Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Chicago, IL
Issued by NWS Chicago, IL
401 NOUS43 KLOT 210239 PNSLOT ILZ003>006-008-010>013-019>021-023-032-033-039-103>108-INZ001-002- 010-011-019-211445- Public Information Statement National Weather Service Chicago IL 939 PM CDT Thu Mar 20 2025 /1039 PM EDT Thu Mar 20 2025/ ...NWS Damage Survey for 3/19/2025 Tornado Event... Overview... A strong spring storm system brought a line of severe thunderstorms through portions of northern IL and northwest IN during the afternoon and evening of Wednesday, March 19, 2025. These severe thunderstorms produced 8 tornadoes across the NWS Chicago forecast area along with large hail and swaths of damaging straight line winds. Below are the results of the NWS damage surveys, including the 8 tornadoes and a corridor of straight- line wind damage. .Joliet... Rating: EF0 Estimated Peak Wind: 75 mph Path Length /statute/: 0.24 miles Path Width /maximum/: 90 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 03/19/2025 Start Time: 05:00 PM CDT Start Location: 1 ESE Preston Heights / Will County / IL Start Lat/Lon: 41.4895 / -88.0604 End Date: 03/19/2025 End Time: 05:01 PM CDT End Location: 1 E Preston Heights / Will County / IL End Lat/Lon: 41.4914 / -88.0564 Survey Summary: A tornado touched down just southeast of the intersection of Rowell Avenue and Eunice Avenue. This brief tornado moved east northeast across Eunice Avenue, causing shingle damage to one house and uprooting a few trees. Metal panels and pieces of a car port were blown to the northeast at least 200 yards, and one vehicle was blown over. Peak winds were estimated at 75 mph. This tornado dissipated near Howliston Court. .Frankfort... Rating: EF0 Estimated Peak Wind: 65 mph Path Length /statute/: 0.33 miles Path Width /maximum/: 75 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 03/19/2025 Start Time: 05:18 PM CDT Start Location: 2 SSE Frankfort Square / Will County / IL Start Lat/Lon: 41.487 / -87.7943 End Date: 03/19/2025 End Time: 05:19 PM CDT End Location: 2 SSE Frankfort Square / Will County / IL End Lat/Lon: 41.4911 / -87.791 Survey Summary: A tornado briefly touched down near Sauk Trail near the Sauk Trail Forest Preserve in Frankfort. This tornado moved to the north northeast into a residential area along Shetland Drive and Troon Circle. Damage was mostly confined to broken branches and a few small uprooted trees. Peak winds were estimated at 65 mph. The tornado dissipated just past this neighborhood near Harlem Avenue. .Steger... Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 90 mph Path Length /statute/: 1.64 miles Path Width /maximum/: 90 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 03/19/2025 Start Time: 05:28 PM CDT Start Location: 1 WSW Steger / Will County / IL Start Lat/Lon: 41.4624 / -87.6528 End Date: 03/19/2025 End Time: 05:30 PM CDT End Location: 1 E Steger / Will County / IL End Lat/Lon: 41.4686 / -87.6227 Survey Summary: A tornado touched down near Kings Road south of Richton Road in Steger. This tornado moved east northeast toward Richton Road, intensified briefly, causing damage to shingles at multiple houses. Wind speed was estimated up to 80 mph in this area. The tornado continued east northeast through residential areas, weakening slightly, with damage mostly confined to broken branches. The tornado again intensified briefly as it neared IL-1 where a large section of metal roof panels was removed from a metal warehouse building. Wind speeds were estimated at 90 mph in this area. Debris from the warehouse was blown across nearby railroad tracks. The tornado weakened as it moved into another residential area, with damage confined to broken branches. The tornado dissipated near Hereford Avenue and Durham Drive. .Lynwood... Rating: EF0 Estimated Peak Wind: 85 mph Path Length /statute/: 0.29 miles Path Width /maximum/: 50 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 03/19/2025 Start Time: 05:35 PM CDT Start Location: 1 SW Lynwood / Cook County / IL Start Lat/Lon: 41.5167 / -87.5632 End Date: 03/19/2025 End Time: 05:36 PM CDT End Location: 1 SW Lynwood / Cook County / IL End Lat/Lon: 41.5185 / -87.5582 Survey Summary: A tornado touched down near Joe Orr Road west of Torrence Avenue in Lynwood. This brief tornado caused damage to the roof of two industrial buildings with winds estimated at 85 mph. Pieces of debris were blown onto Torrence Avenue. The tornado dissipated shortly after it crossed Torrence Avenue. .Highland... Rating: EF0 Estimated Peak Wind: 