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March 14-15, 2025 Severe Weather Recap

Weather.gov > Central Illinois > March 14-15, 2025 Severe Weather Recap

Overview

On Friday, March 14th, an unseasonably strong low pressure system lifted across the Great Plains and into the Midwest. The resulting tight pressure gradient ahead of that cyclone resulted in strong southerly winds that advected an unseasonably warm airmass into the region. In fact, a high temperature record was broken in Peoria and tied in Lincoln and Springfield, hitting 82 and 83 degrees respectively.

Because the airmass was seasonably dry and sunshine was plentiful during the afternoon, deep mixing brought some of the strong winds aloft down to the surface, with many sites gusting over 50 mph outside of thunderstorms. Springfield Capitol Airport had the highest reliable, measured non-convective gust of 59 mph. A few locations reported downed tree limbs and powerlines, and there was even one report of a collapsed pavilion at a park in Oakford (Menard County).

Two areas of thunderstorms then developed upstream: the first, a bowing line of storms lifting north-northeast across much of Iowa; the second, a mix of bowing linear structures and supercells moving east-northeast across Missouri. Shortly before 9pm, those storms entered the NWS Central Illinois County Warning Area (CWA), becoming increasingly linear north of roughly I-72 but maintaining supercell-like structure further south. Strong wind shear from a strengthening low-level jet (winds reached 75-80kt at 1km AGL) maintained the line of storms as they moved east across central IL, and unsurprisingly scattered to widespread damaging straight-line winds continued even where there wasn't thunder. Further south, near the I-70 corridor, dewpoints climbed into the low to mid 50s favoring lowering LCLs (lifting condensation level). In addition, surface winds backed, locally increasing SRH values to over 1000 m^2/s^2 and favoring a continued tornado risk. The most dangerous storm of the evening went through extreme northern Cumberland and much of Coles Counties where a debris signature on correlation coefficient (doppler radar dual pol product) corresponding with strong rotational velocity allowed us to confirm a tornado on radar.

The storms festered until around 3 am Saturday morning, when activity weakened and simultaneously shifted east into Indiana.

Preliminary findings from our damage survey determined there were 3 tornadoes. One EF-2 that started south of Neoga, IL and ended a couple miles south of the Charleston/Mattoon airport. And two EF-1 tornadoes, one that was short and located roughly 3 miles north of Mattoon, IL and the other in Paris, IL. Additional information on these tornadoes will be provided in the coming days.

**Stay tuned for further updates in the coming days**

 Image
Radar loop from the night of Friday, March 14 into the early morning hours of Saturday, March 15.

Tornadoes

Select a tornado from the table to zoom into the track and view more information. The default table view is limited to 8 tracks, but can be scrolled by a mouse wheel or dynamically expanded. Additionally, the table can fill the entire window by clicking the small circular expanding arrow icon at the very top right of the table and returned to its original size by clicking the button again. The side information panel that opens over the map can be closed using the "X" on the upper right corner of the pop-up. Zoom into the map and click damage points to see detailed information and pictures from the surveys.

How to Use the Map

NOTE: times shown below are local to your device's time zone.

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EF-Scale

The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:

EF0
Weak
65-85 mph		 EF1
Moderate
86-110 mph		 EF2
Significant
111-135 mph		 EF3
Severe
136-165 mph		 EF4
Extreme
166-200 mph		 EF5
Catastrophic
200+ mph
ef-scale
Tornadoes that fail to impact any ratable structures on the EF-Scale are rated EF-Unknown (EF-U)

Storm Reports

Preliminary Local Storm Report...Summary
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
356 PM CDT Sat Mar 15 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0216 AM     Hail             2 SW Bridgeport         38.69N 87.78W
03/15/2025  M0.75 Inch       Lawrence           IL   Public

            Report from mPING: Dime (0.75 in.).

0215 AM     Hail             4 W Prairieton          39.37N 87.55W
03/15/2025  M0.75 Inch       Clark              IL   Public



0153 AM     Funnel Cloud     Annapolis               39.15N 87.82W
03/15/2025                   Crawford           IL   Trained Spotter



1258 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Gifford                 40.31N 88.02W
03/15/2025                   Champaign          IL   Emergency Mngr

            a few trailers flipped.

