Rensselaer, IN Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Rensselaer is about the same as Indiana average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Rensselaer is lower than Indiana average and is much higher than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #722
| Rensselaer, IN | 0.01 |
| Indiana | 0.12 |
| U.S. | 1.81 |
The earthquake index value is calculated based on historical earthquake events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the earthquake level in a region. A higher earthquake index value means a higher chance of an earthquake.
Volcano Index, #1
| Rensselaer, IN | 0.0000 |
| Indiana | 0.0000 |
| U.S. | 0.0023 |
The volcano index value is calculated based on the currently known volcanoes using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the possibility of a region being affected by a possible volcano eruption. A higher volcano index value means a higher chance of being affected.
Tornado Index, #549
| Rensselaer, IN | 233.53 |
| Indiana | 265.56 |
| U.S. | 136.45 |
The tornado index value is calculated based on historical tornado events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the tornado level in a region. A higher tornado index value means a higher chance of tornado events.
Other Weather Extremes Events
A total of 2,872 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Rensselaer, IN were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:
| Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count |
| Avalanche: | 0 | Blizzard: | 3 | Cold: | 15 | Dense Fog: | 3 | Drought: | 7 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 372 | Hail: | 726 | Heat: | 4 | Heavy Snow: | 47 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 13 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 40 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 1,480 | Tropical Storm: | 0 | Wildfire: | 0 | Winter Storm: | 62 | Winter Weather: | 3 |
| Other: | 97 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Rensselaer, IN.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Rensselaer, IN.
No historical earthquake events found in or near Rensselaer, IN.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 107 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Rensselaer, IN.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 0.1 | 1958-06-08 | 2 | 40°56'N / 87°09'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Jasper | |||
| 10.2 | 1966-12-08 | 2 | 41°05'N / 87°09'W | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Jasper | |||
| 12.4 | 1963-04-17 | 4 | 41°07'N / 87°15'W | 41°06'N / 86°56'W | 16.20 Miles | 110 Yards | 0 | 16 | 2.5M | 0 | Jasper |
| 14.8 | 1987-07-06 | 2 | 40°55'N / 87°26'W | 0.90 Mile | 250 Yards | 0 | 3 | 2.5M | 0 | Newton | |
| 16.2 | 1963-04-17 | 4 | 41°08'N / 87°32'W | 41°02'N / 87°15'W | 16.10 Miles | 110 Yards | 0 | 2 | 0K | 0 | Newton |
| 17.3 | 1954-06-01 | 2 | 40°42'N / 87°16'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Benton | |||
| 17.6 | 1963-04-17 | 4 | 41°06'N / 86°54'W | 41°05'N / 86°52'W | 0 | 2 | 0K | 0 | Pulaski | ||
| 18.0 | 1994-04-26 | 2 | 41°06'N / 86°53'W | 20.00 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 500K | 0 | Pulaski | |
| Brief Description: The tornado touched down near Francesville in southwest Pulaski County then tracked northeast across the entire county entering extreme northeast Fulton county 1.1 miles northeast of Monterey at 2313 EST. It then crossed into extreme southwest Marshall county 3.7 miles southwest of Culver at 2315 EST and lifted at 2321 EST about 2.5 miles southeast of Culver. The tornado destroyed five farm buildings, and damaged numerous others. One home was destroyed. A mobile home was lifted off the ground and placed on top of a car. Dozens of large trees were uprooted at Tippecanoe River State Park north of Winamac. The tornado damage path was intermittent. | |||||||||||
| 18.5 | 1962-04-30 | 2 | 41°12'N / 87°12'W | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Jasper | |||
