EF1 tornado in Cook County, Illinois

This tornado formed near Studio Drive in South Barrington, with the first damage observed at the South Barrington Tennis Club. The tornado moved northeastward through eastern sections of The Glen subdivision, producing sporadic tree damage. As the tornado crossed Barrington Road near Mundhank Road, significant tree damage occurred, with numerous branches and trunks snapped. The tornado continued northeast toward Willow Creek Church, where it uprooted at least one tree and damaged metal bus shelters. Damage became less severe as the tornado neared Algonquin Road, but increased again as the tornado turned to the east toward Whispering Trails Drive and Huntington Boulevard in Hoffman Estates. Damage was noted to residences along Chesapeake Court, Fir Court, and Crimson Drive with two residences losing a significant amount of roofing material. Other homes in the neighborhood had shingle damage, and a window was damaged at another residence. Tree damage, including broken limbs, was also observed. Roofing material removed from a home on Fir Court was deposited to the northwest, with plywood impaled into the ground and other debris penetrating the wall of a house, ending up in its living room. The tornado dissipated near Crimson Drive in Hoffman Estates.

Following summer-like, record warmth, severe thunderstorms developed in the late afternoon of February 27th over northwest Illinois and spread east through the evening across the Chicago metro area. A total of 11 tornadoes touched down in Illinois. There were 11 tornadoes in total across the NWS Chicago area of responsibility, which is the most in a February event since official NWS tornado records began in 1950. In addition to the tornadoes, the storms produced numerous instances of severe hail and damaging straight-line wind.