Three Tornadoes Confirmed Across Two States
Three tornadoes touched down across California and Illinois between the evening of April 22 and early morning April 23, 2026, according to local storm reports compiled by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. Two of the tornadoes—both rated EF-1—struck California's Central Valley, while a landspout tornado was confirmed in northeastern Illinois.
The California tornadoes marked a continuation of an unusually active severe weather pattern for the state, which rarely sees tornadoes of this intensity. The Illinois landspout added to a broader severe weather event that produced 57 wind reports and 18 hail reports across nine states.
California: Two EF-1 Tornadoes in the Central Valley
NWS Hanford storm survey teams confirmed two EF-1 tornadoes in California's Central Valley on the evening of April 22.
Tornado Near Clovis
The first tornado touched down approximately 8 miles east-northeast of Clovis at 0009 UTC (5:09 PM PDT). The NWS Hanford survey team found damage consistent with an EF-1 tornado with peak winds of 95 mph.
According to the local storm report, two hardwood trees were snapped in half along Tollhouse Road, and a barn sustained structural damage. The tornado's path and duration have not yet been released pending completion of the full damage survey.
Tornado Near Atwater
The second California tornado struck approximately 3 miles west-southwest of Atwater at 0059 UTC (5:59 PM PDT). This tornado was also rated EF-1, but with slightly higher peak winds of 110 mph.
Video captured by witnesses showed multiple large pieces of metal roofing material aloft during the tornado. The NWS Hanford survey team documented the damage path, though full details on the tornado's length and width have not yet been published.
Both tornadoes occurred in Fresno and Merced counties, areas not typically associated with tornadic activity. California averages roughly 9 tornadoes per year (NOAA 1991–2020 climatology), though EF-1 or stronger tornadoes remain relatively rare in the state.
Illinois: Landspout Tornado Near Donovan
A landspout tornado was confirmed approximately 5 miles northeast of Donovan, Illinois, at 2225 UTC (5:25 PM CDT) on April 22. The tornado was documented by numerous photographs and videos shared on social media and with the NWS Chicago office.
Landspout tornadoes form along boundaries or beneath developing thunderstorms without the presence of a mesocyclone—the rotating updraft typically associated with supercell tornadoes. They tend to be weaker and shorter-lived than supercell tornadoes, though they can still cause localized damage.
The NWS Chicago local storm report noted that the first report of the landspout was received at 5:23 PM, and the tornado likely lasted only a few minutes. No EF rating has been assigned, which is common for landspout tornadoes that produce minimal or no damage.
Donovan is located in Iroquois County in northeastern Illinois, roughly 80 miles south of Chicago.
Broader Severe Weather Event
The three tornadoes were part of a larger severe weather outbreak that affected multiple states across the region.
Hail and Wind Reports
The Storm Prediction Center logged 18 hail reports and 57 wind reports across the affected region. The largest hail—1.5 inches in diameter, roughly the size of a ping pong ball—was reported in Fostoria, Ohio, at 2209 UTC.
Ohio saw the most hail activity, with 13 reports concentrated in the central and northwestern parts of the state. Hailstones of 1 inch or larger were reported in Dublin, Worthington, and Fostoria.
Wind damage was most widespread across South Dakota and other areas, where mesonet stations recorded gusts between 58 and 76 mph. The highest gust—76 mph—was recorded 3 miles northwest of Wasta, South Dakota, at 2310 UTC. Another 74 mph gust was measured 8 miles south of Wall, South Dakota, shortly afterward.
In Texas, the Jackson County emergency manager reported at least 14 power poles downed near Ganado, likely due to a combination of strong winds and large hail.
Storm Environment
The severe weather developed along a complex frontal system stretching from the northern Plains into the Midwest. A deep closed low over southern Saskatchewan drove a trailing cold front southeastward across Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri.
Modest instability and strong wind shear supported scattered supercells and multicellular storms. The California tornadoes likely formed in a localized environment of enhanced low-level shear and boundary-layer convergence, conditions that occasionally support tornadoes in the Central Valley during springtime upper-level troughs.
What's Next
As of the morning of April 23, the Storm Prediction Center has issued an Enhanced Risk for severe thunderstorms across portions of the region for later today. Tornadoes, very large hail, and damaging wind gusts are all possible as a new round of storms develops.
A Slight Risk extends across portions of the Ohio Valley and upper Mississippi Valley, where additional storms may produce hail and gusty winds through tonight.
Residents in the Enhanced Risk area should monitor the latest forecasts from the Storm Prediction Center and local NWS offices. Have multiple ways to receive warnings, especially if storms are expected after dark.
Staying Informed During Overnight Severe Weather
Nighttime tornadoes present unique challenges. Outdoor warning sirens may not be audible indoors, and many smartphone weather apps are silenced by Do Not Disturb mode. Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) for tornado warnings do bypass silent mode on most phones by default, but not all devices are configured identically.
If you live in an area prone to nocturnal severe weather, consider setting up redundant alerting methods—a NOAA Weather Radio, a weather app with alarm overrides, or a service that uses phone calls to break through Do Not Disturb.
VORTEX is a free web app at vortexintel.app that monitors severe weather nationwide. Pro ($4.99/month) places phone calls to your phone when a tornado or flash flood warning is issued for a location you care about — calls can ring through Do Not Disturb once you enable Emergency Bypass for the number, unlike most third-party app notifications.