Illinois' Largest Tornado Outbreak: April 19, 1996

Summary:

Brief touchdown in an open field 2.5 miles north of Mattoon.

Summary:

Brief touchdown in an open field 3 miles north of Fairgrange.

Summary:

Touched down 3 miles northwest of Paris, destroying a barn. It continued east-northeast and damaged 6 farms in the area, including the destruction of several machine sheds, a couple barns, and grain bins. One residence had moderate roof damage and another had broken windows caused by baseball-size hail. The tornado lifted after crossing Highway 1 three miles north of Paris.

Summary:

Touched down 1.5 miles north-northwest of Paris, near Cherry Point Road and County Road 200W, destroying a machine shed. It lifted briefly and touched down again at the intersection of Steidle Rd and Tucker Beach Rd, damaging a 3-car garage. It continued east-northeast and damaged another machine shed, numerous trees, and a baseball field. At Twin Lakes Park, several benches, trees and a small shed were damaged. It traveled across the lake and flipped a boat lift, before dissipating.  

Summary:

Touched down 5 miles west-southwest of Winchester and traveled east-northeast. Just before it lifted (3 miles west-southwest of Winchester), it split off part of a tree which landed on a car, causing some damage.

Summary:

Caused major damage to one home in Bath and minor damage to 11 others. Two trailers destroyed, with 1 injury. The tornado continued northeast, destroying and uprooting numerous trees in the Bath Cemetery, blowing down numerous power lines, destroying numerous farm buildings, and blowing a semi-truck into a nearby field. 

Summary:

Touched down 1 mile southwest of Brimfield, and caused minor damage on the south side of town.

Summary:

Touched down 2 miles west-southwest of Easton and moved northeast. One home was destroyed on the northwest side of Easton. It lifted 3.5 miles northeast of Easton, then touched down again a mile later and remained on the ground for 3 more miles. Two homes were destroyed, 5 sustained major damage, and the roof was lifted up on the high school. 

Summary:

Touched down at the Mobil Chemical Plant 2 miles east of Jacksonville, and crossed part of the Jacksonville Correctional Facility. It lifted for 2 miles before touching down again and traveling 2 more miles before lifting 1 mile north of Orleans. Two railroad cars were overturned at the plant, and two guard towers, a greenhouse and a fence were damaged at the prison. One home east of the prison was destroyed, and 3 others had major damage. There was 1 minor injury at the prison.

Summary:

Brief touchdown 2 miles east of Alexander.

Summary:

Briefly touched down 2 miles east of New Berlin, then lifted and touched down again 5 miles east-northeast of New Berlin. Major damage to a home, barn, and machine shed. Two semis were blown over on I-72.

Summary:

Touched down just south of the Logan/Tazewell County line along county road 1350E, causing minor damage to 3 homes. It crossed into Tazewell Couty and destroyed one home on the south side of Armington, and caused major damage to two others. It then moved into southwest McLean County and destroyed a church and one home. 

Summary:

Touched down 2 miles south-southwest of Niantic and traveled east-northeast. Moved into Old Harristown at 7:27 pm, destroying 5 homes and damaging the remainder of the homes and the old grade school gymnasium. It moved into the west side of Decatur near the intersection of Wyckles and Center Roads after crossing I-72, destroying a church. It demolished a house near Ravina Park Road, and caused damage in a 1.5 to 2 block wide area. It crossed Oakland Ave. and destroyed the Sims Lumber Company. After lifting briefly, it touched down again at Bloomington Rd. and Pythan Ave., then lifted again just east of Morgan St. It touched down once more near 27th and Pershing, damaging several roofs at a manufacturing plant. Total damage in the area was $9 million.

Summary:

Brief touchdown in Milmine, destroying a grain bin, throwing an auger across the railroad tracks, and causing minor damage to some homes.

Summary:

Touched down in the Breezy Meadows subdivision, destroying two homes and causing major damage to a church. It lifted and traveled northeast before touching down again near the Monticello Airport. It destroyed 3 single engine planes, 2 gliders and a hangar, before dissipating. Damage was estimated around $1 million.

Summary:

Touched down in extreme eastern Marion County, destroying a farmhouse before crossing the Clay County line. It downed some trees in Clay County before lifting 2.5 miles north-northwest of Xenia.

Summary:

Briefly touched down 1 mile north of Savoy, near US-45 and Curtis Rd., destroying 3 homes under construction. It lifted before touching down again 1 mile south of Urbana. It destroyed 30 homes, and caused moderate damage to 29 others. Five businesses were also damaged. Damage was estimated between $7 million and $11 million.

Summary:

Passed northeast directly through the middle of Ogden, destroying 68 homes, 12 businesses, 3 churches, the library, and the grade school. East of town, it killed a woman in a semi as the tornado crossed I-74. It appeared there were multiple circulations within the parent tornado.

Summary:

Brief touchdown in an open field.