Washington County

Washington County, IL

Data available through 1/1/2013

Date

Time (CST)

F/EF-Scale

Length (Miles)

Maximum Width (Yards)

Killed

Injured

Property Damage

Source*

7/13/1870

7:00 PM

n/a

5

50

n/a

n/a

n/a

G

Touched down near Marissa in St. Clair County and moved NE destroying barns and a flour mill.  Apple trees were carried almost two miles.

3/27/1890

5:15 PM

F3

40

500

1

n/a

>$100,000

G

Tornado touched down in Randolph County and moved through Perry County damaging farm after farm to ENE of Nashville.  An elderly man was killed in the "Pollander" community, 4 miles E of Nashville.  The "Little Prairie" community was destroyed 6 miles SE of Nashville.  This event was almost certainly a family of 2 or 3 tornadoes.  A total of 2 people were killed and 50 injured along it's entire track.

5/27/1896

6:20 PM

F4

23

1000

n/a

n/a

n/a

G

Tornado moved ESE and E, leveling entire farms near New Minden, S of Hoyleton, and near Richview before moving into Jefferson County.  A total of 14 people were killed and 50 injured.

5/27/1896

8:30 PM

F3

28

400

n/a

n/a

n/a

G

Formed NW of Nashville and moved E in areas N of Richview before moving into Jefferson County.  A half dozen farms were "devastated".   The tornado killed a total of 3 people.

6/6/1907

4:00 PM

F4

9

200

5

20

n/a

G

Developed W of Covington and moved ESE, passing along the N edge of New Minden and dissipating on the E edge of town.  Seven farm houses were leveled.  Near the end of the track, 4 people were killed when they were caught in the open, running from their home to a storm cellar.  They were swept 100 yards.  A two-year-old girl was killed in another home.

4/16/1922

10:45 PM

F3

46

200

4

n/a

$100,000

G

Tornado touched down near Oakdale and moved NE, unroofing homes and uprooting trees.  Intensifying near Irvington, it nearly leveled six homes, and killed 4 people.  Most of the $100,000 damage was done in that area.  More homes and barns were damaged before the funnel dissipated over southern Marion County.

3/15/1938

5:50 PM

F3

28

100

0

n/a

n/a

G

Tornado touched down in Randolph County and moved through St. Clair County before injuring 2 people as it destroyed a large church near Okawville.  The tornado injured a total of 12 and caused $65,000 in property damage.

3/14/1953

8:15 PM

F2

42

200

0

0

$75,000

G, NCDC

Tornado passed 6 miles SE of Nashville and followed an intermittent path to the NE.  One home was destroyed, and many other buildings were damaged.   

10/6/1955

5:15 PM

F1

11

10

0

0

n/a

NCDC

4/29/1956

1:00 AM

F1

22

n/a

0

0

n/a

NCDC

5/3/1958

1:15 PM

F1

76

100

0

0

n/a

NCDC

2/10/1959

2:30 AM

F1

30

n/a

0

0

>$5,000

NCDC

Followed an intermittent path NE from Nashville into southern Marion County.  Witnesses reported a "terrific roar".

3/14/1959

10:15 PM

F1

8

n/a

0

0

>$5,000

NCDC

Tornado moved NE damaging several buildings in Stone Church and farmsteads to the SW.  

4/17/1960

2:00 AM

F1

n/a

n/a

0

0

>$5,000

NCDC

Tornado moving toward the NE wrecked a commercial garage at Nashville.  

6/14/1961

4:10 PM

F1

n/a

n/a

0

0

>$5,000

NCDC

Small tornado damaged several garages and tore off a porch from a home at Addieville.

9/24/1961

3:30 PM

F2

5

n/a

0

n/a

n/a

G, NCDC

Developed over St. Clair County near Marissa and moved NE, damaging boats and cabins in a recreational area.  Cottages were leveled, houses were unroofed, and barns were destroyed.   Two funnels were sighted.  The tornado caused 1 injury.

