Rockford, Illinois – Strong thunderstorms racing across northern Illinois may bring wind gusts up to 50 mph through 1:15 p.m. Tuesday, threatening tree limbs and unsecured outdoor items from Freeport to Oregon.
According to the National Weather Service in Chicago, Doppler radar at 12:39 p.m. showed storms moving northeast at 45 mph across Ogle, northwestern DeKalb, Winnebago, and western Boone counties. Winds at these speeds can knock down small branches and scatter trash bins, signs, and lawn furniture.
Residents in Rockford, Belvidere, and Byron are urged to move indoors immediately and secure any loose outdoor objects. Brief power outages are possible if tree limbs fall on power lines. Drivers along IL-2 and U.S. Route 20 should remain alert for debris on roads and sudden visibility drops from heavy rain.
This storm line may lose strength later this afternoon but could bring isolated wind damage before then. No hail or tornado threat has been indicated with this system.
Warnings remain in effect until at least 1:15 p.m. with additional advisories possible as storms continue tracking northeast into southern Wisconsin.