| 18.6 | 1950-01-25 | 2 | 41°10'N / 87°20'W | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Kankakee | |||
| 18.8 | 1976-03-12 | 3 | 41°05'N / 87°32'W | 41°10'N / 87°17'W | 13.90 Miles | 250 Yards | 0 | 7 | 250K | 0 | Newton |
| 19.0 | 1967-09-26 | 2 | 41°12'N / 87°03'W | 0.50 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Jasper | |
| 19.5 | 1976-03-12 | 3 | 41°10'N / 87°17'W | 41°15'N / 87°12'W | 6.60 Miles | 250 Yards | 1 | 8 | 250K | 0 | Jasper |
| 19.6 | 1962-04-30 | 2 | 40°47'N / 87°28'W | 0 | 5 | 25K | 0 | Newton | |||
| 19.7 | 1968-04-14 | 2 | 40°44'N / 86°53'W | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | White | |||
| 21.8 | 1976-03-12 | 3 | 41°15'N / 87°12'W | 41°15'N / 87°02'W | 8.00 Miles | 250 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Jasper |
| 23.2 | 1974-04-03 | 4 | 40°32'N / 87°06'W | 40°52'N / 86°34'W | 36.10 Miles | 900 Yards | 10 | 73 | 0K | 0 | White |
| 24.8 | 1961-04-23 | 3 | 41°19'N / 87°31'W | 41°09'N / 87°19'W | 15.40 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Lake |
| 25.4 | 1976-03-12 | 3 | 41°00'N / 87°42'W | 41°05'N / 87°32'W | 10.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Kankakee |
| 25.9 | 1962-04-30 | 3 | 41°18'N / 87°02'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Porter | |||
| 26.6 | 2004-04-20 | 2 | 41°05'N / 87°37'W | 41°06'N / 87°37'W | 3.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Kankakee |
| Brief Description: The tornado began in an open field and moved north northeast along county road 11000 East, knocking down trees and limbs. The tornado intensified from County Road 2630 South to 2430 South where homes were damaged, a mobile home was destroyed and large trees were knocked down or damaged. The most intense damage occurred at a church where the roof was taken off and walls were pushed down. The tornado continued across a farm field knocking over 2 pivot irrigation systems. It ended near 1000 South where trees were damaged. | |||||||||||
| 27.8 | 1974-06-20 | 3 | 41°17'N / 87°25'W | 41°19'N / 87°20'W | 4.50 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 5 | 250K | 0 | Lake |
| 27.8 | 1954-06-01 | 2 | 41°15'N / 87°29'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Lake | |||
| 28.6 | 2010-06-05 | 3 | 41°03'N / 87°45'W | 41°04'N / 87°36'W | 8.00 Miles | 175 Yards | 0 | 1 | 600K | 0K | Kankakee |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: The tornado began 3 miles northwest of St. Anne in Kankakee county. The tornado developed just west of 6000E Road and tracked to the east, where it produced damage to a home and a garage along the road. At this location, a single family home collapsed upon itself, leaving it inhabitable. The garage sustained damage to its roof and exterior walls. The tornado was rated EF2 with winds estimated at around 113 mph. The tornado continued to move to the east northeast, where it increased in intensity as it encountered yet another family home at the intersection of Route 1 and 4000S Road. This home and the garage/barn next to it sustained considerable damage, leaving the home inhabitable. The damage to the home consisted of all the walls collapsing, with all remaining debris from the house tossed to the northeast. The garage walls collapsed with the contents tossed to the east. Two four-wheelers and a four-door automobile inside the garage were lifted and flipped over as the tornado passed. Further north along Route 1, there was minor structural damage to a couple of homes and several trees uprooted. Damage at this location was rated EF3 with winds estimated at around 142 mph and a path width of 175 yards. As this tornado continued to the northeast, it lost its intensity as it came across another residence at the intersection of 4000S Road and 8500E Road. Here, a house sustained partial damage to its roof with several surrounding trees having limbs sheared at the top. The tornado weakened at this point, and damage was rated EF1 with winds estimated at around 97 mph and a path width of 50 yards. The tornado moved to the northeast through a wooded area, causing damage to many trees along its way. The more significant damage occurred near the intersection of 13000E Road and Gamble Road in the Hopkins Park area, where several healthy large hardwood tree tops were sheared or broken. Some homes were damaged by falling trees. The tornado continued to weaken and damage was rated EF1, with winds estimated at around 88 mph, and a path width of 50 yards. It was along 13000E Road where the tornado appeared to lift, with no other damage evident beyond this point. