Alert archive / Illinois / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 13, NWS Chicago, IL

April 15, 2026Ogle County, Illinois

NWS Chicago, IL issued this tornado warning at Apr 15, 2026, 5:32 PM CDT for Ogle County, Illinois. It was in force for 26 min. 1 report 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 15, 2026, 5:32 PM CDT (22:32 UTC)
Expired
Apr 15, 2026, 5:58 PM CDT
In force
26 min
Issued by
NWS Chicago, IL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.0 in

County Ogle County, IL

The radar

The Milwaukee radar (KMKX), 112 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:33 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 15, 5:50 PM CDTFUNNEL CLOUD1 Ssw Stillman Valley, ILFunnel cloud via broadcast media.

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

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 12:00Z, 10.5 hours before the alert went out and 225 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, Lincoln, IL at 12:00Z on 2026-04-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 534 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Lincoln, IL at 12:00Z on 2026-04-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -28 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
534 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-62 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
925 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
43 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-28 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
81 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
-0.1
Supercell composite
-0.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

081 
WFUS53 KLOT 152232
TORLOT
ILC141-152315-
/O.NEW.KLOT.TO.W.0013.260415T2232Z-260415T2315Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville
532 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

The National Weather Service in Chicago has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Central Ogle County in north central Illinois...

* Until 615 PM CDT.

* At 532 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located over Oregon, moving northeast at 30 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...
  Oregon around 535 PM CDT.
  Byron around 545 PM CDT.
  Stillman Valley around 550 PM CDT.

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 4220 8936 4220 8917 4215 8917 4215 8911
      4194 8935 4195 8939
TIME...MOT...LOC 2232Z 214DEG 25KT 4197 8935 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN

$$

Borchardt
3 follow-up statements
714 
WWUS53 KLOT 152239
SVSLOT

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville
539 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

ILC141-152315-
/O.CON.KLOT.TO.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260415T2315Z/
Ogle IL-
539 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CDT FOR NORTH
CENTRAL OGLE COUNTY...

At 538 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located between Oregon and Chana, moving northeast at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation. This storm has a history of 
         producing a funnel cloud. 

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...
  Byron around 545 PM CDT.
  Stillman Valley around 550 PM CDT.

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 4220 8932 4220 8917 4215 8917 4215 8911
      4199 8929 4199 8933
TIME...MOT...LOC 2238Z 215DEG 25KT 4200 8929 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN

$$

Borchardt
797 
WWUS53 KLOT 152249
SVSLOT

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville
549 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

ILC141-152315-
/O.CON.KLOT.TO.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260415T2315Z/
Ogle IL-
549 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CDT FOR NORTH
CENTRAL OGLE COUNTY...

At 548 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado 
was located between Byron and Stillman Valley, moving northeast at 
30 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado. 

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation. This storm previously produced a 
         funnel cloud near Oregon. 

IMPACT...Expect damage to mobile homes, roofs, and vehicles.

This dangerous storm will be near...
  Byron and Stillman Valley around 555 PM CDT.

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 4220 8924 4220 8917 4215 8917 4215 8911
      4202 8925 4203 8928
TIME...MOT...LOC 2248Z 214DEG 25KT 4206 8924 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN

$$

Borchardt
913 
WWUS53 KLOT 152258
SVSLOT

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville
558 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

ILC141-152307-
/O.CAN.KLOT.TO.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260415T2315Z/
Ogle IL-
558 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL OGLE COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

&&

LAT...LON 4220 8924 4220 8917 4215 8917 4215 8911
      4202 8925 4203 8928
TIME...MOT...LOC 2256Z 214DEG 25KT 4212 8919 

$$

Borchardt

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Chicago, IL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Apr 15, 2:57 PM CDT, 2 hours 35 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Additional period of showers and thunderstorms expected this evening. Some could be strong and produce heavy rainfall leading to localized flash flooding.
  • A brief break in the pattern is expected late Thursday into the day on Friday before another storm system arrives Friday evening into early Saturday.
  • Cooler air arrives into early next week and may bring frost/freeze concerns early Sunday and Monday mornings.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 15, 2:57 PM CDT, 2 hours 35 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville, IL
257 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Additional period of showers and thunderstorms expected this
  evening. Some could be strong and produce heavy rainfall
  leading to localized flash flooding.

- A brief break in the pattern is expected late Thursday into
  the day on Friday before another storm system arrives Friday
  evening into early Saturday.

- Cooler air arrives into early next week and may bring
  frost/freeze concerns early Sunday and Monday mornings.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 257 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

Through Thursday...

The primary weather focus in the near continues to revolve
around the expectation for additional rounds of showers and
thunderstorms, particularly this evening.

