Tornadoes and Hail in Illinois, April 2, 2026

Name: Tornadoes and Hail in Illinois, April 2, 2026
Start: 2026-04-02T15:51
End: 2026-04-02T18:09
Location: Illinois

April 2, 2026 · NWS DVN · 22 events in 6 counties and zones

During the afternoon and evening of April 2nd, 2026, and early spring supercell thunderstorm event spread across eastern Iowa and northwest Illinois. This brought several swaths of damaging wind, large hail, and several tornadoes to both Iowa and Illinois.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 22

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS DVN wrote it up.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Quad Cities, IA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 2, 1:40 PM CST, 2 hours 11 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

There is an Enhanced Risk/Level 3 of 5 for severe weather today, with damaging wind and tornadoes the primary risks. The risk for a few strong/significant tornadoes is increasing.
Very fast storm motions between 50-60 mph will offer significantly less time to act this afternoon and evening, thus it's very important to stay weather aware!
There is an Enhanced/Slight Risk (level 2+3 of 5) for severe weather Friday, with all modes of severe weather possible.
Cooler and drying out this weekend, with frost/freeze potential early next week.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 2, 1:40 PM CST, 2 hours 11 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
240 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- There is an Enhanced Risk/Level 3 of 5 for severe weather
  today, with damaging wind and tornadoes the primary risks. The
  risk for a few strong/significant tornadoes is increasing.

- Very fast storm motions between 50-60 mph will offer
  significantly less time to act this afternoon and evening,
  thus it's very important to stay weather aware!

- There is an Enhanced/Slight Risk (level 2+3 of 5) for severe
  weather Friday, with all modes of severe weather possible.

- Cooler and drying out this weekend, with frost/freeze
  potential early next week.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
Issued at 238 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

A very active afternoon/evening is expected with numerous severe
storms possible. Stay weather aware and be quick to react when a
warning is issued as storms will be moving VERY fast! This will
greatly reduce your time to take action so seek shelter
immediately!

Water vapor imagery early this afternoon shows well defined
negatively tilted shortwave lifting northeast over southwest IA
with a dry slot moving into our southwest CWA. 18z surface
observations and analysis have a 999mb surface low out ahead of
the main upper wave just south of DSM and a warm front
extending east of the low right along I-80 towards DVN. GOES Day
Cloud Phase RGB imagery has a nice area of clearing from a line
from IOW-EOK and points west. A Tornado Watch has been recently
issued until 8pm for the entire CWA.

Severe Risk

The question initially with storm development today was how
much clearing/destabilization was going to take place. The
aforementioned warm front was taking its time lifting north this
morning, but the low has now surged it towards the I-80
corridor with building 0-1km and SBCAPE expected this afternoon
out ahead of the storms. In addition, a very strong kinematic
and moist environment is in place as shown on our 18z sounding
(winds over 40kts for most of the column, sickle shaped
hodograph, and 1.39 PW). At the same time, a mid-level speed max
around 60kts is developing just ahead of the storms which is
one of the key composites to significant tornado environments in
the DVN CWA as well as surging northward dewpoint/CAPE
gradients. All this being said, numerous severe storms will be
possible with discrete supercells initially capable of quickly
becoming tornadic. Some concern for a few significant tornadoes
(EF2+) is there as well with such strong 0-1km SRH values over
300 m2/s2 and some low level backing of winds especially for any
supercell that cross the warm front.

This is still one failure mode that I do want to point out and
that is with so much shear aloft, updrafts could easily become
disrupted/ripped apart thereby limiting the overall severe risk.
Sometimes too much shear is a good thing for reducing the
severe threat.

Winds have underperformed so far today in the advisory area, but
some gusts near 45 mph is still possible this afternoon. Have
decided to continue the advisory for now but may be able to be
cancelled early this evening.

