Multiple Tornadoes Rip Through Northern Illinois
- Severe storms produced multiple tornadoes across northern Illinois, with warnings issued including for the Chicago area earlier. - The NWS confirmed at least seven tornadoes, including an EF-2 in Lena with estimated 130 mph peak winds. - Damage assessments and recovery are ongoing as communities tally impacts and officials coordinate response (nbcchicago.com).
At least seven tornadoes touched down in Illinois on Friday, April 17, after severe storms swept across the northern part of the state and triggered warnings that reached the Chicago area. (nbcchicago.com) The strongest tornado confirmed so far hit Lena in Stephenson County as an EF-2, with estimated peak winds of 130 mph. National Weather Service survey crews said it was on the ground from 3:32 p.m. to 3:55 p.m., carving an 8.5-mile path and reaching a maximum width of 750 yards. (nbcchicago.com) In Lena, the worst damage was reported on Grove Street, where roofs were blown off three houses and two of those homes partially collapsed. The Weather Service said trees, power poles and other structures were also heavily damaged. (nbcchicago.com) As of 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, the National Weather Service office in Chicago had confirmed at least six tornadoes in its forecast area: Pecatonica, Harrison, Roscoe, rural Livingston County, Gibson City and Buckley. The agency said surveys and satellite analysis were still underway and the tornado count could rise. (weather.gov) The Lena tornado was surveyed by the National Weather Service office in the Quad Cities, which covers that part of northwest Illinois. That split explains why statewide totals moved higher than the Chicago office’s six confirmed tornadoes. (nbcchicago.com, weather.gov) The storms capped a volatile week in northern Illinois. The Chicago Weather Service office said repeated rounds of thunderstorms had already dropped 4 to 6 inches of rain near the Wisconsin line, with a daily record 2.43 inches at O’Hare on April 14, pushing rivers higher before Friday’s tornadoes arrived. (weather.gov) Friday’s setup also helps explain why warnings spread so broadly. The Weather Service said one early supercell in northwestern Winnebago County produced hail larger than 2 inches, tornadoes and torrential rain before fast-moving storm lines raced east with measured wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph. (weather.gov) Late Friday, Gov. JB Pritzker said the Illinois Emergency Management Agency was on the ground in Lena and coordinating with local officials. State guidance says damage assessments are used to document harm to homes and infrastructure, set response priorities and determine whether state or federal recovery aid may be available. (nbcchicago.com, iemaohs.illinois.gov) No deaths or injuries had been reported in Lena as of Saturday night, even with extensive structural damage. The Weather Service said more survey updates are expected in the coming weeks as crews finish mapping tracks across northern and east-central Illinois. (nbcchicago.com, weather.gov)
