National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

 

Friday, August 28, 2023 marks 33 years since Plainfield, IL and adjacent communities of the far southwestern Chicago metro were struck by the strongest August tornado on record in the United States. That late summer day will long be remembered by residents of northern Illinois due to the lives the tornadoes took and the devastation it caused. This page serves as a collection of information from that event, including accounts shared by many public citizens, as well as a description of advances in meteorology, communication, and readiness over the past three decades.

 

nws logo

Page assembled by numerous NWS Chicago staff including past work by Jim Allsopp (ret. NWS), and former students Nicole Batzek and Cameron Nixon.

Media use of NWS Web News Stories is encouraged!
Please acknowledge the NWS as the source of any news information accessed from this site.


Additional event recaps can be found on the NWS Chicago Past Events Page.

nws logo