Overcast Sunday, and the Storm Prediction Center issued warnings of severe weather Sunday night—thunderstorms, damaging winds, possible tornadoes for Illinois, including Dekalb County and Cook County.

A wall cloud was spotted in DeKalb Illinois around 9:30 pm. Wall clouds have potential to produce tornadoes.

The warnings moved south with the gathering storm. Tornado sirens went off in Oak Park, Berwyn and Cicero at around 11 pm. I headed to the basement with my laptop, notebook, weather radio and shoulder bag.

There was thunder, lightning and torrential rain!

At around the same time, a tornado was spotted in Woodridge, Il, not far from Plainfield, where a tornado had touched down years before.

Woodridge, Naperville and Darien were hardest hit by what appears to be an EF-3 tornado. The damage was extensive. There were injuries reported, but thankfully no fatalities.

Severe weather warnings are serious. Tornadoes are very dangerous. They can and do occur in populated areas, and often at night, when visibility is poor. People are more vulnerable, too–Many are asleep, barefoot in pajamas.

Were some awake, like me, awaiting the arrival of the summer solstice at 10:31 CDT?

Summer is severe weather season. That means tornadoes, flooding, fires and hurricanes.

The third named storm of the hurricane season, Tropical Storm Claudette, has caused 12 deaths in Alabama, and is forecast to move up the southeast coast.

Please pay attention to the warnings. Now is the time to stay weather-aware, and be prepared!