That was a tornado in Lake County, weather service confirms

A storm Tuesday evening that blew through northern Waukegan and Beach Park included a tornado, the National Weather Service confirmed Wednesday.

The weather service's staff surveyed storm damage Wednesday with the Lake County and Waukegan emergency management agencies and reviewed reports from trained spotters before concluding a "brief tornado" occurred before the storm moved over Lake Michigan. The weather service rated the tornado as an EF-1, which is regarded as "weak" on the Fujita scale with an estimated peak wind of 90 mph.

The storm started at 6:39 p.m. Tuesday in Waukegan, traveled just over three miles and ended four minutes later, the weather service reported. Its maximum path was 200 yards.

Minor damage to homes and businesses was reported, along with one minor injury. Damage included shattered windows, roof damage, fence destruction and damage to a gas station canopy, the weather service reported.

A vehicle flipped just east of the intersection of Yorkhouse Road and Lewis Avenue, where one minor injury was reported. Numerous trees were felled or sustained heavy branch damage.

The tornado was at its widest and strongest in the latter half its path, the weather service reported. A one-mile nature preserve area between the last damage point and the lake shore was unable to be surveyed, according to the weather service.

Earlier Wednesday, the weather service reported that a supercell storm, known as a rotating storm, strengthened over Waukegan about 6:40 p.m. Tuesday. Visual evidence indicated a tornado likely occurred, producing a narrow path for approximately two miles to the lake front.

The agency referred to it is a "probable tornado" with a waterspout confirmed offshore. A waterspout is a rotating column of water and spray formed by a whirlwind occurring over the water.

The information is preliminary and subject to change pending final review, according to the weather service