Over 50 tornadoes ripped through the Midwest this weekend, killing 15 people and reducing homes and buildings across the states to piles of debris. The total cost of the damage is indeterminate at this time but is expected to be very high.
The National Weather Service says that seven tornadoes were confirmed in central Illinois, and they destroyed four homes, power lines, and trees. The Chicago Weather Examiner reports that eight people have been confirmed dead.
Approximately 8,000 ComEd customers in Illinois were without power after the storms. Seven thousand customers had their power restored this morning, while the rest are expected to have their power returned by midnight tonight.
A severe tornado was confirmed in St. Anne Illinois, where six people were injured.
Two of the tornadoes were EF2 level, reaching speeds ranging from 111 to 135 mph. One of the EF2 tornadoes touched down in Streator, Illinois, destroying three homes and injuring 17 people. The other was in Dwight, Illinois, destroying 12 homes and injuring approximately six people. Rail cars were blown off their tracks and an entire family farm was destroyed.
A roof collapsed on a movie theater in Elmwood, Illinois; luckily the 150 to 200 people inside had been evacuated.
Ohio comes second in catastrophe to Illinois, with four tornadoes having been confirmed, killing at least seven people, including one five-year-old child, while many more were injured. Extensive damage to vehicles, homes, and public structures, including Lake High School have been reported. Lake High School, which experienced damage to its field house and cafeteria, was forced to reschedule Sunday’s commencement ceremony for Tuesday, June 8. Currently, 1,000 people are without power.
Weather meteorologist Will Kubina reports that the fatal tornado had winds up to 165 mph, was 300 yards wide, and may have traveled 10 miles.
Lake Township Police Chief Mark Hummer remarks, “It’s a war zone,” after estimating nearly 50 homes destroyed and 50 severely damaged. The heaviest of the damage was concentrated in Delta in Fulton County.
Since 3:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, American Red Cross volunteers have been working vigorously in Lake Township, providing food, water, and general damage assistance.
The National Weather Service reports that a total of eight tornadoes hit southern Michigan, resulting in widespread damage and the automatic shutdown of the Fermi 2 nuclear plant. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported, but at least 11 injuries have been confirmed. Monroe County, Michigan, has declared a state of emergency.
An EF2 tornado was the primary culprit in Michigan, with winds of 130 mph, remaining on the ground for 13 miles, according to meteorologist Steve Freitag. A smaller twister reportedly tore through Lenawee County. It was a 90-mph tornado in Monroe County’s Frenchtown Township that resulted in the shutdown of the nuclear plant today.
Currently about 6,700 customers are without electrical service this morning after 200 utility poles were torn down by the winds. During the worst of the storms, 35,000 customers lost service. DTE Energy spokesman Guy Cerullo reports it will take approximately two days to fully restore power.
Five tornadoes were confirmed in Indiana over the weekend by the National Weather Service, including an F-3 tornado with 130 mph winds. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. In Vermont, an EF1 was confirmed, though minimal damage was reported. Likewise, two tornadoes were reported in Iowa on Saturday night, one an EF1 with 105 mph winds, the other an EF0. Very few injuries and minimal damage was reported.
The Northeastern portion of the United States is now on high alert for severe weather, including the possibility of tornadoes that have moved out from the Midwest.
Stay tuned to local news to be alert to possible severe weather in your area. Remember that a tornado watch indicates that there is a possibility of a tornado in and around the area, while a tornado warning means that a tornado has been sighted or indicated on weather radar and indicates danger to life and property.
This outbreak of tornadoes is reportedly the largest since the Mississippi outbreak in April.