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Severe thunderstorms, including a few long tracked supercells moved across central and northern Illinois, producing damaging winds, hail and tornadoes. | |||||||||||
| 28.9 | 1974-04-03 | 4 | 40°30'N / 87°08'W | 40°32'N / 87°06'W | 1.30 Miles | 333 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250.0M | 0 | Benton |
| 29.1 | 1961-07-28 | 2 | 40°45'N / 86°39'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | White | |||
| 29.9 | 1958-06-13 | 2 | 40°45'N / 86°43'W | 40°45'N / 86°33'W | 8.40 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | White |
| 30.8 | 1965-04-11 | 3 | 41°21'N / 87°12'W | 41°24'N / 86°55'W | 14.80 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25.0M | 0 | Porter |
| 30.8 | 1956-03-06 | 2 | 40°34'N / 87°29'W | 0.40 Mile | 250 Yards | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Benton | |
| 31.4 | 1991-08-08 | 2 | 40°30'N / 87°19'W | 40°29'N / 87°15'W | 5.00 Miles | 127 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Benton |
| 31.8 | 1969-09-04 | 2 | 41°01'N / 87°45'W | 2.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Kankakee | |
| 31.9 | 1974-04-03 | 4 | 40°52'N / 86°34'W | 40°55'N / 86°31'W | 3.60 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 4 | 0K | 0 | Cass |
| 31.9 | 1976-03-20 | 4 | 40°28'N / 87°00'W | 40°34'N / 86°47'W | 13.10 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 6 | 2.5M | 0 | Tippecanoe |
| 32.1 | 1976-03-20 | 4 | 40°34'N / 86°47'W | 40°36'N / 86°43'W | 3.60 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 2 | 2.5M | 0 | Carroll |
| 32.3 | 1998-06-11 | 2 | 41°06'N / 86°40'W | 41°09'N / 86°30'W | 9.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 1 | 1.0M | 100K | Pulaski |
| Brief Description: 4 TRAILER HOMES DESTROYED, SEVERAL OTHERS SUFFERED MINOR TO MAJOR DAMAGE, ONE HOME AND BARN DESTROYED, SEVERAL OTHER HOMES SUFFERED MODERATE DAMAGE. TORNADO STARTED IN RIPLEY AND TRACKED EAST NORTHEAST TO MONTEREY BEFORE IT LIFTED. EXTENSIVE TREE DAMAGE OCCURRED ALONG THE TORNADOES PATH. Synoptic and mesoscale conditions for June 11, 1998... Morning sfc and upper air analysis revealed a potent upper short wave trough across North Dakota with an intensifying area of sfc low pressure across southwest Kansas. An unseasonably strong 140 knot jet streak was ejecting out of this trough across Kansas with the left front exit region progged into central Indiana after 18Z. Increasing moisture convergence and theta-e advection along the northward lifting warmfront was seen as 850 mb winds were forecast to increase to 55 knots. By 21Z, the sfc low had moved into eastern Iowa and deepened to 994 mb. The prestorm enviornment was characterized by moderate to extreme instability (LI values -7 to -9 and CAPE values in excess of 2000 J/kg) with temperatures in the lower 80s and dewpoints in the low/mid 70s. This combined with a dry punch at 700mb and deep layer shear along the warm front, where storm relative helicity values increased to 400 M2/S2, lay the foundation for an outbreak of damaging tornadoes across Indiana. | |||||||||||
| 32.5 | 1991-08-08 | 2 | 40°29'N / 87°15'W | 40°27'N / 87°11'W | 4.00 Miles | 127 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Warren |
| 32.7 | 1968-05-15 | 3 | 40°37'N / 87°42'W | 40°39'N / 87°34'W | 7.10 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Iroquois |
| 33.2 | 1968-05-15 | 2 | 40°29'N / 86°56'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Tippecanoe | |||
