A microburst early Monday may have been responsible for scores of downed trees across sections of McHenry County near Woodstock, Union and Crystal Lake. Some eye witnesses reported funnel-like cloud formations around 8 a.m. just before damage occurred. These may have been gustnadoes, which swirl on the leading edge of some thunderstorms, but are structured differently than true twisters. Others reported winds roaring like a freight train—an occurrence not limited to tornadoes. High winds of any type roar when forced into a confined space by trees and openings between buildings.
The same storms swept Chicago producing 0.73” at Midway Airport, where 1.49” has been measured since Thursday—the heaviest rainfall in nearly 8 weeks. Other powerful storms walloped central Illinois late Monday, producing 1.61” at Peoria, 1.53” at Galesburg and 1.49” in Springfield.
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
