National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce
 
 
Fast Facts of this High Wind Event
  • Wind gusts of 60+ mph were observed along and north of the I-80 corridor including across Chicago and Rockford, with peak gusts of 50-55 mph south of I-80.
  • The peak wind gust at Chicago O'Hare International Airport was 62 mph and at Chicago Midway International Airport was 61 mph.
  • The official peak wind gust at Rockford was 61 mph.
  • The strongest wind gusts observed were 73 mph at the Chicago Harrison-Dever Crib, 72 mph near Douglas Park, IL, and 70 mph at Gary, IN.
  • The temperatures reached the upper 50s to mid 60s across the area.  The 62° officially at Chicago O'Hare was the first 60°+ reading in February since 2009, and only the fourth time in February in the past 15 years (since 2001). 


 

Peak Wind Gusts
 
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO IL
611 PM CST FRI FEB 19 2016

...MAXIMUM WIND REPORTS PAST 24 HOURS...

LOCATION                     SPEED     TIME/DATE       PROVIDER                             
CHICAGO CRIB                 73 MPH    1258 PM 02/19   MARITIME
1 SW DOUGLAS PARK            72 MPH    1224 PM 02/19   ILDOT                
GARY AIRPORT                 70 MPH    0245 PM 02/19   AWOS                              
1 SSW OTTAWA                 68 MPH    0300 PM 02/19   USARMY-COE           
2 N SHOREWOOD                67 MPH    0114 PM 02/19   CWOP                 
2 NE PALATINE                64 MPH    0256 PM 02/19   ILDOT                
1 W CHICAGO                  62 MPH    0337 PM 02/19   CWOP                 
CHICAGO O'HARE               62 MPH    0246 PM 02/19   ASOS                 
2 E HARWOOD HEIGHTS          62 MPH    0125 PM 02/19   UPR  
MICHIGAN CITY C-MAN STATION  62 MPH    0154 PM 02/19   MARITIME                
SUGAR GROVE - AURORA AIRPORT 61 MPH    0251 PM 02/19   ASOS                 
2 SSE STEWARD                61 MPH    0110 PM 02/19   ILDOT                
CHICAGO MIDWAY               61 MPH    0302 PM 02/19   ASOS                 
ROCKFORD AIRPORT             61 MPH    1116 AM 02/19   ASOS                 
ROCHELLE AIRPORT             61 MPH    1235 PM 02/19   AWOS                 
WAUKEGAN AIRPORT             61 MPH    1119 AM 02/19   ASOS                 
VALPARAISO AIRPORT           61 MPH    0204 PM 02/19   ASOS                 
PERU AIRPORT                 61 MPH    0235 PM 02/19   AWOS                 
2 ESE LOCKPORT               60 MPH    0428 PM 02/19   CWOP                 
ROSEMONT                     60 MPH    0252 PM 02/19   CWOP                 
BURNS HARBOR                 59 MPH    0300 PM 02/19   NWS-GLOS             
1 NW BRIDGEPORT              59 MPH    1255 PM 02/19   URBANET              
LANSING AIRPORT              59 MPH    0115 PM 02/19   AWOS                 
DUPAGE AIRPORT               58 MPH    0211 PM 02/19   ASOS                 
ROCKDALE                     58 MPH    0400 PM 02/19   USARMY-COE           
ROMEOVILLE                   58 MPH    0202 PM 02/19   NWS OFFICE
1 SSW HARVARD                57 MPH    1145 AM 02/19   AWS                  
1 WSW OSWEGO                 57 MPH    0156 PM 02/19   ILDOT                
1 W PONTIAC                  57 MPH    0110 PM 02/19   ILDOT                
1 ESE HIGHLAND PARK          57 MPH    0340 PM 02/19   UPR                  
LEWIS AIRPORT, ROMEOVILLE    56 MPH    0255 PM 02/19   AWOS                 
CARY                         56 MPH    0225 PM 02/19   UPR                  
1 S HOMETOWN                 55 MPH    0354 PM 02/19   CWOP                 
2 W WOODSTOCK                55 MPH    0213 PM 02/19   CWOP                 
DE KALB AIRPORT              55 MPH    0155 PM 02/19   AWOS                 
2 NW BOLINGBROOK             55 MPH    0130 PM 02/19   CWOP                 
KANKAKEE AIRPORT             55 MPH    0255 PM 02/19   AWOS                 
MORRIS AIRPORT               54 MPH    1235 PM 02/19   AWOS                 
3 SSW MINOOKA                54 MPH    0200 PM 02/19   USARMY-COE           
HINSDALE                     54 MPH    1250 PM 02/19   URBANET              
WHEELING - CHI EXEC AIRPORT  54 MPH    0359 PM 02/19   ASOS                 
ELMHURST                     54 MPH    0325 PM 02/19   UPR                  
2 W GENEVA                   54 MPH    1200 PM 02/19   UPR                  
SYCAMORE                     53 MPH    0119 PM 02/19   CWOP                 
DOUGLAS PARK                 53 MPH    0224 PM 02/19   URBANET              
1 NNW ENGLEWOOD              53 MPH    0315 PM 02/19   URBANET              
1 SE WINNEBAGO               53 MPH    0157 PM 02/19   CWOP                 
1 ENE SPRING GROVE           53 MPH    0148 PM 02/19   CWOP                 
BROOKFIELD                   52 MPH    0212 PM 02/19   CWOP                 
3 NW DE MOTTE                52 MPH    0225 PM 02/19   CWOP                 
1 WSW LAKEVIEW               52 MPH    1231 PM 02/19   CWOP                 
1 S LOMBARD                  52 MPH    1244 PM 02/19   URBANET              
PAXTON                       52 MPH    0140 PM 02/19   ILDOT                
PONTIAC AIRPORT              52 MPH    0235 PM 02/19   AWOS                 
1 NE METTAWA                 51 MPH    1241 PM 02/19   CWOP                 
WESTMONT                     51 MPH    0318 PM 02/19   CWOP                 
FOREST PARK                  51 MPH    0325 PM 02/19   ILDOT                
PEOTONE                      50 MPH    0231 PM 02/19   CWOP                 
2 SE LINCOLNWOOD             50 MPH    0445 PM 02/19   URBANET              
1 NNW GLENCOE                50 MPH    0230 PM 02/19   URBANET              
1 WNW BURNHAM                50 MPH    0500 PM 02/19   USARMY-COE           
MOUNT PROSPECT               50 MPH    0425 PM 02/19   UPR                  
2 ENE WAUKEGAN               50 MPH    0245 PM 02/19   UPR                  
1 WSW EAST CHICAGO           50 MPH    0335 PM 02/19   URBANET              

