Champaign County Tornadoes Since 1950

Details:

1. 4/9/1953:  This tornado may have actually been 3 separate tornadoes.  The track began 4 miles north of Leverett, and passed just north of Royal as it moved east into Vermilion County.  A research weather radar in operation at Willard Airport in Savoy showed a hook echo associated with this storm, the first time such an echo was directly identified as being associated with a tornado. 
2. 8/29/1955:  Touched down just north of Chanute AFB near Rantoul.
3. 8/29/1955:  Touched down just north of Chanute AFB near Rantoul.
4. 11/15/1955:  Passed through Longview, carrying a 20x30 foot building a quarter mile.
5. 6/23/1958:  Touched down 5 miles northwest of Rantoul, and was on the ground for about a half mile.
6. 6/5/1960:  This tornado touched down near Bellflower in southeast McLean County, and moved into Champaign County before lifting near Fisher.
7. 6/5/1960:  Intermittant touchdowns by this tornado, beginning near Bloomington and ending near Sadorus.  Major damage occurred to farmsteads near Ivesdale and Sadorus.
8. 6/23/1960:  This tornado was on the ground for about 3.5 miles, affecting the Tolono area.  Two machine sheds were destroyed and a barn lost its roof.
9. 3/4/1961:  Touched down about 5 miles southeast of Urbana, and was on the ground for 5 miles.  Three farms were damaged.
10. 3/4/1961:  This tornado first touched down in Douglas County near Tuscola, and moved through extreme southeast Champaign County on its way to Vermilion County.
11. 7/2/1962:  Touched down just south of Royal, before moving east into Vermilion County.
12. 4/22/1963:  This tornado moved in from southern Piatt County west of Sadorus.  It caused the most damage in Sadorus, then intermittent damage to near Philo.
13. 1/24/1967:  This tornado, likely not fully reaching the ground the entire time. moved from southwest Champaign across Urbana.  A trailer was destroyed, a house lost its roof, and extensive tree damage was reported.
14. 4/21/1967:  Brief touchdown on a farm just southwest of Champaign.
15. 7/19/1970:  Touched down just west of Champaign; no other information available.
16. 12/10/1971:  A brief touchdown occurred in Urbana.  However, most of the damage across the area was due to high winds caused by severe thunderstorms.
17. 4/3/1974:  This was part of the "Super Outbreak" of 148 tornadoes which affected the eastern half of the U.S. in a 24-hour period.  This tornado originally touched down in northern Piatt County between Farmer City and Mansfield, and clipped extreme southeast McLean County before entering Champaign County.
18. 4/3/1974:  This was part of the "Super Outbreak" of 148 tornadoes which affected the eastern half of the U.S. in a 24-hour period.  This tornado touched down 2 miles east of Tolono, and tracked northeast to pass just north of Philo.  The worst damage occurred 2 miles west of Philo.  One person was killed.
19. 4/3/1974:  This was part of the "Super Outbreak" of 148 tornadoes which affected the eastern half of the U.S. in a 24-hour period.  This particular tornado touched down 4 miles south of Sidney, and moved northeast through the Homer Lake area to just east of Ogden, before moving into Vermilion County.  Homes and the park headquarters were destroyed, and 3 trucks were blown off I-74.
20. 4/12/1974:  Touched down 4 miles west of St. Joseph, and moved northeast for about 15 miles before lifting south of Gifford.  12 rural buildings were damaged.
21. 6/19/1974:  Brief touchdown near Fisher.
22. 8/10/1974:  Brief tornado touchdowns were reported from a storm that started near Tuscola, and moved northward to around Pestotum.
23. 3/20/1976:  This violent tornado originally touched down near Decatur, and traveled 63 miles across Piatt, Champaign and Vermilion Counties to near Danville.  It entered Champaign County just south of Ivesdale, and went through Sadorus, Tolono and Ogden.  From Storm Data:  ...Members of the Bement Fire Department followed the tornado from south of the town to Ivesdale; the tornado was nearly a half-mile wide at the base and appeared to be filled with pieces of trees and buildings.  The tornado passed south of Ivesdale about 1:33 pm.  The tornado's destructive path increased in size to nearly a mile in diameter before approaching Sadorus; the funnel narrowed to a half mile upon reaching Sadorus at about 1:45 pm.  Multiple funnels were sighted at this point; an eyewitness destribed the tornado as "two whirling clouds running side-by-side in the manner of an egg beater."  Marks left in a field 3 miles southwest of Sadorus indicated that the tornado was composed of three or four suction spots (funnels) at that point.  Sadorus was hit hard -- 5 people were injured; 30 families were made homeless; 13 houses and 7 mobile homes were destroyed; 25 houses were damaged beyond repair; at least a dozen vehicles were crushed by falling debris and the winds.  Damage at Sadorus topped $2 million.  ...  Shortly before reaching Ogden, the tornado veered to the left setting a course right for the town.  The tornado -- with two funnels visible -- slammed into Ogden about 2:10 pm passing directly through the downtown district.  A lumber yard, bank, water tower, grain elevator, fire house, and several homes were destroyed.  Five persons were injured in the town; total damage in Ogden was near $1 million.
