NOAA's National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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. 

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.

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.

G - Grazulis, T. P., 1993: Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991.  A Chronology and Analysis of Events. Environmental Films, Tornado Project, St. Johsnbury, VT.
SD - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1959-2004: Storm Data. Vols. 1-46, Nos. 1-12, National Climatic Data Center, Asheville, NC.
SPC - Storm Prediction Center Database