1251 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 SSE Paris             39.60N 87.68W
03/15/2025                   Edgar              IL   Public

            Delayed report. Relayed from social media.
            Time estimated by radar. Multiple power
            poles down east side of Paris along US 150.

1250 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 S Paris               39.60N 87.69W
03/15/2025                   Edgar              IL   Broadcast Media

            Trees uprooted, structural damage to a
            trailer home, and a roof uplifted from a
            single residence home.

1242 AM     Hail             1 NE Sidney             40.04N 88.06W
03/15/2025  M0.75 Inch       Champaign          IL   Public

            Report from mPING: Dime (0.75 in.).

1232 AM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Willard Airport         40.04N 88.28W
03/15/2025  M64 MPH          Champaign          IL   ASOS

            REPORTED AT CMI.

1231 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 N Mattoon             39.53N 88.37W
03/15/2025                   Coles              IL   Emergency Mngr

            power poles broken and powerlines down.

1227 AM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Tolono                  39.99N 88.26W
03/15/2025  M55 MPH          Champaign          IL   Fire Dept/Rescue

            relayed via emergency manager.

1220 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 SE Charleston         39.47N 88.15W
03/15/2025                   Coles              IL   Emergency Mngr

            power poles and lines down. Time estimated
            from radar.

1215 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 WNW Lerna             39.42N 88.31W
03/15/2025                   Coles              IL   Emergency Mngr

            power lines down. Time estimated from radar.

1208 AM     Tornado          1 W Trilla              39.38N 88.38W
03/15/2025                   Coles              IL   Broadcast Media

            Outbuilding destroyed. Time estimated from
            radar with a radar confirmed tornado.

1202 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 NE Neoga              39.33N 88.43W
03/15/2025                   Cumberland         IL   Law Enforcement

            Semis blown over on I-57.

1200 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Neoga                   39.32N 88.45W
03/15/2025                   Cumberland         IL   Public

            Report from social media. Porch and portion
            of roof torn off of home.

1159 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Hammond                 39.80N 88.59W
03/14/2025                   Piatt              IL   Broadcast Media

            Gutters and roofing material ripped off of
            house, small outbuilding demolished, large
            limbs and cell tower blown down. Time
            estimated from radar.

1155 PM     Funnel Cloud     3 NW Watson             39.06N 88.61W
03/14/2025                   Effingham          IL   Trained Spotter

            Corrects previous funnel cloud report from 3
            NW Watson.

1155 PM     Funnel Cloud     4 NW Watson             39.06N 88.63W
03/14/2025                   Effingham          IL   Trained Spotter



1153 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Hammond                 39.80N 88.59W
03/14/2025                   Piatt              IL   Broadcast Media

            Delayed report. Relayed from broadcast
            media. Time estimated by radar. Large 12 in
            tree limbs down on a house. Shingles peeled
            upward on roofing.

1145 PM     Hail             1 E Moccasin            39.15N 88.75W
03/14/2025  M1.75 Inch       Effingham          IL   Mesonet

            Hail lasted for approximately 5 minutes and
            partially covered the road.

1140 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 WNW Findlay           39.54N 88.81W
03/14/2025                   Shelby             IL   Broadcast Media

            Barn with 2nd level torn off, near Findlay
            along Rt 128. Delayed Report. Time estimated
            by radar.

1125 PM     Hail             Altamont                39.06N 88.75W
03/14/2025  E1.25 Inch       Effingham          IL   Mesonet



1120 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Niantic                 39.86N 89.17W
03/14/2025                   Macon              IL   Emergency Mngr

            Delayed Report. School bus barn roof was
            peeled off. Time estimated by radar.

1105 PM     Hail             3 SE Taylorville        39.52N 89.25W
03/14/2025  M1.50 Inch       Christian          IL   Public



1025 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 S Washington          40.69N 89.41W
03/14/2025                   Tazewell           IL   Mesonet

            Large trees blown down on the south side of
            Washington.

1022 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Chillicothe             40.92N 89.49W
03/14/2025  M61 MPH          Peoria             IL   Emergency Mngr



1019 PM     Hail             Athens                  39.96N 89.73W
03/14/2025  M0.75 Inch       Menard             IL   Public

            Report from mPING: Dime (0.75 in.).

1010 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     New Berlin              39.73N 89.91W
03/14/2025  E70 MPH          Sangamon           IL   Emergency Mngr

            60 to 70 mph winds estimated from New Berlin
            to Loami.

