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

Tornadoes & Straight Line Winds

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

Tornado and Damaging Wind Summary Graphic

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 (2)

(click on image to enlarge)

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 (3)

(click on image to enlarge)

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 (4)

(click on image to enlarge)

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.) Maple Park Tornado

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

(click on image to enlarge)

Summary:

Radar data from KLOT depicted a circulation with a brief tornado debris signature. Imagery from Sentinel2 depicted damage to crops in the path of rotation. The tornado will be rated an EF-U.

5.) Sugar Grove to Aurora Tornado

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

(click on image to enlarge)

Summary:

(To be added later)

6.) Sugar Grove to North Aurora Tornado

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

(click on image to enlarge)

Summary:

(To be added later)

7.) Yorkville to South Naperville Tornado

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

(click on image to enlarge)

Summary:

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

8.) Minooka to Joliet Tornado

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

(click on image to enlarge)

Summary:

(To be added later)

9.) Western Joliet to Lockport Tornado

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

(click on image to enlarge)

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.

10.) Channahon to Matteson Tornado

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

(click on image to enlarge)

Summary:

(To be added later)

11.) Glen Ellyn to Lombard Tornado

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

(click on image to enlarge)

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.

Lombard to Glen Ellyn Straight Line Winds

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

(click on image to enlarge)

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.

12.) Villa Park Tornado

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

(click on image to enlarge)

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.

13.) Bensenville to Rosemont (O'Hare) Tornado and Straight Line Winds

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

(click on image to enlarge)

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.

14.) Manteno Tornado

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

(click on image to enlarge)

Summary:

(To be added later)

15.) Broadview Tornado

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

(click on image to enlarge)

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.

Broadview Straight Line Winds

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

(click on image to enlarge)

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.

16.) Justice Tornado and Straight Line Winds

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

(click on image to enlarge)

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.

New Lenox to Garry Straight Line Winds

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

(click on image to enlarge)

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.

17.) Crestwood to Blue Island Tornado

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

(click on image to enlarge)

Summary:

(To be added later)

18.) Peotone Tornado

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

(click on image to enlarge)

Summary:

(To be added later)

19.) Oak Forest Tornado

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

(click on image to enlarge)

Summary:

(To be added later)

20.) Flossmoor - Thornton Tornado

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

(click on image to enlarge)

Summary:

Mostly tree damage with some structural damage in Thornton.

21.) Country Club Hills Tornado

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

(click on image to enlarge)

Summary:

(To be added later).

22.) Chicago: Near West Side Tornado

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

(click on image to enlarge)

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.

23.) Chicago: Chicago Lawn - West Englewood Tornado

July 15, 2024: Derecho Produces Widespread Wind Damage and Numerous Tornadoes (27)

(click on image to enlarge)

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.

24.) Chicago: West Town Tornado

July 15, 2024: Derecho Produces Widespread Wind Damage and Numerous Tornadoes (28)

(click on image to enlarge)

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.

25.) Grant Park Tornado

July 15, 2024: Derecho Produces Widespread Wind Damage and Numerous Tornadoes (29)

(click on image to enlarge)

Summary:

(To be added later)

26.) Cedar Lake - Valparaiso Tornado

July 15, 2024: Derecho Produces Widespread Wind Damage and Numerous Tornadoes (30)

(click on image to enlarge)

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.

27.) Shelby - Wheatfield Township Tornado

July 15, 2024: Derecho Produces Widespread Wind Damage and Numerous Tornadoes (31)

(click on image to enlarge)

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 (32)

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

July 15, 2024: Derecho Produces Widespread Wind Damage and Numerous Tornadoes? ›

Summary: During the evening hours of July 15, a well-organized and long-lived complex of thunderstorms rolled across Iowa, Illinois and parts of Indiana. Widespread damaging winds of 60 to locally 100 mph were observed within the line, especially from eastern Iowa, northern Illinois, and central Illinois.

What is the major difference between a derecho and a tornado? ›

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.

