Thursday's storms in northern Illinois as seen through social media

As severe storms swept through northern Illinois — including tornadoes, one of which killed a person in the small town of Fairdale — people posted scenes of the scary skies and then of the troubling aftermath. Here's a sampling.

Tornadoes were reported to have touched down and small towns west of the suburbs experienced major damage, including Rochelle, Kirkland and Fairdale.

ABC 7 Chicago is reporting one died as a result of a tornado in Fairdale, a small, unincorporated town some 30 miles southwest of Rockford on Route 72.

A sheriff's dispatcher said there was widespread damage but no immediate reports of injuries when a tornado swept across the town of Hillcrest, about 80 miles west of Chicago.

Tornadoes were also seen near Marengo. Tornadoes were reported earlier Thursday near Peoria, and Dewitt, Iowa, but no damage was reported.