OBSERVATIONS ARE COLLECTED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES WITH VARYING
EQUIPMENT AND EXPOSURE. NOT ALL DATA LISTED ARE CONSIDERED OFFICIAL.
 
 
Damage Reports
 
Photo Photo
North of Ottawa, from Bill McDonnell Billboard Damage near Chicago, from Captured News

 

Photo Photo
Damage in Chicago, from CFD Media Damage from Munster, IN from Kris Piccirilli
 

 

Photo Photo
Damage at College of DuPage, from Matt Piechota Damage in Yorkville, from Cross Lutheran Church
 

 

Photo Photo
Damage in Aurora, from Daniela Barrios Damage in Elk Grove Village, from Andy Demonte
 

 

Photo Photo
Damage in Chicago Damage in Chicago, from Jon Gusanders via WGN News

 

Photo Photo
Damage in Bensenville, from Doug Flip Damage in McCook relayed from Adam Lucio

 

 

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
808 PM CST FRI FEB 19 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1116 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST ROCKFORD AIRPORT        42.20N 89.10W
02/19/2016  M61.00 MPH       WINNEBAGO          IL   ASOS

1119 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST WAUKEGAN                42.37N 87.87W
02/19/2016  M61.00 MPH       LAKE               IL   ASOS

            53 KT GUST AT WAUKEGAN REGIONAL AIRPORT.

1200 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 2 N OTTAWA              41.38N 88.84W
02/19/2016                   LA SALLE           IL   PUBLIC

            SMALL HIGH PROFILE TRUCK BLOWN OFF ILLINOIS HIGHWAY 23.
            RECEIVED THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA. TIME ESTIMATED PER
            OBSERVED HIGHEST GUSTS IN THAT AREA.

