Three tornadoes touch down in the Chicago area Saturday as storms swept through

One was in southeast Aurora near southwest Naperville with winds peaking at an estimated 85 miles per hour; another twister hit southern Romeoville, peaking with winds at 70 miles per hour; and a third tornado with winds topping at 75 miles per hour landed just north of the town of Manhattan.

SHARE Three tornadoes touch down in the Chicago area Saturday as storms swept through
A person holds an umbrella on a rainy Chicago day.

Heavy rain was forecast Sunday in the area south of Interstate 80.

Sun-Times file

A day after three minor tornadoes with winds maxing out at 75-80 miles per hour touched down outside the city, rain persisted in parts of the Chicago area but the forecast looks clear to start the week.

The three tornadoes, all categorized as EF-0 or the weakest kind recorded, touched down in the Chicago area as storms swept through, according to the NWS.

In southeast Aurora near southwest Naperville, a tornado with winds peaking at an estimated 85 miles per hour lifted after 4.5 miles on the ground. Another twister hit southern Romeoville, peaking with winds at 70 miles per hour and damaging parts of Joliet and Crest Hill.

Further south, a third tornado with winds topping at 75 miles per hour landed just north of the town of Manhattan, leaving minor damage behind.

The forecast for the beginning of the week is less eventful than the stormy weekend, according to Gino Izzi, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

“High pressure is coming in, and therefore it’ll be quieter weather,” he said.

Monday and Tuesday are expected to be in the 70s, and showers are expected starting Tuesday night through Wednesday, according to the NWS.

A flood watch warning of potential flash flooding had been in effect until at least noon Sunday throughout portions of northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana, the weather service said. Low-lying areas were at risk of flooding and “ponding” on roads was possible.

More than two inches of rain was recorded in Aurora from Saturday morning through Sunday morning, according to the NWS. A smaller rain total in that time frame hit Chicago, with less than a quarter of an inch recorded at O’Hare International Airport and less than .2 inches recorded at Midway International Airport.

The Latest
Chatterbox doesn’t seem aware that it’s courteous to ask questions, seek others’ opinions.
The way inflation is measured masks certain costs that add to the prices that consumers pay every day. Not surprisingly, higher costs mean lower consumer confidence, no matter what Americans are told about an improving economy.
With Easter around the corner, chocolate makers and food businesses are feeling the impact of soaring global cocoa prices and it’s also hitting consumers.
Despite getting into foul trouble, which limited him to just six minutes in the second half, Shannon finished with 29 points, five rebounds and two assists.