Flooding, downed power lines in suburbs as storms strike Friday, likely tornado devastates Lena

An apparent tornado tore through the village of Lena Friday afternoon, causing extensive damage although no one was fatally injured, authorities said.

“Tonight, our village faced a devastating tornado, and while there is still much to assess, one thing is already clear — our community is strong,” Lena officials posted on Facebook.

High winds and thunderstorms crossed the Chicago area Friday night and tornado warnings were issued for multiple counties in the region.

Flooding was reported at locations including Rollins Road in Fox Lake, Buffalo Creek in Wheeling, at Route 45 and Washington Street near Grayslake, as well as power lines down near Route 38 and Kirk Road in Geneva, according to the National Weather Service.

The storm converged on Lena in northwest Illinois about 3:40 p.m. Friday and hit numerous homes, businesses and infrastructure. Tree limbs and other debris blocked roads and scattered downed power lines, the Stephenson County sheriff’s office reported.

“We are extremely fortunate that this storm did not result in loss of life or serious injury,” Sheriff Steve Stovall said in a statement. “Our focus remains on ensuring the safety of our residents, securing the affected areas, and supporting the village of Lena as recovery efforts move forward.”

The National Weather Service is assessing the storm and will update if it was a tornado.

Winds reached more than 70 mph with hail “up to teacup size” Friday afternoon and evening, NWS officials said.