Overview
DeKalb County, Illinois, experienced severe weather conditions including strong winds and tornado warnings on Friday that led to power outages. The National Weather Service issued a high-risk warning for severe storms in northwest and north-central Illinois, including DeKalb County.
Power Outages in DeKalb County
Following the storm, 2,787 ComEd customers were without power across DeKalb County with 51 outages being reported. Cortland had the highest number of households without power with 1,074 or almost 61% of its serviced residents. ComEd is working to restore power to all areas affected by the outages.
Severe Weather Conditions
Northern Illinois experienced severe thunderstorms with winds up to 80 mph, tornado warnings, and hail on Friday. The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning that lasted for 45 minutes across multiple towns in DeKalb County, including Cortland, DeKalb, Sandwich, Somonauk, Genoa, and Sycamore.
Emergency Preparedness Plan
The National Weather Service has advised residents of DeKalb County to have an emergency preparedness plan ready in the event of severe weather conditions or natural disasters. Residents are recommended to stay away from windows and take shelter in a basement or interior room without windows during a tornado alert.
Tornadoes in Northern Illinois
Tornadoes are more frequent during late spring and early summer; however, reported tornadoes have already occurred in Illinois in 2022. Although major tornadoes have happened in the area before, most Northern Illinois tornadoes are brief and short-lived.
Recent Severe Weather Impacts
DeKalb County has experienced severe weather conditions recently leading to tornadoes in August 2021 and a derecho in August 2020. Brett Borchardt, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, states that April marks the start of the thunderstorm season in the region.
Weather Alerts and Updates
Residents are advised to stay informed during severe weather conditions with alerts and updates via various media outlets such as social media, local news broadcasts or NOAA weather radio.
In Conclusion,
Severe weather conditions have affected DeKalb County, Illinois leading to power outages across multiple towns. The National Weather Service has advised residents to have an emergency preparedness plan in place in case of natural disasters. Despite most Northern Illinois tornadoes being short-lived, it is important for residents to remain vigilant during severe weather warnings.
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