&&

.LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 238 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

Another active day with severe weather is expected late Friday
afternoon through early Saturday, as a closed low moves over the
northern Plains. There are some similar aspects to today's system,
but with 12z models continuing to show a later time of day and bit
further west and north surface low track, this favors storm
initiation over western and central IA late Friday afternoon/early
evening. This activity would then likely evolve into a mature squall
line or QLCS and move east into the CWA during the evening,
exiting early Saturday. Timing of severe weather would be after
7 PM Saturday with this line. This setup looks to largely favor
damaging winds with some significant wind potential, and a few
tornadoes with any mesovortices. However, will still have to
keep tabs for some discrete cell potential in the warm sector
and in close proximity to the warm front. It will another day of
mesoscale forecasting and monitoring the evolution of the
front/destabilization of the boundary layer/EML capping. There
is some potential for more slowing of this system thereby
reducing the overall severe threat in the evening as instability
wanes. SPC has maintained an Enhanced/Slight Risk (level 2+3 of
5) for severe weather for areas west of a Clinton IA to
Galesburg IL line.

Saturday will see conditions begin to dry out and turn cooler as
high pressure begins to build in.

Sunday-Tuesday...Continued cooler and more seasonable this
stretch into early next week, with a return flow induced precip
event possible some time Tue into next Wed. There will also be a
concern for frost/freeze potential each morning through the
period due to recent greenup that will need to be evaluated in
later forecasts.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 1235 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

Poor flying conditions are expected through the period. A warm
front will continue to lift north through the terminals, with
lowest IFR cigs just to the north of the boundary near DBQ. A
surface low will track towards IIB around 22z, with scattered
showers and thunderstorms developing out ahead of the low in the
warm sector. A few of the storms may become severe with all
hazards possible. Confidence in hitting the terminals remains
too low to include prevailing groups at this time and have
handled this with PROB30 wording until confidence increases.
Cold front to push east of the terminals by 03z, with lower
IFR/LIFR cigs moving in behind the fropa afterwards. Model
guidance also was hinting at fog potential early Friday and have
trended the TAFs in that direction with the highest confidence
at DBQ/BRL.

&&

.DVN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IA...Wind Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for IAZ067-068-078-
     087>089-098-099.
IL...Wind Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for ILZ009-015>018-
     024>026-034-035.
MO...Wind Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for MOZ009-010.

&&

SHORT TERM...Gross
LONG TERM...Gross/McClure
AVIATION...Gross

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 2, 1:47 PM CST, 2 hours 4 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
247 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

IAZ040>042-051>054-063>068-076>078-087>089-098-099-ILZ001-002-007-
009-015>018-024>026-034-035-MOZ009-010-032000-
Buchanan-Delaware-Dubuque-Benton-Linn-Jones-Jackson-Iowa-Johnson-
Cedar-Clinton-Muscatine-Scott-Keokuk-Washington-Louisa-Jefferson-
Henry IA-Des Moines-Van Buren-Lee-Jo Daviess-Stephenson-Carroll-
Whiteside-Rock Island-Henry IL-Bureau-Putnam-Mercer-Henderson-
Warren-Hancock-McDonough-Scotland-Clark-
247 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central
Illinois...northwest Illinois...west central Illinois...east
central Iowa...northeast Iowa...southeast Iowa and northeast
Missouri.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

An Enhanced risk, or level 3 of 5 risk for severe weather covers
much of the Outlook area. The risk of severe storms will be
between 2 and 8 pm this evening. Damaging winds and tornadoes are
the primary hazards.

Storms will be moving very fast, which will result in
significantly less time to act. For this reason, it is important
to plan now where you will shelter in the event severe weather
strikes, and make sure you stay weather aware.

A Wind Advisory is also in effect this afternoon for areas mainly
south of a line from Mount Carroll, Illinois to Washington, Iowa
where southerly winds will gust to around 45 mph.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

A Slight to Enhanced risk, or Level 2 and 3 out of 5 risk for
severe weather covers much of the Outlook area on Friday. The risk
for severe storms is primarily Friday evening into the early
overnight hours of Saturday morning. Large hail, damaging winds
and tornadoes are all possible. Storms will also bring periods of
heavy rain and the potential for localized flooding.

Below freezing temperatures will be possible early next week that
may cause damage to sensitive vegetation.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will be needed this afternoon into early evening,
and again Friday evening.

