Chicago, IL

Weather Forecast Office

February 28, 2017, Tornadoes

Summary
Tornadoes & Storm Reports
Rainfall
Radar
Photos
Service
Climatology
Additional Info

Summary

The late afternoon into the evening of Tuesday, February 28 brought a favorable setup for severe weather, including strong tornadoes across much of the Mid-Mississippi Valley and Lower Great Lakes regions.

Ten (10) tornadoes were confirmed across all of northern Illinois including seven (7) in the NWS Chicago County Warning Area and three (3) in the NWS Quad Cities County Warning Area.

The strongest tornadoes were rated EF-3, one impacting the Naplate and Ottawa areas and the other impacting the Washburn area, both tornadoes in Illinois. The Naplate-Ottawa tornado killed 2 and injured 14.

Large hail up to baseball size was also reported near Ottawa.

Map showing tornado tracks in northern Illinois

Naplate-Ottawa Storm

Tornado #1: Cedar Point area EF-3

Tornado #2: Naplate-Ottawa EF-3

Tornado #3: Marseilles area EF-1

Tornado #4: Seneca area EF-0

Washburn-Rutland Storm

Tornado #5: Washburn - Rutland EF-3

Tornado #6: Dana/Long Point area EF-2

For more on the Washburn area, please see

NWS Lincoln's event page

Oregon Storm

Tornado #7: Oregon area EF-1

Tornadoes:

A summary text listing of details can be found in this Public Information Statement.

For the Washburn-Rutland area tornado, please see the NWS Lincoln web page.

Tornado - Cedar Point Area
LA SALLE COUNTY

Date	2/28/2017
Time (Local)	4:27-4:30 PM CST
EF Rating	EF-0
Est. Peak Winds	80 MPH
Path Length	1.75 miles
Max Width	50 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0
Summary: The location and time of this tornado were estimated from spotter photos and videos from the area. No damage was identified, so the intensity is estimated.

Track Map

Map showing track of the Cedar Point tornado

Tornado - Naplate-Ottawa
LA SALLE COUNTY

Date	2/28/2017
Time (Local)	4:41-4:59 PM CST
EF Rating	EF-3
Est. Peak Winds	155 MPH
Path Length	11.5 miles
Max Width	800 yards
Injuries/Deaths	14/2
Summary: The first area of significant damage in the EF2 range was in the area around the La Salle County Nursing Home and La Salle County Highway Department, with lighter damage upstream from this location. The tornado continued into Naplate and produced widespread EF2 damage to numerous homes. EF3 damage also was identified in two locations. The first was where a minivan was thrown about 30 yards and a home was lifted off its foundation and left with only its interior walls intact. The second was at the Pilkington Glass plant where one section of the factory was completely destroyed. The tornado then crossed the Illinois River and moved through the south side of Ottawa, producing an 800 yard wide path of EF1 damage to trees and homes. The fatalities in Ottawa occurred from a tree falling onto two men who were working outside. The tornado then crossed the Illinois River again and continued to produce EF1 and EF0 damage as it exited Ottawa, finally dissipating in the area northwest of Marseilles.

Track Map

Map showing track of the Naplate-Ottawa tornado

Map showing track of the Naplate-Ottawa tornado, zoomed in to the Naplate area

Tornado - Marseilles Area
LA SALLE COUNTY

Date	Feb 28, 2017
Time (Local)	5:00 PM CST to 5:02 PM CST
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	110 MPH
Path Length	1.5 miles
Max Width	75 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0
Summary: The tornado moved along N 30th Road south of Interstate 80 and produced damage at two farmsteads, both on the north side of the road, and to a tower on the south side of the road. Videos of this tornado suggested the condensation funnel possibly was wider than documented by the survey, but the path width was estimated based on the areas of damage.

Track Map

Map showing the track of the Marseilles tornado

Tornado - Seneca Area
GRUNDY COUNTY

Date	2/28/2017
Time (Local)	5:04-5:06 PM CST
EF Rating	EF-0
Est. Peak Winds	75 MPH
Path Length	1.20 miles
Max Width	200 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0
Summary: The path of this tornado was estimated based on video evidence as well as debris found along Interstate 80 near mile marker 104. Satellite imagery showed a brief, wide tornado that caused little damage.

