PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO IL 155 PM CDT WED APR 21 2004
...UPDATE TO TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM EVENT IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS ON APRIL 20...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SURVEY TEAM CONFIRMED AN F1 TORNADO (WIND SPEEDS BETWEEN 73 MPH AND 112 MPH) IN KANKAKEE COUNTY. THE PATH LENGTH WAS APPROXIMATELY FIVE MILES LONG AND BEGAN APPROXIMATELY FIVE MILES SOUTH OF THE CITY OF KANKAKEE AND ENDED IN CITY LIMITS CLOSE TO THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE NEAR THE KANKAKEE RIVER. THE MAXIMUM WIDTH WAS 250 YARDS...AND THE F1 DAMAGE WAS ONE TO ONE AND ONE-HALF MILES IN LENGTH...WITH F0 DAMAGE ELSEWHERE. A BARN WAS DESTROYED...AND A HOUSE AND SEVERAL COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
TWO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SURVEY TEAMS ARE STILL IN LASALLE COUNTY...INCLUDING THE TOWN OF UTICA...ASSESSING THE DAMAGE. THE TORNADO WAS RATED F3 ON THE FUJITA DAMAGE SCALE (WIND SPEEDS BETWEEN 158 MPH AND 206 MPH). THE MAXIMUM WIDTH WAS 200 YARDS...AND THE F3 DAMAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY TWO CITY BLOCKS LONG...CENTERED IN DOWNTOWN UTICA. THE TEAMS ARE STILL DETERMINING THE LENGTH OF THE ENTIRE TORNADO PATH.
THE TORNADO IN JOLIET WAS RATED F1 (WIND SPEEDS BETWEEN 73 MPH AND 112 MPH). THE TORNADO HAD A PATH LENGTH OF APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES...AND HAD A MAXIMUM WIDTH OF 500 FEET FOR THREE CITY BLOCKS. THE TORNADO BEGAN AT THE INTERSECTIONS OF JEFFERSON AND WILLIAMS STREET...AND ENDING AT THE INTERSECTIONS OF BROADWAY AND RUBY. NUMEROUS GARAGES WERE DESTROYED...HOMES HAD ROOFS TORN OFF AND WINDOWS BLOWN OUT.
FURTHER UPDATES WILL BE PROVIDED AS SOON AVAILABLE.
We was through there about 8 PM last night when we came out of IA on I-80, I-74 and picked up I-57 South near Kankakee. Since it was just about dark I did not notice any damage from the interstate. We stopped south of Kankakee for gas and to eat but there was no talk of a storm at the truck stop. The weather report did indicate a very limited area but it may indicate storm season is getting underway in the Central/Midwest US.
Yesterdays storm reports show lots of activity but I have not heard anything. Also just got back from nother eastern Ohio and that is a total bust! uggg
Just talked with State Farm Claims in Joliet...this will be handled by local reps with nothing else to do...everyone be patient, the staffers are getting the work for now, but our cheese is still left to be cut?!?
Illinois?
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Posted - 04/21/2004 : 15:39:59
