Four tornadoes touch down

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BELLEVILLE (AP) – Powerful thunderstorms spawned four reports of tornadoes touching down in southern Illinois on Monday, uprooting trees, downing power lines and damaging outbuildings.

No major damage or injuries were reported, said Illinois Emergency Management Agency spokeswoman Patti Thompson.

The storm damaged Fulton Junior High School and caused other “stereotypical tornado roof issues” such as torn shingles on garages and sheds, said O’Fallon Police Department Sgt. Jim Cavins.

No one was hurt, Cavins said.

Nearly 12,000 customers were without power Monday night, according to the utility Ameren.

Three tornadoes were spotted in St. Clair County, including in O’Fallon, Belleville and on Scott Air Force Base, said National Weather Service meteorologist Ed Shimon. The final tornado report occurred in Calhoun County.

A base spokeswoman didn’t immediately return a telephone call after business hours.

The tornado reports were preliminary and it will take time to confirm them, weather officials said, adding it was possible the sightings could have all been from one tornado rolling through the area.