TAYLORVILLE, IL — The National Weather Service is investigating a dozen reports of tornadoes in central Illinois, including reports in Christian, Cass, Fulton, McDonough and Schuyler counties, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Surveys were scheduled to begin Sunday to determine whether any of the 12 reports will be confirmed as tornadoes, according to the Tribune.
Multiple outlets were reporting a tornado causing significant damage in Taylorville, Illinois, located about 30 miles southeast of Springfield, on Saturday. As warm, wet weather melted last weekend’s snow in Chicagoland, tornado warnings were issued in the Christian County town Saturday evening.
The Breeze-Courier said 30 people were injured during Saturday night’s storm, calling the damage “devastating.”
Christian County Emergency Management Director Mike Crews told the outlet the fire department on Saturday received multiple calls of people trapped in their homes due to large debris and downed power lines.
The area surrounding Taylorville High School was the hardest hit, with potential gas leaks reported in the area, officials told the Breeze-Courier. Ambulances from nearby communities were brought in to deal with calls, and at least one structure fire was reported.
On Saturday, Taylorville residents were advised to stay in their homes due to severe damage and closed roads, the Illinois State Police told the Decatur Herald & Review. More than 2,000 residents in the town of about 11,000 were believed to be without power.
In nearby Macon County, at least one home reportedly had severe damage from a storm or tornado.
Severe weather was also reported in other parts of Illinois Saturday. A tornado watch was in place until 9 p.m. for De Witt, Macon, McLean and Piatt counties.
In Chicagoland, flood warnings were in place until early Monday in many counties, including Will, Kane and Kendall. A flood warning is in place until Dec. 6 for Lake County.
December tornadoes are infrequent in the United States. The states reporting the most twisters in December are Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Arkansas, although it’s not unheard of for tornadoes to touch down in Illinois in December or even into the winter.
On Dec. 18, 1957, a total of 19 tornadoes touched down in southern Illinois in the span of five hours. Thirteen people were killed and more than 250 injured in that tornado outbreak, according to a University of Illinois study.
Tornadoes have occurred during every month of the year, and in 2017, as many as seven ripped through Ottawa and Crossville, Illinois, on Feb. 28, killing several people.
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