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June 13th, 2022 - NE. Illinois Chase

6/25/2022

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For several days leading up to this day, it had looked like weather conditions would be hot, humid and dry. However, as we got closer to this day weather model guidance started picking up on the likelihood that a few MCV's would develop from larger MCS's in the Plains the night prior to this day, which then would move northeastward and through the region on this day. These MCV's would be of focus for severe t'storms, as long as timing was right and the cap could be broken

The morning of this day featured hot, humid and dry conditions in the area. Two to three different MCV's were moving rapidly east and northeastward across Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin during the first half of the day. By afternoon it was appearing quite possible that the MCV's had moved through the region too early, and that timing would be off and capping would hold, preventing any severe t'storm development. However, by mid-afternoon a supercell t'storm developed across Southern Wisconsin, which then moved east-southeast through Madison, Milwaukee and out over Lake Michigan as it transitioned to a small little cluster. Trailing from this activity was an outflow boundary, which was pushing southward from Southern Wisconsin and into far Northern Illinois, and would soon interact with a warm front in place across far Northern Illinois.

A few t'storms began to develop in the Rockford, IL area by late afternoon, in the vicinity of both boundaries. This activity then blossomed into one large supercell t'storm, which began to push slowly southeastward along the warm front in place, moving towards Elgin, IL. As I saw this occur, I quickly left home and got on the road for what would be a 30 minute drive north to catch this supercell t'storm. I closed in on the supercell t'storm as it was exiting Elgin IL and moving into Streamwood IL. At this time it was a very HP supercell t'storm, with any good structure being in the rain. I continued to follow along now east-southeast, as the supercell t'storm continued to ride the warm front southeastward. I witness some wrapping to the rain curtains while in Streamwood IL. Continuing east-southeast with the supercell t'storm, it was slow moving, but it was tough to keep up due to late day rush hour traffic and being in the Chicago metro area. I continued on east south-east with the supercell t'storm through Hanover Park, Roselle and Bloomingdale, before calling the chase as it was approaching O'Hare Airport and Chicago.

At this point I had heard there was damage in my hometown of Streamwood, where I had originally started chasing the supercell t'storm, so I decided to head back and check this out. Driving around the Streamwood area, I found widespread tree and property damage, including a narrow corridor through town of more concentrated/significant tree/property damage. Most damage appeared to be RFD wind damage, though the one aforementioned corridor had the appearance of a possible weak tornado damage path. In the days following this event, the NWS surveyed the area and come to the conclusion that widespread 60MPH+ RFD damaging winds had occurred in the Streamwood area, with the narrow corridor of more significant/concentrated damage having been an enhanced area of RFD damaging winds of 75PMPH+. Additionally, using my drone I found a short and narrow path of significant tree damage
 that had the appearance of a weak tornado damage path in a nearby forest preserve, at Bode Lake in Streamwood/Hoffman Estates IL. After forwarding the information to the NWS, they confirmed a brief EF-0 tornado had occurred at that location.
Chase Statistics:
Tornadoes: 0
Wind: None
Hail: None
SPC Severe Weather Reports:
Picture
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April 30th, 2022 - NE. Illinois Chase

6/4/2022

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For several days leading up to this day, severe t'storms looked possible, including the potential for a local storm chase. One of the big questions heading into the day of would be; how much of a time gap there would be between early morning debris activity and the main afternoon round of activity. This time gap would play a role in determining the quality of the environment that would develop. Timing of the main afternoon round of activity also was of focus for myself, as I would be at work until 2PM. In the end, timing was sufficient for an favorable environment to develop and for widespread severe t'storms to occur.

During the early afternoon, initiation occurred along a pre-frontal trough moving across Central Illinois. As this activity moved northeastward, it was very slow to mature, which played in my favor not being able to leave work until 2PM. By 2PM activity had become stronger and more organized, and I made the decision to race southward to make a play on it. After an approximately 1 hour and 30 minute drive, I was approaching a supercell t'storm that was located a distance WSW of Dwight, IL. At this time the supercell t'storm had some rotation and was newly severe t'storm warned. Watching the storm while sitting between Mazon and Dwight, IL, it featured a wall cloud and some visible rotation. Moving northeastward with the storm towards Coal City, IL, the wall cloud had diminished and any visible rotation had ended was limited to within the supercell t'storm on radar. Continuing to follow the supercell northeastward up to I-55 and the far southwestern suburbs of Chicago, I decided to end the pursuit of the supercell t'storm, as it would soon be heading deeper into the urban Chicago metro area.

After ending the pursuit of the aforementioned supercell t'storm, I sat in Lorenzo, IL for a while, watching a new round of t'storms develop ahead of the main cold front now moving into the area. This activity steadily matured and organized, and became severe t'storm warned. I ended up heading westward toward Morris, IL to make a play on the new approaching activity. I made it to Morris in time to find a nice spot north of town, to sit and watch what was now a broken line of severe t'storms move in. After messing around with this activity for a bit, it was clear the best tornado and supercell t'storm threat had ended for the day, so I called the chase for the day.

Some pictures from this chase can be viewed below. Additional pictures can be found in the
 2022 photography section.
Chase Statistics:
Tornadoes: 6
Wind: None
Hail: None
SPC Severe Weather Reports:
Picture
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