November 17th, 2013: Perfect Setup for Disaster
Jaynagar-Majilpur November 17th, 2013: A day that resonates with so many of us across the great state of Illinois. Typically dates that are remembered in the weather world are not ones that bring on a positive connotation. With this paper I plan on giving an overview of the event, an in depth look at the meteorology behind it, a timeline of events, and also the efforts to restore the hardest hit areas back to normalcy. This type of severe weather episode could be considered a "once in a career" type event for a local forecaster. What made it so unusual was not only the time of year it occurred, but the time of day that many of the tornadoes happened. One listen to the live weather overview [above] will really help you understand how volatile the situation really was.
A bit of a brief overview of the weather leading up to November 17th. Illinois had been a little colder than average in the days leading up to the outbreak. I remember temperatures were well below freezing with even some snow flurries observed preceding this monster trough. To the average person, it was the signs of an early winter. Meanwhile, forecasters were closely watching the spread of weather models for an incoming system progged to impact the Great Lakes over the weekend. Local forecasts showed a warming trend and many people would grow excited at the prospects of a late Indian Summer. While the general public was preparing to enjoy a warm weekend, weather forecasters were fearing the potential for a late season severe weather outbreak. The Storm Prediction Center was one of those concerned parties and placed most of Illinois under a risk for severe thunderstorms four days out.
As time wore on and we transitioned into Friday, a slight risk had been placed over the Eastern half of Illinois. Still, the weather conditions present across Illinois were not what one would expect preceding an outbreak. From a personal standpoint, I was extremely concerned about the risk for severe weather dating back to Monday or Tuesday [November 12th]. Many times these systems display themselves on weather models, but often fizzle out and end up being a non-event. Many amateur forecasters will hype these events well in advance and end up looking foolish when they do not verify. I tried to be careful with my wording, but I mentioned the potential for some bad weather impacting our area. The next picture below has to be the most ominous "mid to long range" forecast I have given.
By Saturday it was growing increasingly likely that a major severe weather episode was likely across at least half of the state. Not only would damaging winds be likely, but the increasing potential for strong, long track, and damaging tornadoes. The Storm Prediction Center issued a moderate risk for severe thunderstorms with the mention of a possible upgrade to high risk. Strong warm air advection was already occurring and there seemed to be a change in the air. No longer was there this cold and wintry feel, but a strong southerly gale ushered in a several degree temperature spike by late night Saturday. As the strong warm front passed through, it sparked a few thunderstorms during the overnight hours. These storms brought heavy rain, hail, and frequent lightning but not much in the way of severe weather. Normally a forecaster would be concerned with these early morning storms. They have a tendency to throw a giant wrench in the going forecast for later in the day. Below are some posts I made leading up to the event.
denominationally From a meteorological stand point it's hard to find a more classic tornado outbreak for Northern and Central Illinois. Impressive kinematics are common with fall systems, but what makes this so odd was the off the chart thermodynamics. Generally transitional season storms have an abundance of shear but not much instability. When you get a power system with shear and instability, that's when all the red flags are raised. By early morning the writing was on the wall proverbially speaking. The Storm Prediction Center had upgraded much of the area to a high risk, previous night convection had cleared the area, and skies were mainly clear. A disastrous set of ingredients were about to align themselves across our beautiful prairies.
Mesoscale and upper air analysis of the kinematic fields revealed an incredibly sheared environment not only favorable for damaging winds, but also tornadoes. A negatively-tilted trough was digging into the Midwest by morning under an amplified pattern. When speaking in meteorological terms.... a pattern can either be zonal or amplified. In a zonal flow, the 500 MB flow is generally characterized by ripples while amplified flow by waves. November 17th's system originated in an amplified flow with a negative tilt to the trough axis. Negative tilt systems generally have the axis in a northwest to southeast orientation and suggest a stronger storm system. Looking at the 300 MB flow, we can see some great divergence occurring across Northern Illinois by mid morning. Divergence allows the air to rise. Toward the surface, impressive low level wind shear was present with deep layer shear closing in on 60 knots. Low level wind shear was upwards of 35-40 knots. I was a bit surprised at the lack of directional shear. If I could find one caveat with the set up, it would be the areas with the strongest tornadoes lacked the real backed winds you would expect to see in a normal tornado outbreak. Nevertheless anytime you get high amounts of bulk shear, SRH, plus the presence of a boundary in advance of a power storm system; troubles a brewin'.
Thermodynamically speaking, this system would be more reminiscent of a late spring/early summer type event over a late fall. By mid-morning, surface based convective available potential energy values [SBCAPE] were nearing 2,000 J/KG which signifies a moderately unstable atmosphere. Low level lapse rates were also steep. EHI or energy helicity index values were at 5 and 6. By definition, EHI values are the combination of CAPE and storm relative helicity values. When you have values 4 or above the potential for violent tornadoes exist. Significant tornado values were also focused across Central Illinois.
7:47 A.M.: Just before 8:00 A.M. the Storm Prediction Center released MD 2010 acknowledging the increasing threat for tornadoes across Illinois.
8:39 A.M.: A particularly dangerous situation tornado watch is issued for most of Illinois until 4:00 P.M.
9:36 A.M.: LOT issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: 1.00 IN] for Boone, McHenry [IL] till 10:15 AM CST ...AT 933 AM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF BELVIDERE...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.
9:50 A.M.: TOR ISSUED FOR NW MCHENRY COUNTY DUE TO BRIEF RAPID TIGHTENING OF THE ROTATION ALOFT NE OF BELVIDERE ON THE 1533Z SCAN. ENVIRONMENT REMAINS EXTREMELY CONDUCIVE FOR TORNADOES AND HAD ALREADY GOTTEN CONFIRMED ROTATION AND WALL CLOUD WITH SPOTTER SUBMITTED PHOTO WITH OTHER REPORTS OF FUNNELS AS WELL. ROTATION HAS SINCE WEAKENED BUT THE THREAT FOR RAPID INTENSIFICATION OF ROTATION IN THESE STORMS REMAINS HIGH.
10:01 A.M.: ILX issues Severe Thunderstorm Warning [wind: 70 MPH, hail: 1.00 IN] for Fulton, Knox, Peoria [IL] till 10:45 AM CST *This storm would be the one to impact Washington*
10:04 A.M.: Local Storm Report by NWS LOT: 3 W Hebron [Mchenry Co, IL] trained spotter reports FUNNEL CLOUD at 09:50 AM CST
10:17 A.M.: LOT issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: 0.00 IN] for McHenry [IL] till 11:00 AM CST ...AT 1013 AM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED 6 MILES SOUTH OF CAPRON...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.
10:30 A.M.: Trained spotter reporting funnel cloud approx. 1/2 mile east of Rte 14 & Oak Grove in Harvard moving NNE. Funnel half way to ground
10:42 A.M.: ILX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: <.75 IN] for Logan, Mason, Menard, Sangamon [IL] till 11:15 AM CST ...AT 1039 AM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR ASHLAND...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.
10:50 A.M.: Storm Prediction Center issues MD 2013 highlighting increasing risk for damaging tornadoes
10:50 A.M.: ILX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: 1.00 IN] for Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford [IL] till 11:15 AM CST ...AT 1049 AM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR PEKIN...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.
10:58 A.M.: AT 1058 AM CST...A CONFIRMED TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR EAST PEORIA... AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH
11:00 A.M.: Multiple damage reports have come in from Pekin.
11:02 A.M.: Spotter reports "FUNNEL BACK IN CLOUDS. TIGHT ROTATION IN CLOUDS AT COLE HOLLOW AND MUELLER, HEADED TOWARDS WASHINGTON IL AT 35 MPH"
11:04 A.M.: Local Storm Report by NWS ILX: 3 NW Morton [Tazewell Co, IL] emergency mngr reports TORNADO at 11:04 AM CST -- at intersection of i-74 and i-474
Just after 11 A.M. TORNADO BEGINS TO IMPACT WASHINGTON
11:06 A.M.: ILX continues Tornado Warning [tornado: OBSERVED, hail: 0.00 IN] for Tazewell, Woodford [IL] till 11:15 AM CST ...AT 1103 AM CST...A CONFIRMED LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR WASHINGTON...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.
11:11 A.M.: LSX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: <.75 IN] for Macoupin, Montgomery [IL] till 11:30 AM CST ...AT 1106 AM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR PALMYRA...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.
11:12 A.M.: ILX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: OBSERVED, hail: 0.00 IN] for Marshall, Tazewell, Woodford [IL] till 11:45 AM CST ...AT 1107 AM CST...A CONFIRMED LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR WASHINGTON...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.
LOT issues Tornado Warning [tornado: OBSERVED, hail: 1.00 IN] for La Salle, Livingston [IL] till 12:00 PM CST ...AT 1107 AM CST...A CONFIRMED TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR WASHINGTON... AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.
11:12 A.M.: ILX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: 1.00 IN] for Christian, Sangamon [IL]
till 11:45 AM CST ...AT 1107 AM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR PALMYRA...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.
