At least four tornadoes tore through the Chicagoland area overnight as severe storms pummeled the region, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
The storm system unleashed powerful wind gusts, triggering multiple Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado Warnings from late Friday night into early Saturday morning. Damage surveys revealed “multiple corridors” of straight-line wind damage stretching across eastern DeKalb County, western and northwestern Kane County, and Elgin.
Wind speeds may have reached up to 70 miles per hour in some areas, posing a serious threat to homes, roofs, and other structures. The severe weather first struck around 10 p.m., sweeping through the Chicagoland area before advancing into Northwest Indiana. The final Severe Thunderstorm Warning, covering LaPorte County, Indiana, expired at 3 a.m.
The NWS has not ruled out the possibility of additional brief tornadoes within these wind corridors but has yet to confirm them. Officials plan to release further details in the coming days as damage assessments continue.
Earlier this week, an EF2 tornado touched down in Seminole County, Florida, early Monday morning, crossing over the FOX 35 News studios as severe storms rapidly moved through Central Florida. The tornado, which had peak wind speeds of 115 mph, struck at 9:36 a.m., just two minutes after the National Weather Service (NWS) of Melbourne issued a tornado warning for the area.
The Lake Mary tornado is noted as the first significant tornado in Orange and Seminole Counties in over 25 years. An EF2 tornado is defined by the NWS as one that produces considerable damage, such as tearing roofs off houses, demolishing mobile homes, overturning boxcars, and snapping or uprooting large trees. The tornado’s wind speeds were recorded between 113-157 mph, placing it within the EF2 category.
