A significant round of severe thunderstorms swept across portions of the Midwest on July 27, 2026, producing an extraordinary combination of tornadoes, destructive straight-line winds and very large hail. Wisconsin and northern Illinois were at the center of the day’s most intense activity. Reports included a preliminary EF-3 tornado near Appleton, Wisconsin, hail as large as 4.5 inches in diameter, and a measured 104 mph wind gust south of the Chicago metropolitan area.
While severe weather was reported across a much broader portion of the country, the concentration and intensity of reports from Wisconsin through the Chicago area and into Indiana made this corridor the defining feature of the event.
A Significant Tornado Near Appleton
One of the day’s most consequential storms struck the Appleton area of eastern Wisconsin.
A tornado developed approximately two miles west-northwest of Appleton and tracked southward toward Fox Crossing and Menasha. Preliminary survey information rated the tornado EF-3, with estimated peak winds reaching approximately 140 mph.
Farther south, several tornadoes were confirmed across northeastern Illinois as severe thunderstorms moved through the Chicago metropolitan area.
An EF-0 tornado with estimated peak winds of 85 mph traveled approximately 2.1 miles through Downers Grove. Another EF-0 tornado, with peak winds near 80 mph, affected Romeoville along a path approximately 2.5 miles long.
An additional EF-0 tornado with estimated 85 mph winds affected the Orland Park area. EF-1 tornado damage was documented farther east and southeast. Survey information indicated peak winds reaching approximately 110 mph with these stronger tornadoes. One path extended more than 11 miles.
The concentration of tornado, wind and hail reports across the Chicago area illustrates the complexity of the severe-weather episode. Residents were not dealing with a single hazard. Instead, they faced multiple forms of damaging weather occurring within the same broader storm system.
Wisconsin Hail Reaches an Exceptional 4.5 Inches
Before and during the tornado and wind threat, thunderstorms across Wisconsin produced an impressive series of large-hail reports.
The most extreme report came from northwest of Gresham in Shawano County. There, a social-media photograph documented hail estimated at 4.5 inches in diameter, approximately grapefruit size.
Several other Wisconsin communities reported hail reaching or exceeding 3 inches. Three-inch hail was reported around Algoma and north-northeast of Belle Plaine. Meanwhile, hail near Sturgeon Bay also reached approximately 3 inches. Crandon reported 2-inch hail, Neosho received hail around 2.75 inches in diameter, and Oconomowoc reported hail approximately 2.5 inches across.
The large-hail threat continued into Illinois. Clarendon Hills received 2-inch hail, and Westmont reported approximately 2.5-inch hail. A hailstone measuring at least 3 inches was documented near Shorewood. Later in the day, hail slightly larger than a baseball was reported near Woodland, Illinois. Also, additional hail up to tennis-ball size fell near Milford.
Hail of this magnitude can cause substantial damage to vehicles, roofing materials, siding, windows and exposed property. Therefore, the July 27 event was particularly notable from a property-loss perspective.
104 MPH Wind Gust Highlights Destructive Chicago-Area Storms
Perhaps the most dramatic measured wind report of the day came from Bult Field near Goodenow, Illinois, south of Chicago.
A 104 mph thunderstorm wind gust was measured there as a particularly intense portion of the storm moved through Will County. Nearby reports described extensive damage, including numerous downed trees and large branches. In addition, there was property damage to gutters, shingles and siding, an industrial building collapse and a semi-truck that was rolled over.
The magnitude of the measured gust is particularly significant. A 104 mph wind is well above the threshold for a severe thunderstorm. Moreover, it demonstrates that straight-line thunderstorm winds can reach destructive intensities commonly associated in the public mind with tornadoes.
Elsewhere around the Chicago metropolitan area, a 77.6 mph gust was measured near Lemont. Meanwhile, 74 mph was recorded near Midway Airport, and a 74 mph gust was measured offshore near Chicago. Later, an 82 mph gust was recorded near Beach Park. This was accompanied by extensive damage around Waukegan, including snapped and uprooted trees.
Reports across Chicago and its suburbs documented downed trees and power lines, damaged utility poles, roofing material torn from apartment buildings and numerous large branches blocking roads or falling onto vehicles. In Frankfort, a gas-station canopy partially collapsed.
Severe Weather Continues Across Indiana and Beyond
As the storms progressed east and southeast, damaging winds became increasingly widespread across Indiana.
Communities including La Porte, Rochester, Marion, Kokomo, Alexandria, Muncie, New Castle, Cambridge City and Greensburg reported tree or power-line damage. Near Hartford City, a large tree fell onto a home. In addition, a barn in Grant County lost part of its metal roof.
In Greensburg, winds were estimated to have suddenly increased to approximately 60 to 70 mph. This occurred in what was reported as a possible microburst.
Additional severe thunderstorms occurred well beyond the primary Midwest corridor. Wind damage was reported from portions of the Southeast to the Northeast and Plains. This included isolated reports in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut.
A Multi-Hazard Severe Weather Event
The July 27 event demonstrates why significant severe-weather days cannot always be characterized by a single hazard. For meteorologists, emergency managers, insurers, attorneys and others evaluating weather-related losses after an event, distinguishing between these hazards can be particularly important. Still, tornadic winds, straight-line winds and large hail may occur in close proximity. Sometimes this happens within minutes of one another. Yet, these phenomena produce different damage patterns and implications for individual properties.
Detailed analysis of radar data, surface observations, storm reports and post-storm surveys can therefore be essential. This is especially true when reconstructing exactly what occurred at a specific location.
All storm reports referenced in this article are preliminary and are provided by the NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center (SPC). Final storm data may be updated as additional information and damage surveys become available.
For questions about this article, please contact kaitlin@coxweatherservices.com