11:12 A.M.: Local Storm Report by NWS ILX: 3 WNW Morton [Tazewell Co, IL] broadcast media reports TORNADO at 11:03 AM CST -- roof damage to week-tv
11:13 A.M.: Local Storm Report by NWS ILX: 4 S Metamora [Tazewell Co, IL] emergency mngr reports TORNADO at 11:11 AM CST -- large tornado
11:20 P.M.: Violent tornado passes just west of Roanoke, documented by Adam Lucio - Aerostorms
11:22 A.M.: LSX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: 1.00 IN] for Macoupin, Montgomery [IL] till 11:45 AM CST ...AT 1119 AM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR CARLINVILLE...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.
ILX continues Tornado Warning [tornado: OBSERVED, hail: 1.00 IN] for Marshall, Woodford [IL] till 11:45 AM CST ...AT 1117 AM CST...A CONFIRMED LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR ROANOKE...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.
11:24 A.M.: LOT continues Tornado Warning [tornado: OBSERVED, hail: 1.00 IN] for La Salle, Livingston [IL] till 12:00 PM CST ...AT 1117 AM CST...A CONFIRMED TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR METAMORA...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.
Video of tornado crossing near Benson, Illinois just before 11:30 A.M.
Aftermath images of Washington now flooding into social media
11:29 A.M.: ILX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: 1.00 IN] for Christian, Macon [IL] till 12:00 PM CST ...AT 1126 AM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR KINCAID...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.
11:31 A.M.: ILX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: 1.00 IN] for Logan, McLean, Tazewell [IL] till 12:00 PM CST ...AT 1126 AM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR HARTSBURG...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.
11:32 A.M.: Local Storm Report by NWS ILX: Washington [Tazewell Co, IL] public reports TORNADO at 11:05 AM CST -- numerous homes damaged
11:33 A.M.: LOT issues Tornado Warning [tornado: OBSERVED, hail: 1.00 IN] for Grundy, La Salle, Livingston [IL] till 12:15 PM CST ...AT 1128 AM CST...A CONFIRMED TORNADO WAS LOCATED 5 MILES WEST OF MINONK...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH. Video below is of tornado near Minonk.
11:34 A.M.: ILX continues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: 1.00 IN] for Christian, Sangamon [IL] till 11:45 AM CST ...AT 1131 AM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED 6 MILES NORTH OF PAWNEE...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.
11:39 A.M.: LOT continues Tornado Warning [tornado: OBSERVED, hail: 1.00 IN] for La Salle, Livingston [IL] till 12:00 PM CST ...AT 1138 AM CST...A CONFIRMED LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR DANA...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH. Below storm chasers document a large rain wrapped tornado near Dana while another satellite tornado forms
11:43 A.M.: LSX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: 1.00 IN] for Montgomery [IL] till 12:00 PM CST ...AT 1139 AM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR RAYMOND...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.
Local Storm Report by NWS LOT: Dana [La Salle Co, IL] trained spotter reports TORNADO at 11:36 AM CST -- tornado on the ground north of the woodford - lasalle county line. power flashes occurring.
11:46 A.M.: ILX continues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: 1.00 IN] for Logan, McLean, Tazewell [IL] till 12:00 PM CST ...AT 1145 AM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED 6 MILES WEST OF BLOOMINGTON...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.
11:50 A.M.: LSX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: 1.00 IN] for Randolph [IL] till 12:15 PM CST ...AT 1147 AM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR EVANSVILLE...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.
11:53 A.M.: LSX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: 1.00 IN] for Clinton, Washington [IL] till 12:30 PM CST ...AT 1152 AM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED 6 MILES SOUTH OF NEW MEMPHIS...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.
11:54 A.M.: ILX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: 1.00 IN] for McLean [IL] till 12:30 PM CST ...AT 1150 AM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR BLOOMINGTON...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.
LOT continues Tornado Warning [tornado: OBSERVED, hail: 1.00 IN] for Grundy, La Salle, Livingston [IL] till 12:15 PM CST ...AT 1152 AM CST...A CONFIRMED LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF STREATOR...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH. RADAR INDICATED THAT THE INITIAL TORNADO MAY BE WEAKENING WHILE A NEW TORNADO WAS DEVELOPING JUST TO THE SOUTH OF THE FIRST ONE.
11:55 A.M.: ILX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: <.75 IN] for Christian, Shelby [IL] till 12:45 PM CST ...AT 1150 AM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF NOKOMIS...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.
11:56 A.M.: LSX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: <.75 IN] for Bond, Clinton, Fayette [IL] till 12:30 PM CST ...AT 1152 AM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR BEAVER CREEK...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.
11:57 A.M.: Storm Prediction Center issues MD 2015
12:04 P.M: Tornado touches down just outside of New Minden, Illinois
12:07 P.M.: Reports of debris falling from sky Mazon, Morris and near Minooka at 12:07 hours
ILX continues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: 1.00 IN] for McLean [IL] till 12:30 PM CST ...AT 1204 PM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR LEXINGTON...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.
12:08 P.M.: Local Storm Report by NWS LSX: New Minden [Washington Co, IL] trained spotter reports TORNADO at 12:07 PM CST -- tornado rapidly moving northeast
12:09 P.M.: LSX continues Tornado Warning [tornado: OBSERVED, hail: 2.50 IN] for Clinton, Washington[IL] till 12:30 PM CST ...AT 1204 PM CST...A CONFIRMED TORNADO WAS LOCATED 6 MILES EAST OF OKAWVILLE...AND MOVING EAST AT 75 MPH
12:10 P.M.: LSX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: <.75 IN] for Randolph [IL] till 12:30 PM CST ...AT 1209 PM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR BREMEN...AND MOVING EAST AT 60 MPH.
12:14 P.M.: LOT issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: 0.00 IN] for Grundy, Kankakee, Will [IL] till 1:00 PM CST ...AT 1210 PM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR MAZON...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.
Tornado damage from New Minden:
12:15 P.M.: Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens game delayed due to tornadic weather
12:18 P.M.: Local Storm Report by NWS LSX: 2 W Hoyleton [Washington Co, IL] law enforcement reports TORNADO at
12:15 PM CST -- tornado on the ground along highway 177 heading towards Hoyleton. location estimated
12:19 P.M.: ILX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: <.75 IN] for Champaign, Piatt [IL] till 1:00 PM CST ...AT 1214 PM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR DE LAND...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.
12:22 P.M.: Coal City/Diamond Tornado touches down
12:24 P.M.: LOT continues Tornado Warning [tornado: OBSERVED, hail: 1.00 IN] for Grundy, Kankakee, Will [IL] till 1:00 PM CST ...AT 1220 PM CST...A CONFIRMED TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR COAL CITY...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.
Local Storm Report by NWS LOT: Braceville [Grundy Co, IL] law enforcement reports TORNADO at 12:20 PM CST -- il-113 at will/grundy county line.
12:26 P.M.: ILX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: 1.00 IN] for Cumberland, Effingham, Jasper, Shelby [IL] till 1:15 PM CST ...AT 1223 PM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR BROWNSTOWN...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.
12:29 P.M.: Local Storm Report by NWS LOT: Wilmington [Will Co, IL] law enforcement reports TORNADO at 12:25 PM CST -- at il-53 and wilmington and peotone road.
12:32 P.M.: LOT continues Tornado Warning [tornado: OBSERVED, hail: 1.00 IN] for Grundy, Kankakee, Will [IL] till 1:00 PM CST ...AT 1229 PM CST...A CONFIRMED LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR WILMINGTON...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.
Local Storm Report by NWS LOT: Diamond [Grundy Co, IL] law enforcement reports TSTM WND DMG at 12:26 PM CST -- houses damaged on lowell lane.
12:36 P.M.: ILX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: <.75 IN] for Champaign, Douglas, Piatt [IL] till 1:15 PM CST ...AT 1232 PM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR HAMMOND...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH
12:37 P.M.: Local Storm Report by NWS ILX: 1 N Altamont [Effingham Co, IL] law enforcement reports TORNADO at 12:34 PM CST -- estimated half mile wide
12:39 P.M.: ILX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: 1.00 IN] for Clay, Effingham [IL] till 1:30 PM CST ...AT 1237 PM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR OMEGA...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.
12:44 P.M.: ILX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: <.75 IN] for Champaign [IL] till 1:15 PM CST ...AT 1242 PM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR CHAMPAIGN...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 70 MPH.
12:45 P.M.: Gifford Tornado touches down and heads for town
12:46 P.M.: LOT issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: 0.00 IN] for Cook, Will [IL] and Lake [IN] till 1:30 PM CST ...AT 1240 PM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR MANHATTAN...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.
12:48 P.M.: Local Storm Report by NWS LOT: 2 S Manhattan [Will Co, IL] storm chaser reports TORNADO at 12:39 PM
CST -- south of manhattan
12:50 P.M.: ILX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: <.75 IN] for Vermilion [IL] till 1:30 PM CST ...AT 1246 PM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR THOMASBORO...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.
12:53 P.M.: Local Storm Report by NWS LSX: 1 SW Centralia [Marion Co, IL] amateur radio reports TORNADO at 12:21 PM CST -- significant structural damage to numerous homes with vehicles overturned. unknown number of minior injuries on noltings road. amateur radio reports TORNADO at 12:21 PM CST -- significant structural damage to numerous homes with vehicles overturned. unknown number of minior injuries on noltings road hoffman road and sycamore.
