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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:
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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:
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June 20th, 2021 - NE. Illinois Chase

9/17/2021

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​This day had shown the potential for severe t'storm risk from several days out, with the potential increasing as the day approached. Heading into the day, it appeared there would be two rounds of severe t'storm potential... The first during the afternoon and evening, as a remnant MCV moved across the state... And the second with the main cold front moving across the state during the evening and night. A chase looked quite likely the night before the event, and the plan was to head out immediately after getting off work in the early afternoon, with the potential to have a play to chase both rounds of potential.

The morning of the event things looked on tracked with the aforementioned scenario. However, things quickly changed and the overall potential came into question through the day. As the remnant MCV moved across the state during the afternoon, no development occurred, and it was found that capping in place was more significant than modeled and that prevented development... That is until the MCV moved east, where things ramped up across Michigan and Indiana. I ended up not leaving to chase after I got off work in the early afternoon, given the first round was not going to pan out, and the second round was to start in Iowa, with new question on how it would evolve across Northern Illinois during the evening and night.

Focus then turned toward the second round of potential, that would be possible during the evening and night. Widespread activity was occurring along the cold front in Iowa during the afternoon, however given the first round didn't pan out, there was question if the second round would for the evening and night. As the Iowa activity moved across Northern Illinois, there was a period of weakening across Northwest Illinois during the evening, before things ramped up across North-Central and Northeast Illinois, including the Chicago area. A few couplets/areas of rotation were showing up within the now severe/tornado warned line as it approached the western suburbs of the Chicago area, on track to come towards me at home in Naperville IL. As things approached, portion of the line that was going to pass just south of home looked interesting, and after some thinking, my girlfriend and I left at the last minute to head south and intercept it on I-355. While on the short 8 minute drive south, the couplet/rotation with the portion of the line in question increased, and a tornado was reported in Naperville IL. Driving south, we also observed power flashes to our west-southwest. We made it to just south of the 75th St exit on I-355 in Woodridge IL, as the line of severe/tornado warned t'storms hit, and we pulled off to the side. Conditions ramped up quickly, with us taking just about a direct hit from a then EF-2 tornado. Power went out in the area, with tree debris hitting our vehicle as the tornado passed. 

After the tornado passed, we spend several hours through much of the night documenting the event and damage across portions of Woodridge and Naperville, where significant and widespread damage occurred. The tornado was rated and EF-3 by the NWS, with damage surveys suggesting EF-0 to EF-2 damage having occurred where the tornado hit us.


Some video from this chase can be viewed below. Additional videos can be found in the 2021 video section.
Chase ​Statistics:
Tornadoes: 1
Wind: 50-60MPH
Hail: None
SPC Severe Weather Reports:
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August 9th, 2021 - N/NE. Illinois Chase

9/16/2021

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This day had shown the potential to have some severe t'storm risk in the days leading up to the event, but things really didn't take off potential wise until the night before the event, with potential ramping up into the day of the event as well. Some of the questions revolving around the potential was how would early day clouds/rain/t'storm activity affect things, how would capping advecting in affect things, and specifics regarding an MCV expected to move through.

This day really didn't look like a potential chase day until the night before the event, with it a then slam dunk chase day by late morning after watching how the aforementioned issues would be resolved. With an MCV moving eastward along the SW Wisconsin and NW Illinois border and scattered t'storms starting to develop along the border as well, I ended up heading out west with the initial target of DeKalb IL during the early afternoon. After waiting around for a while, things started to take off during the mid-afternoon hours, with several supercell t'storms developing.