| 33.6 | 1975-05-24 | 2 | 40°41'N / 87°42'W | 0.10 Mile | 10 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Iroquois | |
| 34.3 | 1959-09-28 | 2 | 40°52'N / 86°30'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Cass | |||
| 34.3 | 1961-06-22 | 2 | 40°52'N / 86°30'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Cass | |||
| 34.3 | 1974-04-03 | 4 | 40°55'N / 86°31'W | 40°57'N / 86°28'W | 1.90 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 7 | 0K | 0 | Pulaski |
| 34.4 | 1956-03-06 | 2 | 40°35'N / 86°41'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Carroll | |||
| 34.7 | 1957-07-12 | 2 | 41°23'N / 87°27'W | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Lake | |||
| 36.7 | 1974-04-03 | 3 | 40°17'N / 87°29'W | 40°33'N / 87°08'W | 25.90 Miles | 700 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Warren |
| 37.0 | 1976-03-12 | 2 | 41°27'N / 87°16'W | 41°29'N / 87°13'W | 2.30 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Lake |
| 37.5 | 1978-04-10 | 2 | 40°25'N / 86°52'W | 40°30'N / 86°45'W | 8.00 Miles | 77 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Tippecanoe |
| 37.5 | 1963-04-29 | 3 | 40°35'N / 86°41'W | 40°44'N / 86°23'W | 18.60 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Carroll |
| 38.1 | 1968-06-23 | 2 | 41°18'N / 86°36'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Starke | |||
| 38.3 | 1965-09-14 | 2 | 40°37'N / 86°33'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Carroll | |||
| 38.6 | 1951-06-21 | 3 | 41°07'N / 86°29'W | 41°07'N / 86°25'W | 2.70 Miles | 1760 Yards | 0 | 2 | 2.5M | 0 | Pulaski |
| 38.7 | 1963-04-22 | 2 | 40°23'N / 87°01'W | 1.00 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Tippecanoe | |
| 38.7 | 1974-04-01 | 2 | 40°25'N / 86°52'W | 1.50 Miles | 77 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Tippecanoe | |
| 38.7 | 1980-06-07 | 2 | 40°25'N / 86°52'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Tippecanoe | |||
| 39.3 | 1990-06-22 | 2 | 41°00'N / 87°55'W | 40°59'N / 87°53'W | 2.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Iroquois |
| 39.4 | 1971-03-19 | 2 | 40°25'N / 86°50'W | 0.50 Mile | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Tippecanoe | |
| 39.6 | 1976-03-12 | 2 | 41°29'N / 87°13'W | 41°32'N / 87°10'W | 3.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Porter |
| 39.9 | 2010-10-26 | 2 | 41°18'N / 87°44'W | 41°20'N / 87°43'W | 2.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 2 | 500K | 0K | Will |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A tornado touched down about 4 miles east of Peotone. The tornado produced its most intense damage along South Will Center Road, about halfway between Corning Road and Peotone-Beacher Road, removing a house's roof, collapsing exterior walls on the second floor of the house, and completely destroying a garage and three other outbuildings. Two teenage boys were injured in the house. Four power poles were also downed just northeast of the area along Peotone-Beecher Road. Additional EF1 and EF0 damage was found along a path running southwest toward Kennedy Road. This damage consisted of collapsed outbuildings, snapped cedar trees, and damage to homes. One home on Corning Road was pushed off its foundation and the chimney collapsed. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A line of strong to severe thunderstorms moved across northern Illinois during the morning hours of October 26th. Three tornadoes were reported along with damaging winds. | |||||||||||
| 40.0 | 1963-04-17 | 4 | 41°11'N / 88°06'W | 41°08'N / 87°37'W | 25.20 Miles | 130 Yards | 1 | 50 | 2.5M | 0 | Kankakee |
| 40.7 | 1990-06-22 | 2 | 41°01'N / 87°56'W | 41°00'N / 87°55'W | 1.00 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Kankakee |
| 40.9 | 1965-09-14 | 2 | 40°21'N / 86°57'W | 40°23'N / 86°55'W | 1.30 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Tippecanoe |
| 41.0 | 1989-09-01 | 2 | 41°04'N / 86°23'W | 1.50 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 3 | 2.5M | 0 | Fulton | |
