Until a few weeks ago, climatological records indicated that the eight-county Chicago metropolitan area had never experienced a tornado during meteorological winter (December through February). However, after the discovery of a newspaper article describing a Dec. 6, 1951, twister, a team of severe weather experts launched a “cold case” re-analysis of that storm. Now, more than 56 years later, the consensus of that team of experts is that the damage was actually caused by a small tornado and not straight-line winds as originally thought.
The first twister: Dec. 6, 1951
Chicago’s first-ever winter tornado carved out a three-mile path from the then-rural northeast side of Arlington Heights to Buffalo Grove.
When it occurred: 7:45 p.m.
Path length: 3 miles
Injuries: None
Damage: Various structural damage to barns, homes, trees, power lines
Strength: Estimated EF-1 (90-110 m.p.h.)
Chicago record high: 65(degrees)
The latest twister: Jan. 7, 2008
The number of winter twisters in this area doubled when on Jan. 7, an EF-3 tornado plowed a 13-mile path from near Poplar Grove to north of Harvard.
When it occurred: 3:30-3:48 p.m.
Path length: 13.2 miles
Injuries: 5 hurt
Damage: 12 freight cars derailed; semi overturned; homes and trees damaged
Strength: Estimated EF-3 (136-165 m.p.h.)
Chicago record high: 65(degrees)
Sources: National Weather Service archives, David Hammer, Frank Wachowski, Jim Allsopp, “Daily Herald” (Dec. 14, 1951)
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.