Track Map

Map showing the track of the Seneca tornado

Tornado - Oregon Area
OGLE COUNTY

Date	2/28/2017
Time (Local)	5:07 PM CST to 5:09 PM CST
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	90-95 MPH
Path Length	1.5 miles
Max Width	50 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0
Summary: The tornado toppled farm equipment, collapsed outbuildings, damaged roofs of homes, and broke large branches out of trees. Straight line winds estimated to be up to 80 MPH produced additional damage 1 to 1.5 miles beyond the tornado path.

Track Map

Map showing the track of the Oregon tornado

Tornado - Dana/Long Point Area
LA SALLE AND LIVINGSTON COUNTIES

Date	2/28/2017
Time (Local)	5:53-5:59 PM CST
EF Rating	EF-2
Est. Peak Winds	120 MPH
Path Length	4.5 miles
Max Width	75 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0
Summary: The tornado began as a weak EF-0 that produced isolated tree damage north of Dana, IL. It then caused EF-2 damage when it tore the roof off of a house just east of the LaSalle-Livingston county line. The tornado then weakened and snapped a couple of trees before dissipating one mile west of Long Point, IL.

Track Map

Map showing the track of the Dana - Long Point tornado

Tornado - Washburn-Rutland
WOODFORD, MARSHALL, and LA SALLE COUNTIES

Date	2/28/2017
Time (Local)	5:26-5:50 PM CST
EF Rating	EF-3
Est. Peak Winds
Path Length	17.8 miles
Max Width	600 yards
Injuries/Deaths
Summary: See information from NWS Lincoln for more details about this tornado.

Track Map

Map showing the track of the Washburn-Rutland tornado

Map showing the track of the Washburn-Rutland tornado, zoomed in on the Rutland area

The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:

EF0 Weak 65-85 mph	EF1 Moderate 86-110 mph	EF2 Significant 111-135 mph	EF3 Severe 136-165 mph	EF4 Extreme 166-200 mph	EF5 Catastrophic 200+ mph

Storm Reports


Local Storm Reports	Nationwide Reports

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
542 AM CST THU MAR 02 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0435 PM     HAIL             SYCAMORE                41.98N 88.70W
02/28/2017  M0.88 INCH       DEKALB             IL   PUBLIC

0439 PM     HAIL             DE KALB                 41.93N 88.75W
02/28/2017  M0.75 INCH       DE KALB            IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            DIME SIZED HAIL REPORTED AT NIU

0441 PM     TORNADO          3 ESE UTICA             41.32N 88.95W
02/28/2017                   LA SALLE           IL   NWS STORM SURVEY

            *** 2 FATAL, 14 INJ *** UPDATED FOR NWS STORM SURVEY
            INFORMATION AND ADDITIONAL FATALITY. LOCATION AND TIME IS
            OF START OF TORNADO. THE MAXIMUM INTENSITY WAS EF-3 WITH
            ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS AROUND 155 MPH. THE PATH LENGTH WAS
            11.5 MILES WITH A MAXIMUM WIDTH ESTIMATED TO BE AROUND
            800 YARDS. NUMEROUS STRUCTURES WERE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED
            IN NAPLATE AND OTTAWA.

0445 PM     HAIL             DE KALB                 41.93N 88.75W
02/28/2017  E0.88 INCH       DE KALB            IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

0445 PM     HAIL             OTTAWA                  41.35N 88.84W
02/28/2017  E2.75 INCH       LA SALLE           IL   PUBLIC

            REPORTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

0450 PM     HAIL             DE KALB                 41.93N 88.75W
02/28/2017  E0.50 INCH       DE KALB            IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

0456 PM     HAIL             PINGREE GROVE           42.07N 88.41W
02/28/2017  E0.75 INCH       KANE               IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

0500 PM     TORNADO          3 N MARSEILLES          41.37N 88.68W
02/28/2017                   LA SALLE           IL   NWS STORM SURVEY

            UPDATED FOR NWS STORM SURVEY INFORMATION. LOCATION AND
            TIME IS OF START OF TORNADO. THE MAXIMUM INTENSITY IS
            EF-1 WITH ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS OF 110 MPH. THE PATH
            LENGTH WAS 1.5 MILES.

0507 PM     FLOOD            JOLIET                  41.53N 88.12W
02/28/2017                   WILL               IL   AMATEUR RADIO

            5 INCHES OF FLOWING WATER NEAR PILCHER PARK IN AN AREA
            THAT NORMALLY FLOODS.

0507 PM     TORNADO          5 SSE OREGON            41.95N 89.31W
02/28/2017                   OGLE               IL   NWS STORM SURVEY

            UPDATED FOR NWS STORM SURVEY INFORMATION. LOCATION AND
            TIME IS OF START OF TORNADO. THE MAXIMUM INTENSITY WAS
            EF-1 WITH ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS OF 90-95 MPH. THE PATH
            LENGTH WAS 1.5 MILES WITH A MAXIMUM WIDTH ESTIMATED TO BE
            AROUND 50 YARDS. OUTBUILDINGS DESTROYED, LARGE TREES
            UPROOTED, AND SIDING ON HOMES DAMAGED.

