Severe Thunderstorms Rolling Through

 Take a look at some beautiful pictures we've received tonight after the line of strong to severe thunderstorms moved through. This first picture is from Byron of a vivid rainbow after the heavy rain exited the region.

This photo depicts some mammatus clouds near the WTVO news station behind a strong thunderstorm. These are rare, but can happen in association with thunderstorms, especially severe ones. They are essentially cellular patterns of pouch-like clouds hanging below the main thunderstorm cloud. While appearing ominous, they usually only show up after the worst of a thunderstorm has occurred.

The picture to the left shows beautiful coloring in the sky after skies cleared behind this evening's thunderstorms. The photo simply does not do the colors we had justice.

One of many shots of a double rainbow that occurred across Winnebago County.

Here's an image from Machesney Park of a rainbow from end point to end point.

Last but not least we have another photo of mammatus clouds behind a departing thunderstorm this evening.
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7:47PM UPDATE: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for eastern Lee County and southwest DeKalb County for wind gusts upwards of 60 MPH through 8:30PM. A strong thunderstorm is also located along I-39 from Rochelle to Cherry Valley. That storm will bring wind gusts upwards of 40-50 MPH.

CITIES IN THE CLEAR: Galena, Freeport, Winnebago, Savanna, Sterling, Dixon, Oregon, Byron, Rockford, Polo, Amboy, Loves Park, Machesney Park, Roscoe, Rockton, South Beloit, Beloit, Mount Carroll, and Lanark.
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As of 7:20PM we are seeing Severe Thunderstorm Warnings with storms rolling through the region from southwest to northeast. This includes Winnebago County & Rock County, but warnings could begin to be issued for Walworth, Boone, Ogle, Lee, and DeKalb Counties. The storms are capable of small hail to the size of nickels and wind gusts upwards of 60mph. They are moving between 30 and 40 MPH so they will be out of here by 9PM.