| 41.2 | 1965-04-11 | 3 | 41°24'N / 86°55'W | 41°30'N / 86°35'W | 18.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25.0M | 0 | La Porte |
| 41.4 | 1966-07-13 | 2 | 41°30'N / 87°25'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Lake | |||
| 41.4 | 1977-06-30 | 2 | 41°31'N / 87°16'W | 41°33'N / 87°08'W | 6.80 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 1 | 2.5M | 0 | Lake |
| 41.5 | 1954-05-31 | 2 | 40°40'N / 88°06'W | 40°53'N / 87°44'W | 24.20 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Iroquois |
| 41.7 | 1976-03-12 | 3 | 41°17'N / 86°39'W | 41°24'N / 86°28'W | 12.10 Miles | 40 Yards | 0 | 4 | 25K | 0 | Starke |
| 41.9 | 1951-06-21 | 3 | 41°07'N / 86°25'W | 41°07'N / 86°21'W | 2.70 Miles | 1760 Yards | 0 | 2 | 2.5M | 0 | Fulton |
| 41.9 | 1992-06-17 | 2 | 40°53'N / 87°57'W | 0.10 Mile | 20 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Iroquois | |
| 42.0 | 1982-04-02 | 3 | 41°03'N / 87°59'W | 41°12'N / 87°51'W | 12.00 Miles | 750 Yards | 0 | 15 | 25.0M | 0 | Kankakee |
| 42.5 | 1958-06-13 | 2 | 40°46'N / 86°22'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Cass | |||
| 42.6 | 1967-10-24 | 3 | 41°33'N / 87°13'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Porter | |||
| 42.7 | 1973-08-14 | 2 | 40°28'N / 87°41'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Vermilion | |||
| 42.7 | 1958-07-29 | 2 | 41°23'N / 86°35'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Starke | |||
| 42.7 | 1965-09-14 | 2 | 41°23'N / 86°35'W | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Starke | |||
| 43.3 | 1978-06-25 | 3 | 40°26'N / 86°58'W | 40°17'N / 86°41'W | 18.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Tippecanoe |
| 43.5 | 1962-07-20 | 2 | 41°32'N / 87°25'W | 41°35'N / 87°08'W | 14.90 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Lake |
| 43.9 | 1973-03-31 | 2 | 40°47'N / 87°58'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Iroquois | |||
| 44.0 | 1956-04-03 | 2 | 41°07'N / 86°23'W | 41°10'N / 86°19'W | 4.10 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Fulton |
| 44.3 | 2008-08-04 | 2 | 41°33'N / 87°25'W | 41°33'N / 87°22'W | 3.00 Miles | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 1.0M | 0K | Lake |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A tornado touched down just northeast of the Ridge Road and Cline Avenue intersection. Damage occurred at the Griffith Park Plaza Mall where windows were blown out of a row of stores and a portion of a roof was blown off of a vacant store. The damage path continued to the east, behind the mall. Two parked semi-trailers in the back of the mall were shifted eastward while a third was completely knocked over. The area to the east of this mall in the subdivision along and north of 37th Avenue near Lafayette Avenue and Rensselaer Avenue sustained some of the strongest wind damage from this tornado. Two houses on Lafayette Avenue had their roofs blown off with another house on Rensselaer Avenue also having its roof collapsed and a garage door pushed inward. Other significant damage that occurred was at the Habitat for Humanity storage building at Colfax and Ridge Road. Here, a cinder block storage building completely toppled to the ground. Although the building was knocked over, it appears as though the main cause of it faltering was due to a large tree that fell on top of it. At a nearby gas station within feet of this building, no damage occurred and people actually witnessed the tornado descend on the shelter. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A line of powerful thunderstorms moved across northwest Indiana during the evening hours of August 4th. These storms produced widespread and significant wind damage. | |||||||||||
| 44.5 | 1956-03-06 | 3 | 40°38'N / 88°00'W | 40°44'N / 87°52'W | 9.40 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 6 | 250K | 0 | Iroquois |
| 44.5 | 1965-04-11 | 3 | 41°21'N / 86°35'W | 41°24'N / 86°28'W | 6.40 Miles | 250 Yards | 4 | 27 | 25.0M | 0 | Starke |