12:54 P.M.: LOT continues Tornado Warning [tornado: OBSERVED, hail: 1.75 IN] for Cook, Will [IL] and Lake [IN] till 1:30 PM CST ...AT 1251 PM CST...A CONFIRMED TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR FRANKFORT...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.
Tornado damage from Gifford hits social media
Tornado damage from Coal City/Diamond hit social media
1:07 P.M.: Major outbreak shifting eastward into Indiana
Just like that, the fourth largest tornado outbreak in Illinois' history has exited the state. Behind it a trail of 25 tornadoes, 8 deaths, and hundreds of injuries. The towns of Washington, Diamond, Gifford, New Minden, and others were highly impacted by these tornadoes. Below I will assemble information on all of the tornadoes from that day.
Survey Results:
This tornado crossed the Illinois River from Peoria County at 10:53 AM CST. It tracked through the northwest side of Pekin before lifting 2 miles northeast of Pekin at 10:54 AM CST. Approximately 179 houses and 6 businesses suffered major damage, while 182 houses experienced minor roof damage. In addition, 3 apartment buildings lost their roofs, a power substation had minor damage, and hundreds of cars were damaged. Ten people were injured.
Survey teams from the NWS offices in Lincoln and Chicago surveyed this tornado.
The tornado initially developed over the southeast portion of East Peoria, and then headed northeast. It reached a maximum intensity of EF-4 as it entered the city of Washington. It then continued northeast, moving through Woodford County, reaching the Woodford/LaSalle County border near Minonk, a total of 34.5 miles. The tornado then continued northeast into far southern LaSalle County near Dana, then moved into Livingston County, finally diminshing 2 miles east of Long Point. The track length in LaSalle and Livingston Counties was 11.7 miles, with the peak intensity in these two counties as EF-2. The total tornado path on the ground was 46.2 miles.
Central Illinois Tornado Survey: Washington
.SATELLITE TORNADO EAST OF DANA ILLINOIS SOUTH OF LONG TRACKED TORNADO...
RATING: EF-0
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 75 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 3 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 50 YARDS
FATALITIES: NONE
INJURIES: NONE
START DATE: NOV 17 2013
START TIME: 1143 AM CST
START LOCATION: 1 E DANA IL
START LAT/LON: 40.9587 / -88.9251
END DATE: NOV 17 2013
END TIME: 1146 AM CST
END LOCATION: 2 SSE LONG POINT IL
END_LAT/LON: 40.9800 / -88.8840
* DISCUSSION: THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS RECEIVED STORM
CHASER VIDEO OF A SATELLITE TORNADO WHICH FORMED SOUTH OF THE
LONG TRACKED TORNADO THAT MOVED FROM WASHINGTON ILLINOIS INTO
EXTREME SOUTHERN LASALLE AND SOUTHWEST LIVINGSTON COUNTY. THIS
TORNADO ONLY LAST A FEW MINUTES AND NO DAMAGE HAS BEEN CONFIRMED
WITH THIS SECOND BRIEF TORNADO.
MAXIMUM EF-SCALE RATING: EF-4
FATALITIES: 2
INJURIES: 2
BEGIN TIME/LOCATION: 12:04 PM CST 4.4 MILES SOUTHWEST OF NEW MINDEN.
END TIME/LOCATION: 12:13 PM CST 2.6 MILES NORTH-NORTHEAST OF HOYLETON.
MAXIMUM ESTIMATED WIND SPEED: AT LEAST 166 MPH
PATH LENGTH: 10.6 MILES
MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH: 200 YARDS
The initial tornado touchdown occurred near Interstate 64, about 4.4 miles southwest of New Minden, blowing a tractor trailer off the interstate and causing minor injuries to the driver. The tornado then began moving towards New Minden. The worst damage was a few miles southwest of New Minden, where a small farm sustained a direct hit. The outbuildings and barns sustained varying degrees of damage, but the homestead was totally destroyed with only the foundation remaining. The damage at the homestead was rated EF-4, and two fatalities occurred at this location.
The tornado then raced northeast, hitting New Minden, and producing significant damage to the Lutheran Church and to several homes just northwest of the church. Damage to the two homes was rated EF-3. The tornado continued northeast, producing sporadic damage to just north of Hoyleton. A farm 2 miles west-northwest of Hoyleton sustained significant damage, as did a newly constructed home 2 miles north of Hoyleton. Damage at these two locations were rated EF-2. The tornado then veered a bit northwest and dissipated.
The tornado developed near the intersection of Almond and Elm Streets on the north side of Pana. Damage was done to siding and roofs of homes. Several trees were knocked down, damaging 3 cars. Power lines were also downed. The tornado continued to the north-northeast doing damage to a home and destroying an outbuilding at East 400 North Road. The tornado dissipated about 2 miles to the north-northeast in an open field.
Touch down occurred in village of West Liberty, along northern two roads of town. Traveled east-northeast about 3.5 miles across Ste. Marie Rd. Damage in town included several homes with roof damage, siding blown off, trees uprooted and broken at the trunk, and three utility poles broken. An older one story house with a weak roof had roof blown off and two exterior walls collapsed. Semi trailer turned over. About 1 mile to the east, several barn roofs blown off; at least one barn demolished. At least one pole broken a mile east, along 1700th Street.
The tornado touched down in an open field about 3.5 miles northeast of Lovington, then tracked northeastward and crossed into Douglas County about 5 miles north of Arthur at 12:37 PM CST. In Moultrie County, major roof damage occurred to 8 homes, while 1 garage was destroyed and 17 outbuildings were severely damaged. Numerous trees and power poles were snapped. In Douglas County southwest of Garrett, the tornado damaged the roofs of 3 homes and 5 outbuildings, as well as numerous trees and power poles. It crossed U.S. Highway 36 and tracked into the town of Garrett where it damaged the roofs of about two dozen homes and mobile homes before dissipating.
A tornado touched down 3.7 miles northwest of Tuscola at 12:44 PM CST, and was on the ground for 18 miles. The roof of a house and 2 outbuildings were damaged during the first 2 miles of the track. The tornado strengthened after it crossed U.S. Highway 45 doing major damage to 2 homes, several large farm buildings, numerous power poles, and a garage. The tornado then turned to the east, damaging the roofs of two homes and destroying several outbuildings. It then crossed I-57 near mile marker 218, where it destroyed a mobile home just east of the highway. The tornado did major damage to several more roofs and outbuildings before it merged with another tornado 2 miles west-northwest of Villa Grove, turned back to the northeast, and crossed into Champaign County about 1.5 miles northwest of Villa Grove at 12:52 PM. The tornado continued across southern Champaign County before lifting 2.7 miles north-northwest of Broadlands at 1:02 PM CST. The tornado moved through open fields for the first 2.5 miles in Champaign County, then took the roof off 1 home, destroyed about a dozen outbuildings, snapped numerous power poles and trees, and did roof damage to 6 homes.
A tornado touched down in an open field about 1 mile southeast of Thomasboro at 12:45 PM CST and rapidly moved to the northeast. In less than a minute it increased in intensity, causing damage to 3 nearby farms and pushing 2 farm houses off their foundations. The tornado moved through open fields for about 2 miles at which time it widened to nearly 1/4 mile wide and became wrapped in rain. It destroyed 3 homes, several outbuildings, and damaged a few other homes before it moved into the town of Gifford. The rain-wrapped tornado was about 1/2 mile wide when it moved through the center of Gifford. Nearly 30 homes were destroyed, more than 40 suffered major damage, and around 125 had minor damage. Around 15 businesses sustained moderate to major damage and the roof of a school was peeled back. Hundreds of vehicles were damaged or destroyed. The tornado tracked for another 5 miles to the northeast, destroying 3 homes and numerous outbuildings, damaging several other homes, and snapping many trees and power poles. Six people were injured in Champaign County, with damage estimated around $60 million.
The tornado then crossed into Vermilion County about 3 miles north-northeast of Penfield at 1:00 PM CST, tracking northeastward across rural northwest Vermilion County. The tornado destroyed 1 home, 20 outbuildings, and a camper. It also damaged 7 other homes and snapped numerous power poles and trees. The tornado weakened as it moved out of Vermilion County into Iroquois County about 3.7 miles west-northwest of Hoopeston at 1:14PM CST. Damage in the Vermilion County portion of the track was around $2.5 million.
This tornado touched down in an open field 2.8 miles northeast of Allerton at 1:03 PM CST. The tornado tracked to the northeast for about 15 miles and did major damage to 2 homes, roof damage to 4 other homes, and destroyed 9 outbuildings, 4 garages, and 2 grain bins. Numerous trees and power poles were also snapped. The tornado crossed State Route 1 about 2 miles north of Westville, impacting the villages of Belgium and Hegeler where 1 person was injured. Nine homes sustained major damage, 26 had significant roof damage, and more than 100 had minor roof damage. The tornado also damaged more than 50 mobile homes, numerous garages and vehicles, and destroyed about 25 outbuildings. The tornado crossed the Vermilion River and moved through about a mile of forested area before dissipating 4.4 miles northeast of Westville and 3 miles west of the Indiana border. Total damage was estimated at $9.5 million.
