NWS Lincoln ILTO.W 0045April 17, 2026
Tornado Warning: Knox and Stark, IL
The National Weather Service office in Lincoln issued a tornado warning for Knox and Stark in Illinois, which was in force until 7:30 p.m. local time on April 17. It was the 45th tornado warning the NWS office in Lincoln issued in 2026. Illinois had 109 tornado warnings in April 2026, against 19 in an average April of 2008-2025 (Illinois's tornado warnings by year).
ExpiredWarning
In force for 25 minutes; it has expired. The agency may have replaced it with a new notice.
The notice
- Issued by
- National Weather Service, Lincoln IL
- Area
- Knox and Stark
- State
- Illinois
- Level
- Warning
- Issued
- 7:05 p.m. CDT, April 17, 2026
- Expires
- 7:30 p.m. CDT, April 17, 2026
- CAP severity, certainty, urgency
- Extreme, Observed, Immediate
- VTEC event
- KILX TO.W 0045
- Official source
- National Weather Service: the notice at its source
Tornado Warnings in Illinois since 2008Every warning type in Illinois
Source: National Weather Service: the notice at its source. AreaZine rebuilds this page from the agency's record; the agency's page is the one to act on. A U.S. Government work, in the public domain.
The notice as issued
TORILX The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a * Tornado Warning for... Stark County in north central Illinois... Northeastern Knox County in west central Illinois... * Until 730 PM CDT. * At 705 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms capable of producing both tornadoes and extensive straight line wind damage were located over Wataga, or near Galesburg, moving northeast at 45 mph. HAZARD...Tornado. SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation. IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is likely. * These dangerous storms will be near... Wataga around 710 PM CDT. Victoria around 715 PM CDT. La Fayette around 725 PM CDT.
What the agency told people to 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.
Source: National Weather Service: the notice at its source. The text is the agency's, unedited. A U.S. Government work, in the public domain.