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NOUS43 KLOT 250242
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ILZ003>006-008-010>013-019>021-023-032-033-039-103>108-INZ001-002-
010-011-019-251445-
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO IL
942 PM CDT FRI APR 24 2026 /1042 PM EDT FRI APR 24 2026/
..NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR 4/17/2026 TORNADO EVENT - UPDATE #3
THIS PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT SUMMARIZES THE RESULTS OF STORM
SURVEYS CONDUCTED ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST ILLINOIS AND
NORTHWEST INDIANA AFTER SEVERAL WAVES OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
MOVED ACROSS THE AREA ON APRIL 17, 2026.
SINCE THE LAST PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT ISSUANCE, TWO
ADDITIONAL EF-0 TORNADOES FROM THIS EVENT HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED IN
THE NWS CHICAGO FORECAST AREA: ONE NEAR MOMENCE, IL AND THE OTHER
NEAR WOODLAND, IL. THIS BRINGS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF TORNADOES
CONFIRMED IN OUR FORECAST AREA TO 12.
THE INFORMATION IN THIS TEXT PRODUCT REMAINS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
PRIOR TO BEING FINALIZED AND PUBLISHED IN NWS STORM DATA IN A FEW
MONTHS.
PECATONICA, IL
RATING: EFU
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: N/A
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 0.69 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 50 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 04/17/2026
START TIME: 04:35 PM CDT
START LOCATION: 3 N PECATONICA / WINNEBAGO COUNTY / IL
START LAT/LON: 42.3512 / -89.3571
END DATE: 04/17/2026
END TIME: 04:37 PM CDT
END LOCATION: 3 N PECATONICA / WINNEBAGO COUNTY / IL
END LAT/LON: 42.3524 / -89.3437
SURVEY SUMMARY:
STORM CHASER VIDEO SHOWS A BRIEF TORNADO TOUCHING DOWN IN AN OPEN
FIELD 3 MILES NORTH OF PECATONICA. THE TORNADO WAS ONLY ON THE
GROUND FOR ABOUT TWO MINUTES AND CAUSED NO KNOWN DAMAGE.
HARRISON, IL
RATING: EF1
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 110 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 4.32 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 125 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 04/17/2026
START TIME: 04:58 PM CDT
START LOCATION: 6 SW ROCKTON / WINNEBAGO COUNTY / IL
START LAT/LON: 42.3942 / -89.1782
END DATE: 04/17/2026
END TIME: 05:07 PM CDT
END LOCATION: 3 SW ROCKTON / WINNEBAGO COUNTY / IL
END LAT/LON: 42.4293 / -89.1172
SURVEY SUMMARY:
A HIGH-END EF-1 TORNADO BEGAN NEAR MERIDIAN ROAD BETWEEN FAVOR
ROAD AND STEWARD ROAD SOUTHEAST OF HARRISON, INITIALLY CAUSING
DAMAGE TO TREES AND AN OUTBUILDING. VIDEO FOOTAGE FROM STORM
CHASERS DOCUMENTED THE TORNADO BECOMING FULLY CONDENSED AND
GROWING IN SIZE AND INTENSITY AS IT TRACKED EAST-NORTHEASTWARD
ACROSS FAVOR ROAD AND IMPACTED TWO FARMSTEADS, CAUSING
SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO A FEW OUTBUILDINGS AND SNAPPING AND
UPROOTING MULTIPLE TREES. ADDITIONAL STORM CHASER FOOTAGE SHOWED
THE TORNADO INTENSIFYING AGAIN AS IT TRACKED NORTHEASTWARD ACROSS
GUMMOW ROAD AND THEN REACHING PEAK INTENSITY AS IT IMPACTED A
PROPERTY ALONG FREEPORT ROAD. AT THIS PROPERTY, THE MAJORITY OF
AN OLDER TWO-STORY HOUSE'S ROOF WAS REMOVED, SEVERAL TREES WERE
SNAPPED, AND AN OLD BARN WAS DESTROYED. THE FOOTAGE THEN CAPTURED
THE TORNADO MAKING A SHARP TURN TO THE SOUTHEAST AND CROSSING
FREEPORT ROAD ONCE AGAIN BEFORE ROPING OUT AND EVENTUALLY
DISSIPATING IN OPEN FIELDS NEAR OWEN CENTER ROAD.