24. 5/15/1976:  Brief touchdown near Chanute AFB, causing minor damage.
25. 6/8/1981:  The storm that produced this tornado originated near the Peoria area, and produced a few touchdowns on its way to Champaign County.  This touchdown was near the Piatt County line.  
26. 6/8/1981:  The storm that produced this tornado originated near the Peoria area, and produced a few touchdowns on its way to Champaign County.  This touchdown caused damage 3 miles west of Mahomet.
27. 8/28/1984:  Touched down in Homer, damaging 20 buildings.
28. 11/19/1985:  This tornado touched down in extreme northern Piatt County and moved northeast into Champaign County, before dissipating near Fisher.  Five farms were damaged.
29. 4/11/1987:  Touched down 2 miles southwest of Mahomet and was on the ground for 1 mile, but caused no damage.
30. 6/2/1987:  Brief touchdown in St. Joseph, demolishing a house.
31. 5/9/1990:  Traveled half a mile through Urbana, causing heavy damage to a duplex.
32. 6/20/1990:  Touched down in Pesotum, and moved southeast into Douglas County.  Extensive damage occurred at a farm 1 mile east of Pesotum.
33. 6/17/1992:  Brief touchdown in Lotus, near the McLean County line west of Fisher.  Six houses and a grain elevator were damaged; one person was injured.
34. 6/8/1993:  Brief touchdown in Champaign near the intersection of U.S. 150 and Staley Road.
35. 6/8/1993:  Brief touchdown 3 miles north of Champaign, causing roof damage to a house and barn.
36. 6/8/1993:  Brief touchdown in St. Joseph near I-74.
37. 4/26/1994:  Touched down at a farm 2 miles east of Broadlands, destroying a building and damaging several others.
38. 4/19/1996:  This strong tornado moved from the north edge of Savoy to the southeast edge of Urbana.  From Storm Data:  A tornado briefly touched down 1 mile north of Savoy (near Rt. 45 and Curtis Road) and destroyed 3 homes under construction. Then the tornado lifted, travelled to the northeast, and touched down again 1 mile south of Urbana. The tornado destroyed 30 homes, caused moderate damage to 29 homes and one business, and minor damage to 54 homes and 4 businesses. Twelve people were injured and damage was estimated between $7 and $11 million.
39. 4/19/1996:  This strong tornado moved through Ogden.  From Storm Data:   A tornado touched down half a mile to the southwest of Ogden and travelled to the northeast right through the middle of the town. The tornado destroyed 68 homes, 12 businesses, 3 churches, the library, and a grade school. Once east of town, the tornado crossed I-74, where it killed a woman who was riding in a semi with her husband. The semi and trailer were picked up and rolled into a field. The woman, who had been in the sleeper portion, was thrown about 30 yards from the truck. She was killed instantly. After rolling the semi, the tornado damaged 2 more homes before lifting and dissipating 1 mile north northeast of Ogden. Back in Ogden the damage was variable. One house would have significant damage, when a nearby structure would only have minor damage. In addition to the destroyed homes and businesses, 128 homes and 8 businesses sustained major damage and 51 homes and 12 businesses had minor damage. With it's larger width, it appears that this tornado had multiple circulations within the parent tornado. Overall, one woman was killed and thirteen people were injured.
40. 5/28/1996:  Touched down near the I-57/74 intersection, blowing over a few trucks and damaging some trees.
41. 5/2/1998:  Brief touchdown in an open field near Tolono.
42. 6/29/1998:  Touched down on the west side of Tolono, and was on the ground for 1/2 mile.  This was part of a large derecho (line of severe thunderstorms producing extreme winds), which originated in Iowa during the afternoon and had reached southern Ohio by the morning of the 30th.
43. 6/1/1999:  Brief touchdown in an open field 3.5 miles southwest of Mahomet.
44. 6/4/1999:  Brief touchdown in an open field 6 miles north of Urbana.
45. 6/4/1999:  Brief touchdown in an open field 5 miles southeast of Urbana.
46. 5/18/2000:  Brief touchdown in an open field 1.5 miles northwest of Thomasboro.
47. 6/20/2000:  This tornado first touched down near Mansfield, in Piatt County, and entered Champaign County 3 miles west of Mahomet.  It made intermittent contact with the ground for 2.6 miles in Champaign County, with the final touchdown 1.5 miles west-southwest of Mahomet.
48. 8/18/2001:  Brief touchdown in an open field 2 miles west of Ogden.