0512 PM     HAIL             ROCKFORD                42.27N 89.06W
02/28/2017  E0.88 INCH       WINNEBAGO          IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HARRISON AND MULFURD

0513 PM     HAIL             DIXON                   41.85N 89.48W
02/28/2017  E1.00 INCH       LEE                IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

0513 PM     TORNADO          2 NW MORRIS             41.39N 88.46W
02/28/2017                   GRUNDY             IL   STORM CHASER

            STORM CHASER REPORTS VERY LARGE TORNADO 2 MILES NORTHWEST
            OF MORRIS.

0535 PM     HAIL             SHOREWOOD               41.52N 88.20W
02/28/2017  E1.25 INCH       WILL               IL   NWS EMPLOYEE

0539 PM     HAIL             JOLIET                  41.53N 88.12W
02/28/2017  E1.00 INCH       WILL               IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            LARKIN AND BLACK ROAD

0544 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CREST HILL              41.57N 88.11W
02/28/2017                   WILL               IL   AMATEUR RADIO

            ANTENNA MAST OF 1 5/8 INCH DIAMETER BENT OVER

0547 PM     HAIL             5 NW JOLIET             41.58N 88.19W
02/28/2017  E1.25 INCH       WILL               IL   PUBLIC

            SOUTH LILY CACHE ROAD, PLAINFIELD

0550 PM     HAIL             ROMEOVILLE              41.65N 88.09W
02/28/2017  E0.75 INCH       WILL               IL   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            AT NWS CHICAGO

0550 PM     HAIL             MALTA                   41.93N 88.86W
02/28/2017  E0.75 INCH       DE KALB            IL   AMATEUR RADIO

            IL 30 5 MILES WEST OF MALTA

0556 PM     TORNADO          RUTLAND                 40.98N 89.04W
02/28/2017                   LA SALLE           IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ROPE TORNADO REPORTED 5 MILE NE OF RUTLAND

0556 PM     HAIL             ROMEOVILLE              41.65N 88.09W
02/28/2017  E1.00 INCH       WILL               IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            WEBER ROAD AND TAYLOR ROAD

0558 PM     HAIL             HOMER GLEN              41.62N 87.94W
02/28/2017  E0.88 INCH       WILL               IL   PUBLIC

0605 PM     HAIL             SHOREWOOD               41.52N 88.20W
02/28/2017  E1.00 INCH       WILL               IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SILO ROAD AND SARVER

0612 PM     HAIL             ALSIP                   41.67N 87.74W
02/28/2017  E1.00 INCH       COOK               IL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0617 PM     FLOOD            JOLIET                  41.53N 88.12W
02/28/2017                   WILL               IL   AMATEUR RADIO

            3 INCHES TO 4 INCHES OF STANDING WATER NEAR I55 AND
            HOULBOLT ROAD

0630 PM     TSTM WND DMG     JOLIET                  41.53N 88.12W
02/28/2017                   WILL               IL   AMATEUR RADIO

            METAL POLE BARN LEVELED.

0630 PM     TSTM WND GST     ORLAND PARK             41.61N 87.85W
02/28/2017  M55.00 MPH       COOK               IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

0636 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 W EAST CHICAGO        41.65N 87.49W
02/28/2017  M95.00 MPH       LAKE               IN   MESONET

0640 PM     FLOOD            NEW LENOX               41.52N 87.98W
02/28/2017                   WILL               IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HIGHWAY 30 AND BRIGGS ROAD. 12 INCHES STANDING WATER

0641 PM     TSTM WND DMG     HOMEWOOD                41.56N 87.66W
02/28/2017                   COOK               IL   AMATEUR RADIO

            WINDOW BLOWN OUT OF HOUSE. 175TH AND DIXIE IN HOMEWOOD.

