 NEXRAD loop of the supercell's evolution as it moved through the Chicago metro. | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | June 13, 2022 |
| Tornado family | |
| Tornadoes | 2 |
| Maximum rating | EF0 tornado |
| Supercell | |
| Highest winds | 95 mph (153 km/h) in Bellwood, Illinois |
| Maximum rainfall | 1.42 in (3.6 cm) near Algonquin, Illinois |
Part of the Weather of 2022 | |
On June 13, 2022, an exceptionally high-topped supercell with a height of 60,000–70,000 ft (18–21 km) impacted the Chicago metropolitan area.[1] The system, spawned from an extremely unstable environment, brought widespread severe downburst winds exceeding 80 mph (130 km/h) across Cook and DuPage counties, leading to numerous flight delays and cancellations at O'Hare International Airport.[2] This event coincided with an early-season heat event, which led to a heat index value of 115 °F (46 °C) at Joliet Regional Airport.[1] The supercell was part of the same complex of storms that produced a powerful derecho across Indiana and Ohio, where wind gusts reached 98 mph (158 km/h) at Fort Wayne International Airport.[3] The entire storm event caused a total of 3.4 billion dollars of damage.[4]
Meteorological synopsis
editThe Storm Prediction Center had outlined an Enhanced (3/5) risk for severe activity in the Great Lakes region and Ohio Valley, with forecasters predicting the formation of storms producing large hail, severe wind, and an infrequent tornado threat. The risk area was centered around Fort Wayne, Indiana, with the surrounding region being upgraded to a Moderate (4/5) risk at the 3 p.m. outlook. At this time, a lone supercell had developed over southern Wisconsin, which was expected to transition into an outflow-driven storm. This was predicted to produce a cold pool which would fuel the development of a multi-cell mesoscale convective system, as atmospheric instability in the northern Ohio Valley exceeded 5000j/kg.[5]
At 5:38 p.m. CDT, the SPC issued Mesoscale Discussion #1148 over Northeastern Illinois, addressing the presence of updrafts fueling thunderstorms near the border of Wisconsin and Illinois, moving southeast. The environment ahead of these storms was expected to be extremely unstable, with CAPE values exceeding 4000–5000j/kg, and very strong 0–1km helicity values of around 200m2s/2 taken by the Romeoville National Weather Service office at Lewis University Airport. Estimated Significant Tornado Parameter (STP) values around the Chicago Metropolitan Area reached 6, indicating a very favorable environment for powerful supercells, potentially producing strong or violent tornadoes.[6]
Impact
editO'Hare International Airport recorded a wind gust of 84 mph (135 km/h), the joint strongest gust recorded at the airport.[1] Travellers at the airport were instructed to shelter in place until an all-clear notice was issued at 7:02 p.m. CDT, and a total of 584 flights were delayed, with 96 more being cancelled, many due to the severe conditions.[2] As many as 67,638 Commonwealth Edison customers lost power in northeastern Illinois.[7]
Aftermath
editSee also
editNotes
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "June 13, 2022: Supercell Storm Brings a Swath of Severe Wind Damage and Two Tornadoes to the Chicago Metro". National Weather Service Chicago, Illinois.
- ^ a b "Severe weather causes flights to be canceled, delayed at Chicago O'Hare". WTHR. 13 June 2022.
- ^ "HIGHEST WIND REPORTS". National Weather Service Northern Indiana. 14 June 2022.
- ^ "Billion-dollar Weather and Climate Disasters". National Centers for Environmental Information.
- ^ "Jun 13, 2022 2000 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook". Storm Prediction Center. 13 June 2022.
- ^ "Mesoscale Discussion 1148". Storm Prediction Center. 13 June 2022.
- ^ "Severe storms bring down trees, damage buildings, knock out power to thousands". CBS News. 13 June 2022.