Coles County Tornadoes Since 1950

Details:

1. 7/11/1958:  Touched down on the east side of Mattoon, and moved east-southeast for 10 miles, passing just south of Charleston.  Six farms lost buildings, and one home was destroyed.
2. 5/6/1960:  Touched down just northeast of Mattoon, and moved northeast for 25 miles with intermittant contact, passing just west and north of Oakland before entering Douglas County.
3. 12/15/1971: Touched down near Charleston, and moved north-northeast through Bushton, where 80% of the homes were damaged or destroyed.  24 people were injured.
4. 6/9/1972:  Touched down in Charleston, severely damaging a shoe factory.
5. 3/29/1974:  Struck a mobile home park in Mattoon, destroying 3 trailers and overturning 9 others.  One child was injured.
6. 4/3/1974:  This was part of the "Super Outbreak" of 148 tornadoes which affected the eastern half of the U.S. over a 24 hour period.  This tornado briefly touched down near Mattoon, causing minor damage to a sign.
7. 6/22/1974:  Brief touchdown near Ashmore, causing no damage.
8. 8/10/1974:  Touched down 5 miles south of the Coles County Airport, causing no damage.
9. 8/10/1974:  Touched down 5 miles south of Mattoon, causing no damage.
10. 8/10/1974:  Caused minor damage to a farmhouse near Fairgrange.
11. 8/10/1974:  Touched down 4 miles north of Charleston, destroying several farm buildings.
12. 8/13/1974:  Brief touchdown near Oakland, and moved southeast.
13. 8/13/1974:  Brief touchdown southeast of Charleston.
14. 4/3/1982:  Touched down 3 miles east of Charleston, and moved northeast for 14 miles through Oakland.  Most of the damage occurred at Oakland.
15. 5/15/1986:  Touched down on the east edge of Charleston, causing extensive damage before moving northeast to near Ashmore.
16. 11/15/1988:  Brief touchdown in Mattoon, causing significant damage to a motel.
17. 5/25/1989:  Touched down on a farm near Ashmore, destroying 2 barns and damaging a house.  The tornado was on the ground for about 3/4 mile.
18. 7/30/1992:  Brief touchdown just east of Oakland.
19. 4/26/1994:  Touched down 3 miles north of Cooks Mills, and moved northeast for 3 miles.  It damaged some farm buildings and high-tension power lines.
20. 4/19/1996:  Brief touchdown 2-1/2 miles north of Mattoon.
21. 4/19/1996:  Brief touchdown 3 miles north of Fairgrange.
22. 5/25/1997:  Brief touchdown 1 mile north of Ashmore.
23. 3/28/1998:  This strong tornado moved across Mattoon around sunrise.  From Storm Data:  A tornado touched down 1 mile southwest of Mattoon and travelled to the northeast. It damaged 4 homes in the initial touchdown area and then crossed a set of railroad tracks turning over 4 empty 30-ton coal cars. After crossing the railroad tracks, the tornado hit a self-storage facility, where six of the ten buildings in the complex were destroyed. The tin and steel girder buildings were not bolted down to the cement slabs, so they were lifted up, "wadded up" into a big pile, and deposited downstream about 200 yards. Further to the northeast, it damaged or destroyed numerous homes and businesses before lifting. It remained aloft for several blocks, then touched down again, tearing off treetops and damaging several roofs in the area. It lifted again and touched down a final time about a block away. Damage in this area was to tree tops and roofs. Overall, the tornado was on the ground for 1.5 miles and it either damaged or destroyed 120 homes and businesses. Damage is estimated between $2.5 and $3 million. Two people sustained minor injuries and one 9 year old child was seriously injured when a picture frame blew off the wall, hit her in the back, and cut her, causing her left lung to partially collapse.
24. 5/19/1998:  Brief touchdown 4 miles northwest of Mattoon, causing minor tree damage.
25. 4/8/1999:  This tornado moved through Janesville, on the Cumberland/Coles County line, damaging several homes.
26. 9/26/2003:  Touched down 4 miles north-northeast of Mattoon, and traveled east for 2 miles.  It damaged or destroyed 500,000 square feet of the roof on a printing plant, and damaged 5 million pounds of paper.
27. 4/16/2006:  Touched down 1 mile south of Humboldt.
28. 4/16/2006:  Touched down 6.5 miles east of Humboldt.
29. 5/24/2006:  Brief touchdown 2 miles west of Cooks Mills.
30. 6/6/2008:  Touched down in an open field 2.5 miles west of Lerna, then moved east-northeast for 5 miles. In Lerna, it damaged several homes, and caused roof damage to the school.
31. 6/29/2013:  Brief touchdown near Cooks Mills, causing minor damage to a home and garage.
32. 4/28/2021:  Brief touchdown in an open field northwest of Humboldt.
33. 12/10/2021:  This strong tornado moved into Coles County after passing through parts of Shelby and Moultrie Counties. Click here for more details. 
34. 12/10/2021:  Touched down near Rardin and lifted 1 mile east of Oakland. Click here for more detrails.