Dear Tom,
Last summer severe storms swept the Chicago area and Wrigley Field was evacuated. Were any tornadoes reported that evening?
–Monica Salgado, Chicago
Dear Monica,
On the evening of Aug. 4, 2008, a violent squall line raced across the Chicago area producing wind gusts as high as 94 m.p.h., intense lightning and thunder and widespread flooding from torrential rainfall. The storm complex known as a derecho left downed trees and power lines from northwest Illinois to Lake Michigan. In the city, the stands at Wrigley Field were evacuated. Most of the storm damage was due to high straight-line winds but there were three confirmed tornadoes: an EF2 (winds 111 m.p.h. to 135 m.p.h.) in Griffith, Ind., and EF1 twisters (winds 86 m.p.h. to 110 m.p.h.) in Bloomingdale and Bolingbrook.
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Write to: ASK TOM WHY, 2501 Bradley Pl., Chicago, IL 60618 or: asktomwhy@wgntv.com
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