The first supercell of interest was north of Rochelle IL. After a bit of hesitation, I ended up heading a bit northwest to intercept this supercell t'storm. Along the short drive a tornado was reported near Esmond IL, which I ended up witnessing from a distance just before it ended. Finally fully in position on the supercell, another tornado formed, which I followed for it's entire life south of Kirkland IL. After this tornado weakened, I sat for a bit between this lead supercell and another one that had developed behind it. After a bit of hesitation and waiting, I decided to try to catch back up to this first supercell, which had produced the first two tornadoes, as it was looking more organized visually and on radar once again. Driving along try to catch back up, another tornado was reported with it near Burlington IL, and at that point I realized I was not going to be able to catch back up ahead of the supercell. Thus, I quickly turned around and headed back west to the next supercell that had developed and was already tornado warned. Along the drive, a tornado was reported north of Creston IL, which I was able to see from a distance as I approached. Closing in, the tornado ended just as I was driving up to it, as it was tracking on IL Route 64. At this time this was the only supercell with any really potential still immediately nearby, and it was already beginning to cycle and attempt to ramp up again. I continued following this still tornado warned supercell eastward through Sycamore, where it quickly ramped up in a field across from me on the east side of Sycamore. I headed south a bit to get a better vantage point and have better road options east, and while doing so a new developing tornado passed right over me. As I stopped once again about a half of a mile south of my previous position a tornado was now on the ground, tearing through a farmstead. This tornado lasted for several minutes as it moved southeast, within a mile of my location during it's entire life. After this tornado ended, I quickly headed east to keep up with the supercell, with another brief tornado having occurred along the way. Still tracking eastward with this supercell, I observed another larger tornado in the rain, southwest of Virgil IL. This tornado was in the rain, eventually disappearing and ending. Continuing east with the supercell into the more urban western Chicago suburbs, chasing became difficult and I dropped off of this supercell in St. Charles IL, but not before observing a lowering/rotation with it as it passed. At this time another tornado warned supercell was approaching from the west, so I made a short jog back west to watch as it also came into St. Charles. This supercell also had a lowering/rotation as it passed. At this point it was getting later in the evening, some of the main activity was now in the Chicago metro and much further southwest, so I ended the chase.

Some pictures and video from this chase can be viewed below. Additional pictures can be found in the
 2021 photography section and additional videos can be found in the 2021 video section.
Chase Statistics:
Tornadoes: 6
Wind: None
Hail: None
SPC Severe Weather Reports:
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September 7th, 2021 - NE. Illinois Chase

9/16/2021

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This day had shown some potential for severe t'storm risk from a few day out. However, it never really looked like a chase day, with the tornado threat looking very low and the wind and hail threat being of main focus.

The event unfolded as expected during the late morning into afternoon, with scattered t'storms (Several of which were severe) having developed from Southern Wisconsin down into Northern Illinois, ahead of a southeast moving cold front. As activity moved east-southeast and across North-Central Illinois, one severe t'storm in particular around Dixon IL started looking interesting, as it had deviant motion and was producing large hail. After watching this severe t'storm for a while from home, I made a last minute decision to head off the the southwest, to get into position to intercept the hail core. I quickly left home during the mid-afternoon with an initial target of Braidwood IL, a fairly short 45 minute drive. Along the way, I determined I would make it to this target well too far in advance of the severe t'storm in question, thus decided to target Minooka IL instead, which was actually a bit closer and would allow me to intercept sooner. Just before making it to Minooka, the severe t'storm I was targeting produced baseball sized hail near Leland IL.

Finally making it to Minooka, I stopped for gas and looked over new data. The core of the storm had collapsed after the hail dump to the northwest, and the severe t'storm had started to take on more characteristics of a damaging wind threat. At the time the best wind threat looked to be along and just north of I-80, so I headed up just northeast of Minooka, very near I-80. Getting into position this severe t'storm once again took on new characteristics and quickly wrapped up, developing a couplet on radar. Visually in person you could see this change, with an organizing lowering and area of rotation forming within a shelf cloud, which was visible from northwest to south. This concentrated lowering/rotation quickly wrapped up, producing a very brief tornado, before weakening and gusting out. I followed the severe t'storm for a short time longer, before calling the chase as it headed further into the southern Chicago metro. Afterwards, I looped back around to where the brief tornado had occurred and found little int he way of damage. I also passed through the Minooka area, where significant and widespread wind damage had occurred.

Some pictures from this chase can be viewed below.
Chase ​Statistics:
Tornadoes: 1
Wind: 50-60MPH
Hail: None
SPC Severe Weather Reports:
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June 26th, 2021 - C/E. Illinois Chase

6/29/2021

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This day was part of a multi-day period of severe t'storm potential across the region, but didn't show as being chase worthy until the day or so before. The main question heading into the day was placement of a frontal boundary, timing of multiple disturbances moving through, and potential cloud/precipitation debris from the previous night.