0645 PM     HAIL             FRANKFORT               41.50N 87.84W
02/28/2017  E0.88 INCH       WILL               IL   AMATEUR RADIO

            ROUTE 30 AND PFEIFFER ROAD

0715 PM     HEAVY RAIN       2 NNW BURNHAM           41.66N 87.56W
02/28/2017  E1.05 INCH       COOK               IL   COCORAHS

            1.05 INCHES RAIN FELL IN 55 MINUTES

0823 PM     HAIL             LANSING                 41.57N 87.55W
02/28/2017  E0.88 INCH       COOK               IL   AMATEUR RADIO

            REPORTED AT THE AIRPORT.

0843 PM     HAIL             MOKENA                  41.53N 87.88W
02/28/2017  E0.75 INCH       WILL               IL   PUBLIC

0848 PM     HAIL             FRANKFORT               41.50N 87.84W
02/28/2017  E1.00 INCH       WILL               IL   PUBLIC

0850 PM     HAIL             FRANKFORT               41.50N 87.84W
02/28/2017  E1.75 INCH       WILL               IL   AMATEUR RADIO

0853 PM     HAIL             OLYMPIA FIELDS          41.52N 87.69W
02/28/2017  E1.75 INCH       COOK               IL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0855 PM     TSTM WND GST     HOMEWOOD                41.56N 87.66W
02/28/2017  E60.00 MPH       COOK               IL   PUBLIC

            60 MPH WIND AND PEA SIZE HAIL

0855 PM     HAIL             MENDOTA                 41.55N 89.12W
02/28/2017  E1.00 INCH       LA SALLE           IL   PUBLIC

0858 PM     HAIL             FLOSSMOOR               41.54N 87.68W
02/28/2017  E0.88 INCH       COOK               IL   AMATEUR RADIO

0900 PM     HAIL             FRANKFORT               41.50N 87.84W
02/28/2017  E1.25 INCH       WILL               IL   AMATEUR RADIO

            ST. FRANCIS ROAD AND RT. 30

0935 PM     HEAVY RAIN       ESE HOMEWOOD            41.56N 87.66W
02/28/2017  E1.97 INCH       COOK               IL   COCORAHS

            STORM TOTAL SO FAR. DIXIE HIGHWAY AT THE IC TRACKS IS
            CLOSED.

0942 PM     HAIL             ORLAND PARK             41.61N 87.85W
02/28/2017  E1.00 INCH       COOK               IL   PUBLIC

0947 PM     HAIL             ALSIP                   41.67N 87.74W
02/28/2017  E1.00 INCH       COOK               IL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0950 PM     HEAVY RAIN       2 NNW BURNHAM           41.66N 87.56W
02/28/2017  E2.07 INCH       COOK               IL   COCORAHS

            STORM TOTAL SO FAR.

0953 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 NE LA SALLE           41.36N 89.07W
02/28/2017                   LA SALLE           IL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            SEMI BLOWN OVER NEAR I-80 AND I-39. TIME ESTIMATED BY
            RADAR.

1000 PM     HEAVY RAIN       YORKVILLE               41.64N 88.45W
02/28/2017  E0.91 INCH       KENDALL            IL   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL SO FAR.

1012 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 SE NEWARK             41.51N 88.54W
02/28/2017                   KENDALL            IL   PUBLIC

            LARGE TREE BLOCKING ROODS RD. POWER LINES ALSO DAMAGED.

1012 PM     TSTM WND GST     6 NE OTTAWA             41.41N 88.76W
02/28/2017  E70.00 MPH       LA SALLE           IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

1013 PM     HEAVY RAIN       WESTMONT                41.80N 87.97W
02/28/2017  E1.04 INCH       DUPAGE             IL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            STORM TOTAL SO FAR.

1040 PM     HEAVY RAIN       2 N JOLIET              41.56N 88.12W
02/28/2017  M2.74 INCH       WILL               IL   NWS EMPLOYEE

            STORM TOTAL SO FAR

1140 PM     TSTM WND DMG     PEOTONE                 41.33N 87.80W
02/28/2017                   WILL               IL   PUBLIC

            A METAL ROOF WAS TAKEN OFF OF A LARGE BARN, BUT THE
            RAFTERS ARE INTACT. DELAYED REPORT.

1159 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 N GIFFORD             41.14N 87.05W
02/28/2017                   JASPER             IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            COUNTY ROAD 900 NORTH AND STATE ROAD 49, NEAR THE
            WHEATFIELD FIRE STATION 3. 1 FOOT DIAMETER TREE SNAPPED.

