Severe Weather Update

7:25pm Update:  Tornado Watch extended to include the counties of Jo Daviess, Stephenson and Carroll in Northwest Illinois until 10pm.

Tornado Warning is in effect for the counties of Linn, southeastern Buchanan and southwest Delware Counties just north of Cedar Rapids until 8pm.  This storm is moving to the northeast around 50 mph.


Forecast Discussion: Thunderstorms continue to develop in southwest Wisconsin and northeast Iowa this evening.  The warm front extends right over the Stateline with the surface low in Southern Iowa.  Eastern Iowa remains very unstable right ahead of the low as moisture continues to be pumped in from the south. Storms will likely continue and move east/northeast as the cold front and low track over Northern Illinois.


Severe Thunderstorm Watch for Green, Rock and Walworth Counties in Southern Wisconsin until 11pm.


The warm front continues to move to the north this afternoon with clearing behind it.  The southerly winds are pushing warm, unstable air into southern Iowa and as a result a Tornado Watch has been issued for Eastern and Southern Iowa until 10pm.  We'll continue to monitor the area as storms are already beginning to develop within the watch area.

Afternoon Update

We're still under a slight risk for severe weather this evening and overnight.  The warm front is ever so slowly lifting north this afternoon.  Looking at some of the short term models, the front is forecast to move just north of us between 4-6pm.  Clouds are trying to break up just to the south so we may be able to get some sunshine in this afternoon.  The surface low is forecast to move into east-central Iowa by late this afternoon.  As it does, thunderstorms will likely rapidly develop ahead of the low and cold front in south-central Iowa and northern Missouri.  As the cold front moves east into Illinois, storms will develop with hail and damaging winds being the primary threat.  The greatest risk for tornadoes remains in southern Iowa, although if we can get storms to rotate some, an isolated tornado can't be ruled out.  Be sure to keep checking back this afternoon for the latest updates!

Recap of Monday Night's Storms

Severe thunderstorms moved through parts of northern Illinois Monday night producing wind damage and hail stones up to the size of baseballs near the suburbs!  There was a  very strong low level jet that the storms formed along, ahead of the warm front, with a few of the storms becoming supercells.  The first round of severe weather moved into western Ogle County a little before 9pm.  Wind damage was reported near Polo and Oregon, along with one inch hail.  The storm then quickly tracked to the east producing wind damage in the Rochelle and DeKalb areas.  Storms continued to develop to the west thanks to the low level jet, but also very strong winds aloft!  The DeKalb storm continued to intensify as it moved across O'hare International Airport around 10:45am.  At that time tennis to baseball sized hail was reported north of the airport in Des Plaines!!  Later in the evening, another round of thunderstorms began to form in northwest Illinois and moved through the early morning hours bringing mainly a damaging wind threat across Freeport, Rockford, Marengo and Huntley before weakening north of Chicago.

Thanks to the National Weather Service in Romeoville for putting together the storm recap!

Warm front not moving

Today has the potential for a major bust day as far as temperatures go.  The warm front is just to the south of us as indicated by the red line.  Temperatures across Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin are in the upper 40s and low 50s, while just to the south of the front temperatures have risen into the upper 60s and lower 70s.  As of right now the front is taking it's time moving north.  The storms this morning produced a cooler boundary kind of keeping the warm front at bay for the moment.  So, if we do not get on the south side of the warm front by this afternoon I think our high of 75° will a little far out of reach.  However, if the front moves north and we can get into the sunshine, we will be able to reach atleast the 60s.  This will also play an impact on our severe weather chances as we go through the evening and overnight.  Something we'll watch very closely through the afternoon and evening.  Chief Meteorologist Ty Shesky will have more to come.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

Severe Thunderstorm Watch cancelled for Winnebago, Lee, Ogle, DeKalb and McHenry Counties

7:21am: Cherry Valley - Winnebago Co: Hail - 1.00"

Forecast Discussion - Storms will continue to move through this morning with rain likely for the remainder of the morning.  Storms developed along a warm front that lies just to the south of the Stateline.  That combined with the low level jet (stronger winds in the lower levels of the atmosphere) helped to bring moisture into Iowa this morning.  Storms moved east/northeast this morning causing heavy rain and hail.  We were getting some reports up to 1.00" hail around the Rockford area.  There may be a few more storms that develop as the morning wears on, but the anticipation is that the warm front will lift to the north eventually clearing us out for the afternoon.  As it does, winds will also begin to pick up from the south becoming very gusty at times.  Our attention will then turn to a cold front that will move in later this evening and overnight.  That will be the next threat for strong to severe thunderstorms with hail and damaging winds likely. 

