1990: The deadliest tornado of 1990, killed 29 people and caused at least 350 injures as it ravaged parts of Kendall and Will Counties in northeastern Illinois. The tornado produced F5 damage as it approached the western part of the city of Plainfield. As the tornado travelled through Plainfield and Crest Hill, it destroyed several schools with enrollments totaling over 1,500 pupils. Fortunately, classes had not been scheduled to start until the next day. Oddly, no known photographs or videos of the actual tornado exist. The tornado was embedded in heavy rain and hail during most of its lifetime, thus preventing visual warning of the impending event.

1937: A devastating cyclone hit Hong Kong, killing 11,000.

1990: Plainfield, IL was struck by an F5 tornado destroying several businesses and Plainfield High School. An apartment complex in Crest Hill was hit and 8 residents were killed. While the extent of F5 damage was not widespread, many residents were affected by this fast-moving tornado. There was a total of 29 fatalities from this storm.

2011: After striking eastern North Carolina on the 27th as a Category 1 hurricane, Hurricane Irene weakened to a tropical storm as it moved into New York and New England. Widespread flooding occurred from New Jersey through New York to Vermont, with 14 river flooding records broken in the Empire State alone. Ten thousand flights were canceled and several interstates were closed. Forty people lost their lives.