Warning sirens during thunderstorm Tuesday night confuse some Elgin residents
By Gloria Casas
Published on April 16, 2026.
Elgin's outdoor warning system was activated three times during a thunderstorm on Tuesday night, not due to tornadoes being spotted in the area. The alerts were triggered by a severe thunderstorm moving through the area, which some residents were unaware the city's siren system also alerts when a severe weather warning is issued by the National Weather Service. Some residents were confused as there were no broadcast reports of a tornado in the nearby area. Josie Beecher-Crotty, Elgin’s communications and engagement manager, said the sirens activate automatically when the NWS issues a severe warning within the city’S geographic area. There is a difference between a warning and a watch, which is triggered when thunderstorms with wind gusts of 70 mph or higher, or a tornado has been spotted.
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