| 45.1 | 1965-04-11 | 4 | 40°20'N / 86°50'W | 40°22'N / 86°42'W | 6.90 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 10 | 0K | 0 | Tippecanoe |
| 45.1 | 1965-09-14 | 2 | 40°49'N / 88°00'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 2 | 25K | 0 | Iroquois | |
| 45.2 | 1957-06-14 | 3 | 41°04'N / 86°18'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Fulton | |||
| 45.3 | 1954-04-07 | 3 | 41°00'N / 88°13'W | 41°15'N / 87°45'W | 29.60 Miles | 400 Yards | 1 | 13 | 250K | 0 | Kankakee |
| 45.6 | 1965-11-12 | 3 | 41°33'N / 87°29'W | 41°34'N / 87°24'W | 4.10 Miles | 40 Yards | 0 | 14 | 250K | 0 | Lake |
| 46.0 | 1974-04-03 | 4 | 40°57'N / 86°28'W | 41°10'N / 86°06'W | 24.10 Miles | 1760 Yards | 6 | 138 | 0K | 0 | Fulton |
| 46.0 | 1976-04-23 | 2 | 40°34'N / 87°53'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Iroquois | |||
| 46.3 | 1961-04-23 | 3 | 41°21'N / 88°13'W | 41°19'N / 87°31'W | 36.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 4 | 2.5M | 0 | Will |
| 46.4 | 1960-05-19 | 2 | 40°16'N / 87°15'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Delaware | |||
| 46.6 | 1961-03-06 | 2 | 40°23'N / 86°38'W | 40°25'N / 86°35'W | 2.70 Miles | 70 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Clinton |
| 46.8 | 1953-04-09 | 3 | 40°15'N / 87°31'W | 40°16'N / 86°42'W | 42.90 Miles | 750 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Warren |
| 46.9 | 1951-11-13 | 2 | 41°36'N / 87°20'W | 0.30 Mile | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Lake | |
| 47.3 | 2008-06-07 | 2 | 41°26'N / 87°46'W | 41°28'N / 87°44'W | 2.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 6 | 5.5M | 0K | Will |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A tornado developed near Ridgeland Avenue and Dralle Road, where a high tension metal truss tower collapsed and four others were damaged. Power lines blocked Interstate 57. The tornado destroyed a mobile home and outbuildings east of Ridgeland between Dralle and Stuenkel Roads before crossing Interstate 57. The tornado was rated EF2 in this area. Six people were injured in vehicles on Interstate 57. Several cars were damaged and a semi trailer was completely destroyed. East of Interstate 57 at Stuenkel Road, a large warehouse had bay doors blown in, much of the roof collapsed, and the west wall blown in. Utility poles were pushed over along South Central Avenue. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A single supercell thunderstorm developed over western Illinois and moved northeast reaching Lake Michigan near the Illinois Indiana state line several hours later. This single thunderstorm produced eight different tornadoes as it moved east across Illinois. | |||||||||||
| 47.4 | 2008-06-07 | 2 | 41°28'N / 87°44'W | 41°30'N / 87°40'W | 4.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 4.0M | 0K | Cook |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A tornado which touched down in northwest Will County, crossed Steger Road into Cook County, just west of Cicero Avenue. The tornado hit a subdivision on the northwest corner of Steger Road and Cicero Avenue. Large tree limbs were blown down and a couple trees were uprooted. Homes were somewhat sheltered by large trees and only sustained minor damage. One home near Cicero Avenue had part of its roof torn off. East of Cicero Avenue, the tornado weakened slightly as it moved through an apartment complex. Only minor damage to roofs, soffits and siding was noted. The tornado hit another subdivision along Imperial Drive. A few homes had garages partially collapsed or destroyed. The tornado then passed through an open area before crossing Governors Highway and the Illinois Central tracks, just south of Sauk Trail. The tornado hit an apartment complex just east of the highway and railroad tracks. One three story building had much of the roof ripped off and part of the third floor exterior walls blown down. Carports were collapsed and other buildings had minor damage. The tornado was rated EF2 in this