ROSCOE, IL
RATING: EF1
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 95 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 11.61 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 350 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 04/17/2026
START TIME: 07:03 PM CDT
START LOCATION: 4 WSW ROCKTON / WINNEBAGO COUNTY / IL
START LAT/LON: 42.4195 / -89.1533
END DATE: 04/17/2026
END TIME: 07:17 PM CDT
END LOCATION: 3 ESE ROSCOE / WINNEBAGO COUNTY / IL
END LAT/LON: 42.4019 / -88.9413
SURVEY SUMMARY:
AN EF-1 TORNADO BEGAN NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF FREEPORT ROAD AND
BATES ROAD SOUTHEAST OF HARRISON, INITIALLY DOWNING SEVERAL TREE
BRANCHES AT AND NEAR A SMALL CEMETERY. THE TORNADO PRODUCED
ADDITIONAL TREE DAMAGE AS IT TRACKED EASTWARD ALONG ROSCOE ROAD
BEFORE ENTERING THE WEST SIDE OF ROSCOE AND REACHING ITS PEAK
INTENSITY AS IT TRACKED THROUGH THE HAWKS POINT, CRYSTAL HILLS,
AND OXFORD COMMONS SUBDIVISIONS. THERE, MULTIPLE HOMES HAD
PORTIONS OF THEIR ROOFS TORN OFF OR DAMAGED AND HAD SECTIONS OF
SIDING AND FASCIA PEELED OFF. A FEW HOMES ALSO HAD THEIR GARAGE
DOORS BLOWN IN, LEADING TO PARTS OF THEIR GARAGE WALLS GETTING
BLOWN OUT IN A FEW CASES. NUMEROUS TREES WERE ALSO UPROOTED OR
DAMAGED IN THESE SUBDIVISIONS. THE TORNADO THEN CONTINUED
EASTWARD, KNOCKING DOWN SEVERAL POWER POLES ALONG GLEASMAN ROAD
AND DAMAGING A NEARBY FARM OUTBUILDING BEFORE CROSSING THE ROCK
RIVER. EAST OF THE ROCK RIVER, THE TORNADO CONTINUED TO CAUSE
EXTENSIVE TREE DAMAGE. MULTIPLE ADDITIONAL HOUSES SUSTAINED ROOF
AND FASCIA DAMAGE FROM THE TORNADO AS WELL. THE TORNADO APPEARED
TO DISSIPATE JUST AS IT REACHED THE WINNEBAGO-BOONE COUNTY LINE.
EXTENSIVE STRAIGHT-LINE WIND DAMAGE WAS ALSO OBSERVED IN CLOSE
PROXIMITY TO THE TORNADIC CIRCULATION, PARTICULARLY ALONG ITS
SOUTHERN FLANK.
MENDOTA, IL
RATING: EF1
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 95 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 17.60 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 300 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 04/17/2026
START TIME: 08:14 PM CDT
START LOCATION: 2 E ARLINGTON / BUREAU COUNTY / IL
START LAT/LON: 41.4646 / -89.2054
END DATE: 04/17/2026
END TIME: 08:32 PM CDT
END LOCATION: 3 NNW EARLVILLE / LA SALLE COUNTY / IL
END LAT/LON: 41.6249 / -88.95
SURVEY SUMMARY:
THE TORNADO APPEARED TO START JUST SOUTH OF COUNTY ROAD 2200 N IN
BUREAU COUNTY, WHERE A BARN STRUCTURE SUSTAINED ROOFING DAMAGE.
