Macoupin County

Macoupin County, IL

Data available through 1/1/2013

Date

Time (CST)

F/EF-Scale

Length (Miles)

Maximum Width (Yards)

Killed

Injured

Property Damage

Source*

4/16/1860

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

0

1

n/a

G

Near Carlinville, a child was injured and roof of a home was carried a half-mile.

3/10/1879

n/a

F3

n/a

400

2

10

n/a

G

A "balloon-shaped tornado with the appearance of a large spinning top" moved NE from 3 miles S of Bunker Hill.  A grandfather was lifted 30 feet into the air and carried 500 feet to his death.  A child was blown out of its mother's arms and killed.  The father and siblings were seriously injured.  "Houses were scattered to the winds."

4/24/1880

6:10 PM

F4

18

500

0

n/a

n/a

G

Tornado formed NW of Jerseyville and moved along the Greene/Jersey County border before entering Macoupin County 9 miles N of Medora.  The huge funnel leveled a farm house as it entered Macoupin County.  About 25 homes and many barns were destroyed by the tornado along its tracks.  In addition 1 person was killed, and 10 injured.

4/24/1880

6:30 PM

F4

19

400

0

12

n/a

G

Developed 2 miles SW of Carlinville and moved NE, passing N of town and ending 2 miles N of Atwater.  About 50 buildings were destroyed on over two dozen farms, and many were swept completely away.  Trees were debarked.  A train stopped to let the tornado cross the track, about a mile ahead.

5/18/1883

8:30 PM

F3

9

n/a

5

n/a

$100,000

G

Developed near Prairietown in Madison County and moved NE, passing across Mt. Olive and Staunton Townships.  Four homes were destroyed and score of other farm buildings were destroyed.  The deaths were all in an area 5 miles W of Staunton, where railroad laborers and their families were living in tents.

5/18/1883

8:45 PM

F4

20

400

5

30

n/a

G

Formed 2 miles W of Shipman and passed 2 miles S of Plainview.  The tornado lifted at the E edge of the county, after passing 7 miles N of Gillespie.  An elderly woman and 3 of her grandchildren were killed in one large home that was leveled.

5/18/1883

9:30 PM

F3

25

200

2

10

n/a

G

Tornado developed over Madison County and moved NE, and passed SE of Staunton before moving into Montgomery County.  Two men were killed in homes near Staunton.  Early in the path, it was said to "resemble a huge whip, surrounded by a  "crimson veil".  Ten people were injured along the path.

5/26/1917

12:10 PM

F4

155

800

3

n/a

n/a

G

This major tornadic event is often cited as having the longest path length of any tornado (293 miles in Illinois and Indiana for 7 hours and 20 minutes).  There is overwhelming evidence that this long track was made up of at least 4 and probably 8 or more individual tornadoes.  The first tornado touched down in Pike County, IL and moved due E where it weakened or lifted between White Hall (Greene County) and Modesto.  At Modesto, 3 lives were lost were lost and 30 homes were destroyed.  The damage was intermittent to the E of Modesto.  This tornado killed a total of 101 people and injured 638.  The maximum intensity was in Mattoon.

11/11/1924

n/a

F2

1

100

0

1

$15,000

G

Moved NE, hitting 2 miles NW of Scottsville.  A farm house was "torn into sections" and a barn destroyed.  Buildings were damaged on neighboring farms.

4/19/1927

11:45 AM

F4

80

400

11

63

n/a

G

Formed over Lincoln County, MO and moved NE through Calhoun and Greene Counties before moving into northwestern Macoupin County. The tornado then moved into Morgan County.  The tornado killed a total of 11 and injured 63.

10/4/1928

8:45 PM

F2

5

150

0

1

$10,000

G

Moved NE, passing 2 miles NW of Carlinville.  A man was injured when a tree branch was thrown into his living room.  Small barns were destroyed.  A large barn was shifted, twisted, and torn apart.  Minimal F2.

4/26/1935

4:00 PM

F2

15

800

0

0

$20,000

G

Followed an intermittent path NE from near Medora, Chesterfield, and Hagaman.  Barns were destroyed on 4 farms.

3/30/1938

5:53 PM

F3

53

300

0

2

n/a

G

Developed over St. Charles County, MO and passed through Madison County, IL before moving through Macoupin County near Bunker Hill and 2 miles S of Gillespie.  About 60 homes were damaged at Bunker Hill with 2 injuries.  The tornado then moved into Montgomery County.  A total of 13 injuries were caused along the track.

8/2/1939

3:30 PM

F2

2-Jan

250

0

0

n/a

G

Touched down briefly and unroofed 1 home 6 miles W of Gillespie.

3/2/1940

3:30 PM

F2

4

150

0

0

$10,000

G

Moved NE, passing 4 miles SE of Bunker Hill.  One home was unroofed, with only 3 walls left standing.  A mother and 9 children were uninjured as they huddled in the corner of that home.  She was unable to open the kitchen door to get to the storm cellar.

3/19/1948

6:30 AM

F4

28

400

24 

n/a

n/a

G

Developed near Alton and caused death and damage at Fosterburg before moving NE in Macoupin County.  Nineteen people were killed in Bunker Hill where 2000 buildings (80% of the town) were destroyed including 250 homes.  Another 150 homes were destroyed and 5 people killed in Gillespie.  A total of 33 people were killed, 449 injured, and $3,600,000 in property damage.

3/30/1949

9:15 PM

F2

10

400

0

0

n/a

G

Formed near Kemper in Jersey County and moved NE, passing 2 miles W of Chesterfield.  The tornado destroyed barns and other buildings at five farms and caused $35,000 along it's path.

12/2/1950

3:00 PM

F2

19

50

1

3

n/a

G, NCDC 

Developed over Madison County and moved ENE into Macoupin County dissipating 2 miles N of Mt. Olive.  A car was carried 200 yards.  One person was killed and 3 more were injured in the car that was carried 200 yards near Mt. Olive.

8/4/1959

6:15 AM

F2

27

narrow

0

0

n/a

NCDC 

Tornado formed near Girard and then moved SE into Montgomery County causing more damage at Raymond and Irving.  

10/10/1959

5:15 PM

F2

10

50

0

0

n/a

NCDC 

Tornado moved along the Madison/Macoupin County Line.  

3/29/1960

9:35 PM

F2

n/a

n/a

0

0

>$500

NCDC 

Tornado moving toward the NE wrecked an automobile service station and damaged two churches in Plainview.  The same storm system caused wind damage at Medora and N of Elsah where a large barn was destroyed by what may have been a tornado.

5/6/1960

1:05 PM

F1

44

50

0

0

n/a

NCDC 

Tornado formed over Greene County and followed an intermittent track through the northwestern part of the County before moving into Morgan and Sangamon Counties.

3/6/1961

1:30 AM

F1

118

77

0

1

n/a

NCDC 

Tornado followed an intermittent damage path from Jersey County to Macoupin County and beyond.  Damage to farmsteads reported in Medora.

8/9/1966

9:50 PM

F0

0.25

100

0

0

>$50

NCDC 

Eastward moving tornado caused some damage to hog houses and trees. 

1/24/1967

6:50 PM

F2

3

100

0

0

>$50,000

NCDC 

Formed just S of Virden and moved NE across the SE part of that town.  Damage was mostly to roofs or from falling trees or limbs with 100 houses damaged, some extensively.  Several house trailers were badly damaged.  Two grain bins apparently lifted over adjacent building and deposited 200 yards to 0.25 mile away.  One house left upside down on its roof and was reported to have been lifted, not rolled. 

5/12/1978

3:50 PM

F2

34

700

0

1

n/a

NCDC 

A tornado swept through parts of Macoupin and Montgomery Counties in the afternoon, causing damage estimated at about $245,000 to about 35 farms.  Witnesses reported the sound of a freight train and observed the tornado rising and falling 4 times in 3 minutes at on point.  The tornado was photographed at least twice.  It was first seen in the vicinity of Shipman in southwestern Macoupin County.  It traveled to the NE, passing just N of the center of Carlinville, and was last observed NE of Farmersville in northern Montgomery County.  One injury was reported on a farm NW of Carlinville.  A man was cut on the hands as he sought shelter from the storm in an automobile parked in his garage.  The high winds broke the car's windows.

5/9/1990

7:30 PM

F2

0.25

50

0

0

>$50,000

NCDC 

A brief touch down of a tornado destroyed a mobile home with minor damage to power lines and other structures.

5/16/1990

1:56 AM

F0

0.1

50

0

0

$0

NCDC 

A brief tornado touch down was reported 3 miles SE of Plainview.

8/19/1993

5:15 PM

F0

0.1

33

0

0

n/a

NCDC 

A tornado briefly touched down in a cornfield 1 mile N of Atwater, causing extensive damage to the crop.  No crop damage estimate was available.

5/25/1996

6:25 PM

F1

8

100

0

0

$250,000

NCDC 

A tornado touched down N of Carlinville and caused damage to 6 farms in an 8 mile path. A couple a barns were destroyed, as were several machine sheds and other outbuildings. A garage was also destroyed at one home. Trees and power lines were also downed. Damage was estimated at $250,000.

5/12/1998

7:16 PM

F1

1

200

0

0

$50,000

NCDC 

A small tornado caused damage to a couple of farms. Three barns and a grain bin were destroyed and a truck was overturned.

6/1/1999

6:55 PM

F1

1

50

0

0

n/a

NCDC 

A short-lived tornado blew 4 railcars off the tracks at a coal facility. About half a dozen trees were also downed in the area.

4/20/2000

6:59 AM

F1

1

30

0

0

$25,000

NCDC 

A small tornado (low end of F1) struck briefly near Shipman. Two farm buildings were destroyed and some trees and power lines were downed. The tornado was witnessed by several people driving to work that morning.

7/18/2000

5:50 PM

F0

0

40

0

0

$0

NCDC 

Storm spotters reported a brief tornado in a farm field near Medora.

7/18/2000

7:10 PM

F0

0

40

0

0

$0

NCDC 

Storm spotters reported a brief tornado in an open field near Piasa.

5/1/2002

2:00 PM

F0

1

75

0

0

n/a

NCDC 

A small tornado formed just west of Palmyra and was witnessed by several people. The tornado took down some trees and power lines. 

5/8/2003

2:00 PM

F0

0.2

50

0

0

$0

NCDC 

A local farmer reported that a brief tornado occurred in a field between Staunton and Bunker Hill. 

6/13/2005

5:00 PM

F0

2

40

0

0

n/a

NCDC

The first in a series of weak tornadoes occurred over the far west sections of Bunker Hill. Several large trees were topped and some minor structural damage occurred to some buildings. A few vehicles were also damaged by fallen trees.

6/13/2005

5:05 PM

F0

1

50

0

0

n/a

NCDC

The second tornado occurred 2.5 miles north of Bunker Hill near Highway 159 . A large machine shed was damaged with debris tossed up to 300 yards northeast of Highway 159 over an open farm field.

6/13/2005

505 pm

F1

3

70

0

0

n/a

NCDC

The third tornado firmed approximately 2 miles northeast of Bunker Hill near Mansholt Road. One large machine shed was completely destroyed. The debris was tossed over 450 yards to the northeast. The tornado caused minor damage to several grain silos and a machine shed on a farm on South Dorchester Road. This tornado continued northeast across the northern part of Wilsonville and caused roof damage to a church as well as tree and power pole damage.

6/13/2005

5:10 PM

F1

3

60

0

0

n/a

NCDC

The fourth tornado that formed alone the leading edge of a bowing segment of a squall line formed near the south edge of Wilsonville and moved northeast crossing Willhoit Airport Road. One machine shed was totally destroyed while a second adjacent machine shed sustained damage. Debris from both was tossed up to 300 yards to the northeast. Some of the debris was wrapped around tree trunks while other debris was mangled just above the trunks. A third machine shed just south of Highway 138 on Willhoit Airport Road was also damaged. Debris from this machine shed was tossed up to 400 yards to the northeast. The tornado also caused tree damage just east of Willhoit Airport Road.

4/2/2006

4:15 PM

F0

2

30

0

0

n/a

NCDC

In Piasa a tornado struck around 515 pm CDT and damaged the roof and siding of numerous homes, snapped several trees and wooden power poles, and took large branches out of trees. Damage was intermittent along a path continuing two miles east of Piasa on Highway 16, where the tornado destroyed a barn near Beacon Road and collapsed a parking canopy at Shipman Elevator Company. A man approximately 1.5 miles north of this tornado witnessed sheet metal debris rotating in the air and dirt swirling on the ground. A woman driving on Highway 16 reported being pushed off the road by the tornado. Total track length of this F0 tornado was 2 miles with a maximum width of 30 yards.

4/2/2006

4:15 PM

F0

1

30

0

0

n/a

NCDC

Two miles northeast of Piasa along Little Flock Road another tornado struck around 515 pm CDT and damaged farm buildings and a grain bin. It then destroyed a mobile home after lifting and carrying it approximately 20 yards. This tornado was rated F0 with a track length of one-half mile and track width of 30 yards.

4/2/2006

4:26 PM

F0

11

50

0

0

n/a

NCDC

The Madison County tornado that started near Dorsey crossed the Macoupin County line about 6 miles west southwest of Staunton. The tornado damaged trees, downed a few power lines, and blew off roof shingles near Staunton and Mt. Olive.

4/2/2006

4:35 PM

F0

0

20

0

0

NCDC

The line of thunderstorms that produced small tornadoes near Piasa produced a third tornado around 535 pm CDT. This tornado destroyed a mobile home two miles north of Gillespie on Highway 4 at Quarry Road. This tornado was rated F0 with a path length of one-tenth of a mile and a width of 20 yards.

7/19/2006

5:50 PM

F0

0

20

0

0

$0

NCDC

A tornado briefly touched down in an open field north of Bunker Hill near the intersection of Illinois Routes 159 and 138. No damage or injuries were reported.

5/4/2007

4:04 PM

EF0

n/a

n/a

0

0

$0

NCDC

A weak tornado formed in a field west of Gillespie. There was no damage.  A strong low pressure system that caused rain across the area the previous 3 days finally lifted northeast. As it did, scattered thunderstorms developed, a few of which formed weak tornadoes. These cold-air type tornadoes lasted for only a few minutes and produced no damage. However, they were seen by many people and one was filmed by a local television station traffic helicopter.

5/4/2007

5:05 PM

EF0

n/a

n/a

0

0

$0

NCDC

A weak tornado formed in a field northeast of Shipman. There was no damage.

3/8/2009

10:30 AM

EF1

4

75

0

0

n/a

NCDC

A tornado touched down about 3.5 miles west of Carlinville. It destroyed a lumber shed, caused minor damage to a nearby home and two grain bins sustained serious damage. Also, a small shed and outbuilding were destroyed. The tornado travelled to the northeast causing tree damage and knocked over two more grain bins. The tornado finally lifted and dissipated near Route 4 about 1.5 miles north of Carlinville.A strong cold front moved through the region triggering showers and thunderstorms. Damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes were reported with the storms. 

5/13/2009

10:38 AM

EF0

2

40

0

0

n/a

NCDC

The damage west of and in the city limits of Gillespie, Illinois was caused by downburst winds and one small tornado. The survey of the damage indicated an intermittent tornado track from 1.5 miles west of Gillespie to the west side of Gillespie at the High School. Several homes and outbuidings were damaged along with a power pole. The tornado was 30 to 40 yards wide and traveled adjacent to Illinois Route 16 towards Gillespie. A building on the high school campus lost its roof and the damage was rated EF0 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. Then the tornado lifted and dissipated.

4/19/2011

4:58 PM

EF3

4

200

0

2

n/a

NCDC

A warm front was lifting northward through the region, triggering numerous showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms produced tornadoes as well as a lot of large hail. There were 6 tornadoes with this event, including an EF3. The path of this tornado was a very curved one as it initially tornado touched down about 2.5 miles west of Girard, Illinois, on Emerson Airline Road. It caused extensive damage to a couple of houses in this location. It then travelled to the northeast crossing Henry Road, north of the intersection with Emerson Airline Road, and damaging 3 farmsteads. One home was destroyed and another home sustained moderate damage, trapping the residents in the basement until they could be rescued. Also, several barns were destroyed in this area. The tornado began to travel on a more easterly course, damaging or destroying several farmsteads on Neff Road. Numerous outbuildings were destroyed in this area and one house was destroyed. As it approached Pleasant Hill Road approximately 1.2 miles northwest of Girard, it caused major damage to a brick home and destroyed all of the outbuildings. The tornado continued to travel to the east, destroying a farm about a mile north of town on Illinois Route 4. Several cows were killed in this location. Then the tornado began to curve back to the southeast, crossing Prose Road about half a mile south of the intersection with Substation Road. In this location it caused extensive damage to a brick home with most of the exterior walls destroyed but with the interior wall structure intact. This damage was rated EF3. The tornado continued to the southeast. It caused moderate roof damage to a house on Kimes Road near intersection with Adams Road. The tornado then lifted and dissipated on Adams Road after hitting one last farmstead and causing minor damage. Several farms sustained damage along the path of the tornado with many of the houses that were damaged rated EF2 with large portions of the roofs badly damaged. Numerous outbuildings were either destroyed or sustained major damage along this track as well. Also, about 20 power poles were blown down along Illinois Route 4 just north of town. The average path width of the tornado was 150 yards with a maximum width of 200 yards. The highest rating of the damage was EF3 and with peak wind speeds of 150 mph. Two miles west of Girard, two people heading for the basement to seek shelter from the tornado, sustained minor cuts and bruises. Because the path of the tornado was curved the actual total path length of the tornado was 5.1 miles, not 4.3 miles as displayed in the main header for this event. 

*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)