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

Light to moderate snow will continue into Saturday over the Great Lakes, Central Appalachians, and Northeast. This weekend into next week, a series of atmospheric rivers will bring gusty winds, periods of heavy rain, and mountain snow to northern California and the Pacific Northwest. Colder temperatures are in store for the weekend from the Great Lakes to East Coast. 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 12, 2022

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	6/30/2014	22
2	8/10/2020	15
-	6/22/2016	15
3	5/18/2000	13
4	4/21/1967	12
5	4/20/2004	11
-	5/30/2003	11
-	6/20/1974	11
6	8/9/2021	10
-	6/5/2010	10
-	6/30/1977	10
7	6/22/2015	9
8	11/17/2013	8
-	6/7/2008	8
9	4/9/2015	7
-	3/12/1976	7
-	4/6/1972	7
10	2/28/2017	6
-	5/22/2011	6
-	8/4/2008	6
-	5/30/2004	6
-	5/8/1988	6
-	9/26/1959	6

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	8/23/2007	99
3	8/4/2008	98
4	6/18/2010	91
5	7/11/2011	86
6	6/23/2010	81
7	6/21/2011	74
8	8/11/2021	63
9	7/29/2021	62
10	6/19/2009	57

Significant Winds

Rank	Date	Count
1	8/10/2020	77
2	6/21/2011	32
3	6/23/2010	24
4	8/23/2007	22
5	6/30/2014	15
-	7/11/2011	15
-	8/4/2008	15
6	5/23/2019	14
-	6/24/2013	14
7	6/4/2011	13
8	7/1/2012	11
-	6/18/2010	11
9	11/17/2013	10
10	6/12/2013	9

Damaging Hail

Damaging Hail

Rank	Date	Count
1	4/7/2020	36
-	7/17/2003	36
2	5/20/2014	33
3	8/1/2003	31
4	4/12/2014	28
-	6/12/2013	28
-	3/30/2005	28
-	5/18/2000	28
5	8/2/2015	24
6	10/2/2006	22
7	5/16/2019	21
-	4/5/2010	21
8	9/7/2021	19
-	6/8/2015	19
9	5/2/2018	18
-	8/13/2011	18
-	4/14/2006	18
10	6/28/2012	17
-	4/26/1994	17

Significant Hail

Rank	Date	Count
1	4/7/2020	5
-	5/2/2018	5
-	5/20/2014	5
-	6/30/2011	5
-	7/17/2003	5
2	4/15/1992	4
3	7/13/2015	3
-	6/10/2015	3
-	4/12/2014	3
-	7/13/2004	3
-	6/20/1981	3
-	6/7/1980	3
4	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 Across the Great Lakes, Central Appalachians, and Northeast; Unsettled Weather in the West

NWS Chicago Severe Weather Rankings