THE TORNADO THEN MOVED NORTHEASTWARD INTO LASALLE COUNTY,
PRODUCING DAMAGE TO TREES AND FARM OUTBUILDINGS. SEVERAL WOODEN
POWER POLES WERE DAMAGED JUST SOUTHEAST OF MENDOTA BEFORE A SEMI
TRUCK WAS BLOWN OVER ON I-39 AS THE TORNADO CONTINUED
NORTHEASTWARD. THE TORNADO THEN PASSED NEAR MERIDEN, CAUSING
ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO TREES AND FARM OUTBUILDINGS BEFORE
DISSIPATING IN AN OPEN FIELD NORTHWEST OF EARLVILLE.
RURAL SOUTHERN LIVINGSTON COUNTY, IL
RATING: EF1
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 90 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 7.90 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 50 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 04/17/2026
START TIME: 09:19 PM CDT
START LOCATION: 4 E PLEASANT HILL / MCLEAN COUNTY / IL
START LAT/LON: 40.6132 / -88.6758
END DATE: 04/17/2026
END TIME: 09:27 PM CDT
END LOCATION: 5 SSW FAIRBURY / LIVINGSTON COUNTY / IL
END LAT/LON: 40.6728 / -88.5478
SURVEY SUMMARY:
THE TORNADO BEGAN IN RURAL NORTHEAST MCLEAN COUNTY ABOUT 4 MILES
NORTHWEST OF COLFAX, DAMAGING TREES AND POWER POLES AND POWER
LINES. THE TORNADO CROSSED INTO RURAL SOUTHERN LIVINGSTON COUNTY
A FEW MILES SOUTH OF FAIRBURY, DAMAGING MORE TREES AND A MACHINE
SHED.
GIBSON CITY, IL
RATING: EF1
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 90 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 4.90 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 100 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 04/17/2026
START TIME: 09:32 PM CDT
START LOCATION: 1 W GIBSON CITY / FORD COUNTY / IL
START LAT/LON: 40.4648 / -88.3989
END DATE: 04/17/2026
END TIME: 09:37 PM CDT
END LOCATION: 2 WNW ELLIOTT / FORD COUNTY / IL
END LAT/LON: 40.4799 / -88.3088
SURVEY SUMMARY:
THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN ON THE WEST SIDE OF GIBSON CITY,
PRODUCING SIGNIFICANT ROOFING DAMAGE TO SEVERAL BUILDINGS ALONG
8TH STREET. THE TORNADO CONTINUED ENE FOR SEVERAL MILES,
PRODUCING PRIMARILY TREE DAMAGE BEFORE LIFTING APPROXIMATELY
3 MILES ENE OF GIBSON CITY.
LODA TO BUCKLEY, IL
RATING: EF1
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 95 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 9.24 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 150 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 04/17/2026
START TIME: 09:46 PM CDT
START LOCATION: 5 W LODA / FORD COUNTY / IL
START LAT/LON: 40.5326 / -88.1643
END DATE: 04/17/2026
END TIME: 09:55 PM CDT
END LOCATION: 1 E BUCKLEY / IROQUOIS COUNTY / IL
END LAT/LON: 40.5984 / -88.017
SURVEY SUMMARY:
THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN WEST OF LODA WITH INITIAL DAMAGE
CONSISTING OF THE COLLAPSE OF TWO EMPTY GRAIN BINS. THE TORNADO
CONTINUED ENE TO JUST SOUTH OF BUCKLEY, DOWNING AND UPROOTING
TREES AND BLOWING OVER SEMI-TRUCKS ON INTERSTATE 57. NEAR THE END
OF THE DAMAGE TRACK, THE ROOF OF A LARGE OUTBUILDING WAS REMOVED,
WHILE NEARBY TREES WERE SNAPPED NEAR THE BASE AND DEPOSITED IN
VARIOUS DIRECTIONS.
