Several thousand utility customers in McLean County are without power as a line of strong storms rolled through the area early Thursday evening.
Much of the WGLT listening area, including all of McLean County, was under a tornado watch for much of the afternoon and evening.
A tornado warning that included Bloomington-Normal was canceled shortly before 7 p.m. as the storm dissipated. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was in effect until 7:30 p.m.
As of 8:30 p.m., Ameren reported more than 9,100 customers in McLean County without power, according to its website. Corn Belt Energy reports nearly 1,300 customers without power.
McLean County Emergency Management Agency Director Cathy Beck said the county has fielded scattered reports of trees and power lines down from across the county. No injuries have been reported.
A large tree that uprooted fell onto a 10-unit apartment building at 602 East Chestnut St. in Bloomington.
Tiffany Dixon lives next door to the unit where the tree fell. She said she was out on her deck putting down her patio umbrella trying to get ahead of the storm when the wind picked up and the tree collapsed onto the building.
"It was very loud and very scary," said Dixon, noting her daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter were all there at the time.
Dixon said the large tree had been showing signs of age before the storm hit.
"I've said in the past few days and weeks that in the next storm that [tree] would be going down," she said. "It's been a hazard and it's kind of been a concern. I'm just grateful and thankful that it didn't hit my apartment."
A portion of Fell Avenue in Normal south of Uptown was closed off as a large tree was uprooted and lay across the road.
The National Weather Service has indicated scattered reports of downed trees as the initial band of storms came through the area. Wind gusts were reported at 70 mph. An unconfirmed tornado was reported in Fulton County, west of Peoria, according to the weather service.
