Lake County Storm Activity
Wind, hail, and tornado activity from official NOAA sources (NWS & SPC) · Last 180 days · Updated Sep 11, 2026
Lake County, Illinois has recorded tornado activity: official National Weather Service (NWS) and Storm Prediction Center (SPC) records list 1 tornado report among 28 severe weather events here in the last 180 days, alongside 2 hail reports with hail up to 1" and 25 high-wind reports with gusts up to 82 mph. The most recent recorded storm activity was on Aug 8, 2026. This page updates daily: every event comes straight from official NOAA data — no estimates, no modeling, just the record.
What the radar showed
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Events older than 30 days, as recorded by the National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center. Excerpts are quoted directly from official warnings and verified reports.
Saturday, August 8, 2026
1 SPC verified storm report — hail up to 1"
“Trained spotter reports quarter size hail ongoing in Vernon Hills. (LOT)”
- Hail 1" Vernon Hills SPC verified report
Monday, July 27, 2026
5 SPC verified storm reports — hail up to 1", wind gusts up to 82 mph
“The KUGN ASOS measured a peak wind gust of 82 mph at 3:43pm out of the northeast. Extensive damage was noted around Waukegan including snapped and uprooted trees. (LOT)”
“Relayed via mping. Time estimated by radar. (LOT)”
- Wind 82 mph 1 SW Beach Park SPC verified report
- Hail 1" 2 SE Wauconda SPC verified report
- Wind Unknown 1 ENE Mettawa SPC verified report
- Wind Unknown 1 WSW Zion SPC verified report
- Wind Unknown 1 ENE Antioch SPC verified report
Sunday, June 28, 2026
2 NWS warnings — wind gusts up to 55 mph
“WHAT...For the Wind Advisory, southeast wind gusts up to 45 to 55 mph. For the Heat Advisory, heat index values around 105 expected. WHERE...DuPage, Kane, Lake IL, and McHenry Counties. WHEN...For the Wind Advisory, until 8 PM CDT this evening. For the Heat Advisory, from noon Monday to 10 PM CDT Wednesday. IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects.”
“WHAT...For the Wind Advisory, southeast wind gusts up to 45 to 55 mph. For the Heat Advisory, heat index values around 105 expected. WHERE...DuPage, Kane, Lake IL, and McHenry Counties. WHEN...For the Wind Advisory, until 8 PM CDT this evening. For the Heat Advisory, from noon Monday to 10 PM CDT Wednesday. IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects.”
- Wind 55 mph Lake County NWS severe weather mention
- Wind 55 mph Lake County NWS severe weather mention
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
1 SPC verified storm report — 1 tornado report
“A NWS storm survey determined that a brief EF0 tornado produced tree damage and sporadic roofing damage across the far northern portion of the Saddlebrook Farms subdivi (LOT)”
- Tornado Tornado 2 SSW Grayslake SPC verified report
Thursday, June 11, 2026
5 SPC verified storm reports — wind gusts up to 62 mph
“Peak gust measured on private weather station. (LOT)”
“Tree downed onto power lines. Time estimated from radar. (LOT)”
- Wind 62 mph 2 SE Green Oaks SPC verified report
- Wind Unknown 1 W Lake Barrington SPC verified report
- Wind Unknown 1 N Waukegan SPC verified report
- Wind Unknown Grayslake SPC verified report
- Wind Unknown 1 NE Mundelein SPC verified report
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
4 SPC verified storm reports
“Multiple reports of trees and power lines downed in Buffalo Grove. Time estimated from radar. (LOT)”
“Tree downed onto road in Waukegan. Time estimated from radar. (LOT)”
- Wind Unknown Buffalo Grove SPC verified report
- Wind Unknown Waukegan SPC verified report
- Wind Unknown Antioch SPC verified report
- Wind Unknown 1 S Fox Lake Hills SPC verified report
Monday, April 27, 2026
3 NWS warnings — wind gusts up to 60 mph
“WHAT...Southeast winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph. WHERE...De Kalb, Central Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake IL, McHenry, and Northern Cook Counties. WHEN...Until 4 PM CDT this afternoon. IMPACTS...Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.”
“WHAT...Southeast winds 20 to 25 mph with gusts up to 50 mph expected. WHERE...Portions of north central and northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana. WHEN...Until 4 PM CDT this afternoon. IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The potential exists for brief localized gusts up to 55 to 60 mph.”
- Wind 60 mph Lake County NWS severe weather mention
- Wind 60 mph Lake County NWS severe weather mention
- Wind 50 mph Lake County NWS severe weather mention
Thursday, April 16, 2026
1 SPC verified storm report — wind gusts up to 58 mph
- Wind 58 mph 1 SSE Venetian Village SPC verified report
Monday, April 13, 2026
1 SPC verified storm report — wind gusts up to 66 mph
“Measured at an Ambient Personal Weather Station. (LOT)”
- Wind 66 mph 1 ENE Winthrop Harbor SPC verified report
Sunday, April 12, 2026
1 NWS warning — wind gusts up to 50 mph
“Southwesterly winds may briefly and sporadically gust 40 to 50 mph through about 1 AM. If traveling on east-west oriented roads, be prepared for gusty crosswinds, particularly in higher profile vehicles.”
- Wind 50 mph Lake County NWS severe weather mention
Thursday, April 2, 2026
3 NWS warnings — wind gusts up to 50 mph
“WHAT...South winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. WHERE...In Illinois, Livingston, Ford, Iroquois, and Kankakee Counties. In Indiana, Benton, Jasper, Lake IN, Newton, and Porter Counties. WHEN...Until 7 PM CDT /8 PM EDT/ this evening. IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.”
“WHAT...South winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph expected. WHERE...In Illinois, Livingston, Ford, Iroquois, and Kankakee Counties. In Indiana, Benton, Jasper, Lake IN, Newton, and Porter Counties. WHEN...From 10 AM CDT /11 AM EDT/ this morning to 7 PM CDT /8 PM EDT/ this evening. IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects.”
- Wind 50 mph Lake County NWS severe weather mention
- Wind 50 mph Lake County NWS severe weather mention
- Wind 50 mph Lake County NWS severe weather mention
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
1 SPC verified storm report
“Multiple public reports of trees downed on the north side of Antioch. Time estimated from radar. (LOT)”
- Wind Unknown 1 NNE Antioch SPC verified report
Today's severe weather outlook
Common questions
When was the last severe storm in Lake County, IL?
The most recent recorded event was on Aug 8, 2026. Official NWS and SPC records show 28 severe weather events in Lake County over the last 180 days. Exact dates and locations for recent storms are available in the app with a free account.
Has there been hail in Lake County recently?
Yes — 2 hail reports in the last 180 days, with hail up to 1" recorded.
How do I check whether a specific address was affected?
Create a free IDOLCheck account and run an address check. It shows verified storm reports and official NWS warning boundaries around any specific property — county-level pages like this one only tell part of the story.