Seven confirmed tornadoes touched down in Illinois during the severe storms that hammered counties across the state on Friday, officials said.
National Weather Service crews surveying the Illinois area on Saturday confirmed at least seven tornadoes touched down in during the afternoon and evening on Friday. More tornadoes could be confirmed in coming days as they continue to survey.
Three tornadoes hit Winnebago County, including an EF-U level tornado in Pecatonica, NWS said. On the Enhanced Fujita scale used by survey crews, an EF-U ranking, or EF-Unknown, means the tornado can’t be ranked on the scale because it did not cause surveyable damage.
The other two were EF-1 level tornadoes that hit Harrison and Roscoe, NWS said. EF-1 level tornadoes produce gusts between 86 and 110 mph.
In east-central Illinois, an EF-1 tornado touched down in Buckley, Illinois, and another EF-1 tornado hit Gibson City, Illinois, NWS said.
Video shows a tornado actively on the ground near Rockton, Illinois on Friday evening.
EF-1 tornado also started in rural McLean County and crossed into Livingston County, NWS said.
NWS also said their preliminary results indicate an EF-2 tornado hit Lena, Illinois with estimated peak winds of 130 mph.
The storms in Lena were captured on video, showing strong winds blowing debris around the area.
Dramatic timelapse video captures a violent storm tearing across Lena, Illinois
“This is not going to be the final list… We will have to continue surveying tomorrow and possibly even beyond,” NWS said on Saturday afternoon. “This is one of [the] situations where it may be several days or even more than a week until we have everything finalized.”
NWS on social media Friday afternoon that it would release details on peak winds speeds and path width and lengths “soon.”
We can confirm two additional tornadoes:
– Gibson City, IL EF-1
– Buckley, IL EF-1We will continue surveying tomorrow, so we will have additional updates in the future. https://t.co/zYqPizYyw6
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) April 18, 2026
The confirmed tornadoes come as Illinois ranks first for severe weather this year.