area. The tornado moved through the intersection of Sauk Trail and Richton Square Road where a grocery store and car wash sustained damage. The tornado then weakened to EF0 intensity as it continued northeast across Central Park Avenue and the northwest part of Central Park. Only minor damage to trees was observed in a subdivision in this area. The tornado crossed the E J and E tracks, then it damaged a roof at an apartment complex near North Street and Orchard Drive. The last signs of tree damage were just southwest of the intersection of Lincoln Highway and Western Avenue. Multiple eyewitnesses reported a dog that was picked up by the tornado and carried a few hundred feet away. The dog, a 125 pound Rottweiler, was apparently unharmed. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A single supercell thunderstorm developed over western Illinois and moved northeast reaching Lake Michigan near the Illinois Indiana state line several hours later. This single thunderstorm produced eight different tornadoes as it moved east across Illinois. | |||||||||||
| 47.6 | 2008-06-07 | 2 | 41°24'N / 87°51'W | 41°25'N / 87°47'W | 4.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 500K | 0K | Will |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A tornado touched down along Paulding Road just west of Center Road, south of the Green Garden Country Club. A garage was leveled and a house had part of its roof torn off and damage to the second story exterior walls. At the southwest corner of Bruns and 88th Avenue, barns and trees were damaged. The tornado continued along Bruns Road between 80th and 88th Avenues. On the south side of Bruns Road, a barn and an outbuilding were completely destroyed. The house lost a large section of the southeast wall on the second floor. Another house was heavily damaged with siding and a west wall blown off. North of Bruns Road, there was a barn that was practically destroyed with only a partial wall standing. A horse barn was destroyed with the stables intact and horses still standing in them. In the backyard of the next home, there were trees blown down and debris, such as trailers and a small rowboat were blown into the creek immediately north of Bruns Road. A chain link fence was pulled from the ground. Many trees were uprooted and blown over. Power lines were also blown down. The next house had damage to two garages. The doors were blown out of both garages and the roof of one garage was severely damaged. The house had siding and roof shingles blown off. A house at the east end of this section on Bruns Road, closest to 80th Avenue, had siding blown off and chimney damage. The tornado ended southwest of the intersection of Harlem Avenue and Manhattan-Monee Road, where there was minor tree damage. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A single supercell thunderstorm developed over western Illinois and moved northeast reaching Lake Michigan near the Illinois Indiana state line several hours later. This single thunderstorm produced eight different tornadoes as it moved east across Illinois. | |||||||||||
| 47.7 | 1956-05-21 | 2 | 40°43'N / 88°01'W | 2.00 Miles | 70 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Iroquois | |
| 47.9 | 1960-05-21 | 2 | 41°34'N / 86°46'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | La Porte | |||
| 48.0 | 2009-08-19 | 2 | 41°36'N / 87°04'W | 41°39'N / 87°01'W | 4.00 Miles | 60 Yards | 0 | 0 | 1.5M | 0K | Porter |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A tornado touched down in southern Chesterton east of 11th Street and southwest of South Park Drive. The tornado quickly intensified as it moved to the northeast and caused the partial collapse of a gymnasium roof at the Chesterton Junior High School. A wind gust to 105 mph was measured by an anemometer near the school. This damage along with numerous trees that were either uprooted or sheared off was caused by tornado winds reaching 110 mph. The tornado was rated EF1 at this point with a path width of 40 yards. The