6/18/1973

9:00 PM

F1

n/a

n/a

0

0

n/a

NCDC

3/20/1976

12:25 PM

F2

39

250

0

0

>$50,000

NCDC

Tornado touched down about 3.5 miles SE of New Athens and traveled an ENE course passing 3 miles S of Okawville and 2.5 miles N of Hoyleton before reaching Centralia.  Damage from the tornado between New Athens and Hoyleton was light.  The tornado intensified at Hoyleton and extensively damaged several farms.  Barns, machine sheds, and a silo were destroyed.

5/18/1995

12:10 PM

F0

8

120

0

0

$1,500

NCDC

A tornado tracked from west of Darmstadt in St. Clair County to Washington County before dissipating S of Highway 15, 2 miles NW of Lively Grove.  Only trees and power lines were reported down since the tornado crossed over mainly open fields.

5/18/1995

12:19 PM

F0

6

70

0

0

n/a

NCDC

A tornado formed over Randolph County and crossed Highway 13 and moved into Washington County about a mile west of Highway 153.  A home sustained minor roof damage and 2 large utility buildings had their roofs and sides damaged right inside the county line.  Total damage to property was $6,700.

5/18/1995

12:26 PM

F0

8

60

0

0

$23,000

NCDC

Shortly after the tornado touched down 1 mile SW of town, it caused significant roof damage to a large church in Plum Hill.  The eastern section of the roof was completely removed and several large trees were snapped off.  Large hail was also reported around Plum Hill as the storm moved through.  The tornado continued to travel ENE crossing Highways 15 and 160 knocking down trees and power poles.  It lifted 2 miles N of Nashville after crossing several open fields.

5/18/1995

12:28 PM

F1

18

200

0

0

$130,000

NCDC

A tornado touched down WSW of Addieville damaging several homes on the southern part of town.  Several roofs were partially torn off or damaged by falling trees.  It crossed I-64 knocking down several trees and shearing highway signs off.  As the vortex crossed Highway 127, an 80-foot radio tower was destroyed and two large utility buildings were heavily damaged.  As it continued to move ENE it damaged homes and buildings on 2 area farms reaching its maximum width at this point.  Before dissipating 2 miles S of Hoyleton, the tornado damaged more farm buildings, a grain silo, and numerous large trees.

4/15/1998

5:32 PM

F0

0

20

0

0

$0

NCDC

Severe storm spotters reported a brief tornado in open country. There was no damage.

4//15/1998

6:30 PM

F1

2

50

0

0

$20,000

NCDC

A small tornado destroyed a barn, a couple of other farm buildings, and downed trees in the Hoyleton area.

6/10/2003

5:35 PM

F1

14

60

0

0

n/a

NCDC

The bow echo system on June 10, 2003 spawned another tornado over parts of west-central Washington County, Illinois. This damage path, 14 miles, was long compared to the other tornadoes on that day. Twelve machine sheds, barns, homes, other types of out-buildings sustained varying degrees of damage while numerous trees were along the tornado's path were either severed or uprooted. Debris at several locations along the damage path was driven into the ground 1 to 2 feet deep at 45 to 60 degree angles. In contrast to the other tornadoes on this day, this tornado occurred south of the apex of the bow echo. The width of the damage track varied from 40 to 60 yards. The damage was rated F1 intensity. It is interesting to point out that this tornado track was nearly identical to the damage track of a tornado that occurred in this area with a bow echo event on May 18, 1995. 

5/30/2004

5:24 PM

F1

5

70

0

0

n/a

NCDC

The first of 5 tornadoes that occurred with a bow echo storm which moved northeast across eastern Washington County formed 1.5 miles west of Dubois Illinois at 6:24 pm CDT and traveled northeast across U.S. Highway 51. Outbuildings from two farmsteads west of U.S. Highway 5 1 sustained minor damage. The tornado then cut through an area of large trees and traveled north-northeast to 1 mile northwest of Radom before it dissipated. Overall path length was 4.5 miles long and damage width varied from 40 to 70 yards.