GROSS

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 2, 2:43 PM CST, 1 hour 8 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
343 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0335 PM     Hail             4 WNW Ollie             41.22N 92.15W
04/02/2026  M1.25 Inch       Keokuk             IA   Public

&&

DC

Local storm report, Apr 2, 3:00 PM CST, 51 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
400 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0356 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     3 E Keota               41.37N 91.90W
04/02/2026  M50 MPH          Washington         IA   Trained Spotter

            Measured with anemometer.

&&

ALE

Local storm report, Apr 2, 3:05 PM CST, 46 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
405 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0359 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     3 NW Parnell            41.62N 92.05W
04/02/2026  M64 MPH          Iowa               IA   Mesonet

&&

GROSS

Local storm report, Apr 2, 3:21 PM CST, 30 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
421 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0418 PM     Funnel Cloud     5 NNE West Chester      41.41N 91.79W
04/02/2026                   Washington         IA   Trained Spotter

            near the ground with debris.

&&

GROSS

Local storm report, Apr 2, 3:22 PM CST, 29 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
422 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0413 PM     Hail             1 W Kalona              41.49N 91.71W
04/02/2026  M1.75 Inch       Washington         IA   Trained Spotter

&&

ALE

Local storm report, Apr 2, 3:31 PM CST, 20 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
431 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0431 PM     Hail             1 ESE Iowa City Municip 41.63N 91.53W
04/02/2026  E1.75 Inch       Johnson            IA   Public

            Media.

&&

ALE

The radar

The Quad Cities radar (KDVN), 24 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:47 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

11 hail, 8 thunderstorm wind, 3 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Rock Island

When: April 2, 3:51 PM CST
Where: Rock Island County, 1.04 mi E of Coyne Center
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.400, -90.550

Hail, Henry

When: April 2, 4:05 PM CST
Where: Henry County, 3.32 mi NW of Warner
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.450, -90.430

Hail, Rock Island

When: April 2, 4:09 PM CST
Where: Rock Island County, 0.86 mi NE of Coal Vly
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.440, -90.460

Hail, Rock Island

When: April 2, 4:09 PM CST
Where: Rock Island County, 1.24 mi ESE of Silvis Hgts
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 41.490, -90.410

Hail, Rock Island

When: April 2, 4:09 PM CST
Where: Rock Island County, 0.86 mi SE of Silvis
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 41.510, -90.410

Time estimated from radar data.

Hail, Rock Island

When: April 2, 4:10 PM CST
Where: Rock Island County, 1.7 mi ENE of Fruitland
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 41.480, -90.490

Hail, Rock Island

When: April 2, 4:20 PM CST
Where: Rock Island County, 1.24 mi WNW of Joslin
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.560, -90.240

Hail, Carroll

When: April 2, 4:37 PM CST
Where: Carroll County, 2.14 mi NNW of Thomson
Measured: 3 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.000, -90.110

Photos showing hail ranging from 3 to 3.25 inches in diameter were sent. Time was estimated from radar data.

Hail, Carroll

When: April 2, 4:38 PM CST
Where: Carroll County, 1.38 mi N of Thomson
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 41.990, -90.100

Hail, Carroll

When: April 2, 4:48 PM CST
Where: Carroll County, Mt Carroll
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 42.100, -89.980

Quarter to ping pong ball size hail relayed by broadcast media from social media.

Thunderstorm Wind, Whiteside

When: April 2, 4:54 PM CST
Where: Whiteside County, 0.86 mi SW of Prophetstown
Measured: 58 kt (67 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 41.660, -89.940

Thunderstorm Wind, Carroll

When: April 2, 4:57 PM CST
Where: Carroll County, 1.54 mi E of Savanna
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 42.080, -90.120

Large tree blown down. Time estimated from radar data.

Tornado, Carroll

When: April 2, 5:00 PM CST to 5:01 PM CST
Where: Carroll County, 2.6 mi NE of Savanna to 2.98 mi NE of Savanna
Rating: EF1
Path length: 0.26 mi
Path width: 75 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 42.104, -90.111

A brief tornado developed northeast of Savanna with maximum winds near 90 mph. The tornado caused tree damage in a convergent path and also tossed and damaged a small shed.

