F1 tornado in Kankakee County, Illinois

The tornado formed just southwest of the intersection of County Roads 5000S and 3000W. Eyewitnesses stated there were multiple funnels aloft occasionally lowering at this point. The developing vortex continued northeast to cross 3000S just west of 1000W. A brick one story house was directly hit. The roof was torn off and scattered northeast in a field across the street. Numerous large trees were snapped or uprooted around the home. An empty corrugated grain bin was pushed into a tree. The tornado continued northeast to the Cognis chemical plant where the brick wall of a building fell outward. About 200 feet of chain link fence was torn up. Several cinder block buildings were damaged or destroyed in this complex just northeast of where the fence was taken out. The vortex moved across railroad tracks to tear up part of the corrugated metal roofs at the River Valley Metro building (city bus storage) and other nearby businesses. The final damage was at a farm at the corner of Rts 45/52 and River Road. A barn was destroyed as well as several large sheds. The vortex apparently lifted after that as it moved just west of Kankakee Community College to the Kankakee River. Areas of debris could be seen in the trees north of River Road but no tree damage was noted.