Some fast facts about the outbreak below:
- 4th largest outbreak in Illinois history
- Most tornadoes in the month of November in Illinois history
- Previous record was 8 in 1965
- First violent November tornadoes in Illinois since 1885
- Longest track tornado was 46.2 (Tornado #2)
- 8 deaths and 181 injuries
- 10 tornadoes had tracks of 10 miles or more
- Most severe weather was out of the region by 3 P.M.
A bit of a brief overview of the weather leading up to November 17th. Illinois had been a little colder than average in the days leading up to the outbreak. I remember temperatures were well below freezing with even some snow flurries observed preceding this monster trough. To the average person, it was the signs of an early winter. Meanwhile, forecasters were closely watching the spread of weather models for an incoming system progged to impact the Great Lakes over the weekend. Local forecasts showed a warming trend and many people would grow excited at the prospects of a late Indian Summer. While the general public was preparing to enjoy a warm weekend, weather forecasters were fearing the potential for a late season severe weather outbreak. The Storm Prediction Center was one of those concerned parties and placed most of Illinois under a risk for severe thunderstorms four days out.
As time wore on and we transitioned into Friday, a slight risk had been placed over the Eastern half of Illinois. Still, the weather conditions present across Illinois were not what one would expect preceding an outbreak. From a personal standpoint, I was extremely concerned about the risk for severe weather dating back to Monday or Tuesday [November 12th]. Many times these systems display themselves on weather models, but often fizzle out and end up being a non-event. Many amateur forecasters will hype these events well in advance and end up looking foolish when they do not verify. I tried to be careful with my wording, but I mentioned the potential for some bad weather impacting our area. The next picture below has to be the most ominous "mid to long range" forecast I have given.
By Saturday it was growing increasingly likely that a major severe weather episode was likely across at least half of the state. Not only would damaging winds be likely, but the increasing potential for strong, long track, and damaging tornadoes. The Storm Prediction Center issued a moderate risk for severe thunderstorms with the mention of a possible upgrade to high risk. Strong warm air advection was already occurring and there seemed to be a change in the air. No longer was there this cold and wintry feel, but a strong southerly gale ushered in a several degree temperature spike by late night Saturday. As the strong warm front passed through, it sparked a few thunderstorms during the overnight hours. These storms brought heavy rain, hail, and frequent lightning but not much in the way of severe weather. Normally a forecaster would be concerned with these early morning storms. They have a tendency to throw a giant wrench in the going forecast for later in the day. Below are some posts I made leading up to the event.
denominationally From a meteorological stand point it's hard to find a more classic tornado outbreak for Northern and Central Illinois. Impressive kinematics are common with fall systems, but what makes this so odd was the off the chart thermodynamics. Generally transitional season storms have an abundance of shear but not much instability. When you get a power system with shear and instability, that's when all the red flags are raised. By early morning the writing was on the wall proverbially speaking. The Storm Prediction Center had upgraded much of the area to a high risk, previous night convection had cleared the area, and skies were mainly clear. A disastrous set of ingredients were about to align themselves across our beautiful prairies.
Mesoscale and upper air analysis of the kinematic fields revealed an incredibly sheared environment not only favorable for damaging winds, but also tornadoes. A negatively-tilted trough was digging into the Midwest by morning under an amplified pattern. When speaking in meteorological terms.... a pattern can either be zonal or amplified. In a zonal flow, the 500 MB flow is generally characterized by ripples while amplified flow by waves. November 17th's system originated in an amplified flow with a negative tilt to the trough axis. Negative tilt systems generally have the axis in a northwest to southeast orientation and suggest a stronger storm system. Looking at the 300 MB flow, we can see some great divergence occurring across Northern Illinois by mid morning. Divergence allows the air to rise. Toward the surface, impressive low level wind shear was present with deep layer shear closing in on 60 knots. Low level wind shear was upwards of 35-40 knots. I was a bit surprised at the lack of directional shear. If I could find one caveat with the set up, it would be the areas with the strongest tornadoes lacked the real backed winds you would expect to see in a normal tornado outbreak. Nevertheless anytime you get high amounts of bulk shear, SRH, plus the presence of a boundary in advance of a power storm system; troubles a brewin'.
Thermodynamically speaking, this system would be more reminiscent of a late spring/early summer type event over a late fall. By mid-morning, surface based convective available potential energy values [SBCAPE] were nearing 2,000 J/KG which signifies a moderately unstable atmosphere. Low level lapse rates were also steep. EHI or energy helicity index values were at 5 and 6. By definition, EHI values are the combination of CAPE and storm relative helicity values. When you have values 4 or above the potential for violent tornadoes exist. Significant tornado values were also focused across Central Illinois.
- Negatively tilted trough
- Strong divergence
- 35-40 kt of low level shear
- SRH of 400-600
- 60 kt bulk shear
- 2,000 J/KG SBCAPE
- EHI values of 5-6
- LCL heights under 750M
- High Shear/Moderately Unstable
7:47 A.M.: Just before 8:00 A.M. the Storm Prediction Center released MD 2010 acknowledging the increasing threat for tornadoes across Illinois.
8:39 A.M.: A particularly dangerous situation tornado watch is issued for most of Illinois until 4:00 P.M.
9:36 A.M.: LOT issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: 1.00 IN] for Boone, McHenry [IL] till 10:15 AM CST ...AT 933 AM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF BELVIDERE...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.
9:50 A.M.: TOR ISSUED FOR NW MCHENRY COUNTY DUE TO BRIEF RAPID TIGHTENING OF THE ROTATION ALOFT NE OF BELVIDERE ON THE 1533Z SCAN. ENVIRONMENT REMAINS EXTREMELY CONDUCIVE FOR TORNADOES AND HAD ALREADY GOTTEN CONFIRMED ROTATION AND WALL CLOUD WITH SPOTTER SUBMITTED PHOTO WITH OTHER REPORTS OF FUNNELS AS WELL. ROTATION HAS SINCE WEAKENED BUT THE THREAT FOR RAPID INTENSIFICATION OF ROTATION IN THESE STORMS REMAINS HIGH.
10:01 A.M.: ILX issues Severe Thunderstorm Warning [wind: 70 MPH, hail: 1.00 IN] for Fulton, Knox, Peoria [IL] till 10:45 AM CST *This storm would be the one to impact Washington*
10:04 A.M.: Local Storm Report by NWS LOT: 3 W Hebron [Mchenry Co, IL] trained spotter reports FUNNEL CLOUD at 09:50 AM CST
10:17 A.M.: LOT issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: 0.00 IN] for McHenry [IL] till 11:00 AM CST ...AT 1013 AM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED 6 MILES SOUTH OF CAPRON...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.
10:30 A.M.: Trained spotter reporting funnel cloud approx. 1/2 mile east of Rte 14 & Oak Grove in Harvard moving NNE. Funnel half way to ground
10:42 A.M.: ILX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: <.75 IN] for Logan, Mason, Menard, Sangamon [IL] till 11:15 AM CST ...AT 1039 AM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR ASHLAND...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.
10:50 A.M.: Storm Prediction Center issues MD 2013 highlighting increasing risk for damaging tornadoes
10:50 A.M.: ILX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: 1.00 IN] for Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford [IL] till 11:15 AM CST ...AT 1049 AM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR PEKIN...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.
10:58 A.M.: AT 1058 AM CST...A CONFIRMED TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR EAST PEORIA... AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH
11:00 A.M.: Multiple damage reports have come in from Pekin.
11:02 A.M.: Spotter reports "FUNNEL BACK IN CLOUDS. TIGHT ROTATION IN CLOUDS AT COLE HOLLOW AND MUELLER, HEADED TOWARDS WASHINGTON IL AT 35 MPH"
11:04 A.M.: Local Storm Report by NWS ILX: 3 NW Morton [Tazewell Co, IL] emergency mngr reports TORNADO at 11:04 AM CST -- at intersection of i-74 and i-474
Just after 11 A.M. TORNADO BEGINS TO IMPACT WASHINGTON
11:06 A.M.: ILX continues Tornado Warning [tornado: OBSERVED, hail: 0.00 IN] for Tazewell, Woodford [IL] till 11:15 AM CST ...AT 1103 AM CST...A CONFIRMED LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR WASHINGTON...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.
11:11 A.M.: LSX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: <.75 IN] for Macoupin, Montgomery [IL] till 11:30 AM CST ...AT 1106 AM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR PALMYRA...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.
11:12 A.M.: ILX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: OBSERVED, hail: 0.00 IN] for Marshall, Tazewell, Woodford [IL] till 11:45 AM CST ...AT 1107 AM CST...A CONFIRMED LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR WASHINGTON...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.
LOT issues Tornado Warning [tornado: OBSERVED, hail: 1.00 IN] for La Salle, Livingston [IL] till 12:00 PM CST ...AT 1107 AM CST...A CONFIRMED TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR WASHINGTON... AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.
11:12 A.M.: ILX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: 1.00 IN] for Christian, Sangamon [IL]
till 11:45 AM CST ...AT 1107 AM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR PALMYRA...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.