1008 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 E Pekin               40.57N 89.63W
03/14/2025                   Tazewell           IL   Emergency Mngr

            Tree down. Time estimated from radar.

1007 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 SE Brimfield          40.81N 89.83W
03/14/2025                   Peoria             IL   Emergency Mngr

            Trees down.

1000 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Mossville               40.82N 89.57W
03/14/2025                   Peoria             IL   Broadcast Media

            A couple trees downed by thunderstorm winds.
            Time estimated from radar.

1000 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Hanna City              40.69N 89.80W
03/14/2025                   Peoria             IL   Broadcast Media

            Restaurant sign blown over. Time estimated
            from radar.

0959 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Pekin                   40.57N 89.65W
03/14/2025                   Tazewell           IL   Emergency Mngr

            Roofing material ripped off of a large
            building. Time estimated from radar.

0958 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 E Peoria Heights      40.74N 89.56W
03/14/2025                   Peoria             IL   Broadcast Media

            Rotted tree snapped at its base at the
            Peoria Country Club Golf Course. Time
            estimated from radar.

0958 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 SE Alta               40.80N 89.61W
03/14/2025                   Peoria             IL   Emergency Mngr

            A large section of sturdy fencing was
            knocked down across from the Kroger on Rt
            40.

0957 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 SE West Peoria        40.68N 89.62W
03/14/2025                   Peoria             IL   Broadcast Media

            Fence and a few ill-looking trees downed by
            thunderstorm winds. Time estimated from
            radar.

0957 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     4 SSW Alta              40.77N 89.66W
03/14/2025                   Peoria             IL   Trained Spotter

            Large but decayed tree snapped near the
            base. Time estimated by radar.

0955 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     4 N Easton              40.30N 89.85W
03/14/2025                   Mason              IL   Emergency Mngr

            Structural damage to a home porch.

0940 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 SSE Canton            40.55N 90.03W
03/14/2025                   Fulton             IL   Emergency Mngr

            Metal carport blown down. Time estimated
            from radar.

0939 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Canton                  40.56N 90.04W
03/14/2025                   Fulton             IL   Emergency Mngr

            Decayed tree split, powerlines down, and
            pieces of roofing material blown off a
            couple buildings. Timing estimated from
            radar.

0915 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Galesburg Airport       40.94N 90.43W
03/14/2025  M69 MPH          Knox               IL   AWOS

            REPORTED AT GBG.

0910 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 NE Rushville          40.15N 90.52W
03/14/2025                   Schuyler           IL   Mesonet

            Several tree branches were blown down and
            power was out for about 6 hours.


&&

$$

Environment

Environment Environment Environment
The KILX sounding  from the evening of March 14 (00Z March 15). Infrared satellite imagery showing the powerhouse low pressure system as it pushed storms toward IL late Friday evening (March 14). Figure 3: Caption
Environment Environment Environment
Figure 4: Caption Figure 5: Caption Figure 6: Caption
 

Photos & Video

 

Photo Photo Photo Photo
A composite of all the warnings issued by NWS Central IL between March 14-15, which included 16 Severe Thunderstorm Warnings and 15 Tornado Warnings. Image courtesy of Iowa State Mesonet. Caption
(source)		 Caption
(source)		 Caption
(source)

Radar

 

Radar Image Radar Image Radar Image Radar Image
Radar image near Lerna, IL at 12:13 AM CDT March 15 showing gate-to-gate rotation on storm relative velocity (upper right) co-located with a tornadic debris signature on correlation coefficient (lower left). Caption Caption Caption

Additional Information

The Forecast

SPC Day 3 Categorical Outlook SPC Day 3 Probabilistic Outlook SPC Day 2 Categorical Outlook SPC Day 2 Probabilistic Outlook
SPC Day 3 Categorical Outlook SPC Day 3 Probabilistic Outlook SPC Day 2 Categorical Outlook SPC Day 2 Probabilistic Outlook
SPC Day 1 Categorical Outlook SPC Day 1 Tornado Outlook SPC Day 1 Hail Outlook SPC Day 1 Wind Outlook
SPC Day 1 Categorical Outlook SPC Day 1 Tornado Outlook SPC Day 1 Hail Outlook SPC Day 1 Wind Outlook
 
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