Tornado outbreak of April 17–18, 2026

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This significant and damaging tornado first touched down along [[U.S. Route 20 in Illinois|US 20]] southwest of Lena at 3:32 p.m. CDT first causing EF1 damage to trees. The tornado tracked northeastward, snapping and uprooting more trees and destroying power poles at EF2 intensity being captured on a camera in Lena wrapped in rain. The tornado then turned due east moving directly into town where it caused widespread and significant EF2 roof damage, a lot of houses had shingle and siding damage while trees in the area were snapped or uprooted at EF2 intensity, the tornado then reached peak strength as it caused severe damage where three houses lost their entire roof structure and two other homes experienced partial exterior wall collapsee. The tornado then turned back to the northeast, causing additional damage to farm structures and extensive tree damage before weakening and dissipating. The entire town was left without power.>{{cite report|author=National Weather Service in Davenport, Iowa|title=NWS Damage Survey for 04/17/2026 Tornadoes and Straight Line Wind|url=https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/wx/afos/p.php?pil=PNSDVN&e=202604190601|publisher=Iowa Environmental Mesonet|date=April 19, 2026|access-date=April 19, 2026}}>

This significant and damaging tornado first touched down along [[U.S. Route 20 in Illinois|US 20]] southwest of Lena at 3:32 p.m. CDT first causing EF1 damage to trees. The tornado tracked northeastward, snapping and uprooting more trees and destroying power poles at EF2 intensity being captured on a camera in Lena wrapped in rain. The tornado then turned due east moving directly into town where it caused widespread and significant EF2 roof damage, a lot of houses had shingle and siding damage while trees in the area were snapped or uprooted at EF2 intensity, the tornado then reached peak strength as it caused severe damage where three houses lost their entire roof structure and two other homes experienced partial exterior wall collapsee. The tornado then turned back to the northeast, causing additional damage to farm structures and extensive tree damage before weakening and dissipating. The entire town was left without power.

The town of Lena was shut down by the Stephenson County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Steve Stovall urged the community to avoid the town of Lena until further notice. The tornado traveled 12.54 miles (20.18 km) from [[Lena, Illinois|Lena]] to [[McConnell, Illinois|McConnell]] and reached a peak path width of 1,250 yards (1,143 m), but despite the damage sustained, no fatalities or injuries were attributed to the tornado.{{cite report|author=WREX|title=Village of Lena is shut down until further notice: Stephenson Co. Sheriff|url=https://www.wrex.com/news/top-stories/village-of-lena-is-shut-down-until-further-notice-stephenson-co-sheriff/article_d89945c3-e4cb-49ba-99f9-a7e910ffcdd4.html|publisher=Will McKenna|date=April 17, 2026|access-date=April 20, 2026}}

The town of Lena was shut down by the Stephenson County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Steve Stovall urged the community to avoid the town of Lena until further notice. The tornado traveled 12.54 miles (20.18 km) from [[Lena, Illinois|Lena]] to [[McConnell, Illinois|McConnell]] and reached a peak path width of 1,250 yards (1,143 m), but despite the damage sustained, no fatalities or injuries were attributed to the tornado.{{cite report|author=WREX|title=Village of Lena is shut down until further notice: Stephenson Co. Sheriff|url=https://www.wrex.com/news/top-stories/village-of-lena-is-shut-down-until-further-notice-stephenson-co-sheriff/article_d89945c3-e4cb-49ba-99f9-a7e910ffcdd4.html|publisher=Will McKenna|date=April 17, 2026|access-date=April 20, 2026}}