Severe Thunderstorms and Heavy Rainfall Today from the Central Plains into the Tennessee Valley

Severe thunderstorms capable of damaging winds will be possible from the Ozark Plateau east into portions of the Southeast today. Rounds of heavy thunderstorms ahead of a slow moving front will continue locally heavy rainfall and scattered flash flooding potential from the Ozarks to the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys today. Read More >

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Radar loop from approximately 2 PM to 8 PM, 4/3/2025

(courtesy of the College of DuPage: https://weather.cod.edu/satrad).

Overview
Tornadoes
Storm Reports
Additional Info

Overview

Thunderstorms developed during the afternoon hours of Wednesday, April 2 in central Illinois and lifted east-northeastward generally along and east of the I-55 and I-57 corridors.

Two tornadoes occurred in Iroquois County, Illinois. One was rated an EF-1, while the other was rated an EF-0.

The storms were part of a larger severe weather outbreak during which numerous tornadoes occurred across the Mississippi River Valley.

Storm Survey Information

Loda, IL Tornado

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Summary:

A tornado formed just east of 300E Road along 600N Road, initially causing damage to power poles. The tornado moved rapidly to the northeast, causing damage at a few farmsteads between 400E Road and 500E Road before dissipating just east of 500E Road north of 100N Road. Link to a video of this tornado (shared with permission).

Cissna Park, IL Tornado

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Summary:

A brief tornado formed just south of 500N Road and west of 1000E Road southwest of Cissna Park. This tornado caused damage to the roofs of a farm outbuilding and a large storage building as it moved northeastward, depositing debris downstream to the east/northeast over empty farm fields before dissipating just west of Cissna Park.

The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:

EF0 Weak 65-85 mph	EF1 Moderate 86-110 mph	EF2 Significant 111-135 mph	EF3 Severe 136-165 mph	EF4 Extreme 166-200 mph	EF5 Catastrophic 200+ mph

When a tornado is known to have occurred but does not cause damage to any qualified damage indicators, or if the only damage is located in an area that is inaccessible to NWS storm survey personnel, then a tornado may be assigned the EF-Unknown (EF-U) rating.

Storm Reports

Preliminary Map of Storm Reports

Preliminary Storm Report Map

Preliminary National Storm Reports

Interactive Map of Preliminary Storm Reports

Additional Information

Links:

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Additional event recaps can be found on the NWS Chicago Past Events Page

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Severe Thunderstorms and Heavy Rainfall Today from the Central Plains into the Tennessee Valley

April 2, 2025: Two Tornadoes Occur in Iroquois County