A 135mph Tornado Ripped Through Parts Of Southwest Chicago Last Night
Secret Chicago • June 21, 2021
Many homes have been damaged after the tornado, with rumored wind speeds of over 135 mph, launched debris more than 10,000 feet into the air.
While thunder and lightning hit much of central Chicago last night, a 135mph tornado tore through southwest Chicago causing significant damage and launching debris over 10,000 feet into the air across Naperville, Woodridge, and Darien.
The National Weather Service began posting warnings of potential tornadoes across Illinois yesterday afternoon before tornado alarms started just before 11 pm in the Southwest Suburbs and the tornado then hit Naperville around 11:10 pm.
It has today been reported that it may be "the first strong tornado (EF-2+) in the metro countries since 2015".
The general area where the tornado occurred is highlighted on this map, with other locales where there was rotation and/or damage shown too. The southwest suburbs tornado could end up being the first strong tornado (EF-2+) in the metro counties since 2015 (Coal City). #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/FRyWobxh4j
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) June 21, 2021
At the time of writing, Chicago Tribune is reporting that one person is critically injured and five more were injured last night whilst "at least 10 people have been displaced and at least 125 damage reports have been filed as the result of a "considerable" tornado that tore through Naperville late Sunday".
It is suspected that a single funnel cloud formed over the Southwest Suburbs and that one single tornado caused the damage across Naperville, Woodridge, and Darien.
As well as debris launched into the air, homes have been demolished and entire trees were toppled falling onto numerous homes and cars.
Thinking about everyone in Chicago's suburb of Woodridge & Naperville — strong tornado and at least 6 people injured. Today the threat for tornadoes & damaging wind stretches from Charleston, WV to Houlton, ME. #severe #tornado #damage pic.twitter.com/yMPYDCZq0R
— Ginger Zee (@Ginger_Zee) June 21, 2021
According to Matt Friedlein, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, it is still unclear how the tornado will be classified but it could even be as high as an EF-3 tornado which is defined as a tornado with wind speeds of 136 to 165 mph. The Enhanced Fujita scale rates a tornado's intensity from zero to five depending on wind speed and damage.
Friedlein also reported that small pieces of debris had been "lofted above 10,000 feet" before reporting that radar imaging was showing some debris may have reached heights closer to 20,000 feet.
Survey teams are now investigating the damage.
We have dispatched a survey team to investigate the tornado damage in the Naperville/Woodridge/Darien/Burr Ridge area. We also have another survey team investigating damage for tornadic evidence farther north in DuPage County, specifically in Downers Grove and near Addison.
[Featured image from Shutterstock]
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