MOLINE, Ill. – A line of rain showers moving from eastern Iowa into Illinois Saturday afternoon is showing signs of rotation, raising concern for funnel clouds and brief, weak tornadoes across much of north-central Illinois. The National Weather Service in the Quad Cities says the system, which has already produced funnel clouds along the Iowa–Illinois border, will continue moving east through late afternoon.
According to the National Weather Service Quad Cities office, trained spotters observed several funnel clouds earlier near Mendota, Tiskilwa, and Spring Valley around 2:30 p.m. CDT. These features formed within scattered showers and moved east at roughly 10 mph. Officials warned that while most of these funnels remain aloft, isolated brief touchdowns cannot be ruled out.
Areas from the Mississippi River eastward through Bureau, Putnam, and LaSalle Counties are under heightened monitoring. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency is coordinating with local sheriffs and emergency services to track any additional reports. Interstates 80 and 180 remain in the potential impact zone, with drivers urged to stay alert for rapidly changing weather and avoid stopping beneath bridges.
According to forecasters, conditions remain favorable for funnel cloud development across northern and central Illinois into early evening. Residents are advised to seek shelter indoors if a funnel cloud is spotted and report sightings to law enforcement for relay to the National Weather Service.