11:12 A.M.: Local Storm Report by NWS ILX: 3 WNW Morton [Tazewell Co, IL] broadcast media reports TORNADO at 11:03 AM CST -- roof damage to week-tv
11:13 A.M.: Local Storm Report by NWS ILX: 4 S Metamora [Tazewell Co, IL] emergency mngr reports TORNADO at 11:11 AM CST -- large tornado
11:20 P.M.: Violent tornado passes just west of Roanoke, documented by Adam Lucio - Aerostorms
11:22 A.M.: LSX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: 1.00 IN] for Macoupin, Montgomery [IL] till 11:45 AM CST ...AT 1119 AM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR CARLINVILLE...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.
ILX continues Tornado Warning [tornado: OBSERVED, hail: 1.00 IN] for Marshall, Woodford [IL] till 11:45 AM CST ...AT 1117 AM CST...A CONFIRMED LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR ROANOKE...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.
11:24 A.M.: LOT continues Tornado Warning [tornado: OBSERVED, hail: 1.00 IN] for La Salle, Livingston [IL] till 12:00 PM CST ...AT 1117 AM CST...A CONFIRMED TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR METAMORA...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.
Video of tornado crossing near Benson, Illinois just before 11:30 A.M.
Aftermath images of Washington now flooding into social media
11:29 A.M.: ILX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: 1.00 IN] for Christian, Macon [IL] till 12:00 PM CST ...AT 1126 AM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR KINCAID...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.
11:31 A.M.: ILX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: 1.00 IN] for Logan, McLean, Tazewell [IL] till 12:00 PM CST ...AT 1126 AM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR HARTSBURG...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.
11:32 A.M.: Local Storm Report by NWS ILX: Washington [Tazewell Co, IL] public reports TORNADO at 11:05 AM CST -- numerous homes damaged
11:33 A.M.: LOT issues Tornado Warning [tornado: OBSERVED, hail: 1.00 IN] for Grundy, La Salle, Livingston [IL] till 12:15 PM CST ...AT 1128 AM CST...A CONFIRMED TORNADO WAS LOCATED 5 MILES WEST OF MINONK...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH. Video below is of tornado near Minonk.
11:34 A.M.: ILX continues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: 1.00 IN] for Christian, Sangamon [IL] till 11:45 AM CST ...AT 1131 AM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED 6 MILES NORTH OF PAWNEE...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.
11:39 A.M.: LOT continues Tornado Warning [tornado: OBSERVED, hail: 1.00 IN] for La Salle, Livingston [IL] till 12:00 PM CST ...AT 1138 AM CST...A CONFIRMED LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR DANA...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH. Below storm chasers document a large rain wrapped tornado near Dana while another satellite tornado forms
11:43 A.M.: LSX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: 1.00 IN] for Montgomery [IL] till 12:00 PM CST ...AT 1139 AM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR RAYMOND...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.
Local Storm Report by NWS LOT: Dana [La Salle Co, IL] trained spotter reports TORNADO at 11:36 AM CST -- tornado on the ground north of the woodford - lasalle county line. power flashes occurring.
11:46 A.M.: ILX continues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: 1.00 IN] for Logan, McLean, Tazewell [IL] till 12:00 PM CST ...AT 1145 AM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED 6 MILES WEST OF BLOOMINGTON...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.
11:50 A.M.: LSX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: 1.00 IN] for Randolph [IL] till 12:15 PM CST ...AT 1147 AM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR EVANSVILLE...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.
11:53 A.M.: LSX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: 1.00 IN] for Clinton, Washington [IL] till 12:30 PM CST ...AT 1152 AM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED 6 MILES SOUTH OF NEW MEMPHIS...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.
11:54 A.M.: ILX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: 1.00 IN] for McLean [IL] till 12:30 PM CST ...AT 1150 AM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR BLOOMINGTON...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.
LOT continues Tornado Warning [tornado: OBSERVED, hail: 1.00 IN] for Grundy, La Salle, Livingston [IL] till 12:15 PM CST ...AT 1152 AM CST...A CONFIRMED LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF STREATOR...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH. RADAR INDICATED THAT THE INITIAL TORNADO MAY BE WEAKENING WHILE A NEW TORNADO WAS DEVELOPING JUST TO THE SOUTH OF THE FIRST ONE.
11:55 A.M.: ILX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: <.75 IN] for Christian, Shelby [IL] till 12:45 PM CST ...AT 1150 AM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF NOKOMIS...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.
11:56 A.M.: LSX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: <.75 IN] for Bond, Clinton, Fayette [IL] till 12:30 PM CST ...AT 1152 AM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR BEAVER CREEK...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.
11:57 A.M.: Storm Prediction Center issues MD 2015
12:04 P.M: Tornado touches down just outside of New Minden, Illinois
12:07 P.M.: Reports of debris falling from sky Mazon, Morris and near Minooka at 12:07 hours
ILX continues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: 1.00 IN] for McLean [IL] till 12:30 PM CST ...AT 1204 PM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR LEXINGTON...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.
12:08 P.M.: Local Storm Report by NWS LSX: New Minden [Washington Co, IL] trained spotter reports TORNADO at 12:07 PM CST -- tornado rapidly moving northeast
12:09 P.M.: LSX continues Tornado Warning [tornado: OBSERVED, hail: 2.50 IN] for Clinton, Washington[IL] till 12:30 PM CST ...AT 1204 PM CST...A CONFIRMED TORNADO WAS LOCATED 6 MILES EAST OF OKAWVILLE...AND MOVING EAST AT 75 MPH
12:10 P.M.: LSX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: <.75 IN] for Randolph [IL] till 12:30 PM CST ...AT 1209 PM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR BREMEN...AND MOVING EAST AT 60 MPH.
12:14 P.M.: LOT issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: 0.00 IN] for Grundy, Kankakee, Will [IL] till 1:00 PM CST ...AT 1210 PM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR MAZON...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.
Tornado damage from New Minden:
12:15 P.M.: Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens game delayed due to tornadic weather
12:18 P.M.: Local Storm Report by NWS LSX: 2 W Hoyleton [Washington Co, IL] law enforcement reports TORNADO at
12:15 PM CST -- tornado on the ground along highway 177 heading towards Hoyleton. location estimated
12:19 P.M.: ILX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: <.75 IN] for Champaign, Piatt [IL] till 1:00 PM CST ...AT 1214 PM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR DE LAND...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.
12:22 P.M.: Coal City/Diamond Tornado touches down
12:24 P.M.: LOT continues Tornado Warning [tornado: OBSERVED, hail: 1.00 IN] for Grundy, Kankakee, Will [IL] till 1:00 PM CST ...AT 1220 PM CST...A CONFIRMED TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR COAL CITY...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.
Local Storm Report by NWS LOT: Braceville [Grundy Co, IL] law enforcement reports TORNADO at 12:20 PM CST -- il-113 at will/grundy county line.
12:26 P.M.: ILX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: 1.00 IN] for Cumberland, Effingham, Jasper, Shelby [IL] till 1:15 PM CST ...AT 1223 PM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR BROWNSTOWN...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.
12:29 P.M.: Local Storm Report by NWS LOT: Wilmington [Will Co, IL] law enforcement reports TORNADO at 12:25 PM CST -- at il-53 and wilmington and peotone road.
12:32 P.M.: LOT continues Tornado Warning [tornado: OBSERVED, hail: 1.00 IN] for Grundy, Kankakee, Will [IL] till 1:00 PM CST ...AT 1229 PM CST...A CONFIRMED LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR WILMINGTON...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.
Local Storm Report by NWS LOT: Diamond [Grundy Co, IL] law enforcement reports TSTM WND DMG at 12:26 PM CST -- houses damaged on lowell lane.
12:36 P.M.: ILX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: <.75 IN] for Champaign, Douglas, Piatt [IL] till 1:15 PM CST ...AT 1232 PM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR HAMMOND...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH
12:37 P.M.: Local Storm Report by NWS ILX: 1 N Altamont [Effingham Co, IL] law enforcement reports TORNADO at 12:34 PM CST -- estimated half mile wide
12:39 P.M.: ILX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: 1.00 IN] for Clay, Effingham [IL] till 1:30 PM CST ...AT 1237 PM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR OMEGA...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.
12:44 P.M.: ILX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: <.75 IN] for Champaign [IL] till 1:15 PM CST ...AT 1242 PM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR CHAMPAIGN...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 70 MPH.
12:45 P.M.: Gifford Tornado touches down and heads for town
12:46 P.M.: LOT issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: 0.00 IN] for Cook, Will [IL] and Lake [IN] till 1:30 PM CST ...AT 1240 PM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR MANHATTAN...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.
12:48 P.M.: Local Storm Report by NWS LOT: 2 S Manhattan [Will Co, IL] storm chaser reports TORNADO at 12:39 PM
CST -- south of manhattan
12:50 P.M.: ILX issues Tornado Warning [tornado: RADAR INDICATED, hail: <.75 IN] for Vermilion [IL] till 1:30 PM CST ...AT 1246 PM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR THOMASBORO...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.
12:53 P.M.: Local Storm Report by NWS LSX: 1 SW Centralia [Marion Co, IL] amateur radio reports TORNADO at 12:21 PM CST -- significant structural damage to numerous homes with vehicles overturned. unknown number of minior injuries on noltings road. amateur radio reports TORNADO at 12:21 PM CST -- significant structural damage to numerous homes with vehicles overturned. unknown number of minior injuries on noltings road hoffman road and sycamore.
