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Watch: Tornado damages more than 100 homes outside of Chicago

CHICAGO (NewsNation Now) — A confirmed EF-3 tornado swept through communities in heavily populated suburban Chicago, damaging more than 100 homes, toppling trees, knocking out power and causing multiple injuries, officials said.

Less than a dozen people were hurt in the tornado that touched down after 11 p.m. Sunday, and all were expected to recover. No one had died.


At least eight people were hospitalized in Naperville, where 22 homes were left “uninhabitable” and more than 130 homes were damaged in the suburb of 147,500 people that’s about 25 miles west of Chicago.

Two people initially described in critical condition had improved by Monday afternoon, said Naperville Fire Chief Mark Puknaitis.

Video from NewsNation affiliate WGN shows several trees and powerlines down, along with damage to homes and vehicles that found their way in the path of the storm. Some gas leaks were reported in Naperville, and crews went door to door shutting off lines, Linda LaCloche, communications director in Naperville said.

Officials in the nearby village of Woodridge said a tornado damaged at least 100 structures. The village’s fire chief said three people were taken to hospitals, but he could not provide more detail on their injuries during a Monday press conference.

Woodridge Police Chief Brian Cunningham said early warnings likely minimized the number of injuries.

“It was a nighttime event, a lot of people were sleeping, weren’t aware of what was going on,” he said. “The early warning got people to shelter. And the fact that there’s only three people injured and the amount of devastation that’s in the community, it’s just amazing.”

The National Weather Service confirmed “damage consistent with an EF-3 rating” in the Woodridge/Naperville area following the overnight tornado, WGN reports.

The weather service said surveys on Monday determined two EF1 tornadoes packing winds up to 100 mph struck northern Indiana’s St. Joseph and Steuben counties, damaging some barns and trees and destroying other exterior structures.

Severe storms also hit other parts of the Midwest. A tornado damaged several buildings and knocked down power lines and trees in eastern Iowa on Sunday night. And in Missouri, a thunderstorm with strong winds whipped through parts of the state, knocking down trees and power lines.

Late Sunday and early Monday, severe thunderstorms also brought gusting winds and drenching rains to parts of Michigan.

The National Weather Service Grand Rapids confirmed a tornado touched down in Coldwater, Michigan late Sunday night. The town is located about 60 miles southeast of Kalamazoo.

NewsNation affiliate WOOD reported that winds reached up to 60 mph causing some damage to structures along with downed trees. No serious injuries were reported.

This story is developing. Refresh for updates.

The Associated Press and NewsNation affiliates across the country contributed to this report.