A strong storm system that produced more than 330
severe weather events in the Plains states on Saturday
took dead aim on the Midwest Sunday–bringing an
onslaught of tornadoes, hail, high winds and flooding
rain to the area. Several damaging tornadoes targeted
sections of central Illinois between Peoria and
Springfield late Sunday. Winds reached 97 m.p.h. at
Scott Air Force Base (just east of St. Louis), and strong
winds and torrential rains blasted the Chicagoland
region. The heavy downpours caused flash flooding
across an already-waterlogged metro area, and will
cause previously receding river levels to rise yet again.
TWO WAVES OF STORMS STRIKE CHICAGO SUNDAY
T-storms triggered by a warm front brought heavy rain and flash flooding in the morning, followed by a second wave of severe storms ahead of a cold front during a warm evening.
SUNDAY: INDIANA HARD-HIT BY SEVERE WEATHER
Shortly after thunderstorms prematurely ended the Indianapolis 500 race, tornadoes ravaged the area, inflicting significant damage to the city’s south side.
Sources: Storm Prediction Center, various National Weather Service offices
WGN-TV/Steve Kahn
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Tom Skilling is chief meteorologist at WGN-TV. His forecasts can be seen Monday through Friday on WGN-TV News at noon and 9 p.m.
WGN-TV meteorologists Steve Kahn, Richard Koeneman and Paul Dailey plus weather producer Bill Snyder contribute to this page.
