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Hi All:

June 30, 2011 - Winthrop Harbor, IL – Tornado or something else?

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I was at my parents helping to clean up there yard of debris, bring over some ICE and coolers and set up a Generator since they were without power for over 18-hours. We setup the generator and the power came back on. For about an hour. They ran it for about 30-minutes and the power came back on and is still on as I type.

I had my camera for these minor shots in front of and within a few blocks of my parent’s home to the Southwest. I did not have my camera for the real devastating sections just ½ a block over where huge trees had landed on people’s homes and vehicles.

My mom was headed out last night to pick up dinner for her and my father when she saw behind her a very dark overcast sky that almost looked like black smoke? She was about 2-miles down the road at this point and people were standing in the road looking back at what was behind. The wind damage was about 1-mile wide by 2-miles long from the Southwest heading to the North East. The usual storm path for our area. But it was not a tornado like damage path? Simply trees uprooted, broken limbs, lots of power lines taken out and a lot of landscape and tree debris scattered from one side of town to the other. But no discernable damage path? In addition, there was no hail or rain with this tornado or whatever it was that hit Winthrop Harbor yesterday? The Tornado sirens went off just as the storm hit and there was no warning. My dad said it sounded like a freight train going by and they live about a block from the tracks so he thought maybe it was until he looked outside and saw what was going on.

Fatalities within Winthrop Harbor itself appears to be 0 but in Kenosha WI (next town North) a motorcycle rider was caught in the instant storm. 4 trees fell around him at the same time with one crushing him. He was killed instantly according to eye witness accounts.

After my son and I helped my parents clean up there yard and setup the generator, we helped another relative whose wife is in Hospice care. We spoke to some local ComEd lineman supervisors about power outage time frames and passed along out Cell to the local PD, city trustee and ComEd supervisors. After the power came back on for the second and last time, ComEd called to make sure they had power to run the equipment at home.

I wish I would have had my camera for the rest as there was a lot more serious damage around town and the next street over. My dad was very lucky.

Wayne

The freight train sound is what a tornado sounds like. It could be it was well overhead and still do the damage you described. Straight line wind damage could do it as well, but without the sound of a freight train.

They were very lucky!

Wow! :ccry:

The freight train sound is what a tornado sounds like. It could be it was well overhead and still do the damage you described. Straight line wind damage could do it as well, but without the sound of a freight train.

They were very lucky!

Glad people are safe.

From personal experience high straight line winds (~100 mph) in tree tops can sound like a freight train too. I haven't been close enough to a tornado to make a sound comparison.

I can't tell from the pictures if the damage path was swirly like a tornado--not that it matters much to the people whose property was damaged.

What ILAveo said. A downburst or outflow boundary can cause tornado-like damage, but usually in only one or close to one direction, and can sound like a tornado in the trees. NWS SPC storm reports don't indicate a tornado, but many reports of straight-line wind damage. NWS observers are probably still out surveying damage, though.

Regardless, glad everyone is okay, and damage appears to be on the lesser side, which is always good! :)

Chicago NWS - June 30th Severe Weather Reports - Summary (http://www.crh.noaa.gov/news/display_cmsstory.php?wfo=lot&storyid=70260&source=0)

Chicago NWS - Radar Review of June 30th Supercell (http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lot/?n=anybriefing)

Wow, I love storms, but hate to see the devastation they can cause.
sorry to hear about your trees, but am thankful you and your family are ok! thanks for posting the report!

What about all the campers that had to be extricated form their RVs in Illinois Beach state park? I understand it was 30-some odd RVs/campers that were damaged or crushed outright by fall trees?