This afternoon's high winds split a large tree on Main Street in Peoria.

Part of the tree fell on an adjacent house and the rest teetered dangerously close to Peking Restaurant.

The owner of the 18-year-old establishment scrambled to find someone to cut it down.

She feared the high winds would send it crashing down.

Rick Brooks was renovating a house next door and heard the tree split, a split he says tripled in size in less than an hour.

Brooks volunteered to cut down the tree in light of the severe weather approaching this evening.

He says it should take him about four to five hours to complete.

Portions of central Illinois are under a Tornado Watch until early evening.

Residents of Cass, DeWitt, Logan, Macon Menard and McLean Counties are facing the Tornado Watch until 7:00 p.m. LaSalle and Livingston Counties are under a watch unyil 6:00 p.m.

The National Weather Service says to expect the possibility of tornadoes, hail up to two inches in diamter, thunderstorms, dangerous lightning and wind gusts up to 70 mph.

A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes and severe thrunderstorms in and close to the watch area.