Dear Tom,
My husband says that Chicago and Oak Park have never been hit by tornadoes. Is he right?
–Kelly McCreary
Dear Kelly,
No portion of the Chicago metro area is immune from tornadoes and it should be noted that four twisters occurred in the area during the severe weather outbreak Aug. 19. At least a dozen tornadoes have been documented within the city of Chicago, including one in the downtown area in May 1876. The tail end of a deadly Oak Lawn tornado traveled through the South Side on April 21, 1967, and another twister tore up portions of the South Side on March 4, 1961. Your husband is correct that Oak Park has not recorded a significant tornado strike, but twisters have touched down in nearby areas like Maywood, Melrose Park, Bellwood and North Riverside.
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Write to: ASK TOM WHY, 2501 Bradley Pl., Chicago, IL 60618 or: asktomwhy@wgntv.com
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