High Wind Risk in Chicago, IL
Risk Level: Extreme — Score 9/10
Live High Wind alert status near Chicago
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Live high wind map around Chicago
Shows high wind warnings and events that are active right now, refreshed through the day. When none are active, the map is empty by design.
Key Risk Factors
- FEMA rates Chicago's county as Very High risk for this hazard
- Estimated annual loss of $12M from this hazard type
- 21 events recorded in proximity in recent decades
- Active in the 12 months to Aug 9, 2026 (20 events)
- 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
How Chicago Compares
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 11, 2026 — WARNING
7,440,000 people exposed; $1,057,243M capital exposed
HighWind - Chicago metro area, Illinois, United States
April 27, 2026 — WARNING
6,980,000 people exposed; $1,005,687M capital exposed
Gale - Chicago-area Lake Michigan shoreline, IL _ IN, United States
January 9, 2026 — WARNING
601 people exposed; $27,617M capital exposed
Gale - Chicago area, United States
December 10, 2025 — WATCH
601 people exposed; $27,617M capital exposed
Gale - Chicago Lake Michigan shoreline, United States
February 18, 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
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.
The data behind this page
Every score and event here comes from DisasterAWARE's hazard database — available as downloadable historical datasets and a real-time API.
Monitor High Wind Risk in Real Time
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