Tornadoes Hit Towns South and West of Chicago Monday

A massive supercell storm system blew through northern Illinois Monday night, spawning several tornadoes west and south of Chicago — including one in Coal City south of Joliet — which caused significant damage. The storm destroyed buildings, overturned trucks, downed power lines and trees and brought flash-flooding to the area.

In all, five tornadoes were confirmed across northern Illinois, according to the National Weather Service.

A “significant tornado” with high rotational velocity crossed I-55 in Coal City at 10 p.m. The tornado headed toward Braidwood, where severe winds brought down high-voltage power lines at the Braidwood nuclear power plant. The lines fell across I-55, forcing authorities to close the interstate. A tornado also was reported in Lakewood Shores, near Braidwood, at 10 p.m.

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No fatalities were reported as of Tuesday morning in Coal City, but five people were injured and taken to local hospitals. Coal City, a town of 5,000 people, was hit by a tornado in November 2013. The damage this time was similar.

“I do know the resiliency of this community,” Mayor Terry Halliday told reporters at a briefing. “I’ve lived here all my life. Neighbors will come out and help neighbors, and we will make it through this.”

A tornado was reported at 10:20 p.m. in Bourbonnais in Kankakee County, near I-57. Earlier in the evening, a rain-wrapped tornado was spotted on the ground in Lee County, near Mendota and I-39, shortly after 8 p.m. A tornado also was spotted in Serena in LaSalle County.

The storm tracked south of I-88, with the worst parts south of I-80, as it headed east into Indiana.

The tornado warnings affected Will, Grundy, Kendall, Kankakee, Lee and LaSalle counties. A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for south Cook County through 10:45 p.m.

The north suburbs and the city of Chicago escaped the brunt of the evening storm, although isolated storm cells popped up throughout the region. Earlier in the day, torrential rains hit the north suburbs. A house in Buffalo Grove was struck by lightning.

In Lee and LaSalle counties west of the Chicago suburbs, people reported damage to buildings, marble-sized hail and near-zero visibility as the storm passed. A mass-casualty event call for mutual aid was made near Amboy and Sublette for reports of people in the Woodhaven Lakes campground trapped in overturned trailers along U.S. 30. Rescue work will continue well into the morning.

Flooding was reported in that area, with 3.3 inches of rain. And power flashes and outages also were reported.

More than 450 flights out of O’Hare International Airport were cancelled Monday in reaction to the weather.

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