Possible Tornado Damage In Cedar Lake
Around 1:05 AM, Saturday morning, a line of storms hit most of the Region. At that same time RNS was monitoring radar for the area when we noticed a small notch and then a couplet of rotation just west of 41 approaching Cedar Lake at about 1:11 AM. Within 4 minutes of seeing that rotation a Tornado Warning was issued by the US National Weather Service Chicago Illinois.
Shortly after the storm passed damage reports of trees across 133rd were coming in over the police radio traffic. Also to our inbox property owners messaged with damage to vinyl fences, siding, and trees were hitting the message box. After daylight this morning more reports of damage in that specific area to roofs and a gas stations were sent to RNS.
With our experience in weather we believe this may have been a possible QLCS (Quasi-Linear Convective System) tornado with a rating around EF0-EF1. This is a type of tornado that forms within a line of thunderstorms, often a squall line, and can be particularly challenging to forecast due to their rapid development and short lifespan.
RNS is currently out here talking to home owners in Cedar Lake where a distinct path of damage has been located from Wicker passing through a neighborhood and crossing 133rd near Osborne.
The National Weather Service survey crew is out here with us and walking the path in this neighborhood as well.
Homeowners are telling us shortly after 1 AM they woke up to what sounded like small hail hitting the roof and then got bigger in size. Just as that happened trees started falling and crashed through their home right where they were sleeping. No one was injured but it was very close call, the family said. Their homes are currently uninhabitable.
Another homeowners entire roof was ripped off the back of the home and flew across the street to the neighbors front yard. That neighbor also had numerous full size trees down.
There is estimated to be 20 homes that sustained damage, according to fire officials. Multiple businesses along the 133rd Ave corridor also sustained damages. There is estimated to be 3 homes that sustained extensive damage. Multiple trees, power lines, and fences are down on the west side of town, in the “Cook” residential area East of Wicker Ave and South of 133rd Ave.
Cedar Lake Fire Chief Todd Wilkening is reporting no injuries from the storm.
The survey team should have some preliminary findings later this evening we will update this post with.
