Severe thunderstorms formed across far northern Illinois during the afternoon hours of July 17th and moved south across the Chicago Metro area through the evening.  Several dozen reports of hail were received during these thunderstorms.  Trees, tree limbs and power lines were blown down across many areas including Glenwood and Chicago in Cook county.  Winds gusted to as high as 90 mph at 183rd and Halstead Roads in Lansing in Cook county.  Lansing was hit the hardest with trees, tree limbs and power lines blown down across much of the city.  Large tree limbs were also blown down in Steger in Cook county and damaged a house.  Several trees, large tree limbs and power lines were blown down from Steger to Crete in Will county. Thunderstorms redeveloped later in the evening and moved south producing more hail.  A wind gust to 70 mph was reported in Plainfield in Will county.  Small trees were blown down 7 miles southeast of Oswego toward the Kendall Will county line.  Numerous trees, large tree limbs and power lines were blown down in Bradley and Kankakee in Kankakee county.  A gust to 60 mph was reported in Chatsworth in Livingston county.  Winds gusted to 70 mph in Watseka where several trees, large tree limbs and power lines were blown down.  Two of the trees fell onto houses in Watseka causing damage to each building.  Minor flooding of some streets and low lying areas was reported across southern Cook county.

Thunderstorm Wind in WILL, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 20:00:00 to 17-JUL-03 20:00:00 (CST)
Location: PLAINFIELD
Magnitude: 61 EG
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in LAKE, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 15:49:00 to 17-JUL-03 15:55:00 (CST)
Location: MUNDELEIN
Magnitude: 2.00 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in LAKE, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 15:45:00 to 17-JUL-03 15:50:00 (CST)
Location: FOX LAKE
Magnitude: 2.50 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Tennis ball size hail was reported in Fox Lake.

Thunderstorm Wind in KENDALL, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 20:15:00 to 17-JUL-03 20:15:00 (CST)
Location: OSWEGO
Magnitude: 50 EG
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)

Hail in COOK, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 17:00:00 to 17-JUL-03 17:05:00 (CST)
Location: (MDW)MIDWAY ARPT CHI
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in COOK, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 16:20:00 to 17-JUL-03 16:25:00 (CST)
Location: NORTHBROOK
Magnitude: 2.50 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Tennis ball size hail was reported in Northbrook.

Hail in COOK, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 16:30:00 to 17-JUL-03 16:35:00 (CST)
Location: NILES
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Reported at Golf Road and Greenwood Avenue.

Hail in COOK, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 16:55:00 to 17-JUL-03 17:00:00 (CST)
Location: BERWYN
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Quarter size hail was reported at Oak Park and 31st Street.

Hail in KANE, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 19:32:00 to 17-JUL-03 19:37:00 (CST)
Location: BATAVIA
Magnitude: 2.50 
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Quarter size hail was reported at Route 38 and Randall Road.  Tennis Ball size hail was also reported in Batavia.  The hail dented a few steel roofs and also cracked some car windshields.

Thunderstorm Wind in COOK, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 17:38:00 to 17-JUL-03 17:42:00 (CST)
Location: STEGER
Magnitude: 57 EG
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in WILL, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 20:15:00 to 17-JUL-03 20:20:00 (CST)
Location: PLAINFIELD
Magnitude: 1.75 
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Hail in COOK, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 16:47:00 to 17-JUL-03 16:52:00 (CST)
Location: NORRIDGE
Magnitude: 1.50 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail the size of quarters to walnuts was reported in Norridge.

Hail in KANE, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 19:30:00 to 17-JUL-03 19:35:00 (CST)
Location: GENEVA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in COOK, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 16:45:00 to 17-JUL-03 16:50:00 (CST)
Location: RIVER FOREST
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in DU PAGE, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 19:00:00 to 17-JUL-03 19:05:00 (CST)
Location: LOMBARD
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in KANE, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 19:15:00 to 17-JUL-03 19:20:00 (CST)
Location: GENEVA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in LAKE, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 15:42:00 to 17-JUL-03 15:55:00 (CST)
Location: WAUCONDA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in COOK, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 17:00:00 to 17-JUL-03 17:05:00 (CST)
Location: CICERO
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 21:00:00 to 17-JUL-03 21:10:00 (CST)
Location: BRADLEY
Magnitude: 55 EG
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in LA SALLE, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 21:30:00 to 17-JUL-03 21:30:00 (CST)
Location: MARSEILLES
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in LAKE, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 15:15:00 to 17-JUL-03 15:20:00 (CST)
Location: FOX LAKE
Magnitude: 2.00 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Thunderstorm Wind in WILL, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 17:40:00 to 17-JUL-03 17:55:00 (CST)
Location: STEGER
Magnitude: 57 EG
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Hail in KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 21:00:00 to 17-JUL-03 21:05:00 (CST)
Location: BOURBONNAIS
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Reported near Olivet Nazarene University.

