On June 13, 2022, an exceptionally high-topped and powerful supercell impacted the Chicago metropolitan area, with a height of 60,000–70,000 ft (18–21 km) as measured by multiple NEXRAD sites.[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] 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
Satellite loop of a supercell near Chicago producing heavy lightning on June 13, 2022.
At 5:38p.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
O'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 7:02p.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]
An apartment complex that lost its roof in Bellwood, Illinois. Wind estimated at 95 miles per hour.
Widespread tree and power line damage occurred across the region. Severe wind damage occurred in Bellwood, where an apartment complex had its roof ripped off. Following the storm's impacts in Chicago, a tree fell on and destroyed one home in Porter County, Indiana.[8] A baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres at Wrigley Field was delayed by 1 hour and 25 minutes due to rain, during which tornado sirens were sounded.[9]
On June 23, local suburban city heads signed a memorandum of understanding to participate in the Cross-Community Climate Collaborative, a regional initiative to become carbon-neutral by 2050.[11]
The storm had coincided with the landing of American Airlines flight 151 from Paris Charles de Gaulle, which experienced extreme turbulence. In 2024, one passenger brought a lawsuit to the airline, alleging that they had been thrown out of their seat and suffered severe injuries that had not fully healed two years later.[12]
Cloud height
The Chicago NWS office stated that the storm had an exceptionally high peak cloud height. Neighboring NWS radar sites detected a peak height of above 60,000 ft (11 mi; 18 km) and potentially as high as 65,000–70,000 ft (12.3–13.3 mi; 20–21 km), well above the normal height for convective thunderstorms in the mid-latitudes.[1] The tallest thunderstorm officially recorded was near Nueva Rosita, Coahuila in 2016, reaching 68,000 ft (12.9 mi; 21 km) over the Rio Grande basin of Mexico.[13]
