By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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BELVIDERE — The National Weather Service said Monday morning that it has now confirmed 16 tornadoes produced by the powerful storms that swept through the region Friday night.
That’s four additional tornadoes confirmed from a day ago, and meteorologists say they’re still investigating parts of northwest Indiana and northern Illinois to determine whether additional tornadoes struck.
The tornadoes include an EF-1 tornado in Machesney Park, an EF-1 tornado in Belvidere and a tornado that has not yet been rated in the area of Caledonia and Poplar Grove.
Related: State officials praise Belvidere’s response, pledge to support recovery efforts
The tornado that ripped the roof off The Apollo Theatre in downtown Belvidere, injuring dozens of people and killing one man, initially touched down at 7:24 p.m. in Ogle County southwest of Davis Junction, according to the National Weather Service.
“It caused generally EF-0 damage with isolated EF-1 damage to a single-family home on the north side of town,” the weather service stated in its report. “The tornado continued northeast into southeastern Winnebago County causing generally EF-0 damage to multiple farms as the tornado reached its widest extent about a half a mile.”
On the Enhanced Fujita Scale, an EF-1 tornado has 3-second gusts of wind ranging from 86 to 110 miles per hour, according to the weather service.
The tornado then moved into Boone County, damaging farms. It decreased in size but picked up in intensity as it neared the Belvidere business district, where peak winds were estimated at 100 miles per hour, according to the weather service.
The tornado lifted at 7:49 p.m. near Orth and Capron roads.
Related: ‘We’re all rooting for The Apollo’: Officials optimistic the historic structure can be saved
The National Weather Service said the surveys have not yet been completed for the tornadoes in Machesney Park and in the Poplar Grove and Caledonia area.
Confirmed tornadoes
- EF-1 near Deer Grove
- EF-2 near Amboy
- EF-1 in West Brooklyn
- Near Baileyville(rating TBD)
- EF-1 in Machesney Park
- EF-1 from Davis Junction to Belvidere
- Caledonia/Poplar Grove, IL (rating TBD)
- EF-0 in Montgomery and Aurora
- EF-0 in Plainfield
- EF-1 near Wellington
- EF-1 near Stockland
- EF-1 from Lombard to Addison
- EF-1 in Merrillville, Indiana
- EF-2 near Oxford, Indiana
- EF-2 near Fowler, Indiana
- EF-1 near Remington, Indiana
Source: National Weather Service
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas