Brown County

Brown County, IL

Data available through 1/1/2013

Date

Time (CST)

F/EF-Scale

Length (Miles)

Maximum Width (Yards)

Killed

Injured

Property Damage 

Source*

5/23/1878

630 pm

F3

25

100

n/a

n/a

n/a

G

What was probably a family of tornadoes moved NE from 7 miles S of Quincy in Adams County, passing 1 miles S of "Mound Station," now called Timewell.  Homes were "carried away".  One person died, as did 50 head of livestock.  A total of 6 people were injured.  Tornado dissipated in Brown County.

9/24/1881

500 pm

F2

13

100

0

n/a

n/a

G

Tornado formed moved NE 3 miles NE of Clayton and moved NE of Camden in Schulyer County.   Most of the damage and 1 death occurred in Camden.

11/06/1885

315 pm

F3

15

200

0

n/a

n/a

G

Formed over Pike County and moved NNE, unroofing 2 homes at Versailles.

3/30/1938

300 pm

F3

115

800

1

n/a

n/a

G

What was likely a series of tornadoes started over Adams County and passed through NW Brown County before moving through parts of Schuyler, Fulton, Mason, Tazewell, and Woodford Counties.  The first death of 13 that the family of tornadoes would produce was 3 miles S of Timewell (Mound Station).  A dozen farm homes were destroyed.  At least 13 children were injured in a school N of Mt. Sterling.

5/21/1949

430 pm

F2

12

200

0

0

$40,000

G

Formed 4 miles SSW of Mt. Sterling and moved NE.  Eight farms were hit.  Several homes were unroofed and barns were destroyed.

4/23/1955

200 am

F2

15

n/a

0

0

n/a

NCDC

12/3/1955

400 pm

F1

13

100

0

0

n/a

NCDC

4/27/1956

1010 pm

F2

5

900

0

0

n/a

NCDC

3/26/1959

100 pm

F2

3

200

0

0

n/a

NCDC

9/26/1959

315 pm

F1

19

n/a

0

0

>$50,000

NCDC

Moved NE from near Buckhorn to near Rushville causing moderate to heavy damage to about 10 homes or farmsteads.

6/23/1960

200 am

F1

23

n/a

0

0

>$5,000

NCDC

Damage to farm buildings, trees, power lines, and crops reported near Big Neck and Mt. Sterling.

10/14/1966

805 pm

F2

1

100

0

20

>$500,000

NCDC

Tornado moved N along the E edge of Mt. Sterling with a path 100 to 150 yards wide.  Major damage in 30 square blocks.  Ten homes had major damage, several were twisted from their foundation.  Two house trailers were demolished and others badly damaged.  Nearly all buildings at the Brown County fairgrounds were destroyed and several trucks loaded with carnival equipment were turned over. A concrete block garage was leveled, 5 school busses and 2 passenger cars were demolished or damaged badly.  Lesser damage continued for 1.5 miles.  Debris continued to drop for several miles after cessation of ground damage.  Two persons were hospitalized and about 20 treated and released. 

8/12/1999

702 pm

F1

1

75

0

0

$20,000

NCDC

A small tornado caused damage east of Mt. Sterling near the town of Ripley. One home suffered the brunt of the damage losing its roof to the tornado. Trees were downed and storage buildings in the area were also damaged.

5/10/2003

650 pm

F2

13

300

0

0

n/a

NCDC

The tornado that went across southeast Adams County entered Brown County about 750 pm CDT southwest of Highway 24 and Timewell. Witnesses observed a multiple vortex tornado that damaged one home, two out-buildings, several machine sheds, and several grain bins. Approximately three miles northeast of Timewell the tornado damaged another farmstead and numerous trees. Six machine sheds were destroyed while a home sustained damage to the roof and the west and south walls. A number of large trees in the vicinity of the farmstead were also damaged. Five miles northwest of Mount Sterling, several witnesses observed a multiple vortex pattern with several smaller tornadoes rotating around a larger tornado. The width of the damage area (mainly trees) varied from 50 to as large as 300 yards. Numerous trees were snapped at the base of the tree and tossed northeastward. The damage intensity was estimated from F1 to the lower end of F2. The tornado continued to travel northeast crossing county road 1500 north (5 miles north-northwest of Mount Sterling). Several large trees were either snapped half-way or uprooted at this location. Damage path width ranged from 50 to as large as 100 yards while damage intensity was estimated at the lower end of F1. The tornado damage intensified a second time as the tornado moved across Illinois Highway 99, 7 miles north of Mount Sterling. One old farm home and a large barn were completely destroyed with debris tossed 1/3 mile to the east. A second farmstead 1/2 mile east experienced damage to several machine sheds, grain bins and a barn. The nearby home sustained little damage. Several large trees in the vicinity of the barn and machine sheds were uprooted or snapped near the base of the trunk. The width of the damage pattern over this area varied from 50 to 100 yards. Damage intensity ranged from F1 to lower end of F2. Many witnesses along the track of this tornado did not hear the classic "freight train" sound as heard in other cases. Rather they heard a "swishing" type sound. Additionally, many witnesses did not observe lightning or hear thunder as the tornado passed. A special thanks to Mr. Brian Gallaher, Chief of the Mount Sterling Fire Department for providing valuable information. 

6/12/2009

3:27 PM

EF0

1

50

0

0

n/a

NCDC

 A cold front moved through the region triggering numerous showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms produced severe weather including large hail and damaging winds. The tornado crossed the Adams/Brown county line about 2.5 miles southwest of Mound Station and continued to travel to the east. Near the intersection of County roads 1000N and 100E some metal roofing was blown off of a barn, a 3 to 4 foot diameter tree was snapped off near the base, as well as other tree damage. The tornado soon lifted and dissipated. 

*Sources:

G - Grazulis, T. P., 1993: Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991.  A Chronology and Analysis of Events. Environmental Films, Tornado Project, St. Johsnbury, VT.

NCDC - National Climatic Data Center U.S. Local Storms Events Data (www.ncdc.noaa.gov)