1217 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 4 E AURORA              41.76N 88.21W
02/19/2016                   DUPAGE             IL   PUBLIC

            TREE UPROOTED AT FOX VALLEY CENTER DRIVE...OFF OF EAST
            NEW YORK STREET AND ROUTE 59. REPORT RELAYED VIA TWITTER.


1217 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST OHARE AIRPORT           41.98N 87.90W
02/19/2016  M58.00 MPH       COOK               IL   ASOS

1230 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG ELK GROVE VILLAGE       42.01N 87.99W
02/19/2016                   COOK               IL   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            CANOPY BLOWN OFF A GAS STATION ON HIGGINS BETWEEN
            ELMHURST RD AND TOUHY AVE. ALSO A ROOF BLOWN OFF AN
            INDUSTRIAL BUILDING AT 2300 HIGGINS ROAD. TIME
            APPROXIMATE.

1246 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 4 NE CHICAGO            41.92N 87.57W
02/19/2016  M69.00 MPH       LMZ741             IL   C-MAN STATION

            60 KT GUST. ANEMOMETER HEIGHT 85 FEET ABOVE LAKE SURFACE.


1251 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST OHARE AIRPORT           41.98N 87.90W
02/19/2016  M60.00 MPH       COOK               IL   ASOS

            52 KT GUST.

1255 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG MORRIS                  41.37N 88.43W
02/19/2016                   GRUNDY             IL   NEWSPAPER

            PORTION OF ROOF BLOWN OFF BUILDING AT 534 BEDFORD ROAD
            JUST BEFORE 1PM. REPORT IN MORRIS HERALD-NEWS.

1258 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 4 NE CHICAGO            41.92N 87.57W
02/19/2016  M73.00 MPH       LMZ741             IL   C-MAN STATION

            63.6 KT GUST AT THE HARRISON-DEVER CRIB. ANEMOMETER
            HEIGHT 85 FEET ABOVE LAKE SURFACE.

0100 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 2 WNW CHICAGO           41.89N 87.67W
02/19/2016                   COOK               IL   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            TWO WALLS OF A BUILDING BEING FABRICATED COLLAPSED DUE TO
            THE WIND. ONE CAR WAS CRUSHED. LOCATION 1800 WALNUT NEAR
            THE UNITED CENTER. TIME ESTIMATED THROUGH FD AND MEDIA
            REPORTS.

0131 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST BOLINGBROOK             41.70N 88.08W
02/19/2016  M62.00 MPH       WILL               IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MEASURED ON HOME WEATHER STATION.

0200 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST ROMEOVILLE              41.65N 88.09W
02/19/2016  M56.00 MPH       WILL               IL   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            MEASURED ON NWS CHICAGO ANEMOMETER.

0200 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 3 SW MIDWAY AIRPORT     41.75N 87.79W
02/19/2016  M60.00 MPH       COOK               IL   CO-OP OBSERVER

            MEASURED BY HOME ANEMOMETER.

0200 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 3 NW CHICAGO            41.92N 87.67W
02/19/2016                   COOK               IL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            LARGE STEEL BEAM BILLBOARD TOPPLED AT 1828 N ELSTON.

0202 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST ROMEOVILLE              41.65N 88.09W
02/19/2016  M58.00 MPH       WILL               IL   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            MEASURED ON NWS CHICAGO ANEMOMETER.

0215 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG GLEN ELLYN              41.87N 88.06W
02/19/2016                   DUPAGE             IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SECTION OF ROOF PARTIALLY TORN AWAY ON A BUILDING AT
            COLLEGE OF DUPAGE.

0230 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG CHICAGO                 41.88N 87.63W
02/19/2016                   COOK               IL   NEWSPAPER

            A CITY WORKER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED WHEN A TREE FELL AND
            HIT HIS STREETS AND SANITATION VEHICLE AT ARCHER AND
            WESTERN AVENUE IN THE BRIGHTON PARK NEIGHBORHOOD. PER
            CHICAGO TRIBUNE STORY.

0245 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST GARY                    41.60N 87.34W
02/19/2016  M70.00 MPH       LAKE               IN   AWOS

            61 KT GUST AT GARY AIRPORT.

0246 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST OHARE AIRPORT           41.98N 87.90W
02/19/2016  M62.00 MPH       COOK               IL   ASOS

            54 KT WIND GUST.

0300 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 4 NW CHICAGO            41.93N 87.67W
02/19/2016                   COOK               IL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            FACADE ALONG ROOF OF MARSHALLS ON WEST FULLERTON AVENUE
            DAMAGED. CHICAGO FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED.