Hail in COOK, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 17:00:00 to 17-JUL-03 17:05:00 (CST)
Location: ELSDON
Magnitude: 1.75 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Golf ball size hail was reported at 54th and Keeler Roads.

Hail in COOK, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 16:25:00 to 17-JUL-03 16:35:00 (CST)
Location: DES PLAINES
Magnitude: 1.75 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail ranged from the size of nickels to golf balls in Des Plaines.

Hail in COOK, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 16:20:00 to 17-JUL-03 16:30:00 (CST)
Location: MT PROSPECT
Magnitude: 1.75 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail the size of walnuts and golf balls was reported in Mt. Prospect.  Walnut size hail fell at the intersection of Route 83 and Camp McDonald Roads.

Hail in DU PAGE, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 19:20:00 to 17-JUL-03 19:25:00 (CST)
Location: CLARENDON HILLS
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in DU PAGE, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 19:50:00 to 17-JUL-03 19:55:00 (CST)
Location: WHEATON
Magnitude: 0.88 
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Hail in LAKE, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 16:00:00 to 17-JUL-03 16:05:00 (CST)
Location: VERNON HILLS
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in LIVINGSTON, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 21:51:00 to 17-JUL-03 21:51:00 (CST)
Location: CHATSWORTH
Magnitude: 52 EG
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in IROQUOIS, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 21:30:00 to 17-JUL-03 21:35:00 (CST)
Location: WATSEKA
Magnitude: 61 EG
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Hail in LAKE, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 15:08:00 to 17-JUL-03 15:12:00 (CST)
Location: ANTIOCH
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Reported on 59th Street between Antioch and Fox Lake.

Hail in KANE, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 19:51:00 to 17-JUL-03 20:00:00 (CST)
Location: AURORA
Magnitude: 1.75 
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Quarter to golf ball size hail was reported in Aurora.  Golf ball size hail was reported at Route 25 and Route 31.

Hail in KANE, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 19:20:00 to 17-JUL-03 19:25:00 (CST)
Location: BATAVIA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Reported near intersection of Butterfield and Randant Roads.

Thunderstorm Wind in COOK, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 17:24:00 to 17-JUL-03 17:28:00 (CST)
Location: LANSING
Magnitude: 78 EG
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in COOK, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 17:40:00 to 17-JUL-03 17:45:00 (CST)
Location: LANSING
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in COOK, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 16:15:00 to 17-JUL-03 16:22:00 (CST)
Location: ARLINGTON HGTS
Magnitude: 1.75 
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Hail ranged from the size of pennies to golf balls in Arlington Heights.  Golf ball size hail was reported at Buffalo Grove and Hintz Roads.

Hail in LAKE, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 15:22:00 to 17-JUL-03 15:27:00 (CST)
Location: INGLESIDE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in KANE, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 19:30:00 to 17-JUL-03 19:35:00 (CST)
Location: ST CHARLES
Magnitude: 1.50 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Walnut size hail was reported along Route 31 in St Charles.

Hail in LAKE, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 15:40:00 to 17-JUL-03 15:45:00 (CST)
Location: ROUND LAKE
Magnitude: 1.25 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in COOK, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 16:55:00 to 17-JUL-03 17:00:00 (CST)
Location: AUSTIN
Magnitude: 1.25 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in WILL, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 20:00:00 to 17-JUL-03 20:05:00 (CST)
Location: PLAINFIELD
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Quarter size hail was reported at 119th and Stewart Streets.

Hail in WILL, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 14:40:00 to 17-JUL-03 14:50:00 (CST)
Location: ROMEOVILLE
Magnitude: 1.25 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Thunderstorm Wind in COOK, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 17:15:00 to 17-JUL-03 17:15:00 (CST)
Location: GLENWOOD
Magnitude: 55 EG
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in COOK, ILLINOIS
From 17-JUL-03 16:55:00 to 17-JUL-03 17:00:00 (CST)
Location: CHICAGO
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Quarter size hail was reported near Lincoln Park.