1215 AM     HAIL             RENSSELAER              40.94N 87.15W
03/01/2017  M0.75 INCH       JASPER             IN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0730 AM     HEAVY RAIN       5 ESE BROOKFIELD        41.80N 87.75W
03/01/2017  M1.70 INCH       COOK               IL   COCORAHS

            STORM TOTAL

Radar

Map of radar reflectivity at the time of the Naplate-Ottawa tornado.
Radar reflectivity at the time of the Naplate-Ottawa tornado.

Rainfall

Observed Rainfall

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Chicago IL
707 AM CST Wed Mar 1 2017 /807 AM EST Wed Mar 1 2017/

...Rainfall Reports from the Past 24-hours...

Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying
equipment and exposures. Not all data listed are considered
official.

Location                     Amount    Time/Date
----------------------------------------------------
South Holland                2.98 in   0500 AM 03/01
1 SSW Crest Hill             2.80 in   0632 AM 03/01
2 N Shorewood                2.77 in   0634 AM 03/01
2 W Mokena                   2.70 in   0615 AM 03/01
Midlothian                   2.55 in   0545 AM 03/01
1 ESE Mokena                 2.54 in   0600 AM 03/01
Warrenville                  2.44 in   0625 AM 03/01
4 SW Plainfield              2.39 in   0635 AM 03/01
1 WSW Homer Glen             2.37 in   0600 AM 03/01
1 NW Barrington              2.20 in   0625 AM 03/01
1 ENE Merrionette Park       2.20 in   0631 AM 03/01
3 N Manhattan                2.19 in   0631 AM 03/01
Shorewood                    2.15 in   0545 AM 03/01
Romeoville Wfo               2.15 in   0600 AM 03/01
Orland Park                  2.12 in   0627 AM 03/01
Joliet Airport               2.10 in   0555 AM 03/01
1 ESE Glenwood               2.07 in   0633 AM 03/01
1 WNW Burnham                2.06 in   0600 AM 03/01
Rockdale                     2.04 in   0600 AM 03/01
Lansing Airport              2.03 in   0555 AM 03/01
2 NNE Griffith               2.01 in   0615 AM 03/01
2 SSW Plainfield             2.01 in   0632 AM 03/01

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Chicago IL
1018 AM CST Wed Mar 01 2017

...Morning Rainfall Roundup...

   The following are rain amounts for the previous 24-hours
   as measured in the morning by NWS Cooperative Observers
   and CoCoRaHS observers.
   Observations are usually taken between 6 AND 8 AM.

   24-hour rainfall amounts
       for Wednesday(03/01/17)...


Illinois                                       Rain
  Location (County):                           fall (inches)