How rare are derecho storms? ›

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.

Why is it called a derecho storm? ›

Hinrichs used the term in a paper published by the American Meteorological Journal to distinguish thunderstorm-induced straight-line winds from the damaging, rotary winds of tornadoes. "Derecho" is a Spanish word meaning "right," "direct," or "straight ahead." (Click here to hear a pronunciation of the word "derecho").

What are the wind levels for a derecho? ›

How strong are derecho winds? By definition, a derecho must include wind gusts of at least 58 mph (50 knots or 93 km/h) or greater along most of its length. While derecho winds typically are less than 100 mph, gusts as high as 130 mph have been recorded --- equivalent to those with strong EF2 tornadoes.

Is a derecho storm worse than a tornado? ›

Gusts up to 130 mph have been recorded for derechos, which is equal to an EF2 tornado. Derechos must extend either sporadically or continuously more than 400 miles in length, and 60 miles in width, to qualify. The word “derecho” is Spanish for “straight ahead,” “right,” or “direct.”

How to survive a derecho? ›

The best thing to do in the event of a derecho is to go someplace safe and protected—high winds and falling trees can be quite dangerous.

What states get derechos? ›

The highest annual frequencies of occurrence appear along the "Corn Belt," from Minnesota and Iowa into western Pennsylvania, and in the south central states, from eastern parts of the southern Plains into the lower Mississippi Valley. However, the frequencies vary by season.

What part of the United States has the greatest potential for experiencing a derecho? ›

Derechos are widespread damaging wind events from clusters of severe thunderstorms. They are most common in late spring and summer. Parts of the Great Plains and Midwest experience derechos most often.

When was the last derecho in the US? ›

North America
EventDate
Great Lakes serial derecho of June 2020June 10, 2020
August 2020 Midwest derechoAugust 10–11, 2020
October 2020 Northeast Serial DerechoOctober 7, 2020
December 2021 Midwest derecho and tornado outbreakDecember 15, 2021
84 more rows

Where is the safest place to hide during a tornado? ›

The safest place in the home is the interior part of a basem*nt. If there is no basem*nt, go to an inside room, without windows, on the lowest floor. This could be a center hallway, bathroom, or closet. For added protection, get under something sturdy such as a heavy table or workbench.

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.

How long does a derecho storm last? ›

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

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

Their destruction can be similar to that of tornadoes, but it is typically in one direction, along a fairly straight path, the weather service says – hence it's name, which is Spanish for “straight ahead.” Derecho damage is frequently referred to as straight-line wind damage.

What was the most severe derecho? ›

May 8, 2009 Super Derecho

This was one of the most intense and unusual derechos ever observed. The wind storm produced significant and often continuous damage over a broad swath from the high plains of western Kansas to the foothills of the Appalachians in eastern Kentucky.

What does a derecho look like on radar? ›

Radar shows a "bow echo"

A bow echo forms when the strong winds of the derecho push clusters of storms out in front of one another, the shape of a bow. Along the line of the bow echo, individual storms can cause significant damage, and the fast-moving band can cover hundreds of miles quickly.

How do you tell if a storm is a derecho? ›

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.

What is the definition of a derecho? ›

According to the National Weather Service, a derecho is a widespread, long-lived wind storm associated with rapidly moving showers and thunderstorms. A derecho can cause wind speeds typically seen in tornadoes, but does so in one direction along a “straight swath,” according to the NWS.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Saturnina Altenwerth DVM

Last Updated:

Views: 6110

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (64 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Saturnina Altenwerth DVM

Birthday: 1992-08-21

Address: Apt. 237 662 Haag Mills, East Verenaport, MO 57071-5493

Phone: +331850833384

Job: District Real-Estate Architect

Hobby: Skateboarding, Taxidermy, Air sports, Painting, Knife making, Letterboxing, Inline skating

Introduction: My name is Saturnina Altenwerth DVM, I am a witty, perfect, combative, beautiful, determined, fancy, determined person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.