9:30pm Update: All severe thunderstorm watches, warning, and tornado warnings have been canceled Friday evening as the line of severe storms have moved out of the area. We’ve received several reports of damage throughout the region, including a roof collapse at the Apollo Theatre in Belvidere, IL with multiple injuries.

Winds are expected to increase behind a cold front tonight as colder air moves in Saturday morning. A rain/snow mix is possible.

6:15pm Update: NEW: SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING for Stephenson, Carroll and Whiteside counties until 6:45pm. 70 mph wind gusts and quarter sized hail possible. This does include: Freeport, Ridott, German Valley, Lena, Stockton, Elizabeth and Milledgeville.

6:15pm Update: TORNADO WARNING issued for Jo Daviess and Carroll counties. This is associated with a line of thunderstorms quickly moving to the northeast at 50-55 mph. If you’re in the path of this storm, you need to make sure you are seeking shelter.

6pm Update: NEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING issued for Whiteside County until 6:45pm. Line of thunderstorms extending down from near Donahue to Little York, IA moving to the northeast at 75 mph. 70 mph wind gusts and quarter sized hail possible. Severe Thunderstorm Warning continues for Carroll and Jo Daviess Counties.

5:35pm Update: All severe thunderstorm warnings have been canceled for the immediate area, but the tornado watch continues. Storms west of the Mississippi River continue to race to the east. This is our second round of thunderstorms that’ll move into the west between 6pm and 6:30pm. These continue to pose a risk for damaging winds and isolated tornadoes and have been holding together fairly well so far. Please stay updated with the forecast throughout the evening.

4:30 pm Update: NEW: SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING for Ogle County until 5:30pm. Storm is located near Milledgeville and Chana, moving to the northeast at 40 mph. Storm is capable of producing quarter sized hail. Those in the path should seek shelter.

(4:15PM CDT): SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING for southeastern Carroll County until 4:45pm. Storm located near Sterling, IL is currently moving to the northeast at 60 mph. Wind gusts to 60 mph and half dollar sized hail is possible. Seek shelter if in the path of this storm.

(3:55PM CDT): A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING has been issued for southeast Lee County and southern DeKalb County until 5pm. The storm located near Hennepin, IL is currently moving to the northeast at 55 mph and capable of producing ping pong ball sized hail.

(3:30PM CDT): A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING has been issued for Whiteside County until 4:15PM. This storm moving to the NE at 60 mph is capable of producing 60 mph winds and quarter sized hail.

(2:30PM CDT): Tornado Watch has been expanded across the rest of the Stateline through 10PM tonight. Wind gusts of up to 70 mph, ping pong sized hail, and a few tornadoes are possible. This watch is NOT a PDS watch.

(1:30PM CDT): A PDS Tornado Watch has been issued for areas including Jo Daviess, Stephenson, Carroll, and Whiteside Counties until 8PM. This particular part of the Tornado Watch has a PDS (Particularly Dangerous Situation) tag on it, meaning there is higher confidence that some strong tornadoes are possible. A few strong to violent tornadoes are expected, along with hail up to 3″ in diameter. Widespread wind gusts of up to 70 mph are also likely.

A rare Level 5/5 HIGH RISK issued just to the Southwest of the Stateline, with Level 4/5 Moderate Risk expanded a bit to the East, covering many of our Southern Counties. Be prepared for severe weather this afternoon and evening and have plans to take shelter if needed.

Storms are expected to enter the area from the Southwest by around 3PM. These storms could contain large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes. This first round of storms will move out closer to 5PM.

A second round of storms will move in from the West, bringing once again damaging winds, some hail, and a few tornadoes. This line of storms will have a higher threat for winds more than anything else, but a few embedded tornadoes cannot be ruled out either.

That line of storms will progress through the Stateline quickly, moving at around 50-60 mph. We should be clear of storms in the Stateline by 9/10PM. Until then, remain weather aware!