Fulton County Tornadoes Since 1950

 Details:

1. 5/14/1961:  Intermittent tornado touchdowns with this storm occurred as far southwest as Hannibal, Missouri.  The tornado touched down again about 10 miles east of Macomb, and was on the ground continuously across northwest Fulton, southeast Knox, and Stark Counties.  The greatest damage occurred north of the Fulton/Knox county line.
2. 5/23/1966:  Touched down near Astoria, and moved east-northeast for 2 miles.  Caused some major building damage in Astoria.
3. 3/31/1967:  Took an intermittent path from Middlegrove northeast to Douglas (Knox County).
4. 2/19/1971:  Touched down approximately 2 miles north of Ipava, and moved north-northeast for 12 miles.  Major damage sustained to 4 farms, mainly to outbuildings.  Two injuries occurred when a mobile home was evacuated just before it was destroyed.
5. 7/17/1972:  Brief touchdowns occurred along a path from Little Swan Lake (Warren County), across the northwest corner of Fulton County, into southern Knox County.
6. 6/18/1973:  Brief touchdown between Canton and Cuba, causing no damage.
7. 10/1/1973:  Touched down near Banner and reportedly moved northwest.  No damage was reported.
8. 6/20/1974:  Brief touchdown several miles northeast of Cuba.
9. 5/26/1975:  Brief touchdown several miles west of St. David.
10. 6/13/1975:  Touched down 2 miles south-southeast of London Mills, and traveled 8 miles to 2 miles southwest of Middle Grove.  It tore off all or some roofs from 5 farm houses and a church.  Two concrete block silos were toppled, and several outbuildings were demolished.
11. 6/24/1975:  Touched down near Middlegrove, and was on the ground for 2 miles.
12. 7/23/1975:  This was the first of two strong tornadoes which moved across central Fulton County.  This tornado touched down 3 miles southwest of Blyton, and moved eastward before lifting 3 miles southeast of Fiatt.  A grain bin was leveled and blown up to 3/4 mile away.  Surveys conducted by Ted Fujita (co-creater of the Fujita scale) indicated the tornado damage path was over a mile wide at times.
13. 7/23/1975:  This second tornado touched down near the east edge of Fiatt, and later tore across Canton.  From Storm Data:  Incredible damage occurred in the city of Canton. 127 businesses in a 5-block area in the central portion of the town were damaged; some buildings were totally destroyed, others were so heavily damaged that they had to be demolished.  Residential losses were heavy: about 100 homes and 50 mobile homes were destroyed; about 300 homes and 100 mobile homes were damaged.  Total losses were placed at $17-$20 million.  Two deaths occurred as the tornado ripped through the Horton's Moble Home Manor on the city's east side. Fourteen people were hospitalized and 45 were treated and released as a result of the tornado.  The tornado snapped utility lines in the city.  A strike by electrical workers hampered the restoration of power to the city; some areas were without power until the evening of the 28th.  All stores in the city except those selling food were required to close.  Much of the perishable food supply had to be thrown out.  Immediately after the tornado passed the town was closed to outsiders except those on official business.  Many farms suffered heavy damage to both crops and farm buildings.  Total agricultural loss was placed at over $3 million.
14. 8/11/1976:  This tornado struck the northern portion of the town of Cuba, destroying two trailers and unroofing a house.  One person was injured.
15. 4/13/1981:  This tornado touched down at Lewistown and moved southeast to near Havana.  It continued on an intermittent path across Mason and Logan Counties, a total of 32 miles. 
16. 7/25/1981:  Touched down northwest of Canton, causing minor damage.
17. 3/8/1990:  This tornado took an intermittent path across Hancock and Schuyler Counties before moving into far southern Fulton County.  Near Astoria, and southeast of Summum, some farm buildings were damaged.  The tornado lifted near Marbletown.
18. 6/19/1990:  Touched down briefly 4 miles west of Canton, causing damage to a farm house, other buildings, trees, and a vehicle.
19. 11/27/1990:  Touched down 2.5 miles east of Summum, and was on the ground for approximately 5 miles.  It caused damage at several farms along its intermittent path.
20. 4/15/1992:  Touched down just west of Duncan Mills, and was on the ground for 1 mile.
21. 5/9/1995:  Touched down 2 miles west of Cuba, causing no damage.