5/30/2004

5:25 PM

F1

4

80

0

0

n/a

NCDC

The second tornado from the Washington County bow echo formed about 2 miles north of Dubois and paralleled the first tornado damage path. Tree damage and 3 large grain bins over 120 feet tall near railroad tracks on the west side of Radom were destroyed by the second tornado. Extensive tree damage occurred just to the north of Radom from this tornado. The tornado damage path continued north-northeast for an additional 1.0 mile. Overall damage path length of the second tornado was 3.5 miles while the damage width varied from 40 to 80 yards.

5/30/2004

5:26 PM

F1

4

100

0

0

n/a

NCDC

The third tornado from the Washington County Bow echo formed approximately 1/2 mile south of Radom and traveled northeast across the eastern part of town. Ten homes, one house trailer and several outbuildings sustained varying degrees of damage. The roof of Saint Michael's Catholic School was severely damaged by this tornado. Many large trees were also severed across the eastern part of town. The damage track ended approximately 1.5 miles east of Ashley Illinois. The overall damage path length was 4 miles with the width varying from 50 to 100 yards.

5/30/2004

5:27 PM

F1

5

70

0

0

n/a

NCDC

The fourth tornado from the Washington County bow echo formed 1/2 mile east of Radom and damaged several outbuildings on a farmstead 3/4 mile northeast of Radom. This tornado traveled to the northeast and damaged many trees along its path. Outbuildings from two other farmsteads sustained varying degrees of damage from this tornado. The fourth tornado paralleled the third tornado damage track and dissipated 2.5 miles northeast of Radom near the Washington - Jefferson County line. Overall length of the damage track was 4.5 miles while damage width varied from 40 to 70 yards. 

5/30/2004

5:28 PM

F0

1

60

0

0

n/a

NCDC

The fifth tornado from the Washington County bow echo formed 2.5 miles northeast of Radom and caused damage to a machine shed near the intersection of Highway 15 and County Road 1175. The fifth tornado paralleled the fourth tornado damage path. This tornado crossed the Washington - Jefferson county line and caused mainly tree damage along its path. Overall damage path length in Washington County was 0.5 miles with a damage width 60 yards.

7/21/2006

11:05 AM

F0

7

100

0

0

n/a

NCDC

A tornado initially formed just north of New Minden and moved rapidly east southeast. Grain silos and large machine sheds were damaged 1 mile east of New Minden and at several locations east southeast of Hoyleton. 

9/22/2006

3:55 PM

F0

0

20

0

0

$0

NCDC

A trained spotter reported that a tornado briefly touched down in a field near Radom. No damage or injuries were reported. 

3/8/2009

10:46 AM

EF2

4

200

0

0

n/a

NCDC

A tornado touched down 5.5 miles west southwest of Oakdale and travelled to the northeast. A house on County Highway 29 sustained moderate damage with 4 windows blown out, a wall was buckled in, and siding and shingles were blown off. At this location it also overturned and destroyed a camper and the back end of a machine shed was torn off. Further down the road, a silo and two sheds were blown down. The falling silo hit two cows, killing one of them. The tornado then snapped off 2 large double-poled wooden high tension towers at the base. Also, it destroyed several pole sheds with the debris scattered hundreds of yards and snapped off numerous trees. On another farmstead, a brand new garage was destroyed and the home sustained minimal roof and siding damage before the tornado lifted and dissipated about a mile west of Oakdale. A strong cold front moved through the region triggering showers and thunderstorms. Damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes were reported with the storms.

3/8/2009

10:56 AM

EF0

2

50

0

0

$0

NCDC

A tornado touched down 2.5 miles west southwest of the entrance to the Washington County Conservation Area on Illinois Route 127 and travelled to the northeast. It snapped off numerous trees and branches before lifting and dissipating four tenths of a mile north of the conservation area entrance.