49. 8/18/2001:  Brief touchdown in an open field 5 miles south of Philo.
50. 10/24/2001:  Touched down just west of the I-57/74 intersection, and affected the extreme northwest portions of Champaign.  Several businesses and homes sustained damage.
51. 5/14/2003:  Brief touchdown in an open field 1 mile northeast of Rantoul.
52. 5/14/2003:  Brief touchdown in an open field 5 miles east-southeast of St. Joseph.
53. 5/14/2003:  Brief touchdown in an open field near Broadlands.
54. 7/9/2003:   Brief touchdown in an open field 4 miles southwest of Champaign.
55. 4/20/2004:  This tornado first touched down in Douglas County, and moved northeast into Champaign County about 3 miles southwest of Pesotum.  It was on the ground for a mile in Champaign County, destroying a barn.
56. 4/20/2004:  Brief touchdown in an open field 4 miles northeast of Philo.
57. 6/10/2004:  Brief touchdown in an open field 2 miles southwest of Tolono.
58. 6/10/2004:  Brief touchdown in an open field 3 miles south-southwest of Philo.
59. 6/10/2004:  Touched down 3 miles south-southeast of Sidney, and was on the ground for 3 miles.  It blew out several windows of a house, and took the roof off a barn.
60. 11/1/2004:  Touched down 3 miles west-northwest of Sidney, and was on the ground for 2 miles.  Three barns were destroyed.
61. 4/2/2006:  Brief touchdown in Champaign, but no damage reported.
62. 4/2/2006:  Brief touchdown in Flatville, causing minor damage.
63. 5/31/2006:  Touched down in a field 2 miles southeast of Bondville, and was on the ground for 1 mile, but caused no damage.
64. 5/31/2006:  Brief touchdown in a field 2 miles northwest of Sadorus.
65. 5/31/2006:  Touched down in an open field 6 miles southeast of Ivesdale, then moved into Douglas County.
66. 5/31/2006:  Brief touchdown in an open field 2 miles south of Tolono.
67. 5/25/2011:  Brief touchdown 3.5 miles southeast of Mahomet.
68. 5/1/2012:  Touched down 3.5 miles northeast of Ivesdale, then tracked for about 8 miles before lifting 2 miles west of Willard Airport.  A house received damage to the roof and windows; the tornado also overturned a trailer, and damaged a corn crib and chicken coop.
69. 5/1/2012:  Brief touchdown in a field 1 mile west-northwest of Sidney, but caused no damage.
70. 11/17/2013:  This tornado, part of a 10 tornado outbreak in central Illinois, touched down initially in northern Douglas County, then tracked northeast into Champaign County north of Villa Grove, before lifting about 3 miles northwest of Broadlands.  Click here for more details.
71. 11/17/2013:  This tornado touched down 2 miles east of Thomasboro, then tracked northeast through Gifford and crossed the Vermilion County line north of Penfield.  The tornado continued on through northwest Vermilion County and lifted in extreme southern Iroquois County, and was on the ground for just under 30 miles.  Click here for more details.
72. 6/7/2015:  This tornado moved in from Piatt County, 5.5 miles southwest of Seymour. It hit a farmstead, destroying a barn and a machine shed, and also knocking down several trees. It dissipated 5.1 miles south of Seymour.
73. 9/9/2016:  This tornado touched down 3.6 miles south of Sidney and moved east-northeast for 6.3 miles. Click here for more details. 
74. 6/10/2018:  One of two brief tornadoes that formed in Champaign. Click here for more details. 
75. 6/10/2018:  One of two brief tornadoes that formed in Champaign. Click here for more details.
76. 6/26/2018:  This tornado touched down 3.3 miles south of Rantoul and tracked northeast. Click here for more details. 
77. 5/26/2019:  This tornado developed within a line of severe storms, damaging numerous trees. Click here for more details. 
78. 5/26/2019:  A short time after the previous tornado developed, another one formed in Urbana. Click here for more details.
79. 5/26/2019:  Touched down 1 mile southwest of St. Joseph and damaged trees. 
80. 6/25/2021:  Touched down in an open field south-southeast of Fisher, causing no damage.
81. 7/12/2021:  Touched down 2.6 miles northwest of Fisher, and tracked northeast. A machine shed was damaged, before the tornado dissipated east-southeast of Foosland.
82. 2/27/2023:  Touched down in an open field 1 mile southeast of Bondville, doing minor damage to a farm outbuilding on S. Baker Rd. before dissipating 1 mile east-southeast of town.
83. 2/27/2024:  Touched down in an open field between I-57 and W. Ford Harris Rd. It crossed I-57 at mile marker 240 before dissipating.
84. 3/31/2024:  This was part of a multi-state tornado outbreak, with this tornado forming south of Dewey and crossing I-57 north of Rantoul. Click here for more details.