0300 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST THORNTON                41.57N 87.62W
02/19/2016  M72.00 MPH       COOK               IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            WIND DAMAGED A HEATING AND AIR CONDITION UNIT.

0320 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 3 NNW CHICAGO           41.93N 87.65W
02/19/2016                   COOK               IL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            LARGE SOFTWOOD TREE SNAPPED AND FELL ON CAR AT MONTANA
            AND LINCOLN. RELAYED VIA WGN NEWS ON TWITTER. TIME
            APPROXIMATE.

0330 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG MUNSTER                 41.55N 87.50W
02/19/2016                   LAKE               IN   PUBLIC

            ROOF DAMAGE TO A STORE. TIME APPROXIMATE. PHOTO/REPORT
            RELAYED VIA TWITTER.

0330 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG BENSENVILLE             41.96N 87.94W
02/19/2016                   DUPAGE             IL   PUBLIC

            POWERPOLE SNAPPED IN HALF ON MEYER NEAR FOSTER.
            REPORT/PHOTO RELAYED VIA TWITTER.

0330 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG YORKVILLE               41.64N 88.45W
02/19/2016                   KENDALL            IL   PUBLIC

            ROOF DAMAGE TO CROSS LUTHERAN CHURCH. REPORT/PHOTO VIA
            FACEBOOK.

0330 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 1 NNW CHATHAM           41.74N 87.62W
02/19/2016                   COOK               IL   PUBLIC

            LARGE TREE UPROOTED NEAR 83RD STREET EXIT OFF OF I-94/DAN
            RYAN EXPRESSWAY. PHOTO/REPORT RELAYED VIA TWITTER. TIME
            APPROXIMATE.

0400 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 2 NE LA SALLE           41.36N 89.06W
02/19/2016                   LA SALLE           IL   PUBLIC

            OVERTURNED TRACTOR TRAILER ON I-39 SOUTHBOUND JUST SOUTH
            OF THE I-80/I-39 INTERCHANGE. PHOTO/REPORT RELAYED VIA
            FACEBOOK. TIME APPROXIMATE.

0652 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST VALPARAISO              41.48N 87.05W
02/19/2016  M59.00 MPH       PORTER             IN   ASOS


&&

$$

RC

 

 
 
 
 
Meteorology
 

 

Synoptic Weather Map

 

12Z DVN Sounding

 

 

12Z DVN Sounding Wind Speed Climo

12Z DVN Sounding Temperature Climo

 


 

Temperatures
 
:ID LOCATION                  HIGH   LOW    PCPN  SNOWFALL
ORD: CHICAGO-O`HARE         :  62  /  41  /  0.00  / 0.0
CNII2: CHICAGO-NORTHERLY ISL:  63  /  40  /
MDW: CHICAGO-MIDWAY         :  65  /  42  /  0.00
LOTI2: NWS ROMEOVILLE       :  62  /  39  /  0.00  / 0.0
RFD: ROCKFORD AIRPORT       :  58  /  40  /  0.00  / 0.0
DPA: DUPAGE AIRPORT         :  61  /  39  /  0.00
UGN: WAUKEGAN AIRPORT       :  60  /  37  /  0.00
ARR: AURORA/SUGAR GROVE     :  62  /  42  /  0.00
PWK: WHEELING/CHI EXEC      :  62  /  41  /  0.00
VPZ: VALPARAISO IN          :  65  /  39  /  0.00
:
:UNOFFICIAL SUPPLEMENTAL AWOS LOCATIONS
:
DKB: DEKALB                 :  59  /  40  /
JOT: JOLIET                 :  65  /  46  /
IKK: KANKAKEE               :  64  /  45  /
IGQ: LANSING                :  63  /  43  /
C09: MORRIS                 :  63  /  43  /
VYS: PERU                   :  62  /  43  /
PNT: PONTIAC                :  65  /  45  /
RZL: RENSSELAER IN          :  63  /  41  /
RPJ: ROCHELLE               :  58  /  40  /