Tornado watch for most of northern Illinois, severe thunderstorms warnings also issued

In addition to the tornado watch in effect for most of northern Illinois, several areas with in the region were under a severe thunderstorm warning during the evening.

A National Weather Service official said reports were received of 65 mph wind gusts five miles northwest of Marengo and of 55 mph gusts in Boone County five miles east of the town of Herbert, southwest of Marengo. There was also a report of tree damage between McHenry and Volo, north of Lakemoor.

By 7:30 p.m., only southeastern Lake County and northeastern Cook County had severe thunderstorm warnings, according to the National Weather Service. People in the affected areas should move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building, according to the weather service. Thunderstorm warnings previously covered northern DeKalb County, Boone County, eastern Ogle County and southeastern Winnebago County, McHenry County and northern Kane County.

Lake County and northwestern Cook County were also under a thunderstorm warning, but that war

About 740 customers in Lee County, about 3,100 customers in McHenry County, about 540 in Whiteside County and 190 in DeKalb County were without power as of about 7:30 p.m., according to ComEd. About 660 customers were without power in Ogle County.

A tornado watch is in effect until 10 p.m. Thursday for most of northern Illinois, according to the NWS.

The updated tornado watch started with McHenry County and the Rockford area but was expanded at about 5:15 p.m. Thursday to cover most of northern and central Illinois, including Ogle, La Salle, DeKalb, Kane, Lake, Kankakee, Kendall, Lee, Cook, DuPage and Will counties, as well as Winnebago and Boone counties.

Other potential weather threats may hit the area Thursday including damaging winds and damaging hail, according to the NWS.

The weather service says showers and thunderstorms are likely as is windy weather, with gusts up to 30 mph possible.

People should move indoors if they hear thunder and have multiple ways to get weather warnings, according to the NWS.