Overview
- The outbreak, which struck Friday, produced more than 20 preliminary tornado reports across multiple states, with the National Weather Service issuing rare “particularly dangerous situation” tornado warnings in some areas.
- In Lena, Illinois, officials shut down access to the village after extensive damage, with roofs torn from school buildings while students sheltered inside and authorities reporting no deaths or serious injuries.
- Communities in Wisconsin and Minnesota reported widespread damage, including about 75 homes affected around Ringle and confirmed tornado damage near Rochester, as responders cleared downed trees and checked on residents.
- By Saturday morning, more than 70,000 customers were without power across the Midwest and Great Lakes, led by Illinois and Missouri, according to tracking site PowerOutage.us.
- NWS teams plan detailed damage surveys to confirm tornado counts and assign EF ratings, and forecasters caution that additional severe storms could develop later Saturday.