Structural damage was generally limited, although gouges in stucco on the northwest corner of a residence on Cumnor Avenue was noted. The tornado tracked across the Veterans Memorial Tollway and continued to produce tree damage in the vicinity of the Madison Elementary School. A portion of a roof was damaged to one residence on Elizabeth Street. Damage became increasingly sparse towards Fairfield and Edgewood avenues where the tornado lifted.

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Summary:

A localized corridor of damage, consistent with straight line thunderstorm winds of 70 to 80 mph, occurred between approximately Westmore Meyers Road and S. Ardmore Avenue. Damage was mainly to trees, several of which were snapped.

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Summary:

This brief tornado started near Kenilworth and Cornell Avenues northeast of Saint Alexander Catholic Church where a highly localized corridor of tree damage was noted. To the southwest, broader straight line wind damage was noted. This tornado crossed St Charles Road and lifted west of Kingery Highway. This tornado was on the ground for about one minute.

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Summary:

Based on data from radar, observational data from an automated platform, videos taken nearby, and damage reports provided by local officials, an EF-0 tornado impacted Chicago O'Hare International Airport. The tornado started just southwest of the airport and damaged trees. As the tornado moved over the airport, windows, doors, and exterior paneling and roofing of several terminals were damaged. Carts and loose objects were pushed around or thrown, as well. The tornado appeared to lift just east of Mannheim Road and an area of damage to exterior fences.

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Summary:

The tornado began northeast of Flickerville near North 2250 West Road resulting in mostly tree damage. The tornado tracked east-northeast across US 45 and I-57 into southern Manteno where damage was caused to numerous trees in addition to facia, shingles, and fencing damage to several homes. Several modular homes in a mobile home park in southwestern Manteno also sustained skirt and siding damage from this tornado as it continued east. After exiting Manteno, the tornado tracked along East 9000 North Road towards Whitaker resulting in primarily tree and power line damage along the way. Though, roofing damage was observed to a farm outbuilding near North 9000 East Road just before the tornado dissipated in the field to the east. All damage sustained was consistent with the EF-0 rating.

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Summary:

A brief and narrow tornado paralleled Roosevelt Road. Three apartment buildings lost part or all of their roof, with roofing material deposited in a nearby alley. Trees were also snapped and downed onto cars near the end of the path. The tornado may have continued further to the northeast into Oak Park intermittently, but the in-person damage survey did not find conclusive evidence of a continuous path.

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Summary:

Immediately east of the Broadview tornado, damage broadened into a region of straight line winds. The most significant damage, consistent with straight line winds up to 80 mph, occurred across the southern portions of Oak Park, roughly along Jackson Blvd east of S Euclid Avenue where numerous trees were snapped or uprooted. Some shingle damage was also noted. Wind damage continued into the Austin neighborhood of Chicago.

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Summary:

This tornado appears to have touched down near the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal immediately north of the Tri-State Tollway. It tracked across a mobile home park where it caused damage to trees and homes north of Park Ave consistent with an EF-0 with winds near 80 mph. To the south, additional damage to trees was aligned in a generally easterly and northeasterly direction, consistent with straight line wind damage. The tornado crossed Garden Lane where several large, healthy trees were either uprooted or snapped. Minor shingle, siding, and fascia damage was also observed, and a greenhouse was also blown about 75 feet to the north. Damage in this area was consistent with an EF-1 tornado with winds near 90 mph. This tornado then continued into Resurrection Cemetery. Damage then broadened considerably east of South Roberts Road, indicating the tornado likely lifted and transitioned to a concentrated corridor of straight line winds.

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Summary:

A broad area of 70 to 90 mph winds began in northeastern Will County in/near Lockport, Homer Glen, New Lenox, and Mokena and extended through at least Markham, Hazel Crest, Homewood, Harvey, and South Holland. Radar data suggests the winds may have continued eastward into Calumet City, and the far northwestern side of Gary. Within the swath, widespread tree damage was noted including several uprooted and snapped trees. It is possible there may have been brief tornadoes within this corridor, especially near 157th Street in Harvey, where tree damage was most concentrated.

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Summary:

This tornado started near S Harlem Avenue and W 135th Street and tracked nearly due east, paralleling W 135th. Minor roof damage to a residence and a large uprooted tree was found near Nathan Hale Primary School, consistent with high-end EF-0 wind speeds. The tornado continued across the Tri-State Tollway before dissipating immediately east of S Kedzie Avenue and south of the Cal-Sag Channel.

