National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

...DAMAGE SURVEY CONDUCTED IN MASON COUNTY AND MENARD COUNTY FOR  
APRIL 15TH TORNADOES...  
 
THE FOLLOWING IS PRELIMINARY INFORMATION FROM A DAMAGE SURVEY  
CONDUCTED BY THE NWS LINCOLN OFFICE IN MASON COUNTY AND MENARD  
COUNTY FOR TORNADOES WHICH OCCURRED DURING THE EVENING OF FRIDAY  
APRIL 15TH.  

Click here for preliminary Storm Survey information in a Google Maps display

 
..MASON COUNTY  
 
NARRATIVE...A TORNADO DEVELOPED AT 530 PM CDT 5.9 MILES WEST-SOUTHWEST   
OF EASTON. THE TORNADO KNOCKED OVER THREE SECTIONS OF AN  
IRRIGATION UNIT AND DAMAGED THE DOORS OF AN OUTBUILDING. THE  
TORNADO TRAVELED TO THE NORTH AND DAMAGED ANOTHER  
OUTBUILDING...SEVERAL TREES AND TORE SHINGLES OFF OF A HOUSE ROOF.  
THE TORNADO INCREASED IN INTENSITY AS IT CONTINUED TO TRAVEL TO  
THE NORTH. IT PUSHED A HOUSE A FEW INCHES OFF ITS  
FOUNDATION...BROKE WINDOWS...TORE OFF ROOFING AND  
SIDING...COLLAPSED A GARAGE...AND DAMAGED THREE SHEDS AND FOUR  
AUTOMOBILES. ONE PERSON WAS INJURED IN THE HOUSE WHEN THEY WERE  
CUT BY BROKEN WINDOW GLASS. THE TORNADO THEN DAMAGED ANOTHER LARGE  
OUTBUILDING AND SEVERAL TREES BEFORE DISSIPATING 6.1 MILES WEST-  
NORTHWEST OF EASTON AROUND 538 PM CDT.  
 
ABOUT 1.5 MILES TO THE NORTHWEST OF WHERE THE TORNADO  
DISSIPATED...DOWNDRAFT WINDS DAMAGED A DOZEN IRRIGATION UNITS AND  
DOWNED NUMEROUS SMALL TREE LIMBS.  
 
BEGINNING: 530 PM CDT...5.9 MILES WEST-SOUTHWEST OF EASTON  
ENDING: 538 PM CDT...6.1 MILES WEST-NORTHWEST OF EASTON  
PATH LENGTH:3.3 MILES  
MAXIMUM WIDTH: 100 YARDS  
ESTIMATED MAX WIND: 90-100 MPH  
EF SCALE RATING: EF1  
 
   
..MENARD COUNTY - 1ST TORNADO  
 
NARRATIVE...ATHENS FIRE PERSONNEL WITNESSED A TORNADO DEVELOPING  
AROUND 622 PM ABOUT ONE MILE NORTHEAST OF ATHENS. THE TORNADO  
TRACKED TO THE NORTH-NORTHWEST DAMAGING A WINDOW...SIDING AND  
GUTTERS ON A HOUSE. LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL WITNESSED THE  
TORNADO ABOUT 2 MILES NORTH-NORTHEAST OF ATHENS BEFORE IT  
DISSIPATED AROUND 625 PM.  
 
BEGINNING: 622 PM CDT...1 MILE NORTHEAST OF ATHENS  
ENDING: 625 PM CDT...1.9 MILES NORTH-NORTHEAST OF ATHENS  
PATH LENGTH: 1.2 MILES  
MAXIMUM WIDTH: 50 YARDS  
ESTIMATED MAX WIND: 70 MPH  
EF SCALE RATING: EF0  
 
   
..MENARD COUNTY - 2ND TORNADO  
 
NARRATIVE...A SECOND TORNADO DEVELOPED IN AN OPEN FIELD ABOUT 2.7 MILES  
NORTHEAST OF ATHENS AT 625 PM CDT...OR ABOUT 1.2 MILES EAST-NORTHEAST  
OF WHERE THE FIRST TORNADO DISSIPATED. THE TORNADO TRACKED ALMOST  
DUE NORTH...AND DID EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO A HOUSE ROOF...DESTROYING A  
SMALL GARAGE...AND DOING DAMAGE TO ANOTHER LARGER GARAGE AND  
SEVERAL AUTOMOBILES. THE TORNADO THEN DAMAGED A SHED AND SEVERAL  
TREES. FARTHER TO THE NORTH...THE TORNADO KNOCKED TWO TREES DOWN ONTO  
A HOUSE...DOING SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE HOUSE ROOF AND INTERIOR WALLS  
OF THE HOUSE...ALONG WITH DAMAGE TO THREE VEHICLES AND A SHED. THE  
TORNADO BEGAN TO WEAKEN...BUT AS IT TURNED A BIT TO THE NORTH-  
NORTHWEST IT STILL DID SHINGLE DAMAGE TO A HOUSE ROOF...KNOCKED  
DOWN A SHED WALL AND TIPPED OVER A SEMI-TRAILER. THE TORNADO THEN  
DAMAGED SEVERAL TREES BEFORE DISSIPATING AROUND 631 PM ABOUT   
4.5 MILES NORTH-NORTHEAST OF ATHENS.  
 
ANOTHER FUNNEL CLOUD WAS SIGHTED ABOUT ONE MILE TO THE NORTHEAST  
OF THE WHERE THE TORNADO DISSIPATED...BUT IT DID NOT PRODUCE ANOTHER  
TORNADO. INSTEAD DOWNDRAFT WINDS OF 70 TO 80 MPH DID MINOR ROOF  
DAMAGE TO A HOUSE...A LEAN-TO SHED...AND SEVERAL TREES AT THE  
SUGAR GROVE CEMETERY.  
 
BEGINNING: 625 PM CDT...2.7 MILES NORTHEAST OF ATHENS   
ENDING: 631 PM CDT...4.5 MILES NORTH-NORTHEAST OF ATHENS  
PATH LENGTH: 2.1 MILES  
MAXIMUM WIDTH: 150 YARDS  
ESTIMATED MAX WIND: 95-105 MPH  
EF SCALE RATING: EF1