Alert archive / Illinois / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 49, NWS Chicago, IL
NWS Chicago, IL issued this tornado warning at Jul 3, 2026, 6:35 PM CDT for Ogle County, Winnebago County, Illinois. It was in force for 25 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- Jul 3, 2026, 6:35 PM CDT (23:35 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 3, 2026, 7:00 PM CDT
- In force
- 25 min
- Issued by
- NWS Chicago, IL
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 0.0 in
Counties Ogle County, IL, Winnebago County, IL
The radar
The Milwaukee radar (KMKX), 103 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:34 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.
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, 11.6 hours before the alert went out and 237 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 2722 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -34 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 932 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 19 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -1 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 58 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.8
The text
As transmitted.
945
WFUS53 KLOT 032335
TORLOT
ILC141-201-040000-
/O.NEW.KLOT.TO.W.0049.260703T2335Z-260704T0000Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville
635 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026
The National Weather Service in Chicago has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
North central Ogle County in north central Illinois...
Southwestern Winnebago County in north central Illinois...
* Until 700 PM CDT.
* At 635 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Winnebago, or 7 miles northwest of Byron, moving
east at 15 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...
Winnebago around 640 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 8937 4226 8935 4226 8918 4217 8919
TIME...MOT...LOC 2335Z 276DEG 14KT 4223 8933
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
$$
Birk2 follow-up statements
896
WWUS53 KLOT 032341
SVSLOT
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville
641 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026
ILC141-201-040000-
/O.CON.KLOT.TO.W.0049.000000T0000Z-260704T0000Z/
Ogle IL-Winnebago IL-
641 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN OGLE AND SOUTHWESTERN WINNEBAGO COUNTIES...
At 641 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Winnebago, or near Byron, moving east at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
northeastern Ogle and southwestern Winnebago Counties.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.
&&
LAT...LON 4220 8932 4224 8931 4225 8918 4217 8919
TIME...MOT...LOC 2341Z 279DEG 16KT 4222 8928
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
$$
Birk608 WWUS53 KLOT 032354 SVSLOT Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville 654 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026 ILC141-201-040004- /O.EXP.KLOT.TO.W.0049.000000T0000Z-260704T0000Z/ Ogle IL-Winnebago IL- 654 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026 ...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN OGLE AND SOUTHWESTERN WINNEBAGO COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 700 PM CDT... The tornado threat has diminished and the Tornado Warning has been cancelled. However, large hail and damaging winds remain likely and a Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect for the area. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 200 AM CDT for north central Illinois. && LAT...LON 4220 8932 4224 8931 4225 8918 4217 8919 TIME...MOT...LOC 2354Z 276DEG 14KT 4222 8925 $$ Birk
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 Jul 3, 6:31 PM CDT, 4 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- An additional round of storms is expected this evening starting at 6 or 7 PM, and lasting through the overnight hours. Confidence on where the next round occurs remains low, but may favor the I-80 or perhaps even I-88 corridor.
- Additional rounds of storms may move through the area tomorrow and Sunday.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 3, 6:31 PM CDT, 4 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville, IL
631 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- An additional round of storms is expected this evening
starting at 6 or 7 PM, and lasting through the overnight
hours. Confidence on where the next round occurs remains low,
but may favor the I-80 or perhaps even I-88 corridor.
- Additional rounds of storms may move through the area tomorrow
and Sunday.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 243 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026
Rest of Today/Tonight:
Round one of thunderstorms is surely living up to expectations
with numerous measured severe wind gusts ranging from 60 to 73
mph. While the main push of storms is now moving toward Lower
Michigan, a few more cellular storms continue to percolate along
the remnant outflow boundary stretching southwestward from
Joliet to Lacon to Macomb, Illinois. North of the outflow
boundary, it feels the most comfortable it has in the past week
with temperatures largely in the low to mid 70s. Meanwhile,
south of the front, it's hot and sticky with heat index values
in the 100 to 105F range.
Focus is on the potential for a second round of storms this
evening. While southwesterly flow on the southern side of the
outflow boundary is not particularly strong (10 to locally 15
kt), have been noting the beginning of the northward retreat of
the unstable airmass back toward northwestern Illinois. Just how
far northwest the unstable airmass retreats is an item of low
confidence, but suspect it will be able to reach I-80 and
perhaps even I-88 by this evening ahead of an upper-level
shortwave currently moving through the southern Iowa region. As
a result, concern remains for another round of storms near the
frontal boundary (perhaps extending eastward from ongoing storms
near Kansas City, MO) as the wave moves approaches our area.
Timing the second round still looks to start sometime in the 6
to 7 PM timeframe with scattered storms continuing through the
overnight hours.
While the wave of storms that came through earlier today were
anchored by a notable 500mb wind max, flow this evening will be
weaker and more on the order of 25-30 kt. As a result, current
thinking is that coverage of severe weather this evening will
not be as high as it was with the first round of storms.
