At least six tornadoes touched down during a harrowing three-hour period Monday evening, destroying a barn in Sycamore and downing trees throughout the far northwestern suburbs, but there were no reports of fatalities or serious injuries, according to the National Weather Service.
Dangerous conditions persisted Tuesday with the chance of more thunderstorms that could spawn additional tornadoes, while the heat index was expected to make it feel as hot as 110 degrees beginning around noon, officials warned. A heat advisory is in place from noon to 7 p.m. as “dangerously hot temperatures and humid conditions” can lead to an increased risk of heat exhaustion or heat stroke, according to the weather service.
In response to the high temperatures, the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications announced locations of cooling centers across Chicago in a news conference Tuesday.
The following community service centers will operate as cooling centers from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, according to executive director Richard Guidice: Englewood, Garfield, King, North Area, South Chicago and Trina Davila.
People can go to Garfield Community Service Center to get connected to shelter after hours.
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In addition, senior centers, libraries and park district facilities across the city will operate as cooling centers during regular hours of operation. Face coverings will be required at cooling centers.
“We urge residents to take extra efforts to check on their neighbors during extreme heat especially if they are seniors, families with young people, people with special needs, or living alone,” Guidice said.
Residents are advised to wear light and loose clothing, limit time outdoors and stay hydrated by drinking water and natural juices and avoiding alcoholic beverages, coffee and sodas, according to Brandie Knazze, the commissioner of the Department of Family and Support Services.
Residents can call 311 or visit 311.chicago.gov to locate cooling centers nearby.
People can register for Notify Chicago, the city’s extreme weather notification system at notifychicago.org
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By 7 p.m. Tuesday, a line of thunderstorms was forecast to reach the western suburbs, reaching Chicago sometime before 11 p.m.
“Damaging winds capable of uprooting trees will be possible with this line. Locally large hail and a brief embedded tornado cannot be ruled out,” the weather service website warned.
There is a threat of flash flooding after potential thunderstorms and torrential downpours after midnight in areas south of Interstate 80, the website said.
The six tornadoes that hit Monday were confirmed through a combination of photos, videos and reports from trained weather spotters, said Rafal Ogorek, a meteorologist at the weather service. That number is expected to grow to more than 12 once crews that were dispatched Tuesday morning to the Kane, Ogle and DeKalb County areas conduct a more thorough assessment.
“It’s possible that we might end up with a total of more than a dozen,” Ogorek said, noting the National Weather Service’s Chicago area office in Romeoville covers 23 counties in northern Illinois and northwest Indiana. “It’s not out of the question, especially if you count a couple that occurred right outside our area. There were probably additional tornado touchdowns in southern Wisconsin and in the area of northern Illinois covered by the Quad Cities office.”
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The confirmed tornado touchdowns were:
Near the Esmond area, right along the border of Ogle and DeKalb counties, northwest of the city of DeKalb between 4:30 and 5 p.m. South of Kirkland North of Creston, south of Esmond, also near the Ogle and DeKalb County line Burlington, in northwest Kane County, around 5:30 p.m. In or near Sycamore in DeKalb County after 6 p.m., which “possibly lasted all the way until 6:30 or 6:45 (p.m.)” Ogorek said. “There might have been multiple touchdowns.” Near Paw Paw in southeast Lee County around 6 p.m.
The tornado that touched down just outside Sycamore city limits was likely the most significant, Ogorek said. It caused damage between Bethany and Barbara Green roads and from Fenstermaker Road to Airport Road, according to Sycamore’s Deputy Fire Chief Art Zern.
“About half a dozen houses and several outbuildings, like storage buildings and barns, were damaged,” Zern said. “Nobody was injured, so that’s good news. Everybody made it to their basements in time after outdoor warning sirens went off in the area.”
The tornadoes struck a day before the anniversary of a rare derecho and tornadoes within Chicago city limits, which formed in Rogers Park on Aug. 10, 2020, and created a waterspout over Lake Michigan. Eleven tornadoes were confirmed from the system that also uprooted massive trees and left nearly a million ComEd customers without power, some for days.
Ogorek said the height of severe weather season in northern Illinois runs most of the summer, from May to August. As such, he said it’s not surprising the area had tornadoes touchdown almost exactly a year apart.
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“The specific dates may be a coincidence, but it’s not exactly unusual to get multiple tornadoes in August,” he said.
Thunderstorms and warm and humid conditions are expected to continue through the week with temperatures in the upper 80s and lower 90s through Thursday. Cooler and less humid conditions are expected by the weekend with temperatures falling slightly to the lower to mid-80s Friday, according to the weather service’s website.
Check back for updates and for more on the forecast, visit the Tribune’s weather page.
kdouglas@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @312BreakingNews
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