The weather service has released the path of the EF-1 tornado, which had 110 mph peak winds, that touched down in Mundelein and damaged an apartment building Tuesday.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued tornado warnings for Lake, Cook and McHenry counties on Tuesday evening.
The warnings went into effect around 7:15 p.m. and expired around 7:45 p.m. but were extended for Lake and Cook counties until 8:30 p.m.
The NWS warned about thunderstorms moving to the northeast capable of producing a tornado.
Radar-indicated rotation was reported, prompting the tornado warning. High wind gusts, heavy rain and large hail were reported.
The NWS Chicago said early Wednesday morning they were sending out three survey teams to identify potential tornadoes from the storms.
The teams were sent out to the northwest suburbs, western Chicago suburbs into southern DeKalb County, southeast Cook County, southwest Kane County, southern DeKalb County and Lee County.
The NWS announced Wednesday evening their surveyors confirmed 10 tornadoes struck the northern Illinois area. All of the tornadoes ranged from EF-0 to EF-1.
The locations included Geneva, South Barrington, Mundelein, Inverness/northern Hoffman Estates, southern Hoffman Estates, Sugar Grove to Batavia, Elburn to Campton Hills, Compton, Waterman and Hinckley to Big Rock.
The Mundelein tornado was determined to be an EF-1. A figure released by the NWS showed the path of the tornado, which had peak winds of 110 mph.
The figure showed the tornado was on the ground for approximately 600 feet from an apartment building at 32 Washington Boulevard to another apartment building at 31 Washington Boulevard.
The NWS said the path was “very short” and damage was confined primarily to one of the two apartment buildings.
After the tornado struck, the Mundelein Fire Department and Mundelein Police Department were called around 8:45 p.m. to 32 Washington Boulevard for a report of a structural collapse incident.
Mundelein Fire Chief Bill Lark initially said at the scene that a suspected microburst removed part of the roof of the Washington Apartments, prior to the NWS confirming it was actually a tornado.
The damage occurred to a 30 by 30 section of the roof on the southwest corner of the structure, Lark said.
A large section of brick facade on the same corner collapsed onto the ground. Two large softwood trees in the parking lot east of the building were uprooted and debris was scattered throughout the area.
In an apartment building to the south, a resident described seeing a second-story glass patio door being pulled out and shattered by the winds, according to the NWS.
The Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was activated to the box alarm level for a structural collapse response.
The alarm activation brought numerous area fire departments and specialized equipment to the scene to check the building.
The Lincolnshire, Countryside, Wauconda, Newport, North Chicago, Libertyville, Round Lake, Lake Bluff, Deerfield, Lake Forest, Gurnee, Buffalo Grove and Lake Zurich assisted the Mundelein Fire Department at the scene.
Lark said the building was deemed to be structurally sound but not inhabitable for residents.
Approximately 59 residents from 21 units were displaced from the building.
The American Red Cross was contacted and responded to the scene to help the residents with housing arrangements.
Some of the displaced residents had other family members in the area, Lark said.
The Lake County Emergency Management Agency coordinated with the Village of Mundelein and the American Red Cross to open a shelter for those who needed a place to stay.
The Salvation Army said they sent Emergency Disaster Services teams to the Mundelein scene as well as other areas of Illinois hit by tornadoes.
The Salvation Army said they are supporting survivors and first responders impacted by the storms. Their teams have provided meals, hydration, pet supplies and emotional and spiritual care during the recovery efforts.
The pet supplies, including four cages, 10 bowls and two bags of dog food, were provided to a shelter for displaced residents’ pets.
Fire crews escorted residents back into and out of the apartment building Tuesday evening to get their necessary belongings, such as medications and clothing.
A child suffered minor injuries after a piece of drywall from the ceiling came down and struck him in the head, Lark said.
The child did not require transport to the hospital.
A second person reporting arm pain from being struck by a piece of drywall was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.
A man at the scene told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that he was messaging his daughter, who lives in one of the affected apartment units, when the collapse occurred.
“I had been messaging her from the Grayslake library saying go to the basement. She messaged back saying there is no basement,” he said.
“I said then get away from the windows and she went in the closet and everything burst. The patio door, the windows, everything burst outward. Part of her kitchen roof collapsed. Thank god she’s fine,” the man added.