3/8/2009

11:01 AM

EF0

1

40

0

0

$0

NCDC

A tornado touched down about 3.5 miles south southwest of Beaucoup and travelled to the northeast. It blew down several trees and snapped numerous tree limbs along its path before lifting and dissipating about 3 miles south of Beaucoup.A strong cold front moved through the region triggering showers and thunderstorms. 

2/28/2011

12:03 AM

EF0

2.8

50

0

0

n/a

NCDC

 The tornado formed just to the southwest of Okawville. The tornado moved across the south side of town and damaged the local grain elevator, produced some minor roof and exterior damage to houses along the south side of East Schumacher Street. The Emmanuel Lutheran School also sustained some minor roof damage. The tornado continued to the east where it produced some additional damage and snapped an 8-10 inch diameter tree trunk approximately 6 feet off the ground. The tornado continued east until it damaged a house on Hummingbird Road. This house suffered an unknown amount of roof damage because it was in the process of being repaired. There was also minor tree damage and an outbuilding that was destroyed with the debris scattered several hundred yards to the northeast. The tornado lifted just to the east of this location. Path length was 2.8 miles with a maximum width of 50 yards and rated EF0. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A quasi-stationary frontal boundary was the main focusing mechanism for a round of significant severe weather over the forecast area. A strong shortwave moved along the boundary triggering widespread showers and thunderstorms. Numerous reports of large hail, damaging winds and 22 tornadoes occurred with this system.

2/28/2011

12:08 AM

EF2

2.3

100

0

0

n/a

NCDC

The tornado touched down approximately 6 miles east of Okawville on Illinois Route 177 near the Kuhl Lumber and Pallet Company. Minor roof and siding damage occurred to an ongoing construction project at the saw mill. A few trees along a tree line to the east of the complex were topped. The tornado continued east where it struck a farmstead causing considerable damage. A 48 by 96 foot machine shed was completely destroyed with much of the debris scattered up to almost one mile to the east. Another building was lost at this location as well as a grain bin. Two other barns sustained damage with one being pushed off the foundation by several feet. The debris from the machine shed impacted the house, garage and workshop with several missiles not only in the ground but also into other structures. The home sustained several broken windows from flying debris. The roof of the home had at least five rafters damaged when an unknown heavy object hit the roof, but was blown away during the storm. The tornado continued to the east and dissipated approximately one mile west of New Minden. The path length was 2.3 miles with a maximum intensity of EF2 due to the damage at the farmstead. Maximum damage width was 100 yards. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A quasi-stationary frontal boundary was the main focusing mechanism for a round of significant severe weather over the forecast area. A strong shortwave moved along the boundary triggering widespread showers and thunderstorms. Numerous reports of large hail, damaging winds and 22 tornadoes occurred with this system.

9/25/2012

4:23 PM

EF1

4

100

0

1

n/a

NCDC

A tornado touched down near I-64 on the north side of Okawville where it blew an eastbound tractor trailer to the southwest into the median. The driver sustained minor injuries. The tornado travelled east and damaged a barn and other outbuildings at a farm along Illinois Route 177 about a quarter of a mile west of Cord Road. Roof panels were blown off, some large tree limbs blown down and several calf hutches blown about, some of which had calves in them. At Cord Road and Illinois Route 177, tin roof panels were blown off of another barn. About a quarter of a mile east of Cord Road, along Illinois Route 177, power lines were blown down, a small barn lost its roof and a mason block building was blown down. The tornado continued to move almost due east along Illinois Route 177 where it damaged a home at the intersection of IL Route 177 and Phobe Road. Roof shingles were blown off and several large tree branches were broken. One branch went through the roof of the garage and another damaged a car in the driveway. All of the damage so far was EF0. Near the intersection of Illinois Route 177 and County Road 4, the tornado destroyed a small barn. This damage was rated EF1 with a maximum wind speed of 100 mph. The tornado then turned a bit to the southeast and quickly dissipated over open fields. Overall, the path length was approximately 4 miles with a max path width of 100 yards.