My girlfriend and I departed home around 11AM, with an initial target of near Lincoln, IL. Shortly after leaving, some initial t'storm development occurred along our path of travel on I-55, across portions of Northeast and Eastern Illinois. Some of this activity became severe t'storm and tornado warned, showing a bit of rotation. We intercepted our first tornado warned t'storm near Gardner. This t'storm was organized at first with a slight lowering, but then quickly weakened as it pushed east (Though it would eventually re-strengthen and organize once again to the east). After leaving the first t'storm, we dropped south on Route 47 and intercepted a pair of t'storms near Forrest. The lead storm had a brief funnel cloud before moving out of view, while the second t'storm developed a small wall cloud/lowering, before we decided to drop off of the t'storm. By this point the main focus was turning towards an area of t'storms that had developed across Central and Southwestern Illinois, with it pushing northeastward towards much of Central Illinois. We ended up heading west from Gibson City, eventually making it to south of Bloomington, with the now broken line of mini-supercells to our southwest to northwest. It was decision time, with three of the mini-supercells within reach, one northwest, one west and one southwest. We decided to head south on US 51 for a bit to get into position on the southern t'storm. Stopping in Clinton for gas, we decided to change direction and head back north on US 51, to make a play on the northern mini-supercell, which was tornado warned and showing decent signs of rotation. This decision made sense given it was a short drive to the northern storm, and we would be in position to drop south to any other t'storms if needed. After a short 25 minute drive north we intercepted the northern tornado warned t'storm, just north of Bloomington. This t'storm had a few lowerings as we attempted to follow it to the east-northeast, before it weakened slightly (Eventually re-strengthened to the east-northeast) and we decided to end following that t'storm near Lexington, which is where we then started to drop south towards the next t'storm. Heading south past the west side of Bloomington, we intercepted the next tornado warned t'storm near Downs. This t'storm also had a brief lowering, but was high-precipitation and thus hard to get a good visual. After letting this t'storm pass to the north, we decided to drop southeast to Farmers City get into position for the next tornado warned t'storm that was between Lincoln and Clinton at the time. After making it to Farmers City, it was evident that the incoming t'storm was outflow dominant and did not pose a significant threat. By this time it was later int he afternoon, and most of the main activity had already pushed to the northeast, so we called it a chase for the day and headed home.

Almost all of the t'storms were rotating across Central/Eastern/Northeast Illinois on this day, however only two brief and weak tornadoes occurred. Higher lapse rates, more southerly winds (Instead of SW/SSW) and less t'storm coverage would have potentially made this day much more significant tornado wise.

Some pictures from this chase can be viewed below.
​Chase Statistics:
Tornadoes: 0
Wind: 40-50MPH
Hail: None
SPC Severe Weather Reports:
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September 12th, 2019 - N. Illinois Chase

9/30/2019

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Heading in to this day, there was some potential for severe t'storms and a possible local chase. The main questions were how much destabilization would occur, and where the warm front would set up.

A supercell ended up developing out of elevated convection moving into North-Central Illinois during the early afternoon. I ended heading out and intercepting the storm near Ashton IL, a bit after it had gone tornado warned. Upon arriving, the storm was interacting with the warm front, and made a serious attempt at wrapping up and producing. Unfortunately, due to the warm front being in a northwest/southeast orientation, there was a small window of opportunity to produce..in which it did not succeed. I followed along east with the storm for a bit longer just in case it tried to do something interesting, before dropping off of it and ending the short chase. On the way home, another storm developed and went severe/tor warned south of the original storm. It was well north of the warm front, even so tried its best to do something...but ultimately failed as well.
​
If the warm front would have been oriented more west/east instead of northwest/southeast, along with not retreating SW, activity likely would have been able to latch on to the boundary, and would have had a better chance at producing and would have had longevity. 

Some pictures from this chase can be viewed below.
​Chase Statistics:
Tornadoes: 0
Wind: None
Hail: None
SPC Severe Weather Reports:
Picture
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May 27th, 2019 - N. Illinois Chase

5/30/2019

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This day looked like a potential severe t'storm/tornado outbreak-like day across the area, having similarity to other high end area events, such as 6/5/2010. There were very few concerns heading into this day overall.

