Snow Squalls May Impact New Year's Eve Travel from the Great Lakes to the Northeast; Heavy Rain Returns to California

An Alberta clipper will bring lake effect snow downwind of the Great Lakes, with the highest snow totals downwind of Lakes Erie and Ontario. Snow squalls may impact New Year's Eve travel during the evening and overnight hours across parts of the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, and Northeast. Heavy rain will bring a flash flooding threat for southern California on New Year's Eve into New Year's Day. Read More >

In this section, the most active severe weather days in the NWS Chicago forecast area are ranked by number of reports of each specific hazard.

Severe weather can be broken up into three categories, as defined below:

	Tornado (EF Scale)	Damaging Wind Gust (More info)	Hail Diameter
All Report	Any Rating	Any Speed >= 58 mph	Any Size >=1"
Significant Report	F/EF2, F/EF3, F/EF4, F/EF5	>= 75 mph	>= 2"
Non-Significant Report	F/EFU, F/EF0, F/EF/1	< 75 mph	< 2"

Page last updated: May 2025

Period of Record: 1950 - 2020

Find any errors or have questions? Email nws.chicago@noaa.gov

Tornadoes
Damaging Winds
Damaging Hail

Tornadoes

Tornadoes

Rank	Date	Count
1	7/15/2024	32
2	6/30/2014	22
-	3/31/2023	22
3	8/10/2020	15
-	6/22/2016	15
4	7/28/2023	13
-	7/12/2023	13
-	5/18/2000	13
5	4/21/1967	12
6	2/27/2024	11
-	4/20/2004	11
-	5/30/2003	11
-	6/20/1974	11
7	8/9/2021	10
-	6/5/2010	10
-	6/30/1977	10
8	7/14/2024	9
-	6/22/2015	9
9	11/17/2013	8
-	6/7/2008	8
10	4/9/2015	7
-	3/12/1976	7
-	4/6/1972	7

Significant Tornadoes

Rank	Date	Count
1	4/21/1967	6
2	3/12/1976	5
3	6/7/2008	4
-	11/12/1965	4
4	11/17/2013	3
-	6/5/2010	3
-	4/6/1972	3
-	4/11/1965	3
-	4/30/1962	3
5	2/28/2017	2
-	6/22/2016	2
-	6/22/2015	2
-	6/30/2014	2
-	4/20/2004	2
-	6/25/1978	2
-	6/30/1977	2
-	4/23/1976	2
-	6/9/1966	2
-	5/26/1965	2
-	9/26/1959	2
-	8/23/1956	2
-	3/5/1956	2
-	6/1/1954	2

Damaging Winds

Damaging Winds

Rank	Date	Count
1	8/10/2020	171
2	7/15/2024	146
3	8/23/2007	99
4	8/4/2008	98
5	6/18/2010	91
6	7/11/2011	86
7	6/23/2010	81
8	6/21/2011	74
9	7/28/2023	69
-	3/31/2023	69
10	7/14/2024	65

Significant Winds

Rank	Date	Count
1	8/10/2020	77
2	7/15/2024	50
3	6/21/2011	32
4	6/23/2010	24
5	8/23/2007	22
6	6/30/2014	15
-	7/11/2011	15
-	8/4/2008	15
7	7/14/2025	14
-	3/31/2023	14
-	5/23/2019	14
-	6/24/2013	14
8	6/4/2011	13
9	7/1/2012	11
-	6/18/2010	11
10	11/17/2013	10

Damaging Hail

Damaging Hail

Rank	Date	Count
1	4/4/2023	100
2	4/19/2023	36
-	4/7/2020	36
-	7/17/2003	36
3	5/20/2014	33
4	8/1/2003	31
5	4/12/2014	28
-	6/12/2013	28
-	3/30/2005	28
-	5/18/2000	28
6	5/7/2024	27
7	8/2/2015	24
8	4/19/2023	23
9	10/2/2006	22
10	5/16/2019	21

Significant Hail

Rank	Date	Count
1	4/4/2023	15
2	4/7/2020	5
-	5/2/2018	5
-	5/20/2014	5
-	6/30/2011	5
-	7/17/2003	5
3	2/27/2024	4
-	4/15/1992	4
4	7/13/2015	3
-	6/10/2015	3
-	4/12/2014	3
-	7/13/2004	3
-	6/20/1981	3
-	6/7/1980	3
5	8/13/2011	2
-	4/13/2006	2
-	5/19/2005	2
-	5/12/1998	2
-	5/5/1997	2
-	4/23/1961	2
-	6/8/1958	2

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Snow Squalls May Impact New Year's Eve Travel from the Great Lakes to the Northeast; Heavy Rain Returns to California

NWS Chicago Severe Weather Rankings