1855 Des Plaines tornado
 Location of Des Plaines relative to the Chicago metropolitan area | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Date | May 22, 1855 |
| FU tornado | |
| on the Fujita scale | |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 4 |
| Injuries | 8 |
| Areas affected | Cook County, Illinois |
On May 22, 1855, a significant[1] and deadly tornado moved through the Chicago suburbs of Mount Prospect and Des Plaines, both located in the U.S. state of Illinois. The tornado was the first ever recorded in Illinois and killed at least four people, all on the same property.
Tornado summary
The tornado first touched down near present-day North Fairview Avenue, moving to the southeast.[2] The tornado damaged the John Roney property (present-day U.S. Route 14) where it was sighted lifting a wagon and horses; at this location it made a slight turn east. After traveling parallel to U.S. Route 14 it began to pivot southward, where William Thacker saw the tornado approach his location.[2] At around 4:00 pm the tornado struck the Page-Wheeler property, where four occupants were killed and eight others were injured. The house itself was shifted off its foundation and completely destroyed;[3][2] the tornado lifted a short distance to the south of the property. In addition, furniture on the property was carried upward by the tornado.[4] It was on the ground for an estimated 5.2 miles (8.4 km).[2]
Studies and aftermath
The Chicago Tribune wrote that "the scene of the tragedy is still before our mind's eyes".[4]
| Name | Age |
|---|---|
| Samantha Finch | N/A |
| Harriet Paige | N/A |
| Eveline Wheeler | 0 |
| Lillian Wheeler | 3 |
See also
References
- ↑ Storm Prediction Center 2022
- 1 2 3 4 National Weather Service 2023
- ↑ Journal & Topics 2023
- 1 2 "Terrific Tornado". Chicago Tribune. May 24, 1855. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
- ↑ National Weather Service 2022
Sources
- Journal & Topics (April 6, 2023). "First Tornado Recorded In Illinois — In Des Plaines, May 22, 1855!". Journal & Topics. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
- Lincoln, W. Scott (May 3, 2021). "Determining the Location of May 22, 1855, Chicago Area Tornado". National Weather Service. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
- National Weather Service (October 20, 2022). "Des Plaines Tornado of May 22, 1855". National Weather Service. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
- National Weather Service (June 2, 2023). "Damage Assessment Toolkit". National Weather Service. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
- Storm Prediction Center (October 2022). "Significant Tornadoes in the Chicago Metropolitan Area" (PDF). Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved September 3, 2025.