12:54 P.M.: LOT continues Tornado Warning [tornado: OBSERVED, hail: 1.75 IN] for Cook, Will [IL] and Lake [IN] till 1:30 PM CST ...AT 1251 PM CST...A CONFIRMED TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR FRANKFORT...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.
Tornado damage from Gifford hits social media
Tornado damage from Coal City/Diamond hit social media
1:07 P.M.: Major outbreak shifting eastward into Indiana
Just like that, the fourth largest tornado outbreak in Illinois' history has exited the state. Behind it a trail of 25 tornadoes, 8 deaths, and hundreds of injuries. The towns of Washington, Diamond, Gifford, New Minden, and others were highly impacted by these tornadoes. Below I will assemble information on all of the tornadoes from that day.
Tornado #1: Pekin, Peoria County - 10:52 A.M. - EF-2
Survey Results:
This tornado crossed the Illinois River from Peoria County at 10:53 AM CST. It tracked through the northwest side of Pekin before lifting 2 miles northeast of Pekin at 10:54 AM CST. Approximately 179 houses and 6 businesses suffered major damage, while 182 houses experienced minor roof damage. In addition, 3 apartment buildings lost their roofs, a power substation had minor damage, and hundreds of cars were damaged. Ten people were injured.
Tornado #2: Washington to Dana, Peoria-Livingston Counties - 10:59 A.M. - EF-4
Survey teams from the NWS offices in Lincoln and Chicago surveyed this tornado.
The tornado initially developed over the southeast portion of East Peoria, and then headed northeast. It reached a maximum intensity of EF-4 as it entered the city of Washington. It then continued northeast, moving through Woodford County, reaching the Woodford/LaSalle County border near Minonk, a total of 34.5 miles. The tornado then continued northeast into far southern LaSalle County near Dana, then moved into Livingston County, finally diminshing 2 miles east of Long Point. The track length in LaSalle and Livingston Counties was 11.7 miles, with the peak intensity in these two counties as EF-2. The total tornado path on the ground was 46.2 miles.
Central Illinois Tornado Survey: Washington
Tornado #3: Litchfield, Macoupin County - 11:30 A.M. - EF-1
MAXIMUM EF-SCALE RATING: EF-1 FATALITIES: NONE INJURIES: NONE BEGIN TIME/LOCATION: 1130 AM CST 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF LITCHFIELD END TIME/LOCATION: 1134 AM CST 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF LITCHFIELD MAXIMUM ESTIMATED WIND SPEED: 75 MPH PATH LENGTH: 4 MILES MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH: 50 YARDS Despite photographic evidence of a large tornado northwest of Litchfield, only minor damage to power poles and one barn was observed. Most of the area where the tornado occurred was bare farm fields which did not have any damage indicators.Tornado #4: Dana - Long Point, LaSalle-Livingston Counties - 11:43 A.M. - EF-0
.SATELLITE TORNADO EAST OF DANA ILLINOIS SOUTH OF LONG TRACKED TORNADO...
RATING: EF-0
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 75 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 3 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 50 YARDS
FATALITIES: NONE
INJURIES: NONE
START DATE: NOV 17 2013
START TIME: 1143 AM CST
START LOCATION: 1 E DANA IL
START LAT/LON: 40.9587 / -88.9251
END DATE: NOV 17 2013
END TIME: 1146 AM CST
END LOCATION: 2 SSE LONG POINT IL
END_LAT/LON: 40.9800 / -88.8840
* DISCUSSION: THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS RECEIVED STORM
CHASER VIDEO OF A SATELLITE TORNADO WHICH FORMED SOUTH OF THE
LONG TRACKED TORNADO THAT MOVED FROM WASHINGTON ILLINOIS INTO
EXTREME SOUTHERN LASALLE AND SOUTHWEST LIVINGSTON COUNTY. THIS
TORNADO ONLY LAST A FEW MINUTES AND NO DAMAGE HAS BEEN CONFIRMED
WITH THIS SECOND BRIEF TORNADO.
Tornado #5: Breese, Clinton County - 11:47 A.M. - EF-1
MAXIMUM EF-SCALE RATING: EF-1 FATALITIES: NONE INJURIES: NONE BEGIN TIME/LOCATION: 1147 AM CST 7 MILES NORTH OF BREESE END TIME/LOCATION: 1148 AM CST 7 MILES NORTH-NORTHEAST OF BREESE
MAXIMUM ESTIMATED WIND SPEED: 100 MPH PATH LENGTH: 0.4 MILES MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH: 50 YARDSA weak tornado touched down near the intersection of Jamestown Road and Low Bridge Road and moved east nearly a half mile before dissipating. It destroyed a garage, removed shingles from a house, destroyed a pole barn and snapped a number of large trees. This tornado was photographed by numerous people.
Tornado #6: New Minden, Washington County - 12:04 P.M. - EF-4
MAXIMUM EF-SCALE RATING: EF-4
FATALITIES: 2
INJURIES: 2
BEGIN TIME/LOCATION: 12:04 PM CST 4.4 MILES SOUTHWEST OF NEW MINDEN.
END TIME/LOCATION: 12:13 PM CST 2.6 MILES NORTH-NORTHEAST OF HOYLETON.
MAXIMUM ESTIMATED WIND SPEED: AT LEAST 166 MPH
PATH LENGTH: 10.6 MILES
MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH: 200 YARDS
The initial tornado touchdown occurred near Interstate 64, about 4.4 miles southwest of New Minden, blowing a tractor trailer off the interstate and causing minor injuries to the driver. The tornado then began moving towards New Minden. The worst damage was a few miles southwest of New Minden, where a small farm sustained a direct hit. The outbuildings and barns sustained varying degrees of damage, but the homestead was totally destroyed with only the foundation remaining. The damage at the homestead was rated EF-4, and two fatalities occurred at this location.
The tornado then raced northeast, hitting New Minden, and producing significant damage to the Lutheran Church and to several homes just northwest of the church. Damage to the two homes was rated EF-3. The tornado continued northeast, producing sporadic damage to just north of Hoyleton. A farm 2 miles west-northwest of Hoyleton sustained significant damage, as did a newly constructed home 2 miles north of Hoyleton. Damage at these two locations were rated EF-2. The tornado then veered a bit northwest and dissipated.
Tornado #7: Hoyleton, Washington County - 12:14 P.M. - EF-1
MAXIMUM EF-SCALE RATING: EF-1 FATALITIES: NONE INJURIES: NONE BEGIN TIME/LOCATION: 1214 PM CST 3 MILES NORTHEAST OF HOYLETON END TIME/LOCATION: 1218 PM CST 3 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CENTRALIA MAXIMUM ESTIMATED WIND SPEED: 95-100 MPH PATH LENGTH: 4.9 MILES MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH: 100 YARDSAs the EF-4 tornado dissipated another tornado formed one mile to the east. This second tornado produced sporadic damage nearly 5 miles. The damage was rated EF-0 to EF-1, with the most widespread damage occuring near the Flying M Ranch, 3 miles southwest of the city limits of Centralia, Illinois. The tornado dissipated only 3/4 mile west of a large mobile home park in Wamac.
Tornado #8: Pana, Christian County - 12:15 P.M. - EF-1
The tornado developed near the intersection of Almond and Elm Streets on the north side of Pana. Damage was done to siding and roofs of homes. Several trees were knocked down, damaging 3 cars. Power lines were also downed. The tornado continued to the north-northeast doing damage to a home and destroying an outbuilding at East 400 North Road. The tornado dissipated about 2 miles to the north-northeast in an open field.
Tornado #9: St. Elmo-Altamont, Fayette-Effingham Counties - 12:22 P.M. - EF-2
MAXIMUM EF-SCALE RATING: EF-2 FATALITIES: NONE INJURIES: NONE BEGIN TIME/LOCATION: 1222 PM CST 4.6 SOUTHWEST OF ST. ELMO END TIME/LOCATION: 1232 PM CST 6.9 NORTHEAST OF ST. ELMO
MAXIMUM ESTIMATED WIND SPEED: 120 MPH PATH LENGTH: 11.5 MILES MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH: 200 YARDSA strong tornado developed between Highway 40 and Interstate 70 about 5 miles southwest of St. Elmo. The tornado destroyed a barn, depositing the debris downstream into the adjacent open field. The tornado continued northeast across Highway 40 damaging a few outbuildings and silos on a farmstead. The tornado strengthened and grew in size as it moved just to the west of St. Elmo. Here it caused significant damage to three homes and severe damage/complete destruction to numerous outbuildings. Two of the houses were moved from their foundations. This damage was rated EF-2. The tornado continued northeast toward the St. Elmo Golf Club, causing singificant damage to trees and destroying a garage and two outbuildings at a residence located on St. Elmo Country Club Road. The tornado continued northeast crossing County Highway 2150, County Road 2300, Illinois Highway 128 (Fayette/Effingham County Line), and finally dissipating just northeast of the intersection of North 200th Street and East 1300th Avenue. Most of the damage observed along the remainder of the path was to trees and small outbuildings.
