When we
headed out on a ten mile hike back to McHenry County we started at
the nearby parking. There was a crowd gathered in the parking lot
to assess the damage from the 11/22/2010 tornado that tore through
this area.
The
tornado hit at 3:04 p.m. about ¼ mile southwest of the intersection
of Argyle and Harlem roads. The tornado then carved a 16.4 mile
path northeast that measured up to 200 yards wide. The tornado
lifted around 3:23 p.m. about a mile west of Lawrence, according to
the weather service.
The
National Weather Service confirmed that the tornado was rated an
EF-2 with wind speeds up to 135 mph. EF-2 results in considerable
damage -- Roofs torn off well-constructed houses; foundations of
frame homes shifted; mobile homes completely destroyed; large trees
snapped or uprooted; light-object missiles generated; cars lifted
off ground.