WOODLAND, IL
RATING: EF0
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 80 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 2.94 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 50 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 04/17/2026
START TIME: 10:11 PM CDT
START LOCATION: WOODLAND / IROQUOIS COUNTY / IL
START LAT/LON: 40.7138 / -87.7262
END DATE: 04/17/2026
END TIME: 10:14 PM CDT
END LOCATION: 3 SE WATSEKA / IROQUOIS COUNTY / IL
END LAT/LON: 40.7493 / -87.6951
SURVEY SUMMARY:
THIS TORNADO CAUSED DAMAGE TO TREES AND OUTBUILDINGS EAST AND
NORTHEAST OF WOODLAND.
RURAL EASTERN IROQUOIS COUNTY, IL TO SW NEWTON COUNTY, IN
RATING: EF2
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 115 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 11.59 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 125 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 04/17/2026
START TIME: 10:14 PM CDT
START LOCATION: 3 ESE WOODLAND / IROQUOIS COUNTY / IL
START LAT/LON: 40.6807 / -87.6762
END DATE: 04/17/2026
END TIME: 10:25 PM CDT
END LOCATION: 2 W KENTLAND / NEWTON COUNTY / IN
END LAT/LON: 40.7726 / -87.495
SURVEY SUMMARY:
THE TORNADO APPEARED TO TOUCH DOWN IN AN OPEN FIELD SOUTHWEST OF
THE INTERSECTION OF E 1200 NORTH ROAD AND N 2450 EAST ROAD AND
IMPACTED A FARM, LEADING TO DAMAGE TO SEVERAL STRUCTURES. THE
TORNADO THEN CONTINUED NORTHEASTWARD, CAUSING DAMAGE TO TREES AND
FARM OUTBUILDINGS. THE PEAK INTENSITY OF THE TORNADO OCCURRED NEAR
THE END OF THE PATH ALONG THE IROQUOIS AND NEWTON COUNTY BORDER,
WHERE OVER A DOZEN NEW WOODEN POWER POLES WERE SNAPPED AT THEIR
BASE. THE TORNADO THEN APPEARED TO LIFT JUST NORTHEAST OF US-24 IN
SOUTHWESTERN NEWTON COUNTY.
MOMENCE, IL
RATING: EF0
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 75 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 5.60 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 75 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 04/17/2026
START TIME: 10:15 PM CDT
START LOCATION: 2 N SUN RIVER TERRACE / KANKAKEE COUNTY / IL
START LAT/LON: 41.1575 / -87.7302
END DATE: 04/17/2026
END TIME: 10:21 PM CDT
END LOCATION: 2 S GRANT PARK / KANKAKEE COUNTY / IL
END LAT/LON: 41.2068 / -87.6477
SURVEY SUMMARY:
THIS BRIEF TORNADO TRACK STARTED NEAR FARR CREEK IN THE SMALL
COMMUNITY OF ELDRIDGE WITHIN UNINCORPORATED MOMENCE. ALONG THE
PATH, A COMBINATION OF SCATTERED TREE DAMAGE AND OUTBUILDING ROOF
DAMAGE WAS NOTED. AS THE TORNADO TRACKED NORTH OF THE CENTER OF
MOMENCE, MULTIPLE POWER POLES WERE DOWNED ALONG IL-1, WITH
ADDITIONAL TREE DAMAGE NOTED NEAR 5500N. THE TORNADO APPEARS TO
HAVE DISSIPATED JUST NORTHEAST OF TRIMM CREEK.
