Severe Weather Blog

Tonight's severe thunderstorm episode has ended as the last of the storms have passed to the east of the metropolitan area. The strongest storms targeted areas from Aurora east and south into northwest Indiana where there were several reports of  large hail alongi with high winds that caused damage to trees and powerlines.

Strong (non-thunderstorm) northwest winds gusting in excess of 40 m.p.h are now moving into the area in the wake of these storms bringing the area its first true blast of autumn weather. In sharp contrast to Sunday's highs in the 70s readings on Monday will struggle to reach the upper 50s as northwest winds gust as high as 45 m.p.h.

Wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. were reported from Valparaiso in Porter County Indiana at 10:37 p.m. tonight.

A severe thunderstorm warning remains in effect for Porter County in northwest Indiana until 11 p.m. Severe thuderstoms producing  large hail, strong winds and heavy rain will be moving through Porter County. The storm are currently moving out of Lake County.

An observer in the Dyer area in Lake County Indiana reported lots of hail from the thunderstorms. Most of the hail was in the range from half inch to 1 inch in diameter but some stones were golf-ball sized.  One inch diameter hail (quarter-size) was also reported southwest of Gary.

At Griffith Indiana 3/4 inch hail (penny-sized ) occurred.

 

 

Shortly before 10:30 p.m. the line of severe thunderstorms extended from near Gary, Indiana to near Kankakee and was moving rapidly to the east.

With the passage of this line of storms the severe weather threat has ended and the tornado watch has been canceled for all areas to the north and west of the line of storms.  

 

Tinley Park reported wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. around 10 p.m. along with half inch diameter hail.

Montgomery in Kane County reported rainfall of 0.47 inches

Pea-sized hail  (0.25") fell at Homewood.

A tornado warning remains in effect for southern Cook County until 10:30 p.m.  Doppler radar indicates a possible tornado near Dolton at 10:06 p.m. moving rapidly to the east.  

As the line of severe thunderstorm continues rapidly to the east a severe thunderstorm warning is in effect until 11 p.m. for Lake and Porter counties in northwest Indiana.

 

 

The line of severe thunderstorms that hit the Chicago area this evening is racing to the easwtg at speeds in excess of 50 m.p.h. and will soon be east of the area. The storms remain strong and the Storm Prediction Center has issued a new severe thunderstorm watch for portions of Indiana and Lower Michigan.  Once the thunderstorms have moved on to the easty, the severe weather threat has ended.

The National Weather Service reports power lines  and branches 6-8 inches in diameter down in Romeoville near 135th  and Belmont.

The strong rotation indicating a possible tornado near Homer Glen has moved to near Robbins just before 10 p.m. The thunderstorm was racing to the west at 55 m.p.h.