Nevertheless, moisture-laden MUCAPE >3000 J/kg will still
support water-loaded microbursts with a threat for torrential
downpours and localized wind damage. In addition, with storms
more likely to adopt a west-to-east orientation this evening, do
have concern for localized flash flooding particularly if the
front does make it back toward the I-88 corridor where 3 to
locally 5 inches of rain fell last night. If it becomes clear
such a threat will materialize, will consider hoisting a short-
fused Flash Flood Watch.
Tomorrow / Independence Day:
At least isolated showers and storms may be ongoing at daybreak,
though most guidance suggests coverage should wane by mid-
morning. Global guidance than advertises another upper-level
shortwave or two pinwheeling into the area during the afternoon
hours, which will support additional rounds of thunderstorms. At
this point, confidence in where the frontal boundary (which
will mark the unstable airmass) will be by tomorrow afternoon
is quite low and depends on coverage of storms tonight. So,
unfortunately, cannot offer more than mid- range chance PoPs
areawide tomorrow in favor of further refinement as things
hopefully become more clear tonight. The same goes for Sunday.
Borchardt
Beyond the weekend the upper ridge begins to build back north
slightly with the embedded waves moving to our north. Meanwhile
another wave (or waves) will move within the ridge to our south
(and potentially stall out). Overall this favors shower/storm
coverage focusing mainly north or south of the area into mid-
week. Shower and storm chances return later in the week as the
ridge begins to break down again.
Petr
&&
.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 631 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026
The primary forecast concern remains thunderstorm timing,
focused on this evening and again Saturday afternoon.
Scattered thunderstorms continue to develop across eastern IA
and far northwest IL early this evening and this activity is
expected to move east southeast across northern IL and the
terminals during the mid/late evening hours. While there still
remains some uncertainty for coverage, medium confidence that at
least scattered thunderstorms will be moving through the
terminals over a 2-4 hour period and have included both vicinity
and tempo thunder mention. Appears most of this activity will be
south of the terminals by 06z. While isolated showers and
possibly a thunderstorm would be possible overnight into
Saturday morning, the next time period for thunderstorm mention
appears to be mid Saturday afternoon through early Saturday
evening. While there remains enough uncertainty for only prob
mention at this time, model trends suggest that another nearly
solid line of thunderstorms will be moving across northeast IL
and the Chicago terminals during this time period. Very heavy
rain, ifr vis/cigs and erratic/gusty winds will be possible with
all of the thunderstorms.
Outside of the thunderstorms, wind speeds are expected to be
under 10kts, light southerly or light and variable tonight,
light southwest Saturday morning and then likely shifting
easterly Saturday afternoon, with a lake breeze possible for
the Chicago terminals.
Some prevailing mvfr cigs are possible Saturday morning, but
confidence is low. cms
&&
.LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IL...Heat Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for ILZ023-ILZ032-
ILZ033-ILZ039.
IN...Heat Advisory until 7 PM CDT /8 PM EDT/ this evening for
INZ010-INZ011-INZ019.
LM...None.
&&
Visit us at weather.gov/chicagoHazardous weather outlook, Jul 3, 3:53 PM CDT, 2 hours 42 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville IL
353 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026
ILZ003>006-008-010>013-019>021-023-032-033-039-103>108-INZ001-002-
010-011-019-042100-
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-
353 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026 /453 PM EDT Fri Jul 3 2026/
This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central
Illinois...northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana.
.DAY ONE...Tonight.
Weather hazards expected...
Limited Thunderstorm Risk...with an associated:
Level 2 of 5 Damaging Wind Risk...up to 60 mph.
Level 1 of 5 Large Hail Risk...up to quarter size.
Limited Flooding Risk.
Elevated Excessive Heat Risk south of I-80 this evening.
DISCUSSION...
Scattered thunderstorms are expected this evening into the
overnight hours. The main severe weather threat will be
damaging wind gusts. Heavy rain and localized flash flooding
will also be possible.
Hot and humid conditions will continue through early this
evening with peak heat indices of 100 to 105 south of I-80.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.
Saturday...
Limited Flooding Risk.
Limited Thunderstorm Risk...with an associated:
Level 1 of 5 Severe Thunderstorm Risk.
Sunday...
Limited Thunderstorm Risk.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
Spotters may be needed this evening and tonight.
GENERAL STORM MOTION OF THE DAY:
Moving toward the east at 40 mph.
LMZ740>745-042100-
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-
353 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 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...
Limited Thunderstorm Risk...with an associated:
Level 2 of 5 Thunderstorm Wind Gust Risk...up to 50 knots.
Level 1 of 5 Hail Risk...up to quarter size.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.
Saturday...
Limited Thunderstorm Risk...with an associated:
Level 1 of 5 Severe Thunderstorm Risk.
Sunday...
Limited Thunderstorm Risk.
