10 IL tornadoes confirmed by NWS
CHICAGO -- Ten tornadoes touched down in Illinois on Monday night, the National Weather Service now says, and Thursday's rain is doing little to help with cleanup efforts.
It's been a tough 24 hours for Coal City residents, who began another day of cleanup after weathering a fresh round of storms overnight.
Jill Costello's dad's home is one of hardest hit on the block. She's breathing a sigh of relief Thursday after worrying that more rain would ruin what little her family has left.
"That more damage would be done and we wouldn't be able to save any pictures," Costello said.
Homes and businesses in the village, with a population of just over 5,000, were damaged after 10 confirmed tornadoes touched down across Illinois.
"A lot of the area still has debris. ComEd is working diligently to restore power," said Sgt. Thomas Logan, Coal City Police Department.
Homeowner Kristin Copes sheltered her neighbors in the basement of her family's home during Monday night's EF-3 tornado, which brought winds near 160 mph.
"It's like just what they say, it sounded like a train. When it was coming there was a 'pop' then pressure and it was over," Copes said.
This community still shows a spirit of commitment to one another, despite the gravity of their loss.
The residents will get even more help Friday when hundreds of people are expected to show up for the relief effort. They'll distribute water, clean up debris or do whatever is necessary.
Here's a breakdown of tornadoes from June 22, 2015:
7:14 PM: EF-1 tornado hits Sterling and Rock Falls, causing mostly damage to trees and power lines along its 2.2 miles;
7:16 PM: EF-1 tornado carves 2.6 mile path from Rock Falls to Harmon, Ill. Mostly damaging trees and power lines, but also a home;
7:28PM Ef-1 tornado with 105mph winds in Harmon has narrow, 7.5 path of mostly tree damage;
7:53PM EF-2 tornado with winds of 130 mph strikes Woodhaven Lakes and Sublette. The path is half a mile wide and 7.8 miles long. Significant damage to camping resort area, trees snapped and uprooted;
8:19PM EF-1 tornado snaps trees in Mendota during 1.5 mile path;
8:50PM EF-1 tornado with 95mph winds in Ottawa damages home, snaps trees;
9:43PM EF-3 tornado carves 16.5 mile path from Coal City to Braidwood. Dozens of homes heavily damaged, three destroyed. High tension metal trusses downed, trees and power lines toppled;
10:08PM EF-1 tornado hits Bourbonnais with 2.3 mile path. Trees uprooted, snapped;
11:46PM EF-0 tornado touches down, but "did no damage" near Herscher.
THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE CLASSIFIES TORNADOES INTO THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES.
EF0...WEAK......65 TO 85 MPH
EF1...WEAK......86 TO 110 MPH
EF2...STRONG....111 TO 135 MPH
EF3...STRONG....136 TO 165 MPH
EF4...VIOLENT...166 TO 200 MPH
EF5...VIOLENT...>200 MPH