Tornado #10: Coal City - Wilmington, Grundy-Will Counties - 12:22 P.M. - EF-2
* EVENT TYPE: EF-2 TORNADO
* INJURIES: 3
* ESTIMATED BEGIN TIME/LOCATION: 11/17/2013...1222 PM CST
3 MILES SSW OF COAL CITY IL
LAT 41.24 LON -88.30
* ESTIMATED END TIME/LOCATION: 11/17/2013...1233 PM CST
4 MILES NNE OF WILMINGTON IL
LAT 41.35 LON -88.13
* PATH LENGTH: 12.9 MILES
* MAXIMUM ESTIMATED WIND SPEED: 122 MPH
* MAXIMUM ESTIMATED PATH WIDTH: 200 YARDS
* DISCUSSION: THE TORNADO FORMED JUST NORTHWEST OF THE INTERSECTION
OF E BRACEVILLE RD AND S CARBON HILL RD WHERE SEVERAL SOFTWOOD TREES
WERE UPROOTED. THE TORNADO THEN QUICKLY MOVED NORTHEAST JUST NORTH
OF E REED RD WHERE A FAMILY RESIDENCE SUSTAINED VISIBLE DAMAGE TO
ITS EXTERIOR...AND A METAL BUILDING SUSTAINED ROOF AND EXTERIOR WALL
DAMAGE. DAMAGE AT THIS LOCATION WAS CONSISTENT WITH ESTIMATED WINDS
OF 95 MPH OBSERVED AT THIS LOCATION.
A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE SUSTAINED CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE NEAR THE
INTERSECTION OF BERTA ROAD AND SPRING ROAD WHERE TWO PEOPLE WERE
INJURED. THE TORNADO CONTINUED INTO A SUBDIVISION NORTH OF SPRING
ROAD WHERE WIDESPREAD MINOR DAMAGE OCCURRED. SEVERAL HOMES RECEIVED
MORE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE INCLUDING PARTIAL LOSS OF ROOFS AND SECOND
STORY WALLS. THE TORNADO CONTINUED NORTHEAST ACROSS COUNTY LINE
ROAD. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE OCCURRED TO BUSINESSES ALONG DIVISION
STREET BETWEEN COUNTY LINE ROAD AND I-55 INCLUDING AN RV STORE WHERE
NUMEROUS VEHICLES WERE DAMAGED.
CONSISTENT EF-2 DAMAGE WAS OBSERVED JUST NORTHWEST OF THE RT 113 AND
I-55 INTERSECTION...WHERE A HOUSE OBSERVED SIGNIFICANT EXTERIOR
DAMAGE. THE TORNADO LOST INTENSITY AS IT TRACKED JUST WEST
OF I-55 CAUSING WIDESPREAD TREE DAMAGE...BEFORE CROSSING I-55 NEAR
WIDOWS RD WHERE SEVERAL HARDWOOD TREES WERE UPROOTED. THE TORNADO
CONTINUED NORTHEAST AFFECTING A PHEASANT FARM...BEFORE FURTHER
WEAKENING AS IT MOVED NORTHEAST INTO THE MIDEWIN TALLGRASS PRAIRIE.
FURTHER DAMAGE TO SEVERAL METAL STRUCTURES WERE OBSERVED JUST WEST
OF RT 53 WITHIN THE MIDEWIN PRAIRIE...BEFORE LIFTING EAST OF RT 53.
Tornado #11: West Liberty, Jasper County - 12:25 - EF-1
Touch down occurred in village of West Liberty, along northern two roads of town. Traveled east-northeast about 3.5 miles across Ste. Marie Rd. Damage in town included several homes with roof damage, siding blown off, trees uprooted and broken at the trunk, and three utility poles broken. An older one story house with a weak roof had roof blown off and two exterior walls collapsed. Semi trailer turned over. About 1 mile to the east, several barn roofs blown off; at least one barn demolished. At least one pole broken a mile east, along 1700th Street.
Tornado #12: Garrett, Moultrie-Douglas Counties - 12:30 P.M. - EF-1
The tornado touched down in an open field about 3.5 miles northeast of Lovington, then tracked northeastward and crossed into Douglas County about 5 miles north of Arthur at 12:37 PM CST. In Moultrie County, major roof damage occurred to 8 homes, while 1 garage was destroyed and 17 outbuildings were severely damaged. Numerous trees and power poles were snapped. In Douglas County southwest of Garrett, the tornado damaged the roofs of 3 homes and 5 outbuildings, as well as numerous trees and power poles. It crossed U.S. Highway 36 and tracked into the town of Garrett where it damaged the roofs of about two dozen homes and mobile homes before dissipating.
Tornado #13: Manhattan-Frankfort, Will County - 12:42 P.M. - EF-2
* EVENT TYPE: EF-2 TORNADO.
* INJURIES: NONE.
* ESTIMATED BEGIN TIME/LOCATION: 11/17/2013...1242 PM CST
3 MILES SE OF MANHATTAN IL
LAT 41.41 LON -87.93
* ESTIMATED END TIME/LOCATION: 11/17/2013...1248 PM CST
2 MILES SSW OF FRANKFORT IL
LAT 41.47 LON -87.87
* PATH LENGTH: 5.5 MILES
* MAXIMUM ESTIMATED WIND SPEED: 125 MPH
* MAXIMUM ESTIMATED PATH WIDTH: 200 YARDS.
* DISCUSSION: A SEPARATE TORNADO FORMED FROM THE SAME THUNDERSTORM
WHICH PRODUCED THE COAL CITY TORNADO...TOUCHING DOWN SOUTH OF W
BRUNS RD AND EAST OF S KANKAKEE ST SOUTHEAST OF MANHATTAN ILLINOIS.
THIS SEPARATE TORNADO RAPIDLY INTENSIFIED CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE
TO 5 HOUSES ALONG W BRUNS RD...WITH THIS DAMAGE CAUSING THEM TO BE
UNINHABITABLE. NORTH OF THIS HOUSE DAMAGE...4 HIGH TENSION POWER
LINE TOWERS WERE BENT. EF-2 DAMAGE WAS OBSERVED AT THIS LOCATION
WITH WINDS ESTIMATED AT 125 MPH. DAMAGE TO MULTIPLE TREES AND POWER
LINES WERE OBSERVED AS THIS TORNADO CONTINUED NORTHEAST...BEFORE
REACHING W DRALLE RD WHERE CONSISTENT STRUCTURE DAMAGE WAS OBSERVED.
DAMAGE TO TWO HOUSES WAS OBSERVED ALONG THIS ROAD WITH DAMAGE ALSO
SUSTAINED TO AN ADJACENT BARN TO THE NORTH. A SEPARATE FARM TO THE
NORTHEAST ALONG S SCHEER RD HAD ROOF DAMAGE TO THE
RESIDENCE...DAMAGE TO A METAL BARN...AND TREE DAMAGE ALL CONSISTENT
OF EF-1 INTENSITY. AS THE TORNADO WEAKENED ALONG RT 45...DAMAGE TO
ONE METAL STRUCTURE WAS ALSO OBSERVED...BEFORE THIS TORNADO LIFTED
JUST SOUTH OF W STEGER RD.
Tornado #14: Villa Grove-Broadlands, Douglas-Champaign Counties - 12:44 P.M. - EF-3
A tornado touched down 3.7 miles northwest of Tuscola at 12:44 PM CST, and was on the ground for 18 miles. The roof of a house and 2 outbuildings were damaged during the first 2 miles of the track. The tornado strengthened after it crossed U.S. Highway 45 doing major damage to 2 homes, several large farm buildings, numerous power poles, and a garage. The tornado then turned to the east, damaging the roofs of two homes and destroying several outbuildings. It then crossed I-57 near mile marker 218, where it destroyed a mobile home just east of the highway. The tornado did major damage to several more roofs and outbuildings before it merged with another tornado 2 miles west-northwest of Villa Grove, turned back to the northeast, and crossed into Champaign County about 1.5 miles northwest of Villa Grove at 12:52 PM. The tornado continued across southern Champaign County before lifting 2.7 miles north-northwest of Broadlands at 1:02 PM CST. The tornado moved through open fields for the first 2.5 miles in Champaign County, then took the roof off 1 home, destroyed about a dozen outbuildings, snapped numerous power poles and trees, and did roof damage to 6 homes.
Tornado #15: Tuscola, Douglas County - 12:45 P.M.- EF-1
Touch down occurred in the country north of Tuscola, just west of I-57. The tornado crossed the interstate and did minor damage to two residents and destroyed several farm out buildings. The tornado then traveled northeast and merged with the Villa Grove tornado, just northwest of Villa Grove.Tornado #16: Gifford-Wellington, Champaign-Iroquois Counties - 12:45 P.M. - EF-3
A tornado touched down in an open field about 1 mile southeast of Thomasboro at 12:45 PM CST and rapidly moved to the northeast. In less than a minute it increased in intensity, causing damage to 3 nearby farms and pushing 2 farm houses off their foundations. The tornado moved through open fields for about 2 miles at which time it widened to nearly 1/4 mile wide and became wrapped in rain. It destroyed 3 homes, several outbuildings, and damaged a few other homes before it moved into the town of Gifford. The rain-wrapped tornado was about 1/2 mile wide when it moved through the center of Gifford. Nearly 30 homes were destroyed, more than 40 suffered major damage, and around 125 had minor damage. Around 15 businesses sustained moderate to major damage and the roof of a school was peeled back. Hundreds of vehicles were damaged or destroyed. The tornado tracked for another 5 miles to the northeast, destroying 3 homes and numerous outbuildings, damaging several other homes, and snapping many trees and power poles. Six people were injured in Champaign County, with damage estimated around $60 million.