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Summary:

The tornado touched down near the intersection of Drecksler Road and Kennedy road where tree damage was observed. The tornado tracked nearly due east along Kennedy Road for the first part of its life cycle causing mostly tree damage along the way. Though, broken windows were observed to two homes near Egyptian Trail in addition to the collapse of of an outbuilding. From here the tornado turned northeast until it reached the intersection of Crawford Avenue and Corning Road where the track turned easterly again. Most of the damage within this section remained primarily to trees, but some roof damage to an outbuilding and a home was observed as well all of which was consistent with the EF-0 rating. The tornado dissipated just east of Western Avenue completing its five minute lifespan.

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Summary:

This brief tornado touched down just north of 159th Street near Rob Roy Drive and produced a narrow region of damage to trees and some residences, primarily confined to areas along Brookwood and Arroyo Drives. Some instances of shingle and fascia damage were noted. At one house just west of Arroyo Drive, damage was noted to vinyl fencing, siding, gutters, along with a broken window in the back consistent with high-end EF-0 winds. The tornadic circulation appears to have lifted prior to Central Avenue, with sporadic wind damage in the Jewel-Osco parking lot associated with straight-line winds.

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Summary:

Mostly tree damage with some structural damage in Thornton.

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Summary:

This brief tornado began near the Wal-Mart south of the intersection of 167th Street and Crawford Avenue in Country Club Hills. It tracked northeastward into the subdivision east of the Wal-Mart, producing a concentrated corridor of tree damage before dissipating as it approached 167th Street.

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Summary:

The tornado path began along I-290 near Francisco Ave. in the Near West Side community area of Chicago, where tree damage was noted. Several areas of more extensive tree damage, including uprooted mostly healthy trees, were found near Rush and Stroger Hospitals. The most significant damage was noted near Stillman Park and the Chicago Police Academy, where several healthy trees were uprooted, and there was roof damage to a building in Stillman Park and some minor fascia damage on the Chicago Police Academy building. The tornado then continued east to near the Chicago River, where it dissipated.

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Summary:

This tornado began on the southwest side of Marquette Park where several large willow trees were snapped near their bases. A concentrated corridor of tree damage continued northeast across the park and golf course. All of the EF-1 damage with this tornado took place within Marquette Park. Damage, primarily to trees, continued in a generally northeast path through the West Englewood neighborhood. The tornado lifted east of William Ogden Park. Sporadic damage, consistent with straight line winds, continued east all the way to the lakefront.

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Summary:

An EF-0 tornado with peak winds around 85 mph started near N Kedzie Ave and W Augusta Blvd and continued southeastward before lifting near W Erie St and N Damen Ave. Damage along the path of the tornado consisted of uprooted trees, large downed tree branches, windows blown out of buildings, damage to roofing materials, and damaged siding of buildings.

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Summary:

The tornado touched down just east of North 14500 East Road in northeast Kankakee County at 9:51 PM. Shortly after touching down the tornado caused roofing damage to a farm building and rolled a semi-trailer in the adjacent parking lot consistent with the EF-1 rating. From here the tornado tracked northeast across mainly open fields resulting in little damage until it crossed North 16750 East Road. Damage at this point in the track was mainly to trees, but some shingle and facia damage was observed to homes along East 10500 North Road. The tornado lifted in the field northeast of the homes just west of North 17500 East Road at 9:53 PM.

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Summary:

This tornado touched down near Eagle Lake in eastern Will County, IL, producing damage to an outbuilding and several trees. The tornado continued east-northeast towards Cedar Lake, IN, where it damaged a chimney and garage of a home just east of US-41, resulting in the EF-1 rating. From here, the tornado continued northeast across the northern edge of Cedar Lake towards the southern edge of Crown Point, causing damage to trees along the way. The damage in Crown Point was mainly to trees, but an industrial building did sustain roof and siding damage as the tornado exited Crown Point near Indiana State Route 53. The tornado then continued across I-65 through eastern Lake County and into Porter County. Damage along this part of the path was to trees as the tornado had weakened a bit. However, the tornado did re-intensify as it tracked into Valparaiso, IN, where it continued to down large tree limbs and even caused damage to a home and vehicle as a result of fallen trees. The tornado lifted just north of Evans Avenue in Valparaiso east of Indiana State Route 49. This EF-1 tornado traveled 29.1 miles during its 28 minute lifespan, but caused no injuries or fatalities. One fatality in Cedar Lake was caused by straight-line winds south of the tornado's track downing a tree onto a house.

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Summary:

The tornado started to form just west of state route 55 north of Shelby, IN in Lake County and tracked east-northeast, crossing over I-65 and US Highway 231 into northern Jasper County before finally weakening in Wheatfield Township. Damage consisted of downed trees, large tree branches falling onto roofs, and roof paneling being peeled off a storage facility.