KENTLAND, IN
RATING: EF1
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 90 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 5.48 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 50 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 04/17/2026
START TIME: 10:26 PM CDT
START LOCATION: 2 SSW KENTLAND / NEWTON COUNTY / IN
START LAT/LON: 40.7495 / -87.4598
END DATE: 04/17/2026
END TIME: 10:31 PM CDT
END LOCATION: 4 ENE KENTLAND / NEWTON COUNTY / IN
END LAT/LON: 40.7977 / -87.3769
SURVEY SUMMARY:
A NARROW EF-1 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF W 1700
S AND S 350 W ROADS, WHERE SEVERAL LARGE TREE BRANCHES WERE
DOWNED. THE TORNADO THEN CROSSED US HIGHWAY 41 AT PEAK INTENSITY,
DOWNING A BILLBOARD, UPLIFTING A LARGE PORTION OF THE ROOF OF A
RESTAURANT, AND PUSHING OVER A SEMI TRUCK. A FARM OUTBUILDING WAS
DAMAGED NEARBY, AS WELL. DEBRIS WAS THROWN NEARLY 2 MILES
DOWNSTREAM IN AN OPEN FIELD JUST NORTH OF US HIGHWAY 24. A NARROW
PATH EVIDENT IN SATELLITE IMAGERY IN OPEN FIELDS TO THE NORTHEAST
OF THIS DEBRIS SUGGESTED THAT THE TORNADO LIKELY CONTINUED TO THE
NORTHEAST FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO MORE MILES WITHOUT IMPACTING ANY
TREES OR STRUCTURES BEFORE DISSIPATING.
LOWELL, IL
RATING: EF0
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 80 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 10.31 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 250 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 04/17/2026
START TIME: 10:28 PM CDT
START LOCATION: 5 ENE GRANT PARK / KANKAKEE COUNTY / IL
START LAT/LON: 41.2498 / -87.5356
END DATE: 04/17/2026
END TIME: 10:38 PM CDT
END LOCATION: 2 ESE LAKE DALECARLIA / LAKE COUNTY / IN
END LAT/LON: 41.3262 / -87.3672
SURVEY SUMMARY:
THE TORNADO BEGAN JUST WEST OF THE ILLINOIS-INDIANA BORDER WITH
THE FIRST INSTANCES OF UPROOTED SOFTWOOD TREES, DOWNED LARGE
BRANCHES FROM HARDWOOD TREES, AND MINOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE NOTED
NEAR STATELINE RD ON EITHER SIDE OF THE BORDER. AS THE TORNADO
QUICKLY TRACKED NORTHEAST, IT CAUSED ADDITIONAL TREE DAMAGE ON AT
LEAST ONE PROPERTY NEAR US-41. ALONG THE PATH TOWARD AND THROUGH
LOWELL, THE TORNADO BLEW OUT SECTIONS OF A GAS STATION CANOPY
ALONG IN-2 AND THEN A GARAGE WALL AT A RESIDENCE JUST NORTHWEST OF
DOWNTOWN LOWELL. THIS WAS IN ADDITION TO CAUSING FURTHER TREE AND
MINOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE IN A DEFINED NARROW PATH. THE TORNADO
CONTINUED THROUGH SOUTHERN AND SOUTHEASTERN SECTIONS OF LAKE
DALECARLIA, CAUSING PRIMARILY TREE DAMAGE AND MINOR STRUCTURAL
DAMAGE DUE TO FALLEN TREES. BASED ON THE GROUND SURVEY, THE
TORNADO LIKELY DISSIPATED PRIOR TO REACHING IN-55. FINALLY, JUST
SOUTH OF THE TORNADO TRACK THROUGH PORTIONS OF LOWELL, THE SURVEY
TEAM DOCUMENTED A FAIRLY NARROW CORRIDOR OF STRAIGHT-LINE WIND
DAMAGE.
EF SCALE: THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE CLASSIFIES TORNADOES INTO THE
FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:
EF0.....65 TO 85 MPH
EF1.....86 TO 110 MPH
EF2.....111 TO 135 MPH
EF3.....136 TO 165 MPH
EF4.....166 TO 200 MPH
EF5.....>200 MPH
NOTE:
THE INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO
CHANGE PENDING FINAL REVIEW OF THE EVENTS AND PUBLICATION IN
NWS STORM DATA.
NWS CHICAGO
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