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National Weather Service Confirms 5 Tornadoes Hit Illinois Monday

EF-I tornadoes were confirmed in Earlville, Plainfield/Romeoville and far southwest Kendall County. Two tornadoes were also confirmed near Grant Park in Kankakee County.

Shannon Antinori contributed to this article

The National Weather Service has confirmed that five EF-1 tornadoes touched down during Monday night's severe storms.

The first twister struck Earlville, located in LaSalle County about 35 miles southwest of Aurora, while the second hit the far southwest portion of Kendall County. A third tornado was reported at 9:58 p.m. in northeast Plainfield and northwest Romeoville, according to the NWS.

The final two tornadoes were reported in northeast Kankakee County — one northwest of Grant Park and the other northeast of Grant Park. 

The Plainfield/Romeoville tornado was confirmed based on damage to trees and homes in the area, according to the NWS. The NWS also confirmed the tornado crossed Interstate 55 near mile marker 261. 

"Over 50 trees, including many large softwood trees, were uprooted within a concentrated path," according to the National Weather Service. 

An EF-1 tornado can have wind speeds of 86 to 110 mph, compared with the EF-5 tornado that hit the Plainfield area in 1990. An EF-5 twister has wind speeds in excess of 200 mph, and the devastating 1990 storm had winds averaging 300 mph. 

Monday night's winds knocked down trees, tore shingles and siding loose from homes, downed power lines and knocked out power. ComEd on Tuesday said restoring power would be a "multi-day effort."


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