National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

The December 1, 2018 severe weather event sets the record for largest tornado outbreak during the month of December in Illinois history with 28 tornadoes. Additional information received in the future may cause this number to change. The previous record was 21 tornadoes on December 18-19, 1957.

The 12/1/18 tornado outbreak will also rank as the 3rd largest tornado outbreak in Illinois during ANY month of the year. The largest outbreak was on 4/19/1996 with 39 tornadoes, followed by 4/2/2006 with 36 tornadoes.

A chronological listing follows:

Time (CST) County Location Rank & Speed Length Width
1:54-1:58 pm Pike Pleasant Hill EF1 (98 mph) 1.7 miles 25 yards
2:29-2:30 pm Pike 2 NW Detroit EF0 (85 mph) 0.1 miles 10 yards
2:40-2:42 pm Pike Valley City EF1 (110 mph) 0.6 miles 110 yards
3:00-3:02 pm Schuyler Brooklyn EF1 (90 mph) 1.0 miles 100 yards
3:01-3:03 pm Morgan Meredosia EF0 (75 mph) 1.7 miles 50 yards
3:09-3:10 pm Cass Southwest of Arenzville EF0 (85 mph) 0.6 miles 50 yards
3:18-3:19 pm McDonough Industry EF0 (70 mph) 0.1 miles 15 yards
3:25-3:33 pm Cass Beardstown EF1 (100 mph) 4.3 miles 200 yards
3:41-3:42 pm McDonough Bardolph EF0 (70 mph) 0.1 miles 15 yards
3:44-3:46 pm Mason Chain Lake EF0 (75 mph) 1.7 miles 25 yards
3:51-4:18 pm Schuyler, Fulton Bluff City/Lewistown EF1 (105 mph) 15.9 miles 450 yards
3:59-4:01 pm Macoupin Staunton EF1 (110 mph) 1.4 miles 50 yards
4:09-4:21 pm Montgomery Raymond EF1 (100 mph) 8.0 miles 75 yards
4:16-4:29 pm Montgomery Litchfield/Butler EF2 (115 mph) 7.9 miles 100 yards
4:32-4:36 pm Montgomery Blue Grass Creek EF1 (100 mph) 2.0 miles 50 yards
4:47-4:54 pm Montgomery, Christian Morrisonville EF0 (80-85 mph) 3.1 miles 200 yards
4:53-5:17 pm Mason Easton/Forest City EF1 (105-110 mph) 11.8 miles 250 yards
5:01-5:25 pm Christian Taylorville EF3 (155 mph) 12.7 miles 1/2 mile
5:34-5:35 pm Tazewell Southwest of South Pekin EF0 (85 mph) 0.3 miles 50 yards
5:34-5:52 pm Christian Stonington EF2 (115 mph) 8.9 miles 400 yards
5:53-5:59 pm Macon Boody EF1 (110 mph) 4.3 miles 250 yards
6:03-6:04 pm Macon Harristown EF0 (85 mph) 0.4 miles 50 yards
6:16-6:24 pm Sangamon Mechanicsburg EF1 (100 mph) 4.6 miles 100 yards
6:31-6:33 pm Macon Maroa EF1 (100 mph) 1.1 miles 320 yards
7:06-7:08 pm McLean Le Roy EF1 (90 mph) 1.0 miles 50 yards
7:18-7:20 pm McLean Moraine View State Park EF2 (114 mph) 0.7 miles 100 yards
7:21-7:22 pm McLean Ellsworth EF0 (85 mph) 0.1 miles 25 yards
7:42-7:44 pm McLean Colfax EF1 (95 mph) 0.6 miles 75 yards