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

Tornadoes

July 15, 2024: Derecho Produces Widespread Wind Damage and Numerous Tornadoes (1)

Tornado Summary Graphic (includes tracks from the 7/14 event)

July 15, 2024: Derecho Produces Widespread Wind Damage and Numerous Tornadoes (2)

Areas of continued damage assessment (includes both the 7/14 and 7/15 events)

Downloadable KMZ File with All Tornado Tracks (To Be Added Later)

Downloadable Shapefile with All Tornado Tracks (To Be Added Later)

Below is a summary of all of the NWS damage survey findings in the NWS Chicago forecast areafrom this severe weather event. An interactive map with all of this information can be found on ourDamage Assessment Toolkit Viewer website(to see the data from this event, make sure that the date range in the top right cornerincludes this event's date). Instructions for how to download survey data (KMZ files and shapefiles) are availablehere.

1.) Byron Tornado

July 15, 2024: Derecho Produces Widespread Wind Damage and Numerous Tornadoes (3)

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Summary:

An EF-0 tornado tracked through Byron, producing tree damage across town and blowing roofing material off of a car wash.

2.) Davis Junction Tornado

July 15, 2024: Derecho Produces Widespread Wind Damage and Numerous Tornadoes (4)

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Summary:

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

3.) Southern Winnebago County Tornado

July 15, 2024: Derecho Produces Widespread Wind Damage and Numerous Tornadoes (5)

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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.

4.) Sugar Grove to Aurora Tornado

July 15, 2024: Derecho Produces Widespread Wind Damage and Numerous Tornadoes (6)

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Summary:

(To be added later)

5.) Sugar Grove to North Aurora Tornado

July 15, 2024: Derecho Produces Widespread Wind Damage and Numerous Tornadoes (7)

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Summary:

(To be added later)

6.) Yorkville to South Naperville Tornado

July 15, 2024: Derecho Produces Widespread Wind Damage and Numerous Tornadoes (8)

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Summary:

Extensive tree damage along the path, including some uprooted and snapped trees. Some structural damage.

7.) Minooka to Joliet Tornado

July 15, 2024: Derecho Produces Widespread Wind Damage and Numerous Tornadoes (9)

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Summary:

(To be added later)

8.) Western Joliet to Lockport Tornado

July 15, 2024: Derecho Produces Widespread Wind Damage and Numerous Tornadoes (10)

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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 at I-355 in Lockport.

9.) Channahon to Matteson Tornado

July 15, 2024: Derecho Produces Widespread Wind Damage and Numerous Tornadoes (11)

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Summary:

(To be added later)

10.) Glen Ellyn to Lombard Tornado

July 15, 2024: Derecho Produces Widespread Wind Damage and Numerous Tornadoes (12)

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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.

11.) Villa Park Tornado

July 15, 2024: Derecho Produces Widespread Wind Damage and Numerous Tornadoes (13)

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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.

12.) Manteno Tornado

July 15, 2024: Derecho Produces Widespread Wind Damage and Numerous Tornadoes (14)

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Summary:

(To be added later)

13.) Broadview Tornado

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

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Summary:

(To be added later)

14.) Justice Tornado

July 15, 2024: Derecho Produces Widespread Wind Damage and Numerous Tornadoes (16)

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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.

15.) Crestwood to Blue Island Tornado

July 15, 2024: Derecho Produces Widespread Wind Damage and Numerous Tornadoes (17)

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Summary:

(To be added later)

16.) Peotone Tornado

July 15, 2024: Derecho Produces Widespread Wind Damage and Numerous Tornadoes (18)

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Summary:

(To be added later)

17.) Oak Forest Tornado

July 15, 2024: Derecho Produces Widespread Wind Damage and Numerous Tornadoes (19)

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Summary:

(To be added later)

18.) Flossmoor - Thornton Tornado

July 15, 2024: Derecho Produces Widespread Wind Damage and Numerous Tornadoes (20)

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Summary:

Mostly tree damage with some structural damage in Thornton.

19.) Chicago: Near West Side Tornado

July 15, 2024: Derecho Produces Widespread Wind Damage and Numerous Tornadoes (21)

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Summary:

Extensive tree damage along the path, including some large trees uprooted. Also, some minor structural damage.

20.) Chicago: Chicago Lawn - West Englewood Tornado

July 15, 2024: Derecho Produces Widespread Wind Damage and Numerous Tornadoes (22)

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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.

21.) Chicago: West Town Tornado

July 15, 2024: Derecho Produces Widespread Wind Damage and Numerous Tornadoes (23)

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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.

22.) Grant Park Tornado

July 15, 2024: Derecho Produces Widespread Wind Damage and Numerous Tornadoes (24)

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Summary:

(To be added later)

23.) Cedar Lake - Valparaiso Tornado

July 15, 2024: Derecho Produces Widespread Wind Damage and Numerous Tornadoes (25)

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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.

