TORNADIC THUNDEDRSTORMS ERUPT IN UNSEASONABLE WARMTH
ENTIRE CHICAGO AREA UNDER A TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 9 PM THIS EVENING
Fast-moving tornadic thunderstorms swept across portions of extreme northern Illinois into southeast Wisconsin this afternoon from north of the Rockford area to near Kenosha. The storms left a trail of damage from the Machesney Park area north of Rockford east northeast through Poplar Grove passing north of Harvard before moving into southeast Wisconsin causing damage near New Munster in Kenosha County. Two twisters were also sighted near the Kenosha County Airport.
The twisters damaged numerous homes, downed trees, transformers and powerlines. High winds were also reported with gusts to 80 m.p.h. at Hebron in far northern McHenry County. A semi was overturned north of Harvard. Hail also accompanied the storms.
The storms erupted in an unseasonably warm record-breaking air mass that sent the mercury in Chicago to a balmy 65º shattering the day's previous record high of 59º set 101 years ago in 1907.
The entire Chicago Metropolitan area along with northwest Indiana remains under a tornado watch until 9 p.m.
Steve Kahn WGN-TV Weather Center Meteorologist