Just hours after a Tornado Watch was issued for several Illinois counties, the Watch was upgraded to a Warning for some areas as a tornado was confirmed in western Illinois.
At 6:33 p.m., weather spotters confirmed a tornado over Good Hope, Illinois, which is located 8 miles north of Macomb, according to the National Weather Service.
The tornado was moving east at 30 mph, and the NWS were warning area residents of golf ball-sized hail and flying debris in the storm. Residents were advised to take cover, move to a basement or interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building, and avoid windows.
The Warning was in place for parts of Knox and Fulton County, with impacted areas including the towns of Abingdon, Avon, Fairview, London Mills, St. Augustine, Ellisville, and DeLong.
The Tornado Watch was issued for LaSalle and Livingston counties, along with several other Illinois counties, just after 3:30 p.m. and remains in effect until 9 p.m.
All of northern Illinois and some parts of Indiana were in the slight risk for severe weather Tuesday.
High winds are expected to follow the stormy weather Wednesday, prompting a High Wind Watch for much of the Chicago area. The watch will be in effect from Wednesday morning through the evening hours.
Wind gusts of up to 60 mph, some possibly even higher, are forecast. The winds will diminish heading into the evening hours as temperatures stay relatively mild.
A Wind Advisory was also issued for some suburbs, warning of gusts between 45 and 55 mph.
Cast your vote early because Byron Miranda is tracking the potential for tornadoes in some parts of the state. RADAR: http://nbcchi.com/dcdHg1r
Posted by NBC Chicago on Tuesday, March 15, 2016
