The National Weather Service is continuing their work in determining how many tornadoes hit the Chicago area on Monday night, and at least one of those twisters hit downtown Chicago.
According to preliminary assessments, at least five tornadoes were confirmed to have hit the area during Monday’s severe weather outbreak, as a derecho brought damaging straight-line winds and “dozens of circulations” to the Chicago area.
One of those tornadoes touched down on Chicago’s Near West Side and pushed toward the western portion of the Loop before lifting back into the clouds, officials said. The tornado was classified as an EF-1, which means it had estimated wind speeds of up to 110 miles per hour.
Two more EF-1 tornadoes also impacted the area, including one that struck near Channahon. That tornado is believed to have knocked down power lines that closed a section of Interstate 55, and also caused numerous accidents in the area.
A third EF-1 tornado struck in an area near Bristol and Oswego, …