A recent surface analysis indicates that an area of low
pressure resides across southeastern NE, with an associated
surface cold front extending south-southwestward into the TX
Panhandle. While our area has remained cloudy, increased
insolation west of the area in the vicinity of the surface low
and frontal boundary continues to destabilize the very moist
(dew points in the low to mid 60s) low-level prefrontal airmass
across MO into south central IA. This will set the stage for
additional thunderstorm development mid to late this afternoon
west of our area as increased forcing for ascent associated with
the mid-level impulse ejecting into the Mid-Missouri Valley
overspreads the frontal boundary. After storms onset, a gradual
upward growth into an MCS is anticipated this evening as they
shift eastward across the Mississippi river. It appears the
primary severe weather threat with these storms will be west of
our area, with storms likely to be on a weakening trend as they
progress eastward across northern IL during the mid to late
evening hours. Nevertheless, a continued favorable kinematic
environment overhead may continue to support a threat for
localized strong wind gusts with the weakening line of storms.

Heavy rainfall is expected to accompany these storms through
the evening, and this does continue to add concerns for possible
hydro concerns tonight. However, it appears the heaviest rain
rates may remain more progressive with the moving line of storms
tonight. Accordingly, it appears the threat for significant
flash flooding is lower than previously thought. Nevertheless,
areas across far northern IL that received heavy rainfall last
night will be most at risk for additional flooding concerns.,
With this in mind, we have opted to hold onto the going flash
flood watch for this evening.

Shower and thunderstorm coverage is expected to become more
widely scattered overnight tonight into Thursday as the main
mid-level impulse shifts overhead. As an afternoon lake breeze
develops and pushes inland across northeastern IL and
northwestern IN Thursday afternoon in the wake of the surface
low, this may act as a focus for additional isolated shower
activity for a few hours Thursday afternoon. Outside of this,
conditions will be drying out Thursday afternoon and evening.

KJB

Friday - Saturday:

Strong southerly warm and moist convection will return into the
day on Friday ahead of an approaching cold front. This boundary
is expected to progress across the area sometime late Friday
into early Saturday morning paired with a line of thunderstorms,
some of which could be severe. Suspect that less favorable
diurnal timing of any lingering storms into the morning on
Saturday may limit the overall severe threat here locally before
storms reintensify east of the area into the rest of the day.
Stay tuned!

Saturday night onward:

In the wake of the early Saturday cold front, a much colder
airmass (relative to what we have had over the past several
days) will settle into the region over the weekend. Overnight
low temperatures may drop into the 30s, with some near to sub-
freezing temperatures possible across interior northern
Illinois. Lighter winds in place Sunday night may allow for
frost development outside of Chicago and will be something for
those with agricultural interests to monitor over the next few
days.

The cooler conditions will be rather short-lived with extended
guidance favoring a return toward high amplitude ridging across
the central CONUS and unseasonably warm temperatures returning
to the region by midweek next week.

Petr

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 1245 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

Key Aviation Messages for the current TAF period:

- Lingering VFR showers through this afternoon with gusty
  southwest winds

- Two rounds of storms with better chances at/near terminals
  late this afternoon through midnight. Some of these storms
  could be strong to severe.

- Weaker showers fester through tomorrow morning.

- Wind shift to the northeast tomorrow afternoon

A surface low, currently analyzed just north of Kansas City,
Missouri, will move east-northeast through today and the
overnight. This low will be the driving force behind the shower
and storm threat tonight. In the meantime, weak rain showers
persist this afternoon out ahead of it. Winds will remain out of
the southwest through most of the TAF window, with persistent
gusts 20 to 25 knots, not diminishing until after midnight.

As the low moves closer, it will push a warm front northward
through Illinois for the first wave of showers and thunderstorms
this evening. There could be a dry slot for a couple hours, but
then as the low passes north of the area, it will drag a cold
front across northern Illinois for a second round of showers and
thunderstorms across the airspace. Some of these storms could
become strong to even severe, producing hail and erratic,
strong wind gusts.

As the front moves east, showers could fester through the
morning. There is lower confidence in ceiling trends due to
model disagreement, but erred more cynical behind the low and
forecasted widespread MVFR conditions across the region through
the morning. Winds will become more westerly in the morning, but
as the low continues its journey east of the area, models are
suggesting a weak front will be sent southward across Lake
Michigan and switch winds over to the northeast tomorrow
afternoon.

DK

&&

.LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IL...Flood Watch until 1 AM CDT Thursday for ILZ003-ILZ004-ILZ005-
     ILZ006-ILZ008-ILZ010-ILZ011-ILZ012-ILZ013-ILZ019-ILZ020-
     ILZ021-ILZ023-ILZ032-ILZ103-ILZ104-ILZ105-ILZ106-ILZ107-
     ILZ108.

IN...Flood Watch until 1 AM CDT Thursday for INZ001-INZ002-INZ010-
     INZ011.

LM...None.

&&

Visit us at weather.gov/chicago
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 15, 3:21 PM CDT, 2 hours 11 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville IL
321 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

ILZ003>006-008-010>013-019>021-023-032-033-039-103>108-INZ001-002-
010-011-019-162030-
Winnebago-Boone-McHenry-Lake IL-Ogle-Lee-De Kalb-Kane-DuPage-
La Salle-Kendall-Grundy-Kankakee-Livingston-Iroquois-Ford-
Northern Cook-Central Cook-Southern Cook-Northern Will-
Southern Will-Eastern Will-Lake IN-Porter-Newton-Jasper-Benton-
321 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026 /421 PM EDT Wed Apr 15 2026/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central
Illinois...northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Weather hazards expected...