Visit us at www.weather.gov/chicagoIn the hours before
Local storm report, Jul 3, 3:48 PM CDT, 2 hours 47 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Chicago IL
348 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0120 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 SSE Glen Ellyn 41.87N 88.06W
07/03/2026 DuPage IL Public
Social media post with photo of multiple
large limbs covering the entire block. Time
estimated by radar.
&&
DKLocal storm report, Jul 3, 3:49 PM CDT, 2 hours 46 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Chicago IL
349 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0300 PM Flood 1 N Lisle 41.82N 88.07W
07/03/2026 DuPage IL NWS Employee
Water is covering Route 53 at Ironwood
Drive. Minor wetland flooding also noted
along the DuPage River nearby, as well.
&&Local storm report, Jul 3, 3:51 PM CDT, 2 hours 44 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Chicago IL
351 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1247 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Big Rock 41.76N 88.55W
07/03/2026 Kane IL Public
Social media post of a photo of a tree on
power line in Big Rock. Time estimated by
radar.
&&
DKLocal storm report, Jul 3, 3:56 PM CDT, 2 hours 39 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Chicago IL
356 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0110 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 SW Itasca 41.95N 88.02W
07/03/2026 DuPage IL Public
Large section of tree broken off and dropped
straight down.
&&Local storm report, Jul 3, 4:19 PM CDT, 2 hours 16 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Chicago IL
419 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0241 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 SW Country Club Hills 41.56N 87.73W
07/03/2026 Cook IL Trained Spotter
Numerous 1.5 foot diameter tree limbs
snapped in the vicinity of Cicero and 183rd.
&&Local storm report, Jul 3, 5:06 PM CDT, 1 hour 29 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Chicago IL
506 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0238 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Tinley Park 41.57N 87.79W
07/03/2026 Cook IL Fire Dept/Rescue
Photo shared of a large tree about 12 inches
in diameter that landed on a car in Tinley
Park. Time estimated by radar.
&&
DKThe office that day
Everything else NWS Chicago, IL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2, 8:35 PM CDT | Special Marine Warning | LOT | 85 min | |
| Jul 2, 8:58 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | LOT | Cook, DuPage, Lake | 3 hr |
| Jul 2, 9:44 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LOT | Cook, DuPage | 46 min |
| Jul 2, 10:06 PM CDT | Special Marine Warning | LOT | 3 hr | |
| Jul 2, 10:17 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | LOT | Cook, DuPage | 3 hr |
| Jul 2, 10:26 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LOT | Cook, DuPage | 64 min |
| Jul 2, 10:51 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | LOT | Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Will | 3 hr |
| Jul 2, 11:15 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LOT | DeKalb, Kane, Kendall | 60 min |
| Jul 2, 11:17 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | LOT | DuPage, Kane, Kendall | 3 hr |
| Jul 3, 12:00 AM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | LOT | DeKalb, Kane | 2 hr |
| Jul 3, 12:16 AM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | LOT | DeKalb, Kane, Kendall | 114 min |
| Jul 3, 1:22 AM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | LOT | Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Will | 7 hr |
| Jul 3, 1:35 AM CDT | Special Marine Warning | LOT | 52 min | |
| Jul 3, 2:04 AM CDT | Areal Flood Warning | LOT | DeKalb, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Will | 6 hr |
| Jul 3, 7:59 AM CDT | Areal Flood Warning | LOT | Cook, DuPage | 10 hr |
| Jul 3, 8:01 AM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | LOT | Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Will | 3 hr |
| Jul 3, 8:59 AM CDT | Heat Advisory | LOT | Ford, Iroquois, Kankakee, Livingston | 10 hr |
| Jul 3, 10:56 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LOT | Ogle | 64 min |
| Jul 3, 11:14 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LOT | Boone, Winnebago | 61 min |
| Jul 3, 12:21 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LOT | DeKalb, LaSalle, Lee | 54 min |
| Jul 3, 12:42 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LOT | Cook, DuPage, Kane | 63 min |
| Jul 3, 12:44 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LOT | Kendall | 46 min |
| Jul 3, 12:48 PM CDT | Special Marine Warning | LOT | 117 min | |
| Jul 3, 1:05 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LOT | Cook | 40 min |
| Jul 3, 2:02 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LOT | Grundy, Kendall, Will | 43 min |
| Jul 3, 2:11 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | LOT | Cook | 3 hr |
| Jul 3, 2:27 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LOT | Cook | 48 min |
| Jul 3, 2:40 PM CDT | Special Marine Warning | LOT | 60 min | |
| Jul 3, 2:40 PM CDT | Special Marine Warning | LOT | 60 min | |
| Jul 3, 2:40 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LOT | Will | 59 min |
| Jul 3, 4:26 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LOT | Will | 49 min |
| Jul 3, 6:51 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LOT | Ogle, Winnebago | 54 min |
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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.