Tornado Warning Issued for Bureau and Putnam Counties in Illinois
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NWS Quad Cities IA IL has issued a Tornado Warning for northeastern Putnam County and east central Bureau County until 7:45 PM CDT.
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- Record type
- Tornado Warning
- Affected area
- North Central Illinois
- Issued
- August 21, 2026
- Issuing authority
- NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Tornado warnings are short-window notices for the named area. The issuing office is the authority on whether the warning remains active or has been replaced.
Record status: publication date is recent, but current status is not stored on this page. Check the issuing agency's live warning service before acting because warnings can be updated, narrowed, or cancelled.
Alert Details
A Tornado Warning (event code TOW) has been issued by the National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL. The alert is rated Extreme severity with Observed certainty and Immediate urgency. It was sent, effective, and onset at 2026-08-21T18:56:00-05:00.
Affected Areas
The warning covers northeastern Putnam County and east central Bureau County in north central Illinois. Specific locations include Hennepin, Spring Valley, DePue, Granville, Ladd, Dalzell, Bureau Junction, Mark, Seatonville, and Standard, as well as Donnelley DePue State Fish and Wildlife Area. It includes Interstate 80 between mile markers 62 and 73 and Interstate 180 between mile markers 7 and 11.
What You Should Do
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.
Expected Conditions
At 6:55 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Hollowayville, or near Hennepin, moving southeast at 20 mph. Radar indicated rotation. Hazards include a tornado with flying debris dangerous to those without shelter. Mobile homes may be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles is expected, along with likely tree damage.
Timeline
The warning is in effect from 2026-08-21T18:56:00-05:00 until 2026-08-21T19:45:00-05:00.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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