80 MPH Winds Rip Through Chicago Region Saturday Night. Next Up: Snow

(Johannes Plenio / Unsplash)(Johannes Plenio / Unsplash)

A powerful line of thunderstorms ripped through the Chicago region Saturday night, with wind gusts topping 80 miles per hour.

Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors

The strongest wind, a gust of 81 mph, was recorded in Rockford, according to the National Weather Service. Sites in DuPage, Kane and McHenry counties all reported gusts of 70 mph, and Chicago saw gusts of 66 mph at O’Hare Airport and 61 mph at the Harrison Crib in Lake Michigan.

Bursts of lightning lit up the sky and storm spotters across the region sent in reports of downed tree limbs, dime-sized hail and even a semi-truck blown over on the highway. 

The night’s wild weather followed a near picture-perfect spring Saturday that saw temperatures in the Chicago region reach 70 degrees — 69 degrees officially at O’Hare, and 71 degrees at Midway Airport.

The summer-like conditions were fleeting, though. Winter is mounting a comeback Sunday, with snow accumulations of an inch or more likely in northern parts of the metro area.




Contact Patty Wetli: @pattywetli | (773) 509-5623 |  [email protected]

Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors

Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors