Thursday, May 26, 2011

NWS: Damage in Winnebago County now likely from a tornado

From Jim Allsopp, Chicago NWS:

Eric Lenning and I have been pouring over data, reports, radar, photos, and videos. We also had a meteorologist from a private met firm from Grand Forks who happened to be in town visiting family. He tagged along with me when I was up there Monday. He did some additional surveying the last couple days. From that we concluded that the tornado that came out of Ogle County to near Winnebago...weakened slightly then redeveloped about a mile east of Winnebago. If you follow this path, all the damage up through the Kennedy Middle School and into Machesney Park near the River lines up. I lost the damage or it became very very weak after the subdivision north of Harlem along the River. This would have passed very close to WTVO and WIFR! I sent a PNS with the information.


We also had a spotter/chaser who was 100% positive he witnessed a tornado near Meridian and Latham where there was heavy tree damage. This lines up well with the damage at the fire station. When we were out there we couldn't say for sure if it was a tornado. Damage wasn't conclusive, but a firefighter claims to have seen a funnel and it lines up with Latham and Meridian. When we drove southwest from the fire station there were a few limbs broken here and there but very minor compared to what happened at the fire station. Tree damage was more impressive further southwest of the river toward the Latham-Meridian location. Likewise on the other side of I-90, just a couple limbs but very weak damage.


They are also looking into a possible tornado in Ogle County near Kings, or just north of Rochelle.  If they provide any additional information on that we will pass it along right here!




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