  Lockport 1SE (Will)..........................3.69
  Joliet 2n (Will).............................3.25
  New Lenox 2SE (Will).........................2.82
  Mokena 1W (Will).............................2.76
  Homer Glen 1ENE (Will).......................2.69
  Flossmoor 1ESE (Cook)........................2.64
  New Lenox 3E (Will)..........................2.63
  Homewood (Cook)..............................2.61
  Alsip (Cook).................................2.58
  Burnham-hegewisch 2NNW (Cook)................2.58
  Homer Glen 2NW (Will)........................2.52
  Plainfield 3SE (Will)........................2.48
  Sheridan 3SSE (La Salle).....................2.35
  Plainfield 2SSE (Will).......................2.35
  Minooka (Grundy).............................2.33
  Plainfield 5SW (Kendall).....................2.33
  Lisbon 4NE (Kendall).........................2.30
  Romeoville (Will)............................2.15
  Lansing (Cook)...............................2.13
  Morris 5NNW (Grundy).........................2.10
  Joliet (Will)................................2.10
  Somonauk 2NE (De Kalb).......................2.08
  Chicago 6ESE (Cook)..........................2.05
  Joliet Lock/dam (Will).......................2.04
  Lansing (Cook)...............................2.03
  Plainfield 3ESE (Will).......................1.98
  Downers Grove 0.4NNE (Du Page)...............1.93
  Aurora 4SE (Du Page).........................1.82
  Oak Lawn 2SE (Cook)..........................1.80
  Channahon 2SSE (Will)........................1.80
  Midway Coop (Cook)...........................1.77
  Romeoville (Will)............................1.76
  Willow Springs (Cook)........................1.76
  Plainfield (Will)............................1.74
  Burr Ridge 2SW (Du Page).....................1.71
  Oak Lawn (Cook)..............................1.70
  Park Forest (Cook)...........................1.70
  Plano (Kendall)..............................1.69
  Chicago Ridge (Cook).........................1.68
  Naperville 2ESE (Du Page)....................1.68
  Naperville 2ESE (Du Page)....................1.67
  Ottawa 2N (La Salle).........................1.65
  Worth (Cook).................................1.60
  Manhattan 5ENE (Will)........................1.60
  Manhattan (Will).............................1.60
  New Lenox 4SE (Will).........................1.59
  Oak Park 1NNE (Cook).........................1.57
  Park Forest 1NNE (Cook)......................1.56
  Aurora 4SE (Du Page).........................1.54
  Buffalo Grove 2N (Lake)......................1.54
  Naperville 1NW (Du Page).....................1.53
  La Grange Park 1SSW (Cook)...................1.52
  Elmhurst 2SE (Du Page).......................1.51
  Midway (Cook)................................1.50
  Lisle Morton Arb (Du Page)...................1.50
  Westmont (Du Page)...........................1.49
  Lincolnshire 1.3WSW (Lake)...................1.48
  Ottawa 1NW (La Salle)........................1.48
  Earlville 3S (La Salle)......................1.45
  Bridgeview 1NNW (Cook).......................1.43
  Marseilles 5WNW (La Salle)...................1.40
  Elmhurst 1ESE (Du Page)......................1.38
  Bull Valley 2WNW (McHenry)...................1.38
  Naperville 4SSW (Will).......................1.38
  Oak Park 2S (Cook)...........................1.37
  Mendota 1N (La Salle)........................1.37
  Peru (La Salle)..............................1.37
  Streator 1WSW (La Salle).....................1.36
  Oswego 5SSE (Kendall)........................1.34
  Ravenswood Manor (Cook)......................1.33
  Elgin (Kane).................................1.31
  Oak Lawn 2WNW (Cook).........................1.31
  Streator (Livingston)........................1.31
  Aurora (Kane)................................1.30
  Peru 1SW (La Salle)..........................1.30
  Yorkville 2SE (Kendall)......................1.27
  Yorkville 2SSE (Kendall).....................1.26
  Sublette (Lee)...............................1.21
  Lake Zurich (Lake)...........................1.21
  Woodstock (McHenry)..........................1.21
  Barrington (Lake)............................1.20
  Wonder Lake 1WNW (McHenry)...................1.20
  Byron 3N (Ogle)..............................1.19
  Villa Park 1NW (Du Page).....................1.15
  La Salle (La Salle)..........................1.15
  Lombard 1NNW (Du Page).......................1.09
  Streator 4ENE (La Salle).....................1.08
  Elgin 2W (Kane)..............................1.07
  Morris 2SSE (Grundy).........................1.05
  Lincolnwood 3E (Cook)........................1.04
  Mazon 0.5ENE (Grundy)........................1.04
  Riverwoods (Lake)............................1.03
  Woodstock 5nw (McHenry)......................1.03
  Morris (Grundy)..............................1.01
  Marseilles (La Salle)........................1.00
  Mendota (La Salle)...........................0.99
  Monee (Will).................................0.99
  Batavia 1WSW (Kane)..........................0.98
  Batavia (Kane)...............................0.97
  Elmhurst (Du Page)...........................0.97
  Park Forest 1SW (Cook).......................0.96