  Elevated Thunderstorm Risk...with an associated:
     Level 2 of 5 Damaging Wind Risk...up to 60 mph.
     Level 2 of 5 Large Hail Risk...up to quarter size.
     Level 1 of 5 Tornado Risk.
  Elevated Flooding Risk..

DISCUSSION...

An additional period of thunderstorms are expected, particularly
this evening. Some of these storms may be strong to severe and
produce locally heavy rainfall.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

Thursday...
  Limited Thunderstorm Risk.
Friday evening into early Saturday morning...
  Limited Thunderstorm Risk...with an associated:
     Level 2 of 5 Severe Thunderstorm Risk.
Sunday Night...
  Elevated Frost Risk.

DISCUSSION...

An additional period of storms is expected Friday evening into
early Saturday morning.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

  Spotters may be needed at times through this evening.

GENERAL STORM MOTION OF THE DAY:

  Moving toward the east-northeast at 40 to 45 mph.

LMZ740>745-162030-
Winthrop Harbor to Wilmette Harbor IL-
Wilmette Harbor to Northerly Island IL-
Northerly Island to Calumet Harbor IL-
Calumet Harbor IL to Gary IN-Gary to Burns Harbor IN-
Burns Harbor to Michigan City IN-
321 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of the Illinois
nearshore waters of Lake Michigan and the Indiana nearshore
waters of Lake Michigan.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Weather hazards expected...

  Elevated Thunderstorm Risk...with an associated:
     Thunderstorm Waterspout Risk
     Level 2 of 5 Thunderstorm Wind Gust Risk...up to 50 knots.
     Level 2 of 5 Hail Risk...up to quarter size.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

Thursday and Friday...
  Limited Thunderstorm Risk.
Saturday through Tuesday...
  Hazardous conditions for small craft are likely.

KJB

Visit us at www.weather.gov/chicago

The office that day

Everything else NWS Chicago, IL issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 14, 7:11 PM CDTFlood WatchLOTBoone, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane and 10 more30 hr
Apr 14, 7:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatLOTOgle, Winnebago61 min
Apr 14, 8:12 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatLOTBoone, McHenry78 min
Apr 14, 8:20 PM CDTTornado WarningLOTWinnebago25 min
Apr 14, 8:29 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningLOT2 hr
Apr 14, 8:37 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningLOTBoone, Winnebago3 hr
Apr 14, 8:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatLOTLake57 min
Apr 14, 8:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatLOTWinnebago48 min
Apr 14, 9:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatLOTDeKalb, Kane44 min
Apr 14, 9:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatLOTCook, DuPage, Lake, McHenry62 min
Apr 14, 9:33 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningLOT117 min
Apr 14, 9:42 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLOTDeKalb18 min
Apr 14, 9:53 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLOTKane37 min
Apr 14, 10:19 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLOTCook, DuPage5 hr
Apr 14, 10:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatLOTCook, DuPage48 min
Apr 14, 10:33 PM CDTRiver Flood WatchLOTLake6 hr
Apr 14, 10:37 PM CDTRiver Flood WatchLOTBureau, LaSalle, Putnam21 days
Apr 14, 10:51 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningLOTCook, DuPage3 hr
Apr 14, 11:28 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningLOT2 hr
Apr 15, 12:24 AM CDTRiver Flood WatchLOTCook21 days
Apr 15, 12:24 AM CDTRiver Flood WatchLOTCook, Lake21 days
Apr 15, 12:24 AM CDTRiver Flood WatchLOTLake6 hr
Apr 15, 2:48 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLOTBoone, McHenry42 min
Apr 15, 3:51 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLOTLake3 hr
Apr 15, 4:22 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningLOTLake11 days
Apr 15, 6:19 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningLOTLake10 days
Apr 15, 10:32 AM CDTRiver Flood WatchLOTCook26 hr
Apr 15, 10:32 AM CDTRiver Flood WatchLOTCook12 hr
Apr 15, 10:32 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningLOTCook10 days
Apr 15, 10:32 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningLOTCook, Lake10 days
Apr 15, 10:43 AM CDTRiver Flood WatchLOTLaSalle11 hr
Apr 15, 10:43 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningLOTKane, Kendall11 hr
Apr 15, 11:42 AM CDTRiver Flood WatchLOTWinnebago20 hr
Apr 15, 11:42 AM CDTRiver Flood WatchLOTWinnebago23 hr
Apr 15, 11:42 AM CDTRiver Flood WatchLOTOgle, Winnebago24 hr
Apr 15, 11:52 AM CDTRiver Flood WatchLOTWinnebago24 hr
Apr 15, 11:52 AM CDTRiver Flood WatchLOTBoone, Winnebago20 hr

Nearby

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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.