Large Tornado Prompts PDS Warning in Illinois

A series of rotating thunderstorms prompted multiple tornado warnings across northern Illinois Sunday night, including a particularly dangerous situation warning for portions of Henry and Bureau counties. At 9 p.m. CDT, the National Weather Service said a large and extremely dangerous tornado was near Johnson-Sauk Trail State Park, about 7 miles north of Kewanee, moving east at approximately 20 mph. Forecasters warned of a potentially damaging tornado and urged residents in its path to immediately seek shelter.

The tornado threat continued farther east through Bureau and Lee counties later in the evening. At 10:44 p.m., the National Weather Service maintained a tornado warning for northeastern Bureau County after radar detected rotation near La Moille, about 9 miles west of Mendota. A separate warning remained in effect for southeastern Lee County, where another rotating storm was located near Paw Paw. Farther south, another tornado warning was active for parts of Marshall, Stark and Peoria counties, where forecasters said a storm capable of producing a tornado was near Wyoming and moving east at 25 mph. Residents were warned that nighttime tornadoes can be difficult to see and not to wait for visual confirmation before taking shelter.

The broader severe weather threat was expected to persist overnight and into the beginning of the workweek. A severe thunderstorm watch covering much of northern Illinois remained in effect until 4 a.m. Monday, while a flood watch extended through 7 a.m. across northeastern Illinois and northwest Indiana. Forecasters said repeated thunderstorms could produce localized rainfall rates exceeding 2 inches per hour, with some areas already receiving between 1 and 3 inches Sunday. Additional rounds of thunderstorms were expected Monday through Wednesday, bringing continued risks of flash flooding and severe weather, particularly Monday into Tuesday.

This post has been updated with new information since it was published.

Deadly Tornado Outbreak Kills Several Across US Midwest and Plains

A deadly tornado outbreak swept across parts of the central United States on Friday, March 6, leaving several people dead and causing widespread damage in multiple states.

Early reports say at least eight people were killed as tornadoes struck communities in states including Michigan and Oklahoma. Emergency crews spent Saturday searching damaged areas and assessing destruction while the National Weather Service works to confirm how many tornadoes touched down during the outbreak.

Some of the most severe damage occurred in southern Michigan, where a tornado hit areas near Union City and along the St. Joseph River. Officials in Branch County confirmed multiple fatalities and several injuries after homes were torn apart and debris scattered across roads and farmland. Another death was reported in nearby Cass County as the storm system moved through the region.

Residents described roofs ripped from houses, trees snapped in half, and vehicles thrown across yards. Hundreds of people were left without power overnight as crews worked to clear roads and restore electricity.

Earlier in the outbreak, two people were killed in western Oklahoma after a tornado struck near Fairview. Authorities said a mother and her teenage daughter died when their vehicle was caught in the storm along U.S. Highway 60. They have been identified as mother and daughter, Jodie and Lexi Owens.

Additional fatalities were reported in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, where a tornado damaged homes and businesses in the town of Beggs. Emergency crews responded to reports of destroyed buildings, overturned vehicles, and downed power lines as the storms moved through the area.

The storms were part of a larger severe weather system that moved across the Plains and Midwest between Thursday and Saturday, producing several tornado warnings and large areas of damaging winds and hail.

Meteorologists say it may take several days for the National Weather Service to complete damage surveys and determine how many tornadoes formed and how strong they were.

Officials are urging residents in affected areas to remain cautious around damaged buildings and downed power lines as cleanup efforts continue.