NWS confirms EF-0 tornado in Lee Co. IL; second tornado Putnam Co.

Two confirmed tornadoes touched down across north-central Illinois on the evening of Friday, August 22, 2026, as a severe storm system swept through Lee and Putnam counties. The National Weather Service conducted ground damage surveys and video analysis to confirm both events — the first striking southeast of Sublette in Lee County just before 6 PM CDT, and the second appearing briefly near Moronts in Putnam County roughly an hour and a half later. Communities including Dixon, Amboy, Princeton, and Ottawa were within the broader impact zone of the evening’s storm activity.

While neither event reached the intensity of a large or violent tornado, an EF-0 with peak winds of 70 mph carries enough energy to strip shingles, snap tree limbs, and send debris airborne — and that kind of damage is not always visible from a sidewalk glance. If you own or manage property in Lee or Putnam County, a thorough exterior inspection in the next 24 to 48 hours is time well spent, particularly before the next rain moves through.

What the National Weather Service Confirmed

NWS Chicago (Station LOT) completed a post-storm damage survey and confirmed the following for the Lee County event:

• Location: Approximately 4 miles southeast of Sublette, Lee County, Illinois
• Time: Approximately 5:55 PM CDT, August 22, 2026
• Rating: EF-0 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale
• Peak winds: 70 mph
• Path length: Approximately 0.7 miles
• Maximum width: Approximately 200 yards

An EF-0 is the lowest tornado rating, but it is not a trivial weather event. At 70 mph, winds are capable of lifting and displacing shingles, snapping moderate-sized branches, and driving loose debris into windows, siding panels, and roofing systems. Damage of this nature often goes undetected until water begins entering through compromised areas during the next rain event.

NWS Davenport (Station DVN) confirmed a second tornado the same evening. Video analysis placed the storm near 1 NNE Moronts in Putnam County at approximately 7:15 PM CDT on August 22, 2026. NWS Davenport described it as a very brief tornado that touched down just north of US-52 at Cedar Grove Road. Residents near Moronts, Princeton, and Ottawa who experienced storm activity that evening should exercise the same care with their post-storm inspections as those in Lee County.

Both events are documented in the NOAA/Storm Prediction Center storm report archive and are attributed to NWS LOT and NWS DVN respectively. For the most current NWS statements and survey updates, visit weather.gov.

What Homeowners in the Affected Towns Should Check Now

Whether you’re in Sublette, Dixon, Amboy, Moronts, Princeton, Ottawa, or anywhere in the Lee or Putnam County corridor, now is the time to walk your property with a critical eye. Do not wait for an obvious interior water leak — some of the most costly storm damage develops over days or weeks behind surfaces that look intact from the outside.

Roof

• Missing or lifted shingles: Look for bare patches, exposed underlayment, or shingles curling up at the edges. Even a small displaced shingle creates a water entry point in the next rainstorm.
• Granule loss: Check your gutters and the splash areas around downspout discharge for an unusual accumulation of dark, sand-like granules. Heavy granule loss is a reliable indicator that shingles have been abraded or cracked.
• Ridge cap and hip shingles: The peak of your roof is especially vulnerable to wind uplift. Use binoculars from the ground to scan ridgelines without climbing onto the roof.
• Flashing at penetrations: Metal flashing around chimneys, vent pipes, and skylights can be pried up by wind gusts, creating direct pathways for water intrusion that are difficult to detect until significant interior damage has occurred.

Siding and Exterior Walls

• Impact marks, cracks, or punctures: Even a brief EF-0 can launch small debris at meaningful speeds. Inspect vinyl, fiber cement, and wood siding panels closely for dents, cracking along seams, or puncture holes.
• Separated or popped panels: Wind can dislodge siding panels from their interlocking channels, particularly along lower courses near the foundation. A gap here allows wind-driven rain to reach the house wrap and sheathing beneath.
• Windows and door frames: Check for cracked glass, failed caulking seals, or frames that are no longer flush with the surrounding wall.

Gutters and Downspouts

• Pulled-away gutters: Debris loading during a storm can pull gutters loose from fascia boards. Verify that gutters remain level, properly pitched, and attached securely at every hanger bracket.
• Downspout disconnections: High wind and debris can separate downspout sections at their joints. A disconnected downspout redirects roof drainage toward your foundation instead of away from it.

Trees and Landscaping

• Hanging or partially cracked limbs: Broken branches that have not yet fallen are a serious safety hazard — especially over rooflines, parked vehicles, and walkways. Do not attempt to remove large limbs yourself.
• Root disturbance: Inspect the base of large trees for mounded or disturbed soil, which can signal root damage even in a tree that appears to be standing normally.

Interior — Early Signs of Water Intrusion

• Ceiling stains or bubbling paint: Water can travel laterally through insulation and framing cavities before it becomes visible on an interior surface. A ceiling stain is rarely directly below the actual entry point.
• Attic inspection after the next rain: With a flashlight, check attic insulation for wetness, look for new staining on rafters or sheathing, and note any daylight visible through the roof deck where there should be none.

If you are unable to safely inspect your roof from the ground using binoculars, do not climb onto it. Contact a licensed contractor to conduct the inspection safely.

If You Find Damage

Discovering storm damage can feel disorienting, but the steps are manageable when you take them in the right order. Acting quickly — and documenting carefully — protects both your property and your ability to file a successful insurance claim.

Document everything before any work begins. Use your smartphone to photograph all visible damage as soon as it is safe to do so. Capture wide shots to establish context and close-up shots to show specific defects. Enable date and time stamps if your camera supports them. Photograph gutters, siding, rooflines from the ground, any interior staining or bubbling, and anything else that looks out of place. This documentation is essential when your insurance adjuster evaluates the claim.

Take reasonable protective measures to prevent further damage. If there is a clear opening — a broken window, a section of missing ridge cap — a basic temporary tarp or board can prevent a manageable repair from escalating into a major water damage event before a contractor can respond. The Federal Emergency Management Agency offers post-storm guidance at ready.gov.

Contact your homeowner’s insurance carrier promptly. Open your claim as soon as possible and ask specifically what documentation and contractor estimates are required. Standard Illinois homeowner’s policies typically include wind and tornado damage under dwelling coverage, but every policy differs. This article is general information only and is not legal or insurance advice; consult your policy documents and a licensed insurance professional for guidance specific to your situation.

Work with a licensed restoration contractor. Allied Emergency Services has been restoring storm-damaged homes and commercial buildings across the greater Midwest for 27 years. We are an Illinois-licensed restoration contractor — our role is to document your damage thoroughly, prepare a detailed written repair estimate, meet with your insurance adjuster on-site to walk through the scope of work, and then perform the physical restoration: roofing, siding, structural repairs, and more. We are not a public adjuster and do not negotiate, settle, or adjust insurance claims on your behalf.

Our team handles the work covered under your claim — correctly, completely, and with the licensed crews and manufacturer-approved materials your home deserves. Learn more about our storm damage restoration services and what to expect at every stage of the process.

Call Allied Emergency Services — 24/7 Emergency Response

If you’re in Sublette, Dixon, Amboy, Moronts, Princeton, Ottawa, or anywhere in Lee or Putnam County and you have concerns about what Friday evening’s storms may have done to your property, don’t wait for the next rainfall to reveal a problem. The longer a compromised roof or damaged exterior goes unprotected, the more costly the eventual repair becomes.

• Call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: (800) 792-0212
• Text ESTIMATE to: (844) 907-2546

Allied Emergency Services — 27 years of storm restoration experience, Illinois-licensed and fully insured, ready to help Lee and Putnam County homeowners recover from the August 22, 2026 severe weather events.