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Fast Facts

  • A strong autumn low pressure system brought widespread heavy rainfall with gusty thunderstorms, minor flooding, a long duration of gusty non-thunderstorm winds, and lakeshore flooding to the northern Illinois and northwest Indiana region on October 24 into the 25th.
  • Widespread rainfall amounts of 2 to 4.5 inches fell, with embedded heavier rates especially on Sunday evening October 24. This resulted in areas of mainly minor flooding in the region. Chicago O'Hare measured 2.61 inches event total, which was the highest amount with an event since May 2020.
  • Gusty thunderstorms brought 45 to 55 mph wind gusts to parts of east central Illinois into northwest Indiana Sunday evening. More significant, true severe thunderstorms occurred downstate Illinois into Missouri (October 24 severe weather reports).
  • Non-thunderstorm winds gusted to 40 to 50+ mph, especially along and north of the I-80 corridor on the night of October 24 into the morning of October 25. These caused spotty tree and wire damage and power outages. The winds also built high waves on Lake Michigan, resulting in minor flooding along the immediate lakeshore.
  • A Flash Flood Watch, Wind Advisory, and Lakeshore Flood Advisory were issued for this event.

 
 


Water Vapor Image
GOES-16 water vapor band imagery of the strong autumn system on the morning of Monday, October 25.

 

 

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Additional recaps can be found on the NWS Chicago Science & Past Events Page.

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