Tornado Watch Issued for Parts of Northern Illinois

2:30pm Update: The Tornado Watch has been canceled for Boone, McHenry and DeKalb counties.  Biggest threat now for the rest of the afternoon will be the strong wind gusts!  Southwest winds have been gusting close to 50 mph in some locations.

A Tornado Watch has been issued for Boone, McHenry and DeKalb counties until 5pm Thursday evening.  The greatest threat for severe weather remains over northeast Illinois and Indiana as better instability and atmospheric dynamics are located.  However, a quick moving line of thunderstorms raced through northern Illinois, now lifting into southern Wisconsin, did produce heavy rainfall and small hail.

A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for northeast Rock County until 2:45pm.  The storm was located near Milton, WI and is moving northeast around 55 mph.  60 mph wind gusts and quarter sized hail will be possible with this storm.  Those in its path should seek shelter.

Cloud cover will fill back in for the rest of the afternoon as low pressure passes over northern Illinois.  Winds are increasing from the southwest, gusting at times close to 40 mph.  Scattered showers will be likely under the cloud cover this afternoon, but our severe threat is quickly fading away.