I ended up heading out just after noon, with a target of near or just south of I-80...Between I-74 and I-39. Ended up passing a first initial supercell that pushed across the south Chicago metro, just as it was starting to get going in the far SW suburbs. However, I decided to not chase it, given it was heading into the metro and could put me out of position for the main activity expected further west. On the drive down I was also watching the cluster of tornadic supercells pushing from Southeast Iowa into Western Illinois, but was not fond of how messy and clustered they were. Stuck with the original plan and I made it to Princeton IL, prior to 2PM. By this time a few supercells had developed near Moline IL, and were starting to slowly mature and push east. I grabbed some food really quick in Princeton, before heading after the better looking storm just as it went tor warned off the the northwest. I reached the storm as it was approaching Deere Grove IL. At this time, the storm was outflow dominant and fighting other storm development nearby. Continuing to stair-step east with this storm, to north and northeast of Walnut IL, the storm continued to be fairly outflow dominant, as it ingested another storm or two...However, there was one point that it did seem to make an effort to organize for a sort time, with even a more concentrated area of rotation/lowering. I continued east with this storm through the Sublette IL area, eventually reaching Route 251. Through this point the storm continued to be outflow dominant, and there was also widespread additional t'storm develop, which would hamper further potential with this storm. At this point I called it a chase and headed home.

It appears that a remnant MCS over Missouri, and possibly the early developed cluster of supercells that pushed across Southeast Iowa/Western Illinois, are possibly two factors in why the potential across Eastern Iowa and North-Central Illinois was not realized. However, a significant severe t'storm and tornado event did unfold further east, across Indiana and Ohio.

Some pictures from this chase can be viewed below. Additional pictures can be found in the
2019 photography section.
Chase Statistics:
Tornadoes: 0
Wind: None
Hail: None
SPC Severe Weather Reports:
Picture
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May 16th, 2019 - N. Illinois Chase

5/30/2019

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Heading into this day, it appeared a decent severe threat and potential chase day was likely. The significance of the potential would revolve around an early day MCS, associated trailing OFB and potential capping.

I ended up heading out to make a play on an OFB area turned triple point across NW/NC. IL, with a cold front sliding southeast. The environment in this area was nice...With high CAPE, pooling of moisture with ~70F DP's and good shear. A stronger surface wind flow was lacking, however. I left around mid afternoon and made it out to Rochelle, IL by late afternoon. I sat in Rochelle for a while with CU bubbling along the OFB/triple point just to the west. A storm quickly went up and tried to beat the cap, going severe and up to around ~55k tops within 15 minutes or so. I quickly headed WSW to make a play on this storm and reached it just west of Amboy, IL, but it quickly died shortly after. Ended up calling it a chase at that point, with activity further west near the IL/IA border having little to no tornado threat, and also struggling against the cap.
Chase Statistics:
Tornadoes: 0
Wind: None
Hail: None
​SPC Severe Weather Reports:
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May 8th, 2019 - N. Illinois Chase

5/30/2019

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Heading into this day, there looked as though there would be some sort of severe weather potential, but the quality and whether or not it would be chase worthy was in question. One of the bigger concerns was lingering rain and t'storms that were to weaken, along with cloud debris from this activity.

It ended up looking good enough for me to head west to Dixon, IL late in the morning. The warm front/triple point area looked like the main play across NW/NC. Illinois. The environment in place was featuring decent instability, good moisture and great shear, plus there was much more clearing then expected as well. I got out to Dixon during the early afternoon and was sitting there for a bit, when clouds and rain redeveloped over a large area and streamed back northeast across W. IL and further north, killing any potential threat. After sitting in Dixon for several hours watching all of this evolve, I decided to call it a chase and head home. Upon arriving home a line of t'storm did developed across Central Illinois, within the rain and cloud debris that had moved it...but no severe t'storms occurred.
Chase Statistics:
Tornadoes: 0
Wind: None
Hail: None
SPC Severe Weather Reports:
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0 Comments
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