NOAA's National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

This may have been a tri-state tornado or a family of tornadoes extending from Missouri, across Illinois, to Indiana.  The most well documented part of the path was near the Mississippi River.  The tornado crossed the river one mile below the mouth of the Merrimac River.  The massive funnel crossed the rich alluvial plain called the "American Bottom (which ran for 80 miles from Alton to Kaskaskia).  Fish from the river were "scattered all over the prairie" on the Illinois side.  Some pine tree tops were identified as having been carried at least 50 miles from eastern Missouri to American Bottom, for none of that species grew any closer than that distance.  Clothes from one destroyed home were carried 8 miles.  The start of the event was in unsettled territory in Missouri.  The eastern-most documented damaged was in Edwards County, IL, where settlers had moved W from the Wabash River.  In central Illinois, the 3/4 mile wide swath of downed trees was a major obstacle for early pioneers.  A straight line from the above points would place the path directly over Mt. Vernon.   

A tornado destroyed 4 farms housed and unroofed 2 others from just above "Smiths Landing" to near Columbia.  The one injury may have been fatal.

Formed 10 miles WSW of Red Bud and moved ENE, passing across the NW part of that town.  About 80 buildings were damaged or destroyed, including 43 homes.  A mother and child were killed.

Tornado formed and reached it's peak intensity before crossing the Mississippi River.  No damage was reported in Illinois.

Formed 1 mile W of Red Bud.   Barns and farm implements were torn apart on three farms.  One was destroyed and another unroofed.

Formed near Fults and had a intermittent path to the NE into St. Clair County.  A brewery and a large department were unroofed in Athens.  Three farms lost barns and outbuildings.

Tornado moved NE from a point 1 mile NE of Columbia.  Damage to at least 4 farmsteads in rolling or hilly terrain.  The path was intermittent and favored high spots.

Tornado formed S of Red Bud in Randolph County and moved NNE through the far eastern part of Monroe County into St. Clair County.

First and worst damage at a farm 2.5 miles SW of Columbia.  Tornado was probably not in continuous contact with the ground although path could be followed by tree and outbuilding damage on a line ENE for 3.5 miles.  House damage was to roofs or from flying debris.  Funnel sighted 3 miles SW of the first damage and debris pattern gave ample evidence of a tornado.

Small tornado moved NE.  "Sucked" water and sand from the Mississippi and deposited it in fields.  Most damage to roofs and small buildings, but distinct circular pattern to debris.

Tornado moved through generally open country but was probably not in continuous contact with the ground.  Major damage to one farmstead 2 miles W of Fults. 

Tornado first touched down in Monroe County and moved NE into St. Clair County.  Most of the damage (>$50,000) was in St. Clair County.

Tornado reported near Hecker.

A tornado cut a narrow path between Red Bud (Randolph County) and Hecker, damaging residences and outbuildings on 12 farms.  The tornado first touched down near Parrot's Corner, just S of Oak Grove on Route 3, and continued NE to LL Road and Beck Road, SE of Hecker, before lifting.  A woman was treated for cuts from flying glass after the tornado destroyed her home.  One cow and several hogs were killed.

A tornado touched down, damaging several buildings and ripping a roof off a church in Waterloo.

A small tornado touched down in the northwest corner of Waterloo damaging a four-story brick grain elevator. Damage was generally confined to the building's roof (along the eastern side). As the tornado moved ENE through a residential area, damage was limited to large trees. A large cluster of trees were snapped off near the town high school in a rotational pattern. A house lost part of its roof northeast of Waterloo just before the tornado dissipated.

A tornado briefly touched down on the western side of town and lifted the roof off a business. In one area where several homes were damaged, a recreational vehicle was picked up and set down in the middle of a destroyed house. Trees and large branches were also downed and large hail was also reported by local law enforcement.

A tornado initially touched down at the intersection of Mayestown and Koch Roads then heavily damaged the second story of a brick home. Several farm buildings were flattened as well. The tornado tracked northeast and crossed the intersection of County Road KK and Rock Road. Four farm buildings and two homes sustained varying degrees of damage including broken windows and sections of roofs torn off. Before the tornado lifted, it damaged several large trees.

A tornado touched down near the intersection of Fischer and Rock Roads and moved northeast. Two homes sustained minor roof damage, a number of farm buildings were knocked down, and two grain bins were toppled.

A tornado touched down southwest of Burksville knocking down several trees and power lines. It moved northeast and through the town of Burksville shearing off trees and damaging about 20 homes and businesses. Northeast of town, two farms also sustained damage, including home roofs, barns, and grain bins. The tornado crossed Highway 3 and lifted a few minutes later knocking down trees and power poles.

A tornado touched down SE of Burksville in open country then traveled through a residential area as it moved NE . Five homes sustained minor roof damage, although several garages and large utility buildings suffered severe damage where the roof was completely removed or sides of the buildings were knocked out. A farm implement store and storage building were also heavily damaged, with insulation from the store carried 300 yards northeast. Several high tension electrical lines were snapped after the tornado crossed Highway 3.

A tornado touched down along Sportman Road just south of Highway 3 knocking down nearby trees. As the tornado moved northeast, a home and barn were damaged less than a mile northeast of Highway 3. The roof of the home had structural roof damage and debris from the barn was blown 200 to 300 yards to the northeast. The tornado then damaged three homes north of County Road KK and knocked down trees. One farm had a house and barn heavily damaged just south of Highway 156 before the tornado lifted.

4/19/1996

A small tornado touched down northeast of Valmeyer. Damage was limited to downed trees.

Severe storm spotters reported a brief tornado in open country south of Waterloo.

A small tornado initially touched down southeast of Waterloo and then moved NEt leaving an intermittent damage path, which primarily consisted of downed trees. A parked ambulance was overturned at the intersection of Highways 159 and 156 near Hecker. The tornado moved along the Kaskaskia River downing trees finally dissipating near Fayettville.

A tornado formed near the intersection of Carr and Faust roads in rural eastern Monroe County and caused damage along a 4 mile path northeast to Ames Road. Numerous trees were uprooted or snapped off near the ground, several grain silos were destroyed, a barn lost half of its roof, and a home suffered minor roof damage.

An aerial survey conducted by members of the BAMEX (Bow Echo and Mesoscale Convective Vortex Experiment) revealed a small tornado track northeast of Waterloo. The damage occurred in a rural area and was limited to downed trees. The tornado crossed into St. Clair County west of Paderborn.

An aerial survey conducted by members of the BAMEX (Bow Echo and Convective Mesoscale Convective Vortex Experiment) project revealed a small tornado occurred in a rural area near Renault. Damage was limited to a path of downed trees.

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