22. 5/9/1995:  Touched down 3 miles southwest of Canton, and moved northeast for 3 miles.
23. 5/13/1995:  This tornado was on the ground for 7 miles, touching down 1 mile northeast of Ipava, and dissipating 2 miles northeast of Lewistown.  This violent tornado destroyed 12 homes, damaged or destroyed numerous cars and farm machinery, injured 45 people, and killed numerous livestock.  Damage was reported to be approximately $6 million.
24. 4/30/1997:  A tornado developed in Fairview as two storms merged.  It moved northeast and intensified as it moved into Middlegrove.  The tornado then took an intermittent path as it crossed into Knox County.  Damage in Fulton County was estimated around $450,000.
25. 4/7/1998:  Brief touchdown just outside of Vermont, causing no damage.
26. 4/7/1998:  Touched down 3 miles east-southeast of Sepo, and was on the ground for 1 mile.  A mobile home was destroyed as well as a machine shed.  The tornado crossed the Illinois River and moved into Mason County.
27. 5/12/1998:  Brief touchdown 1 mile south of Vermont, causing no damage.
28. 5/15/1998:  Touched down 1 miles southwest of Bryant, blowing down 4 large trees, and destroying a shed.
29. 6/14/1998:  Brief touchdown 3 miles northeast of Marbletown, causing no damage.
30. 6/29/1998:  A tornado touched down initially 4 miles east northeast of Avon, travelling to the east southeast. A farm house was damaged, ripping off part of the roof, part of the siding, and moving it off the foundation. Damage to a nearby bean field was estimated around $50,000. The tornado lifted briefly then touched down 8 miles east of Avon, damaging a machine shed and a horse barn.
31. 6/29/1998:  Touched down on the west side of Farmington, and was on the ground for 2 miles.  It severely damaged a lumberyard, ripping the roof off a large storage facility.  At the high school, the gymnasium sustained significant roof damage and a large garage was destroyed.
32. 6/1/1999:  Touched down 4 miles east-northeast of Marbletown, then crossed the Illinois River into Mason County.
33. 6/12/2002:  Touched down near Smithfield, destroying a travel trailer.
34. 5/10/2003:  Touched down 2 miles southwest of Ipava.
35. 5/10/2003:  Touched down 1 mile south of Astoria.
36. 5/30/2003:  Brief touchdown 2 miles south of St. David.
37. 3/15/2016:  This tornado continued into northwest Fulton County out of Warren County, moving into the county 1.4 miles north-northwest of Avon. It was on the ground in Fulton County for 2 miles before lifting 2.5 miles north-northeast of Avon. Damage in Fulton County was limited to several trees. More details on this event are available at this link. 
38. 8/16/2018:  Touched down 1.5 miles east-southeast of Smithfield, damaging one farmstead on its 3.1 mile journey.
39. 12/1/2018:  This was part of a historic late-season tornado outbreak in central Illinois. It moved in from Schuyler County about 6.9 miles southeast of Astoria, and was on the ground for 13.5 miles. Click here for more details. 
40. 12/1/2018:  Touched down in a field 3.4 miles southeast of St. David and was on the ground for 5.5 miles, mainly damaging trees. Click here for more details.
41. 5/24/2019:  Touched down 3 miles east-southeast of Bernadotte, mainly damaging tree limbs. 
42. 9/27/2019:  Touched down in a wooded area about 5 miles east-northeast of Canton, causing some damage to homes and a church. It was on the ground for 1.9 miles.
43. 3/28/2020:  Touched down about a mile south-southeast of Ipava. Click here for more details. 
44. 4/4/2023:  This tornado touched down in McDonough County and moved into Fulton County near Table Grove. Click here for details. 
45. 4/4/2023:  This tornado briefly touched down between Table Grove and Ipava, but caused no damage.
46. 4/4/2023:  This tornado touched down a mile south of Ipava and did extensive damage in Bryant. Click here for more details. 
47. 4/4/2023:  Brief touchdown near Lewistown southeast of the main tornado track in #45, but caused no damage.
48. 8/26/2023:  Brief landspout tornado 2 miles south of Marietta, causing no damage.
49. 8/26/2023:  Another brief landspout south of Marietta, causing no damage. 
50. 3/14/2024:  This tornado moved in from McDonough County and broke a few tree branches before dissipating.