NOAA's National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

Moved through Madison and Macoupin Counties before entering Montgomery County.  North of Hillsboro, a railroad bridge was destroyed at 9:55 pm and a train wreck occurred on the bridge at 10:03 pm.  The railroad engineer and a fireman died (their deaths are not considered tornado fatalities because the tornado did not directly cause their deaths).  There was $30,000 damage to farms in the county.

Tornado developed near Nokomis and moved NE into Christian County.     Homes and barns were torn apart.  Two foot thick trees were "carried like feathers".  One injury occurred along the tornado's path.

A few homes were unroofed on the edge of Hillsboro.

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 tornado first touched down in Pike County, and moved across Greene and Macoupin Counties where there is evidence of a 22 mile break in the path.    The damage was intermittent to the E of Modesto through Macoupin County and then into Christian, Shelby, and Cole Counties.  This tornado killed a total of 101 people and injured 638.  The maximum intensity was in Mattoon.

Passing 5 miles S of Litchfield, this tornado destroyed a rural church and a barn.  Two farm houses were also unroofed and badly damaged.

Developed over St. Charles County, MO and passed through Madison and Macoupin Counties before dissipating 2 miles NW of Litchfield.  There were 13 injuries along the path of the storm with property damage >$150,000.

Same thunderstorm that produced a tornado over Madison and Macoupin Counties produced another tornado.  Homes and barns were destroyed from 3 miles NW of Litchfield near Honey Bend, and 3 miles SE of Morrisonville.  The tornado then moved into Christian and Shelby Counties.  The tornado produce 2 injuries along its path.

Developed SE of Chapman and moved NE to 1 mile W of Fillmore and dissipating NW of Bingham.  Four farm houses were "reduced to splinters" and several barns were destroyed.

A small tornado moved NW, damaged the roofs of two farm houses and threw two-ton grain bins for 100 yards, NW of Litchfield.  The funnel overturned a boat with 5 men.  Two drowned and three swam to shore.

A tornado developed near Girard in Macoupin County and followed a intermittent path to the SE, causing light to moderate damage in Raymond and near Irving.

Tornado formed over Madison County and moved across parts of Macoupin and Bond Counties before causing damage to a home and 2 farmsteads at Coffeen .

Developed over Jersey County and moved through Macoupin County before causing damage to farmsteads near Hillsboro.

First damage to a farmhouse and outbuildings occurred about 4 miles ESE of Farmersville.  About 0.5 mile to the NE, the Lone Elm School was unroofed while about 25 people were inside.  Only one minor injury.  Coalhouse and heavy lumps of coal were carried to the NW with major debris to the NE.  About 0.5 mile further, hog houses were carried SE as the tornado tracked to 2 miles NW of Morrisonville in Christian County.

Tornado first observed 2.5 miles S of Litchfield and moved NE approximately 2.75 miles.  Observers described the funnel as 50-100 feet wide, 500-800 feet long, white to grayish white and debris apparently corn stalks.  At 1:49 pm, the tornado touched down E of U.S. Highway 66 destroying a brick garage, a chicken house,  uprooted a tree while passing through a cemetery, and blew lawn chairs and tree limbs into a house.

A tornado touched down about 2 miles SW of Farmersville, causing considerable damage to farm homes, barns and sheds as it traveled in an ENE direction.  As the tornado crossed I-55 at Farmersville it overturned a tow-truck slightly injuring the driver and two passengers.  

A tornado touched down and caused extensive damage and one injury in Macoupin County before dissipating NE of Farmersville.  The tornado caused about $245,000 in property damage along its path.

Several farm outbuildings, including a 2-story barn, were demolished by a small tornado which moved NE across a farm 7 miles E of Nokomis.  Debris fell to earth 1 mile NE of the touchdown area.

The Illinois State Police observed a brief tornado touchdown in an open area outside of Raymond.

A tornado touched down briefly destroying a150 foot long machine shed and grain silos as well as damaging other structures.

A tornado briefly touched down near Interstate 55 and Highway 108, 7 miles N of Litchfield.  No damage was reported.

A small tornado touched down briefly in the extreme SW part of the county, 10 miles N of Old Ripley.  Reported by a SKYWARN spotter.

The Illinois State Police reported a brief tornado touchdown near Irving.

A tornado struck 3 farms briefly just E of Nokomis doing significant damage to several outbuildings.  One farm lost a machine shed and a grain bin.  Homes on the farms suffered superficial roof damage.  The tornado was only on the ground for a few minutes.

Porch blown off house and roof damaged from small tornado.

Amateur radio spotters reported a brief tornado touchdown in an open field north of Raymond.

A storm spotter reported a brief tornado touchdown west of Witt. There was no damage.

A tornado first formed about 1 mile southwest of I-55 west of Raymond. The tornado moved northeast hitting a rest area along I-55. Six tractor-trailer trucks were overturned at the rest area, killing one driver and injuring 4 others. Two other trucks were also overturned just north of the rest area. The tornado continued northeast and intensified causing damage at two farms. Numerous barns and other outbuildings were destroyed and one house severely damaged. The occupant of the house escape injury by taking shelter in an interior closet.

A small tornado formed northwest of Harvel and tracked northeast into Christian County. Damage was limited to trees and crops.

A small tornado left an intermittent damage path across southeast Montgomery County. One grain bin was destroyed, otherwise damage was limited to downed trees and some power lines.

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