DisasterAWARE
9
Extreme

high-wind High Wind Risk in Chicago, IL

Risk Level: Extreme — Score 9/10

FEMA: 9Historical: 10

Live High Wind alert status near Chicago

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Live high wind activity around Chicago — refreshed throughout the day.

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Key Risk Factors

  • FEMA rates Chicago's county as Very High risk for this hazard
  • Estimated annual loss of $12M from this hazard type
  • 42 events recorded in proximity in recent decades
  • High recent activity — multiple events in the last 12 months
  • Average annual frequency: 5.7 events per year

Last significant event: HighWind - Chicago metropolitan area, Northeastern Illinois, United States (2026-06-11) — 7,440,000 people exposed

Highest Risk Cities for High Winds

1
New York, NY
FEMA: 9Historical: 10
2
Chicago, IL
FEMA: 9Historical: 10
3
Houston, TX
FEMA: 9Historical: 10
4
Phoenix, AZ
FEMA: 9Historical: 10
5
Dallas, TX
FEMA: 9Historical: 10
6
Indianapolis, IN
FEMA: 9Historical: 10
7
Washington, DC
FEMA: 9Historical: 10
8
Mesa, AZ
FEMA: 9Historical: 10
9
Omaha, NE
FEMA: 9Historical: 10
10
Minneapolis, MN
FEMA: 9Historical: 10

How Chicago Compares

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Notable High Wind Events Near Chicago

DisasterAWARE's historical archive records 5 notable high wind events near Chicago, ranked below by impact. The most impactful: HighWind - Chicago metropolitan area, Northeastern Illinois, United States (June 2026) — 7,440,000 people exposed; $1,057,243M capital exposed.

HighWind - Chicago metropolitan area, Northeastern Illinois, United States

June 10, 2026 — WARNING

7,440,000 people exposed; $1,057,243M capital exposed

HighWind - Chicago metro area, Illinois, United States

April 26, 2026 — WARNING

6,980,000 people exposed; $1,005,687M capital exposed

Gale - Chicago-area Lake Michigan shoreline, IL _ IN, United States

January 8, 2026 — WARNING

601 people exposed; $27,617M capital exposed

Gale - Chicago area, United States

December 9, 2025 — WATCH

601 people exposed; $27,617M capital exposed

Gale - Chicago Lake Michigan shoreline, United States

February 17, 2026 — WARNING

597 people exposed; $25,306M capital exposed

High Wind Preparedness Tips

  • 1.Secure loose outdoor items — patio furniture, trash cans, decorations
  • 2.Trim trees and remove dead branches that could fall on structures
  • 3.Reinforce garage doors and ensure roof shingles are properly fastened
  • 4.Avoid driving high-profile vehicles during high wind warnings
  • 5.Stay away from windows during severe wind events

Related Pages

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Earthquake Risk in Chicago
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Wildfire Risk in Chicago
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Hurricane Risk in Chicago
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Flood Risk in Chicago
Score: 9/10
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Tornado Risk in Chicago
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winter-storm
Winter Storm Risk in Chicago
Score: 9/10
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Landslide Risk in Chicago
Score: 1/10
extreme-heat
Extreme Heat Risk in Chicago
Score: 9/10
drought
Drought Risk in Chicago
Score: 1/10
tsunami
Tsunami Risk in Chicago
Score: 0/10
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High Wind Risk in Milwaukee, WI
Score: 7/10
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High Wind Risk in Indianapolis, IN
Score: 9/10
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High Wind Risk in Louisville, KY
Score: 7/10

How this data is built

Chicago, IL high wind risk combines Historical Event Intelligence with authoritative hazard modeling from the Geospatial Intelligence Layers catalog. Live high wind monitoring is available through the Event Intelligence API and the DisasterAWARE Platform.

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