85 mph Path Length /statute/: 1.87 miles Path Width /maximum/: 0 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 03/19/2025 Start Time: 05:43 PM CDT Start Location: 1 SW Highland / Lake County / IN Start Lat/Lon: 41.539 / -87.473 End Date: 03/19/2025 End Time: 05:45 PM CDT End Location: 1 E Highland / Lake County / IN End Lat/Lon: 41.5484 / -87.4396 Survey Summary: A tornado touched down just northwest of the intersection of US-41 and 45th Street in Highland. This tornado first caused damage to the roof of a commercial building on US-41, then continued east northeast into a residential area near Merkley Elementary School where damage was mostly small branches broken and a few instances of shingle damage. The tornado briefly intensified as it neared Forrest Drive and Sac Drive, with a few trees uprooted and multiple large branches broken. One large tree was uprooted onto a house, causing roof damage. Winds were estimated at 85 mph in this neighborhood. Fences were also damaged in the vicinity. The tornado continued northeast toward the residential area near Southridge Elementary School, where damage was mostly confined to small branches. The tornado dissipated near Wirth Road just west of Kleinman Road. .Gary (#1)... Rating: EF0 Estimated Peak Wind: 75 mph Path Length /statute/: 0.44 miles Path Width /maximum/: 50 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 03/19/2025 Start Time: 05:46 PM CDT Start Location: 2 ENE Highland / Lake County / IN Start Lat/Lon: 41.5654 / -87.4123 End Date: 03/19/2025 End Time: 05:47 PM CDT End Location: 3 ENE Highland / Lake County / IN End Lat/Lon: 41.5675 / -87.4043 Survey Summary: A tornado touched down near West 29th Place, just east of Colfax Street in Gary. This brief tornado uprooted two large trees with estimated winds of 75 mph, as well as blowing out the glass doors at the entrance of the Hard Rock Casino. The tornado dissipated shortly after passing the casino before Burr Street. .Gary (#2)... Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 50 mph Path Length /statute/: 0.73 miles Path Width /maximum/: 110 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 1 Start Date: 03/19/2025 Start Time: 05:47 PM CDT Start Location: 3 WSW Gary / Lake County / IN Start Lat/Lon: 41.5775 / -87.3902 End Date: 03/19/2025 End Time: 05:48 PM CDT End Location: 2 SW Gary / Lake County / IN End Lat/Lon: 41.5812 / -87.3773 Survey Summary: A tornado touched down near Morton Street between West 23rd Avenue and West 22nd Plaza in Gary. This brief tornado ripped the roof off Frankie Woods McCullough Academy gymnasium, blew out the garage and ripped off the roofs of several homes on west 21st Avenue, as well as bent several power poles and light fixtures. Officials reported an adult female was injured due to part of the roof collapsing onto them. They were taken to the hospital and were reported to be in stable condition. The tornado dissipated just before the New Revelation Baptist Church on West 21st Avenue, just before Chase Street. .Gary (#3)... Rating: EF0 Estimated Peak Wind: 73 mph Path Length /statute/: 1.86 miles Path Width /maximum/: 0 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 03/19/2025 Start Time: 05:50 PM CDT Start Location: 1 SW Gary / Lake County / IN Start Lat/Lon: 41.5897 / -87.3515 End Date: 03/19/2025 End Time: 05:52 PM CDT End Location: 1 ENE Gary / Lake County / IN End Lat/Lon: 41.5991 / -87.3184 Survey Summary: A tornado touched down near Norton Park, just south of West 13th Avenue in Gary. This brief tornado blew tree debris across roadways and uprooted several small trees east of the Gary Business District with estimated winds of 73 mph. The tornado dissipated around MLK Drive, just north of East 7th Avenue before reaching the Dunes Highway. Straight line wind damage: .Monee to Steger... It was determined that a corridor of straight-line wind damage occurred across parts of Monee and east toward University Park and the Deer Creek Preserve southwest of Steger. Some siding and shingle damage was found in two subdivisions on either side of Governor`s Highway. Damage was generally sporadic and covered an area several hundred yards in width, consistent with straight- line winds around 70 mph. && EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories: EF0.....65 to 85 mph EF1.....86 to 110 mph EF2.....111 to 135 mph EF3.....136 to 165 mph EF4.....166 to 200 mph EF5.....>200 mph NOTE: The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the events and publication in NWS Storm Data. $$ Petr