Weather
11 Tornadoes Confirmed After Wednesday's Severe Weather In Chicago Area
Three tornadoes were EF-1, while eight were EF-0, or the lowest on the scale.
![With the roof blown off by severe winds, Brian Patel, owner of the Skyline Motel in the suburban town of McCook, for the past 30 years, surveys storm damage in one of the motel rooms.](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/ap/73761/20230714/120852/styles/patch_image/public/ap23195510505391___14120816749.jpg)
ILLINOIS — Eleven tornadoes have been confirmed across the Chicago area after severe weather on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
The strongest tornado was an EF-1 from Burr Ridge to Stickney, which had winds near 110 mph, the weather service said. Trees were snapped and uprooted, and several businesses were damaged.
An EF-1 is considered a moderate tornado, and can reach speeds up to 110 mph, and an EF-0 is the weakest on the enhanced Fujita scale. An EF-5 rating indicates the strongest, deadliest tornadoes, which can reach speeds of more than 200 mph.
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Storm reports included tree limbs down at the Fox Bend Golf Course in Oswego, a roof blown off in Huntley and Countryside, damage to homes in Huntley, car windows blown out in La Grange, serious damage to a business in McCook and warehouses damaged near O'Hare airport.
The confirmed tornados, so far, include:
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- EF-1 in Elgin
- EF-0 in South Elgin
- EF-1 from Burr Ridge to Stickney
- EF-1 in Huntley
- EF-0 in Barrington
- EF-0 in Long Grove
- EF-0 in northeastern Oswego to eastern Boulder Hill
- EF-0 from Carol Stream to Glendale Heights
- EF-0 from Itasca to O'Hare Airport
- EF-0 from O'Hare Airport to the southeast side of Des Plaines
- EF-0 in Streamwood
The weather service said there were also strong straight-line winds of up to 75 mph in Hanover Park, which happened immediately after the Streamwood tornado lifted.
- Tornado Touched Down In Oswego, NWS Confirms
- EF-1 Tornado Confirmed In Kane County
- Tornado Touches Down Near O'Hare: National Weather Service
More information on the tornadoes will continue to be shared as the weather service continues its post-event analysis.
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