Tennis balls are best left on the court, but on Tuesday evening the National Weather Service warned they might be falling from the sky over southwestern Kankakee County. A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for the area, calling for tennis‑ball‑size hail and damaging winds as a storm pushed east at roughly 30 mph toward a string of small valley towns. The warning was scheduled to expire at 6 p.m.
What the NWS warned
According to the National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville, the warned storm was located about 9 miles southeast of Dwight and was expected to produce tennis‑ball‑sized hail and wind gusts up to 60 mph. Forecasters said hail and 60 mph winds could damage roofs, siding, windows and vehicles, and urged that people and animals head indoors until the storm passed. The office listed the warning to expire at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Where it was headed
Local reporting pointed to Herscher, Clifton, Limestone, Bonfield, Buckingham, Cabery, Kempton, Reddick, Stelle, Irwin and Union Hill as communities in the storm’s path, and urged residents to bring animals inside and secure loose outdoor items, per Shaw Local. Emergency management officials and NWS spotters typically use such town lists to spell out warning polygons and expected impacts, giving residents a clearer sense of whether they are in the bull’s‑eye or just outside it.
Regional picture and safety tips
The Kankakee warning fit into a broader severe‑weather setup sweeping across the Midwest. The Weather Channel reported that the Storm Prediction Center had placed parts of northern Illinois under an elevated risk, with tornado watches in effect for portions of the state. For immediate safety, the NWS recommends moving to an interior room on the lowest floor, staying away from windows, and keeping radios or phones handy for updated warnings from local authorities.