  Winthrop Harbor 1SSW (Lake)..................0.96
  Oglesby 1ESE (La Salle)......................0.96
  Glencoe (Cook)...............................0.95
  North Aurora 2NE (Kane)......................0.95
  Paw Paw (Lee)................................0.94
  Dixon 2SW (Lee)..............................0.93
  Belvidere (Boone)............................0.92
  Dixon (Lee)..................................0.92
  Lincolnwood 2E (Cook)........................0.92
  Aurora (Kane)................................0.91
  Botanic Gardens (Cook).......................0.91
  Crete 3E (Will)..............................0.88
  Sugar Grove 1NE (Kane).......................0.87
  Highwood 1S (Lake)...........................0.87
  Geneva 1SSW (Kane)...........................0.85
  Algonquin 1N (McHenry).......................0.85
  Wilmington 6NW (Will)........................0.85
  Manhattan 1ESE (Will)........................0.84
  Sugar Grove 1ENE (Kane)......................0.82
  Harvard (McHenry)............................0.81
  Batavia 2WNW (Kane)..........................0.80
  Gurnee 2W (Lake).............................0.79
  Capron (Boone)...............................0.77
  Schaumburg 2E (Cook).........................0.77
  Carol Stream (Du Page).......................0.77
  Batavia 1WNW (Kane)..........................0.77
  Lily Lake 2E (Kane)..........................0.75
  St. Charles (Kane)...........................0.75
  Woodstock 4SW (McHenry)......................0.75
  Palatine 1E (Cook)...........................0.74
  Wilmington 3SE (Will)........................0.73
  Rochelle (Ogle)..............................0.73
  De Kalb (De Kalb)............................0.72
  Park Ridge 1WNW (Cook).......................0.70
  Dekalb (De Kalb).............................0.69
  De Kalb (De Kalb)............................0.69
  Waukegan (Lake)..............................0.69
  Hoffman Estates 5W (Cook)....................0.68
  Lakemoor 2SE (Lake)..........................0.68
  Coal City 4NNW (Grundy)......................0.67
  West Chicago (Du Page).......................0.67
  Carbon Hill 3.1N (Grundy)....................0.67
  Elk Grove Village 2WSW (Cook)................0.66
  Beach Park 1W (Lake).........................0.66
  Wheeling (Cook)..............................0.66
  Rockford 2ENE (Winnebago)....................0.65
  Cortland (De Kalb)...........................0.64
  Peotone (Will)...............................0.64
  Ohare (Cook).................................0.64
  Peotone (Will)...............................0.64
  Elk Grove Village 1ESE (Cook)................0.63
  Lake Villa 1SSW (Lake).......................0.63
  Manhattan 2SE (Will).........................0.63
  Beecher 3SSE (Will)..........................0.62
  Dixon 3NNW (Lee).............................0.61
  Rockford 3NE (Winnebago).....................0.61
  Morris 6ESE (Grundy).........................0.60
  Elburn (Kane)................................0.60
  Ashton (Lee).................................0.59
  Waukegan 2N (Lake)...........................0.58
  Rockford 1NW (Winnebago).....................0.57
  Polo (Ogle)..................................0.57
  Winnetka 1ESE (Cook).........................0.56
  Elburn (Kane)................................0.54
  Coal City 3N (Grundy)........................0.54
  Elburn (Kane)................................0.54
  Mundelein (Lake).............................0.54
  Genoa (De Kalb)..............................0.53
  St. Charles 6NW (Kane).......................0.53
  Rockford (Winnebago).........................0.53
  Kankakee (Kankakee)..........................0.52
  Steward (Lee)................................0.52
  Elgin (Kane).................................0.51
  Watseka 6.9WNW (Iroquois)....................0.51
  Elgin 1S (Kane)..............................0.51
  Fox Lake 2SE (Lake)..........................0.51
  Lakemoor 2NW (McHenry).......................0.51
  Beecher 3ENE (Will)..........................0.49
  Mundelein (Lake).............................0.46
  Mundelein 2WNW (Lake)........................0.45
  Bonfield 4NNE (Kankakee).....................0.44
  Rochelle (Ogle)..............................0.43
  Bourbonnais (Kankakee).......................0.41
  Paxton (Ford)................................0.41
  Amboy (Lee)..................................0.40
  Cissna Park 1S (Iroquois)....................0.39
  Roscoe 2ESE (Winnebago)......................0.39
  Roscoe 2se (Winnebago).......................0.39
  Machesney Park 3ENE (Winnebago)..............0.38
  Gibson 3WNW (Ford)...........................0.35
  Ashkum 5.6E (Iroquois).......................0.33
  St Anne (Kankakee)...........................0.33
  Chatsworth (Livingston)......................0.30
  Dwight (Livingston)..........................0.30
  Fairbury (Livingston)........................0.30
  Chatsworth (Livingston)......................0.30
  Bonfield 4WSW (Kankakee).....................0.26
  Kankakee (Kankakee)..........................0.19
  Pontiac (Livingston).........................0.16
  Pontiac (Livingston).........................0.13

