Illinois Tornado Outbreak - Chicago/Cook County Next?

NWS, WBBM News Radio AM 780 ^ | 4-20-04 | Milwaukee_Guy

[Milwaukee_Guy]

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTEDTORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO IL801 PM CDT TUE APR 20 2004 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHICAGO HAS ISSUED A* TORNADO WARNING FOR... SOUTHWEST COOK COUNTY IN NORTHEAST ILLINOIS NORTHERN WILL COUNTY IN NORTHEAST ILLINOIS* UNTIL 830 PM CDT * AT 801 PM CDT...A TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED A TORNADO NEAR JOLIET ...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.* THE STORM WILL BE NEAR... ORLAND PARK AROUND 810 PM CDT. BURR RIDGE AROUND 815 PM CDT. PALOS HILLS AROUND 820 PM CDT. HICKORY HILLS AROUND 825 PM CDT. BURBANK AROUND 830 PM CDT. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL YOU HEAR OR SEE THE TORNADO. TAKE SHELTER NOW. GO TO THE BASEMENT AND SEEK SHELTER UNDER THE STAIRS OR UNDER A HEAVY PIECE OF FURNITURE

[Milwaukee_Guy]

Per WBBM AM 780 Four injured and four missing in Utica in LaSalle County Illinois. Eyewitness reports indicate damage to downtown Utica.

[Milwaukee_Guy]

Tornado Warnings are still in effect for Cook and Will counties in Illinois and Lake County in Indiana until 9:15 PM CDT.

Flash Flood Warnings are now in effect for most of NE IL and NW IN.

ComEd reports 12,500 residences are now without power.

[dr_lew]

THAT RED SPOT IN THE CENTER JUST PASSED OVER WHEATON. MODERATE PRECIPITATION OBSERVED WITH DEFINITE THUNDER. NOTHING SO VERY LOUD MIND YOU BUT IT WAS THUNDER. NO WIND TO SPEAK OF.

[Milwaukee_Guy]

Latest from the NWS Storm Prediction Center. Looks like my initial analysis is playing out.

MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 0400 NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
0855 PM CDT TUE APR 20 2004
AREAS AFFECTED...NRN IL...NRN IND...FAR SRN WI...SWRN MI AND NWRN OH
CONCERNING...TORNADO WATCH 95... VALID 210155Z - 210300Z
TORNADOES WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE WITH LOW-TOPPED SUPERCELLS AS THEY
MOVE ENEWD AND CROSS THE WARM FRONT OVER FAR NRN IL /INCLUDING THE
CHICAGO METRO AREA/...NRN IND...AND FAR NWRN OH OVER THE NEXT COUPLE
OF HOURS. THE THREAT FOR TORNADOES NORTH AND EAST OF WW 95 WILL
LIKELY BE LIMITED BY INCREASING STABILIZATION OVER SRN WI AND SWRN
MI AND NWRN OH IN THE NEXT 2 HOURS. WW 95 IS ANTICIPATED TO EXPIRE
AT 21/04Z.
DIURNAL STABILIZATION AND ELY FLOW FROM THE COOLER GREAT LAKE WATERS
SHOULD LIMIT THE NWD EXTENT OF HIGHER INSTABILITY NORTH OF AREAS
FROM THE IMMEDIATE CHICAGO AREA EWD INTO NWRN OH...WHERE MUCAPES
AROUND 500 J/KG STILL EXISTED ALONG A WARM FRONT. STRONG LOW LEVEL
SHEAR WITH 0-1 KM SRH FROM 300-550 J/KG AS EVIDENT ON REGIONAL VWP/S
WILL MAINTAIN THE THREAT FOR TORNADOES WITH ANY STORMS THAT MOVE
ACROSS THE WARM FRONTAL BOUNDARY EXTENDING FROM NEAR THE CHICAGO
METRO AREA TO JUST SOUTH OF FT. WAYNE OVER THE NEXT HOUR.
..CROSBIE.. 04/21/2004

[Protagoras]

We are in the path of the next one right here.

[mhking]

What town are you in? Aren't you south side too?

My brother and his wife are on the south side; my mom and dad are in Crown Point.

[Milwaukee_Guy]

Where are you at?

[prairiebreeze]

My daughter graduated LT last year. I'm a transplant to IL.

:^)

Prairie

[budman_2001]

this one?

[Neenah]

WGN 720 is reporting that Chicago equipment going to Utica now.

12-15,000 are without power.

[cmdr straker]

Anymore news from Joliet. My sister lives on Rt 30 near New Lennox Cherry hill area.. another sister lives in Wheaton.. And I'm in the REAL Tornado alley and haven't seen a Tornado in over 2 years

[prairiebreeze]

Per WBBM AM 780 Four injured and four missing in Utica in LaSalle County Illinois

Wow!

Prairie

[Museum Twenty]

Thanks much for the initial post. Would have been unaware without it. The real world doesn't intrude when I am on the net (until the tornado hits)!

It looks like it has gone south of me in Buffalo Grove; good luck to all of those in the directly impacted zone.

[Protagoras]

Palos Hts

[TBall]

"A few weeks ago, some folks were wishing that an earthquake would destroy the Clinton Library. I didn't try to shame them because I knew that they were just joking!" I don't think they were joking.

[Milwaukee_Guy]

Tornado Warning for Cook County has expired at 9:15 but a Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been posted for Cook County. Areas in NE IN should be aware of any developing storms.

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTEDSEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO IL

909 PM CDT TUE APR 20 2004
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHICAGO HAS ISSUED A
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR... COOK COUNTY IN NORTHEAST ILLINOIS
* UNTIL 1000 PM CDT
* AT 909 PM CDT A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER DIXMOOR...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
BLUE ISLAND AROUND 915 PM CDT. DOLTON AROUND 920 PM CDT.
BURNHAM AROUND 925 PM CDT. CHATHAM AROUND 930 PM CDT.
HYDE PARK AROUND 940 PM CDT.
THIS SEVERE THUNDERSTORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING...QUARTER SIZE HAIL.
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA. SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE TORNADOES WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCEWARNING.
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THE STORM...SEEK SAFE SHELTER
AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS!

[Protagoras]

One cell was going that way about 40 mins ago.

[Milwaukee_Guy]

Did WGN 720 finally get off the baseball coverage? Shamefull they didn't go with real time storm coverage IMHO.

[MinuteGal]

Thanks for the report on Downers Grove. Much appreciated. I live in Florida and Downers Grove.

I'm in Florida right now. I have lots of family in the DG and Naperville environs. Looks like these areas lucked out.

Leni

[plymaniac]

Tune in to WJOL-AM 1340. They are really covering this well.

Joliet Police are reporting that there are no reports of injuries, including the Walgreens location.

However, there is very significant property damage in the Cathedral Area and the near west side.

Some reports of gas leaks and down wires.

Joliet Fire is going house-to-house to check on residents.