Tornado, Whiteside

When: April 2, 5:02 PM CST to 5:07 PM CST
Where: Whiteside County, Douglas Park to 2.59 mi NE of Sterling
Rating: EF1
Path length: 3.72 mi
Path width: 75 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 41.800, -89.730

A tornado passed through northern portions of Sterling, with estimated maximum wind speeds around 90 mph. Along the path, damage was done to trees (including snapped) and two garages in the path saw complete loss of their roofs. Minor damage was noted to two church roofs. There was also a 3000 lb rooftop HVAC unit rolled over, consistent with maximum winds of at least 90 mph.

Tornado, Whiteside

When: April 2, 5:09 PM CST to 5:10 PM CST
Where: Whiteside County, 2.92 mi SE of Penrose to 2.94 mi SE of Penrose
Rating: EF1
Path length: 0.09 mi
Path width: 250 yd
Continued into: Lee, Il (LOT)
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 41.850, -89.630

An EF-1 tornado began in far eastern Whiteside County just north of Fulfs Road and just west of the Whiteside-Lee county line, where satellite imagery showed the beginning of a narrow southwest-northeast path of disturbed soil through farm fields. Drone footage taken along Mound Hill Road in Lee County revealed swirl marks in the field to the west that aligned with the path that was evident in the satellite imagery, confirming that the tornado remained on the ground continuously as it tracked into Lee County. The tornado crossed Mound Hill Road, downing a number of power poles and impacting a property on the east side of the road. The tornado reached its peak intensity here, destroying multiple outbuildings and snapping several trees at this property. The tornado left additional swirl marks in a field to the northeast of the property before causing damage to trees, a residence, and a metal outbuilding along and just south of Lenox Road. As the tornado reached Timber Creek Road, it caused damage to a barn, at least one power pole, and several trees. On the north side of the road, the tornado pushed an old barn off of its foundation into a grain leg, causing the grain leg to collapse. A concrete silo was also toppled at the same location. The tornado then continued northeastward, causing tree and roof damage at a property along Peek Home Road, then damaging an outbuilding, a house, and more trees at a property at Penrose Road and Swarts Road. The tornado produced its last instance of damage at the Hey Tree Service facility along U.S. Route 52/State Route 26 southeast of Woosung before dissipating prior to reaching the Ogle County line. Straight-line wind damage was also observed to the south and east of the tornado's track.

Thunderstorm Wind, Carroll

When: April 2, 5:13 PM CST
Where: Carroll County, 2.81 mi N of Wacker
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 42.090, -90.040

A few trees reported blown down west of Mount Carroll.

Hail, Whiteside

When: April 2, 5:20 PM CST
Where: Whiteside County, 2.48 mi SW of Sterling Arpt
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.730, -89.720

Thunderstorm Wind, Putnam

When: April 2, 6:03 PM CST
Where: Putnam County, 1.25 mi ENE of Hennepin
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 41.260, -89.330

Public measured wind equipement.

Thunderstorm Wind, Bureau

When: April 2, 6:03 PM CST
Where: Bureau County, 1.25 mi ENE of Depue
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 41.330, -89.300

A tree was uprooted and fell on a home, but did not smash through the roof. Time estimated from radar data.

Thunderstorm Wind, Putnam

When: April 2, 6:03 PM CST
Where: Putnam County, Hennepin
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 41.250, -89.350

Garage door blown in on a home, with multiple 3 inch diameter tree branched down. Time estimated from radar data.

Thunderstorm Wind, Putnam

When: April 2, 6:03 PM CST
Where: Putnam County, 0.86 mi NE of Hennepin
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 41.260, -89.340

Multiple small trees up to 8 inches in diameter snapped at base or uprooted. Time estimated from radar data.

Thunderstorm Wind, Putnam

When: April 2, 6:09 PM CST
Where: Putnam County, 0.52 mi W of Granville
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 41.270, -89.240

Putnam County emergency management reported a power line blown down. Time estimated from radar data.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Illinois in 2026 Every state in 2026 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Illinois, 2026 Warnings in Illinois, April 2026

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1325157, 1325158, 1325159, 1325160, 1325161, 1325162, 1325163, 1325164, 1325165, 1325166, 1325168, 1325170, 1325181, 1325178, 1328363, 1325169, 1325167, 1325171, 1325173, 1325174, 1325175, 1325172.