tornado continued to track to the northeast across the New York Central railroad tracks toward Grant Avenue where the roof of a warehouse had been peeled off and thrown about 15 yards behind the building to the north. The tornado continued to the northeast where an apartment building on Brown Avenue lost its entire roof. This damage was caused by tornado winds reaching 120 mph. The tornado damage was rated EF2 through this area with a path width of 60 yards. In the city of Chesterton, 211 structures sustained damage; 8 were completely destroyed; 54 suffered major damage, such as trees falling through roofs. The remaining 149 structures sustained damage such as missing shingles or damaged gutters. Multiple vehicles were damaged by falling debris from buildings or trees. Numerous power lines were blown down along with utility poles blown down or snapped. This EF2 damage continued northeast where an entire field of healthy old hardwood tree trunks were snapped off or uprooted. The tornado then started to slightly weaken as it approached the Interstate 94 eastbound exit/westbound entrance ramps at Indiana Highway 49. A home south of the interstate had a garage roof blown off with still numerous trees uprooted or sheared off. Tornado wind speeds here were estimated at 100 mph with an EF1 rating. Similar tree damage was noted along a path that continued to go to the northeast across Highway 49 and toward Highway 20 near Hadenfelt Road where some aluminum roofing material of a storage facility had been peeled off. Tornado wind speeds were estimated at 95 mph here and was rated EF1 with a path width of 30 yards. The tornado continued to move through a heavily forested area in the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, eventually crossing Highway 12. Radar imagery and an aerial survey suggests that the tornado dissipated north of Highway 12. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Strong to severe thunderstorms moved across parts of northwest Indiana during the late afternoon and evening hours of August 19th, producing one tornado in Chesterton. | |||||||||||
| 48.1 | 2001-10-24 | 2 | 41°26'N / 86°54'W | 41°40'N / 86°32'W | 33.00 Miles | 1760 Yards | 1 | 0 | 750K | 0 | La Porte |
| 48.3 | 1965-05-26 | 2 | 41°30'N / 87°42'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Cook | |
| 48.7 | 2008-06-07 | 2 | 41°21'N / 87°55'W | 41°22'N / 87°53'W | 2.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 50K | 0K | Will |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A tornado touched down northeast of Wilton Center, just north of Route 52 and east of Elevator Road, where there was minor tree damage. Based on photos and eyewitness reports, the tornado grew to about 400 yards wide but remained in open fields with few structures or trees in its path. At 120th Avenue, a garage was destroyed and all that remained was a cinder block base. A metal outbuilding was severely damaged. The tornado ended near Manhattan-Wilton Road, just west of Route 45. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A single supercell thunderstorm developed over western Illinois and moved northeast reaching Lake Michigan near the Illinois Indiana state line several hours later. This single thunderstorm produced eight different tornadoes as it moved east across Illinois. | |||||||||||
| 48.9 | 1965-04-11 | 4 | 40°22'N / 86°42'W | 40°25'N / 86°24'W | 15.90 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 34 | 0K | 0 | Clinton |
| 49.5 | 1963-04-29 | 3 | 40°44'N / 86°23'W | 40°44'N / 86°06'W | 14.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Miami |
| 49.6 | 1974-04-03 | 2 | 40°15'N / 87°38'W | 40°21'N / 87°33'W | 7.80 Miles | 177 Yards | 0 | 12 | 2.5M | 0 | Vermilion |
| 50.0 | 1967-06-24 | 2 | 40°16'N / 86°47'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Tippecanoe | |||
* The information on this page is based on the global volcano database, the U.S. earthquake database of 1638-1985, and the U.S. Tornado and Weather Extremes database of 1950-2010.