The National Weather Service issued an Emergency Alert for a tornado warning at 1:26 p.m. on Sunday, warning of severe thunderstorms, quarter-sized hail and potential flying debris.
“TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building,” the weather alert warned.
The NWS detected a severe thunderstorm with 55-mph winds, capable of producing a tornado in Sadorus, Illinois — a village southeast of Champaign-Urbana. The radar indicated storm rotation.
Champaign and Douglas counties are within the area impacted by the oncoming storm. An Illini-Alert released at 1:36 p.m. instructed students and staff to take shelter indoors immediately.
Tornado sirens were audible throughout Champaign at roughly 1:30 p.m. The warning will be in effect until 2 p.m.
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