Severe Thunderstorm Watch is cancelled for Stephenson, Jo Daviess, Carroll and Whiteside Co. and continues for Winnebago, Boone, Ogle, Lee, DeKalb and McHenry Co. until 9am.
6:35am Update:  Storm reports - Forreston - Ogle Co: 0.50" hail
                                                   Rockford - Winnebago Co: 0.50" hail

6:30am Update:  Storms continue to move to the east this morning now moving into the Rockford Metro area.  Storms will continue to fire along the warm front as it lifts to the north this morning. 

6:07am Update:  Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Stephenson County until 6:15am. 

Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Boone, Lee, Ogle and Winnebago Co until 6:30am.  Storms continue to move to the east around 50-60 mph this morning.

Watching the Storms

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9:44pm:  Severe Thunderstorm Warning extended for Winnebago, Boone, DeKalb and now includes McHenry Co. until 10:30pm.  There are two storms that we're watching.  The first one was located just south of Belvidere and the second was just northwest of DeKalb.  Both have very strong wind gusts with them and the possibility of large hail.

9:40pm:  Watching more storms as they continue to develop to the west/southwest

9:15pm:  Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Southern Boone, Southeast Winnebago, Northwest DeKalb and Northeast Ogle County until 9:45pm.  Rockford and Belvidere are included in the warning.  Hail and 60mph winds are possible.

8:55pm Update:  Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Ogle County until 9:30pm.  The storm is currently near Forreston and moving to the east towards Bryon, Stillman Valley, Leaf River and Davis Junction.  Look for hail, possibly quarter size, gusty winds and heavy rain.  9:10pm: Severe Thunderstorm Warning continues for Ogle county with 1.50" hail possible.

8:15pm Update:  Lightning and heavy rain can be expected as these storms continue to roll through

7:50pm Update:  New Tornado Watch issued for Southern Iowa and Northern Missouri until 2am.  Thunderstorms are expected to develop along the warm front as it moves into the watch area.  Will continue to monitor the storms through the night.


7:20pm Update:  Showers and storms will continue to lift off to the east/northeast this evening ahead of the warm front.  A few of the storms that have moved through have produced pea/penny sized hail.  There is a Severe Thunderstorm Warning in Eastern Iowa for Dubuque County that might need some watching as it moves in Western Jo Daviess county.  Although, it does look like it is weakening a bit.  Still looking at storms along the I-88 corridor that could produce hail as they move to north/northeast. Look for storms to continue to move through this evening and overnight as the warm front lifts to the north.  Strong wind and hail will continue to remain the primary threat. 


Just wanted to give you a quick update on the weather this afternoon.  The National Weather Service in the Quad Cities has issued a Flash Flood Watch for the counties of Jo Daviess, Stephenson, Carroll and Whiteside counties beginning tonight and lasting through Tuesday night.  Elevated thunderstorms are beginning to develop well north of the warm front in central and south-central Iowa this afternoon and as a result a Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued.  Dew points are still rather dry - we've dropped into the upper 30s this afternoon.   A few elevated storms will continue to move into the WTVO viewing area within the next couple of hours.  Not anticipating anything severe from those, maybe pea sized hail, but as the front lifts north this evening, storms will become more likely and continue into the overnight with hail and strong winds being the primary threat.  The reason why the National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch is because some of the storms will have the potential to "train" or continue moving over one spot producing heavy rainfall.  We'll continue to monitor things as the afternoon progresses.   Be sure to keep checking back for the latest!

Storm threat today and tomorrow

We've been talking about it for the past several days the potential for stronger thunderstorms to move through tonight and tomorrow across the Stateline.  The storms that fired Sunday evening formed along a weak boundary that is now off to the east.  A warm front sits to the south through Missouri and is the focus for storm development this morning.  The warm front is expected to move north as the afternoon progresses bringing the storm threat across the Stateline later this evening and overnight.  Dew points right now are not all that impressive as the bulk of the moisture remains to the south.  As the evening moves on, the low level jet (stronger winds in the lower levels of the atmosphere) is expected to bring the moisture north with the front.  Storms will likely develop as the front moves through thanks to the sunshine (instability) we're seeing this morning, the front providing the lift and the additional moisture.  If any of the storms do develop and reach severe limits, hail and wind will be the primary threat.  Although if storms form right along the front, isolated tornadoes can't be ruled out (this will primarily be to the southwest of us).  Storms will likely be ongoing Tuesday morning as the warm front stalls just to the north.  With it being so close, thunderstorms may be likely in the afternoon before a cold front moves through Tuesday into Wednesday.  Another threat with any of the storms that move through will be the heavy rainfall and flooding.  Some of the models are bringing in over 2 inches of rain by Wednesday morning!  That will be something else we'll be watching.  The Storm Prediction Center does have the entire Stateline in a slight risk today and tomorrow.  We'll keep you updated through the afternoon and evening so be sure to keep checking back.