March 10th, 2026 Severe Threat

[frostfern]

Copious small hail (covering the ground up to 1”) and major flash flooding in downtown Grand Rapids.  This elevated supercell also produced the biggest gravity wave signature I have ever seen on radar.  Too bad it was dark.

[TheNiño]

41 minutes ago, MidwestChaser said:

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO IL  
1135 PM CDT TUE MAR 10 2026  
   
.TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON  
   
.DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.  
  
            ..REMARKS..  
  
0630 PM     HAIL             1 SE KANKAKEE           41.11N 87.84W  
03/10/2026  E6.00 INCH       KANKAKEE           IL   PUBLIC             
  
            PHOTO SHOWS HAILSTONE APPROXIMATELY 6 INCHES   
            IN DIAMETER IN SOUTHEASTERN KANKAKEE. TIME   
            ESTIMATED BY RADAR.   
  

Wouldn’t this be the largest hailstone ever recorded in Illinois by over an inch?? Correct me if I’m wrong.

[RCNYILWX]

Wouldn’t this be the largest hailstone ever recorded in Illinois by over an inch?? Correct me if I’m wrong.

Yes, the current record is Minooka, IL on June 10, 2015 at 4.75". I actually happened to be the warning operator that day and took part in the committee with LOT, NCEI, MRCC, and the IL state climatologist to confirm the record.

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[TheNiño]

3 minutes ago, RCNYILWX said:

Yes, the current record is Minooka, IL on June 10, 2015 at 4.75". I actually happened to be the warning operator that day and took part in the committee with LOT, NCEI, MRCC, and the IL state climatologist to confirm the record.

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Pretty cool. Sorry you no longer hold the record (I know this one isn’t confirmed yet), but let’s hope this one doesn’t get beat. Good grief I can’t imagine the noise and damage 6in hail would do. Feel bad for any people or animals that had to endure that.

[RCNYILWX]

Pretty cool. Sorry you no longer hold the record (I know this one isn’t confirmed yet), but let’s hope this one doesn’t get beat. Good grief I can’t imagine the noise and damage 6in hail would do. Feel bad for any people or animals that had to endure that.

What's crazy is that we already had a 5" candidate that would also break the record and then got the 6" report. That's one of the most intense thunderstorms on record in IL. Twice setting new state hail records (likely) with a significant tornado just south of the giant hail. Plains type stuff. Definitely feel for everyone affected down there.

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[KeenerWx]

Still cellular, but slowly getting more information locally. Damage and videos show probably a few hundred yards to noticeable impact and probably less than half of a mile from considerable damage reported. Also replayed the video I took while coming out from shelter to check on the situation*. The tornado is very audibly noticeable. Boring video because it’s pitch black, but features constant roar of wind and a suction sound as the door to my patio shuts. 
 

*I’m dumb for coming out of shelter to check. It was a chaotic environment featuring me, spouse, an elderly grandparent we are caretaking, 3 dogs & 3 cats. From the  moment power cut, I lost ability to monitor radar. Not even cell data would work. The couplet was clearly headed for us, and I did my best to estimate it the time it would take to clear. I was too focused on alleviating the chaos with an all clear. Lessons learned. First time I felt genuine threat from a tornado. Nerves still fried and I generally love the spicy booms. 

[TheNiño]

Sounds like you did ok brother. We all know what to do during a tornado when we’re sitting on the couch in clear weather. And it’s easy to judge when we are safely watching videos away from the danger. When it actually happens IRL it’s so much different and I know from experience. I also regret some of  my decisions when I was in one. I hope you’re all safe man glad you’re ok. Take a breather, and I’m being serious here, play some Tetris (an actual proven way to help with trauma right after experiencing it). You’re not dumb. When shtf our brains go to mush. You did what you could under stress and pressure and it sounds like you’re all ok that’s what matters. You did good man. I’m sorry you experienced this though.