The National Weather Service says its survey crews have now confirmed 18 tornados struck north central and northeast Illinois Wednesday night (June 22) during storms that traversed the state. The NWS says the number could still be revised upward.
The NWS says damage surveys indicate two confirmed tornados qualified to be rated EF-2: at Pontiac, with top wind speeds estimated at 115-125 mph, and Marseilles-Seneca, with top wind speeds estimated at 116 mph.
Seven other confirmed tornados were rated EF-1, with top wind speeds anywhere from 90 to 110 mph: near Ottawa, Dayton, Earlville (2), Sheridan, Troy Grove, West Brooklyn and Cissna Park. One near Mazon was an EF-0 with top speeds of 85 mph. Another near west Brooklyn was also an EF-0 with winds up to 70 mph.
Tornado paths mainly affected rural areas, resulting in snapped trees, damaged barns and corn cribs and flattened corn, but a few homes and businesses in Seneca and number in Pontiac were badly hit.
No deaths resulted from the storms, although several people were injured in Pontiac.
The NWS used ground surveys, satellite and aerial photography to determine the number of tornados associated with the Wednesday, June 22, storms.
