NOAA's National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

Tornado touched down in Monroe County and moved through Ralls and Marion Counties before moving into Adams County, IL.  Four deaths and two missing people were in Ralls County.  A total of 14 people were killed and 40 people injured.

Last of a series of significant tornadoes that first formed in the central part of the state.  Intensity was probably not F2 by the time it reached Ralls county.

The County Sheriff reported a brief tornado west of Rensselaer. Trees were uprooted and a barn heavily damaged.

The Monroe County supercell spawned its second tornado near the southwest city limits of Monroe City at approximately 6:30 pm CDT. The tornado moved northeast across the northern part of town. Twenty-five homes sustained varying degrees of roof damage due to downed trees and large tree limbs broken by the tornado. The width of the damage area was 50 yards and damage intensity was rated F0 over this area.   The tornado moved across the northeast the corner of Marion County at the Monroe/Marion/Ralls County border. The tornado downed a few trees and power lines in this part of Marion County before crossing the extreme northwest corner of Ralls County at the Monroe/Marion/Ralls County border. The tornado moved across open farmland and did little damage other than to some trees before crossing  back into Marion County southwest of Ely. Approximately one mile north of Ely, three farmsteads sustained varying degrees of damage including damaged or destroyed machine sheds, grain bins, and barns. The garage attached to a home one mile north of Ely was completely destroyed while the farm house sustained roof and side damage and was moved off its foundation. A relatively new home 200 yards to the east experienced severe damage with the roof of the home tossed over 1/3 mile to the northeast. Much of the south, and parts of the east and west walls of the home were destroyed. A nearby barn located 30 yards to the northwest was completely destroyed with debris tossed 1/4 mile to the north-northeast. Several two-by-four wood planks were driven into the ground at 45 to 60 degree angles and were located from 50 to 150 yards downwind from the home. The damage intensity over these areas were rated high-end F2 and low-end F3. The width of the damage area was over 200 yards. The tornado continued on a northeast path and damaged several machine sheds and homes on two additional farmsteads northwest of the town of West Ely (or 7-8 miles south-southwest of Palmyra Missouri). Numerous trees were damaged or destroyed in the path of the tornado. The width of the damage varied from 50 to 100 yards while the damage area was rated F1. The tornado traveled across U.S. Highway 61/24 and dissipated about four miles south southeast of Palmyra. One semi-tractor trailer was overturned on Highway 61/24. The damage path of the tornado at this point was less than 50 yards and rated F0 intensity.

Burlington Northern employees reported a brief tornado in southern Ralls County. The train had stopped to allow another train to pass when a small tornado passed in front of the lead locomotive. Some trees were damaged in the area.

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