NOAA's National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

Touched down in Washington County and moved through Jefferson County before dissipating in southern Marion County.  This tornado killed 4, injured 22, and caused >$100,000 in property damage along its path.

A tornado followed an intermittent path from near Nashville in Washington County NE to near Cartter.  Four farmsteads reported damage near Cartter.  Witnesses reported a "terrific roar".

Probable small tornado destroyed a two-car garage near Centralia.

A small tornado destroyed a garage and 2 sheds at Sandoval.

A tornado caused damage to several homes and one house trailer at Patoka, resulting in the injury to one child.

A tornado was sighted by the Sheriff's Department 5 miles E of Salem, damaging only a few trees.

A tornado left a telltale path of uprooted trees and debris in Hillcrest Memorial Park in northern Centralia before downing 540 feet of a 600 foot cable TV tower.  A mobile home near the tower was tossed 75 feet downhill into a ravine and totally destroyed.  Two other mobile homes in the area were damaged.

A tornado touched down at the Petrolane Gas Company in Salem and traveled NE across the town damaging houses, smashing garages, and downing power, cable TV, and telephone lines before dissipating near Salem Community High School.  At the Petrolane plant on U.S. Highway 50, the bottle dock was completely destroyed and major damage occurred to the office buildings and two trucks.  Roofs from several homes along the path were heavily damaged and roofing and siding were ripped from several other homes.  Several garages were completely destroyed; one house was blown 8 feet eastward from it foundation.  Further down the storm's path, a garage was ripped from a house and the house was partially destroyed.  Beams from the garage were driven into a roof 2 blocks away.  Before dissipating, the tornado cut a path through trees in the city park.

A tornado touched down in St. Clair County and moved across Washington County before dissipating near Centraila.

Marion County was declared a Federal Disaster Area as a tornado, reaching F2 strength at its peak, created a 20 mile path of destruction from south of Odin to east of Salem. The bulk of the damage occurred on the south side of the city of Salem. The tornado moved through the county Fairgrounds, destroying numerous buildings and ripping the roofs off others. Two 2-ton trucks were turned 180 degrees by the tornado. Red Cross damage assessment teams determined that 6 mobile homes and 2 homes were destroyed in the Marion area. Another 46 homes and mobile homes were damaged. At least 23 businesses in Marion were damaged, 17 in one shopping center. Power was out to over 4000 residents. Two more homes were destroyed about 5 miles east of Marion. In one of the mobile homes destroyed on the south side of Marion, a mother and her 4 year old son took the ride of their lives. They were on the couch when the tornado struck, and ended up about 100 yards away in the middle of the debris. Both escaped serious injury. Total damage was estimated between 5 and 7 million dollars. There were only 7 injuries, all minor, primarily cuts and bruises.

A tornado touched down in extreme east Marion County, destroying one farm house, a barn and several other farm buildings. Trees and power lines were also downed. The tornado then crossed the Clay County line and continued for another 2 miles.

A small tornado traveled through parts of Fayette and Marion counties, creating an 11 mile damage path ranging from 50 to 80 yards in width. The tornado reached F1 intensity 3 times along the path. One home and barn were destroyed in extreme southeast Fayette County in the early stages of the tornado, a barn and several sheds were destroyed just north of Patoka in Marion County, and another barn and sheds were destroyed when the tornado crossed into Fayette County again southeast of Shobonier.

Illinois State Police reported a small tornado touched down briefly south of Odin. Damage was limited to trees and power lines.

A Marion County Sheriff Deputy reported a very brief tornado touchdown in the north part of the county near the Fayette County line.

A tornado which formed in Jefferson County near Cravat moved northeast into Marion County at Walnut Hill. Witnesses who saw the tornado noted a twin structure; two vortices very close to one another. Three homes suffered exterior wall or roof damage while five barns/farm implement buildings were destroyed. Trees were also uprooted.

The thunderstorm which spawned the tornado from Cravat to Walnut Hill produced another twin/multiple vortex tornado from just northeast of Walnut Hill to the intersection of Interstate 57 and Illinois Route 161. The tornado moved through a heavily wooded area and destroyed several barns/farm implement buildings, one mobile home, and damaged several homes. The tornado narrowed in width, losing its twin characteristics as it approached the intersection of Interstate 57 and State Route 161. Six homes were damaged, one mobile home destroyed, and eleven barn/farm implement buildings were either damaged or completely destroyed. Two tractor trailers were overturned by the tornado near the intersection of I-57/161.

The Cravat/Walnut Hill supercell thunderstorm produced a third tornado, this one starting southwest of Cartter near the intersection of Highways 37 and 161. One mobile home was destroyed, 18 barns/farm implement buildings were damaged or destroyed, and 8 homes suffered varying degrees of damage. Acres of trees were also uprooted/damaged along the path.

A brief tornado destroyed a mobile home, 2 outbuildings and downed several trees just east of Kell. The 4 occupants of the mobile home were treated for minor injuries.

Three tornadoes caused damage near Kinmundy. The first tornado caused considerable damage to a 2 story structure near the intersection of Highway 37 and Kinoka Road. The roof and 2 walls of the structure were thrown across Highway 37 into the woods. There was also tree and power line damage along the path.

A small but deadly tornado struck the south part of Centralia and devastated the Rosewood and Collinsworth Mobile Home Parks. Forming quickly on the leading edge of a squall line, the tornado hit shortly after 200 am, when most residents were asleep. An Illinois Emergency Management Agency damage assessment listed 12 mobile homes as being destroyed, 1 home destroyed, 1 mobile home with major damage, 1 home with minor damage, and 3 mobile homes with minor damage. 2 people were killed, both in mobile homes.

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