Indiana                                        Rain
  Location (County):                           fall (inches)

  Gary 5ENE (Lake).............................3.22
  Porter 1S (Porter)...........................2.48
  Portage 3E (Porter)..........................2.04
  Gary 4SSW (Lake).............................1.91
  Dyer 1WNW (Lake).............................1.31
  Valparaiso 6NW (Porter)......................1.30
  Schererville 1E (Lake).......................1.06
  (w9mal)Merrillville 2NNW (Lake)..............1.02
  St. John (Lake)..............................0.92
  Crown Point (Lake)...........................0.77
  Crown Point 1N (Lake)........................0.77
  Wheatfield 3S (Jasper).......................0.71
  Lakes Of The Four Seasons 2NNE (Porter)......0.71
  (w9opr)Wheatfield 1ENE (Jasper)..............0.70
  Valparaiso 7WSW (Porter).....................0.69
  Valparaiso 6WSW (Porter).....................0.63
  De Motte 1NNW (Jasper).......................0.62
  Valparaiso 6SSW (Porter).....................0.62
  De Motte 4SW (Jasper)........................0.60
  Valparaiso (Porter)..........................0.57
  (kb9f)Valparaiso 4S (Porter).................0.56
  Rensselaer 8ENE (Jasper).....................0.52
  De Motte 6S (Jasper).........................0.52
  Remington (Jasper)...........................0.52
  Crown Point 2WSW (Lake)......................0.52
  Remington (Jasper)...........................0.52
  Rensselaer 2SSW (Jasper).....................0.51
  Hebron 4NE (Porter)..........................0.51
  Rensselaer (Jasper)..........................0.49
  Rensselaer 5NW (Jasper)......................0.47
  Mount Ayr 2NNE (Newton)......................0.46
  Morocco (Newton).............................0.44

$$

Photos

	?
Southern LaSalle County (Washburn-Rutland-Long Point Storm) - Jeff Kilburg	Southern LaSalle County (Washburn-Rutland-Long Point Storm) - Jeff Kilburg	Ottawa, IL - Lauren Kelly


Ottawa, IL - Tim Creedon	Ottawa, IL - Darrin Devine	Ping pong size hail - Chris Reynolds

Damage Survey Pictures

Naplate-Ottawa


West of Naplate, IL	Naplate, IL	Naplate, IL

Photo showing damage to residence from the Naplate-Ottawa tornado

Photo showing damage from the Naplate-Ottawa tornado

Naplate, IL. Persons survived taking shelter in the interior bath/shower area shown in this picture, as they did not have a basement.

Ottawa, IL

Marseilles Area


North of Marseilles, IL	North of Marseilles, IL

Oregon Area


South of Oregon, IL	South of Oregon, IL

Rutland

Photo showing damage from Rutland tornado

Rutland, IL

Long Point Area


West of Long Point, IL	West of Long Point, IL

Service

NWS Storm Prediction Center Severe Weather Outlooks for February 28th and Dates Issued

February 26th	February 27th	February 28th (7 a.m.)


February 28th (11:30 a.m.)	February 28th Tornado Outlook (11:30 a.m.)	February 28th Large Hail Outlook (11:30 a.m.)

Map showing tornado watch issued on February 28 2017

Tornado Watch Issued at 3:00 pm

NWS Chicago Issued Products and Services

Weather Story issued at 6 a.m.	Weather Story Issued at 10:48 a.m.


Graphical NOWcast issued at 3:45p.m.	Graphical NOWcast issued at 5:22 p.m.

Warnings

Climatology

With this tornado event happening in February, albeit the last day of the month, made it extremely rare. Here is a climatological perspective:

NWS Chicago County Warning Area (map):

Prior to February 28, there had only been one tornado during the month of February on record (since 1950). This tornado was an F-1 tornado during the afternoon of February 16, 2006 in Iroquois County. There had never been a strong tornado (EF-2 or stronger).
While it was almost March, there have only been 26 March tornadoes on record (since 1950).
There had only been seven tornadoes during meteorological winter (December-February) on record prior to February 28th, with the previous one having been on January 7, 2008. Of the seven prior, five had been significant (EF-2 or stronger).
There had only been one wintertime tornado on record in LaSalle County, and that was an EF-3 on December 6, 1951 that caused one fatality and one injury.
This was the first wintertime tornado in Ogle County on record.
The last killer tornado to have occurred in the NWS Chicago CWA was on April 9, 2015. The last one in LaSalle County was one that struck Utica on April 20, 2004.

Tornadoes by Month in the NWS Chicago CWA

Illinois:

From 1950-2015, there had been 47 tornadoes in Illinois during the month of February.
From 1950-2015, there had only been 15 February days with tornadoes.
The February 28th tornadoes were the farthest north that Illinois tornadoes had occurred during the month of February on record.

Map showing average number of tornadoes in February by state

Average number of tornadoes in February per year by state. Note almost all of the tornadoes in Illinois during February have occurred in the southern half of the state.

For more, visit the NWS Chicago Tornado Climatology Page.

Additional Information

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Please acknowledge the NWS as the source of any news information accessed from this site.

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

Snow Across the Great Lakes, Central Appalachians, and Northeast; Unsettled Weather in the West

February 28, 2017, Tornadoes