On Wednesday, July 12, a stunning 11 tornadoes — at least — were confirmed to have touched down in the Chicago suburbs. The day began hot and thick with humid tension, later releasing into a relentless gang of cyclones that ripped through northeastern Illinois with ease. According to the National Weather Service, the tornadoes ranged from EF-0 to EF-1 with maximum speeds as fast as 100 miles per hour. As someone who witnessed it from my backyard just 10 minutes outside the Windy City, I wouldn’t be shocked if the 2023 Chicago-area tornadoes go down in Illinois history.

Storms began in the western suburbs near the area of Compton Hills, where this treacherous cyclone was captured on video.
2023 Chicago-area tornado
Steve Z/YouTube
Tornadoes, sometimes more than one all at once, tore through cornfields and neighborhoods heading west. Now near Elgin and South Elgin, this tornado can be seen here pummeling through a building, whipping up debris into its furious tower.
Steve Z/YouTube
A haunting rainbow followed along closely, as if to show a battle between good and evil.
Steve Z/YouTube
Near Bartlett, where this photo was taken, the photographer said one tornado went to the north of him while another surged to the south.
Gordon Garcia/Illinois Nature Lovers
Sirens in my town of Berwyn began to alarm, sending people down to their basements — yet curious onlookers also took to their porches (in true Midwestern fashion) to see the spectacle. Travelers inside O'Hare International Airport were told to shelter in place — because this was what was just outside.
May2 Twenty2/YouTube
As the storm raged on, it eventually reached the city, where ominous clouds covered the skyline like a scene from Ghostbusters.
ReDunnLev/ iStock / Getty Images Plus Collection via Getty Images
When it was all said and done, I emerged from the basement to find this stunning double rainbow over my neighbor's house. If this were from a bird's eye view, it would actually show the rainbow over Chicago.
Linze Rice

Did you witness the 2023 Chicago-area tornadoes? What happened in your area? Tell us in the comments! Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be surprising if these weren’t the last tornadoes we see this year — according to a professor at Northern Illinois University, the Prairie State is already leading the country in the number of tornadoes this year with over 100 already. Still, it’s not the worst or deadliest storm Illinois has seen: few will forget the infamous 1967 storm that struck Oak Lawn, and the worst tornado the state experienced dates back to 1925.

See footage of the tornadoes below!

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