• Editor’s note: This article was updated at 10 a.m. Friday, March 3, to include the latest information from the National Weather Service Chicago.

As of 10 a.m. Friday, there were no reports of tornado touchdowns or major storm damage in Kane County due to Tuesday’s severe weather.

But the National Weather Service Chicago has confirmed one fatality south of here, when a tornado struck in central LaSalle County in and near Naplate and Ottawa, and is now reporting five tornadoes in total have been confirmed in the Chicago Warning Area.

“Kane County went under a severe thunderstorm warning twice last night,” Kane County Office of Emergency Management Director Don Bryant said. “No significant storm related damage has been reported other than some minor surface flooding during the height of the storm.”

The OEM did send a crew and a light tower down to Ottawa last night in response to a MABAS interdivisional request.

“NWS Chicago damage survey teams will be assessing storm damage and reports of tornadoes in LaSalle and Grundy Counties,” the weather service said. “NWS Lincoln will be assisting, surveying from Washburn to the Long Point area.”

Tornadoes determined in the NWS Chicago County Warning Area will be summarized on this web page.

Bryant reminded Kane County residents to be prepared for tornadoes and severe weather.

“As the week of March 5-11 is severe weather preparedness week, last night’s storm should serve as a reminder to everyone to take some time to review their family and work place severe weather procedures and prepare for any weather related events,” he said.

Storm damage from the Ottawa area. (CREDIT: Kane County Office of Emergency Management Facebook page)

Fast Facts

• Thus far, there have been five tornadoes confirmed in the NWS Chicago County Warning Area (CWA), including one that started in the NWS Lincoln CWA (Washburn to Rutland).
• In total, there have been at least six tornadoes confirmed across all of northern Illinois that includes one in the NWS Quad Cities CWA near the town of Cherry.
• The strongest were two tornadoes rated EF-3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale — one impacting the communities of Naplate and Ottawa, and the other Washburn, both causing significant damage.
• The Naplate to Ottawa tornado killed two persons and injured 14.
• The largest hail reported in the area was in Ottawa, to the size of baseballs.
• Tornadoes also impacted southern IL, MO, IA, IN, KY, and MI. See this regional map for more.

SOURCE: NWS Chicago