Storm Chaser Jaden Pappenheim Gets a Visual on a Tornado Near Rockton, IL and Near Janesville, WI Friday, April 17, 2026

Storm chaser Jaden Pappenheim traveled east on Latham Road past the City of Rockford communications tower, and turned left at the intersection with Illinois Route 2, and pulled over to the right shoulder to capture a visual of a tornado. YouTube Tips ⓘ

Stopping point for the view of a tornado on Illinois Route 2 just north of Latham Road near Rockton, Illinois (Google Maps Street View)

Stopping point for the view of a tornado on Illinois Route 2 just north of Latham Road near Rockton, Illinois (Satellite View)

Direct link to stopped pull over on Illinois Route to view a tornado (@JadenPappenheimWx)

An improved production video was posted on Facebook …
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The video below is an archive of the entire live stream on YouTube that was captured for a period of 6 hours and 53 minutes.

Jaden Pappenheim and crew tracked tornadoes near the Illinois-Wisconsin border as the the NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center projected an ENHANCED risk of tornadoes across east Iowa, Wisconsin, and northwest Illinois (FULL ARCHIVED LIVE STREAM/@JadenPappenheimWx). YouTube Tips ⓘ

Storm Reports for April 17, 2026 in Illinois …
260417’s Storm Reports (20260417 1200 UTC – 20260418 1159 UTC)

Trained spotter reports tornado on the ground just southeast of Harrison.

Multiple photos and videos shared via social media show tornado on the ground between Harrison and Rockton.

Video shows possible brief tornado north of Pecatonica. No known damage. Relayed via social media.

Nearby, the Village of Lena, Illinois sustained significant damage throughout the village. The Stephenson County Sherriff’s Office asked the public to avoid the town of Lena, Illinois, where a tornado inflicted significant damage. Lena, in Stephenson County is about 47 miles west-southwest of Rockton in Winnebago County.

“Tonight, our Village faced a devastating tornado, and while there is still much to assess, one thing is already clear—our community is strong.

We want to extend our deepest gratitude to all of the first responders, emergency crews, public works teams, utility workers, and volunteers who stepped in immediately to protect, serve, and support our residents. Your courage, quick action, and dedication mean more than words can express.

To our residents—please know that we are in this together. Lena has always been a community that shows up for one another, and we will do that now more than ever. There will be challenges ahead, but we will rebuild, recover, and come through this stronger together.

Please continue to stay safe, check on your neighbors, and follow official updates from the Village.

We are Lena. We will get through this.”

Village of Lena, Illinois (FRI APR 17 2026)

Throughout the afternoon and evening hours Friday, April 17, 2026, multiple tornadoes were reported in northwest Illinois and Wisconsin.

^^ MOBILE? USE VOICE MIC ^^

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