24.) Shelby - Wheatfield Township Tornado

July 15, 2024: Derecho Produces Widespread Wind Damage and Numerous Tornadoes (26)

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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.

The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:

EF0
Weak

65-85 mph
EF1
Moderate
86-110 mph
EF2
Significant
111-135 mph
EF3
Severe
136-165 mph
EF4
Extreme
166-200 mph
EF5
Catastrophic
200+ mph
July 15, 2024: Derecho Produces Widespread Wind Damage and Numerous Tornadoes (27)

When a tornado is known to have occurred but does not cause damage to any qualified damage indicators, or if the only damage is located in an area that is inaccessible to NWS storm survey personnel, then a tornado may be assigned the EF-Unknown (EF-U) rating.

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

FAQs

What kind of damage is most common with a derecho? ›

Although a derecho can produce destruction similar to the strength of tornadoes, the damage typically is directed in one direction along a relatively straight swath. As a result, the term "straight-line wind damage" sometimes is used to describe derecho damage.

What is the derecho storm? ›

The storm complex was a derecho, or a widespread, long-lived wind storm that is associated with a band of fast-moving showers or thunderstorms. Storms first erupted during the mid-evening hours in central and eastern Iowa, bringing tennis-ball-size hail in Crawford.

What is the weather event known as a derecho multiple choice question? ›

A derecho (pronounced similar to "deh-REY-cho" in English, or pronounced phonetically as " ") is a widespread, long-lived wind storm. Derechos are associated with bands of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms variously known as bow echoes, squall lines, or quasi-linear convective systems.

What is a derecho a fast moving cluster of thunderstorms producing straight wind gusts over? ›

A Derecho is a very long lived and damaging thunderstorm. A storm is classified as a derecho if wind damage swath extends more than 240 miles and has wind gusts of at least 58 mph or greater along most of the length of the storm's path.

Is a derecho worse than a tornado? ›

Rarely, long-track tornadoes can go hundreds of miles. A derecho, on the other hand, travels 400 miles or more. The swath of damage must also be 60 miles wide or more. 2 This is a large area, especially when compared to the much smaller individual thunderstorm cells or typical tornadoes.

How to stay safe in a derecho? ›

Lie flat and face-down on low ground, protecting the back of your head with your arms. If possible, avoid trees; even relatively small branches can become lethal when blown by storm winds.

How rare is a derecho storm? ›

They are impressive to see both on the ground and from the sky. Derechos are most common in the Midwestern United States, but are still fairly rare. You might see a derecho about once a year there. They can occasionally be found all the way up into the Northeast.

How do you know when a derecho is coming? ›

Derechos are sometimes preceded by “ominous-looking 'shelf' clouds,” according to the Storm Prediction Center. Their clouds can also appear darker than other storms. The storms are more common in warmer weather conditions, according to the weather service, with 70% of them occurring between May and August.

How long does a derecho last? ›

A derecho-producing convective system may remain active for many hours and, occasionally, over multiple days.

Where is a derecho most likely to happen? ›

One axis extends along the "Corn Belt" from the upper Mississippi Valley into the Ohio Valley. The other warm season axis extends from the southern Plains into the mid-Mississippi Valley. During the cool season, derechos are most likely to occur from eastern Texas into the southeastern states.

What does a derecho look like on radar? ›

While a derecho may look like an inland hurricane on radar and satellite images, and seem like the same in person with its combination of strong wind and torrential rain, the meteorological community has criteria that determines whether or not a thunderstorm complex has achieved the "d-word" level.

What time of day are tornadoes most likely to touch down? ›

Tornadoes can also happen at any time of day or night, but most tornadoes occur between 4–9 p.m.

Are twisters tornadoes? ›

Also known as twisters, tornadoes are violently spinning, funnel-shaped columns of air that stretch from the dark thunderclouds they form in all the way to the ground.

Do all thunderstorms have rain? ›

Dry thunderstorms that do not produce rain that reaches the ground are most prevalent in the western United States. Falling raindrops evaporate, but lightning can still reach the ground and can start wildfires.

Is a hurricane and a tornado the same thing? ›

The most obvious difference between a tornado and hurricane is that a hurricane's horizontal scale is about a thousand times larger than a tornado. In addition, hurricanes and tornadoes form under different circ*mstances and have different impacts on the atmosphere.

What damage was caused by the derecho? ›

Iowans likely remember a derecho that ripped through the Midwest on Aug. 10, 2020, causing $11 billion in damage — the most expensive thunderstorm in history. A large area from central Iowa to north central Illinois saw wind gusts of 70-80 mph, with gusts of more than 100 mph in a few areas.

What is the most common storm damage? ›

The Most Common Type of Storm Damage

Annually, flooding is the most common and extensive form of storm damage that occurs in the United States. Even during high wind events like tropical storms or hurricanes, the majority of the damage comes from the flooding rains from the storms and not the destructive winds.

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