Alert archive / Illinois / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 49, NWS Quad Cities, IA

April 17, 2026Bureau County, Putnam County, Illinois

NWS Quad Cities, IA issued this tornado warning at Apr 17, 2026, 7:44 PM CDT for Bureau County, Putnam County, Illinois. It was in force for 61 min. 9 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Apr 17, 2026, 7:44 PM CDT (00:44 UTC)
Expired
Apr 17, 2026, 8:45 PM CDT
In force
61 min
Issued by
NWS Quad Cities, IA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Bureau County, IL, Putnam County, IL

The radar

The Quad Cities radar (KDVN), 106 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:46 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Apr 17, 7:52 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGTiskilwa, ILTree blown down.
Apr 17, 7:52 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGTiskilwa, ILTree blown down.
Apr 17, 8:01 PM CDTTSTM WND GST 58Hennepin, ILA trained spotter measured a 58 MPH.
Apr 17, 8:01 PM CDTTSTM WND GST 58Hennepin, ILA trained spotter measured a 58 MPH.
Apr 17, 8:10 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGSpring Valley, ILMultiple trees blown down.
Apr 17, 8:10 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGSpring Valley, ILMultiple trees blown down.
Apr 17, 8:12 PM CDTTORNADO2 Ese Arlington, ILAn EF-1 tornado developed in far eastern Bureau County, with estimated max winds of 90 mph. A barn sustained roofing damage. The tornado then moved NE into LaSalle County, resulting in damage to trees, power poles, and outbuildings.
Apr 17, 8:12 PM CDTTORNADO4 Sw Mendota, ILAn NWS storm survey confirmed an EF-1 tornado with peak winds near 90 mph, path length of 14.9 miles, and maximum width near 700 yards started in Bureau County and moved into LaSalle County. The path was characterized by damage to farm outbuildings, power pole
Apr 17, 8:18 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG5 Wnw Troy Grove, ILA pole barn was severely damaged southwest of Mendota with large portions of siding removed and partial structural collapse. Time estimated using radar.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Apr 17, 12:40 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Davenport, (KDVN), launched 00:00Z, 0.7 hours before the alert went out and 100 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Davenport, at 00:00Z on 2026-04-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 30 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Davenport, at 00:00Z on 2026-04-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 202 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
30 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-223 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1085 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
26 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
202 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
202 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

347 
WFUS53 KDVN 180044
TORDVN
ILC011-155-180145-
/O.NEW.KDVN.TO.W.0049.260418T0044Z-260418T0145Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA/IL
744 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

The National Weather Service in the Quad Cities has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Putnam County in north central Illinois...
  Eastern Bureau County in north central Illinois...

* Until 845 PM CDT.

* At 744 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located over Providence, or 10 miles southwest of Princeton,
  moving northeast at 65 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely.

* This dangerous storm will be near...
  Princeton, Hennepin, DePue, Tiskilwa, Bureau Junction, Lake 
  Thunderbird, Coal Hollow, and Bureau  County Fairgrounds around 
  750 PM CDT.
  Spring Valley, Ladd, Mark, Malden, Seatonville, Dover, 
  Hollowayville, Ottville, and Zearing around 755 PM CDT.
  Dalzell, Cherry, and Arlington around 800 PM CDT.

Other locations in the path of this tornadic thunderstorm include La
Moille.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 80 in Illinois between mile markers 54 and 72.
 Interstate 180 between mile markers 1 and 13.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 4110 8936 4112 8934 4115 8933 4115 8963
      4116 8964 4123 8964 4124 8970 4159 8928
      4158 8917 4111 8916
TIME...MOT...LOC 0044Z 236DEG 55KT 4125 8958 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

Gunkel
2 follow-up statements
769 
WWUS53 KDVN 180059
SVSDVN

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA/IL
759 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

ILC011-155-180145-
/O.CON.KDVN.TO.W.0049.000000T0000Z-260418T0145Z/
Putnam IL-Bureau IL-
759 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 845 PM CDT FOR PUTNAM
AND EASTERN BUREAU COUNTIES...

At 759 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Hollowayville, or near Hennepin, moving east at 65
mph.

HAZARD...Tornado.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

Locations impacted include...
  Spring Valley, Granville, Ladd, Dalzell, Mark, Cherry and 
  Standard.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 80 in Illinois between mile markers 54 and 72.
 Interstate 180 between mile markers 1 and 13.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 4110 8936 4112 8934 4115 8933 4115 8949
      4136 8956 4159 8928 4158 8917 4111 8916
TIME...MOT...LOC 0059Z 270DEG 55KT 4135 8932 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

Gunkel
693 
WWUS53 KDVN 180113
SVSDVN

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA/IL
813 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

ILC011-155-180145-
/O.CON.KDVN.TO.W.0049.000000T0000Z-260418T0145Z/
Putnam IL-Bureau IL-
813 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 845 PM CDT FOR PUTNAM
AND NORTHEASTERN BUREAU COUNTIES...

At 813 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Troy Grove, or near Mendota, moving northeast at 65
mph.

HAZARD...Tornado.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

Locations impacted include...
Hennepin, Spring Valley, DePue, Granville, Ladd, La Moille, Dalzell,
McNabb, Mark, Cherry, Seatonville, Magnolia, Standard, Arlington,
Hollowayville, Zearing, Ottville, and Florid.

This includes Interstate 80 in Illinois between mile markers 64 and
72.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night. Do not
wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 4110 8936 4112 8934 4115 8933 4155 8933
      4159 8928 4158 8917 4111 8916
TIME...MOT...LOC 0113Z 236DEG 55KT 4147 8908 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

Gunkel

The office that day

Everything else NWS Quad Cities, IA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 17, 7:08 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedDVNHancock, McDonough52 min
Apr 17, 7:42 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatDVNBureau, Putnam63 min
Apr 17, 8:46 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNBureau, Putnam23 min
Apr 18, 5:50 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDVNHancock, McDonough70 hr
Apr 18, 11:22 AM CDTRiver Flood WatchDVNRock Island, Whiteside58 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Illinois, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes in 2026

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.