The tornado then crossed into Vermilion County about 3 miles north-northeast of Penfield at 1:00 PM CST, tracking northeastward across rural northwest Vermilion County. The tornado destroyed 1 home, 20 outbuildings, and a camper. It also damaged 7 other homes and snapped numerous power poles and trees. The tornado weakened as it moved out of Vermilion County into Iroquois County about 3.7 miles west-northwest of Hoopeston at 1:14PM CST. Damage in the Vermilion County portion of the track was around $2.5 million.
Tornado #17: Beecher, Will County - 1:01 P.M. - EF-1
* EVENT TYPE: EF-1 TORNADO.
* INJURIES: NONE.
* ESTIMATED BEGIN TIME/LOCATION: 11/17/2013...101 PM CST
5 MILES SE OF BEECHER IL
LAT 41.30 LON -87.55
* ESTIMATED END TIME/LOCATION: 11/17/2013...102 PM CST
6 MILES SE OF BEECHER IL
LAT 41.31 LON -87.54
* PATH LENGTH: 0.8 MILES
* MAXIMUM ESTIMATED WIND SPEED: 100 MPH
* MAXIMUM ESTIMATED PATH WIDTH: 150 YARDS.
* DISCUSSION: THIS BRIEF TORNADO QUICKLY DEVELOPED SOUTH OF E 12000N
RD CAUSING DAMAGE TO SEVERAL HARDWOOD TREES...THEN MOVING NORTHEAST
WHILE SNAPPING A SOFTWOOD TREE. THE MORE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE CAUSED
BY THIS TORNADO WAS TO A FARM JUST NORTHEAST TO THE INITIAL
TOUCHDOWN...WITH A LARGE BARN SUSTAINING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO ITS
ROOF AND OUTER WALLS. CONSISTENT DAMAGE WAS NOTED WITH TWO ADJACENT
METAL BUILDINGS SUSTAINING PARTIAL ROOF LOSS...SEVERAL SOFTWOOD
TREES SNAPPED AT THE BASE OR HALF WAY UP...AND WITH DEBRIS TOSSED
ALMOST 1000 YARDS TO THE NORTHEAST. IN ADDITION...A TRACTOR BLADE
WEIGHING ABOUT 400 POUNDS WAS MOVED 60 FEET AND A GRAIN PIPE THAT
HAD BEEN RIVETED TO THE SILO NEXT TO THE BARN WAS RIPPED AWAY AND
MANGLED AND LOFTED INTO THE FIELD. DAMAGE AT THIS LOCATION WAS
CONSISTENT WITH ESTIMATED WINDS OF 100 MPH. THE TORNADO THEN
CONTINUED NORTHEAST THROUGH A FARM FIELD WHILE WEAKENING...THEN
CAUSING MINOR STRUCTURE AND TREE DAMAGE ALONG E DELITE INN RD.
NORTHEAST OF E DELITE RD...THE TORNADO LIFTED IN AN ADJACENT FARM
FIELD.
Tornado #18: Allerton - Westville, Vermillion County - 1:03 P.M. - EF-2
This tornado touched down in an open field 2.8 miles northeast of Allerton at 1:03 PM CST. The tornado tracked to the northeast for about 15 miles and did major damage to 2 homes, roof damage to 4 other homes, and destroyed 9 outbuildings, 4 garages, and 2 grain bins. Numerous trees and power poles were also snapped. The tornado crossed State Route 1 about 2 miles north of Westville, impacting the villages of Belgium and Hegeler where 1 person was injured. Nine homes sustained major damage, 26 had significant roof damage, and more than 100 had minor roof damage. The tornado also damaged more than 50 mobile homes, numerous garages and vehicles, and destroyed about 25 outbuildings. The tornado crossed the Vermilion River and moved through about a mile of forested area before dissipating 4.4 miles northeast of Westville and 3 miles west of the Indiana border. Total damage was estimated at $9.5 million.
Tornado #19: Opdyke, Jefferson County - 1:05 P.M. - EF-1
* EVENT TYPE.........EF1 TORNADO * EVENT DATE.........SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013 * EVENT TIME.........105 PM * EVENT LOCATION.....1.5 NE OF OPDYKE * PEAK WIND..........107 MPH * MAX PATH WIDTH.....25 YARDS * PATH LENGTH........0 MILES * INJURIES...........0 * FATALITIES.........0 * DAMAGE DETAIL......BRIEF TOUCHDOWN ON THE NORTH SIDE OF INTERSTATE 64. SEVERAL TREES WERE SNAPPED.Tornado #20: Sims - Fairfield, Wayne County - 1:08 P.M. - EF-2
* EVENT TYPE.........EF2 TORNADO * EVENT DATE.........SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013 * EVENT TIME.........108 PM - 120 PM * EVENT LOCATION.....SIMS TO FAIRFIELD * PEAK WIND..........134 MPH * MAX PATH WIDTH.....150 YARDS * PATH LENGTH........10 MILES * INJURIES...........0 * FATALITIES.........0 * DAMAGE DETAIL......TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN IN THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF SIMS. QUICKLY INTENSIFIED AND DESTROYED A DOUBLE WIDE MOBILE HOME ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF SIMS. THE TORNADO CONTINUED NORTHEAST AND CROSSED HIGHWAY 15...PRODUCING TREE AND POWER POLE DAMAGE. THE TORNADO MOVED EAST AND MOVED ACROSS THE WAYNE COUNTY LANDFILL...DAMAGING THE BUILDING ON THE GROUNDS. THE TORNADO CONTINUED INTO THE NORTH SIDE OF FAIRFIELD AND PRODUCED MAINLY MINOR DAMAGE TO HOMES.Tornado #21: Wellington, Iroquois County - 1:19 P.M. - EF-0
RATING: EF-0 ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 80 MPH PATH LENGTH: 4.6 MILES PATH WIDTH: 75 YARDS FATALITIES: NONE. INJURIES: NONE. START DATE: NOV 17 2013 START TIME: 119 PM CST START LOCATION: 1 MILE SE OF WELLINGTON IL START LAT/LON: 40.5283/-87.6691 END DATE: NOV 17 2013 END TIME: 123 PM CST END LOCATION: 4 MILES NE OF WELLINGTON IL END LAT/LON: 40.5805/-87.6171 DAMAGE: FOUR FARMSTEADS WERE IMPACTED WITH SEVERAL LARGE TREES DOWNED OR WITH THEIR TOPS SNAPPED. ONE OUTBUILDING HAD ITS ROOF TORN OFF.
Tornado #22: Albion [North], Wayne-Edwards Counties - 1:29 P.M. - EF-2
* EVENT TYPE.........EF2 TORNADO * EVENT DATE.........SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013 * EVENT TIME.........130 PM - 144 PM * EVENT LOCATION.....7 NW OF ALBION TO 6 NE OF ALBION * PEAK WIND..........130 MPH * MAX PATH WIDTH.....300 YARDS * PATH LENGTH........8 MILES * INJURIES...........0 * FATALITIES.........0 * DAMAGE DETAIL......MAIN DAMAGE WAS TO TREES WITH NUMEROUS ONES SNAPPED. A NEW ADDITION TO A HOUSE DESTROYED. ATTACHED GARAGE DESTROYED WITH 2 VEHICLES TURNED 180 DEGREES. TWO OTHER 100 YEAR OLD BARNS...STILL IN USE...TOTALLY DESTROYED. SEVERAL 100 YEAR OLD TREES SNAPPED OR UPROOTED ALONG BONE GAP ROAD. OTHER RESIDENCES IN THE AREA HAD MINOR DAMAGE.Tornado #23: Albion [South], Wayne-Edwards Counties - 1:30 P.M. - EF-2
* EVENT TYPE.........EF2 TORNADO * EVENT DATE.........SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013 * EVENT TIME.........133 PM - 138 PM * EVENT LOCATION.....6 NW OF ALBION TO 4 N OF ALBION * PEAK WIND..........112 MPH * MAX PATH WIDTH.....100 YARDS * PATH LENGTH........5 MILES * INJURIES...........0 * FATALITIES.........0 * DAMAGE DETAIL......THIS TORNADO WHICH TRAVELED JUST SOUTH OF THE FIRST TORNADO DESTROYED 2 MACHINE SHEDS AND A BARN WITH A HIP ROOF. SEVERAL TREES WERE SNAPPED ALONG THE PATH. MORE THAN ONE EYEWITNESS TO 2 TORNADOES ON THE GROUND AT THE SAME TIME.Tornado #24: Bellmont-Allendale, Wabash County - 1:44 P.M. - EF-2
* EVENT TYPE.........EF2 TORNADO * EVENT DATE.........SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013 * EVENT TIME.........144 PM - 154 PM * EVENT LOCATION.....7 N OF BELLMONT TO 3 S ALLENDALE * PEAK WIND..........127 MPH * MAX PATH WIDTH.....225 YARDS * PATH LENGTH........10 MILES * INJURIES...........1 * FATALITIES.........0 * DAMAGE DETAIL......4 HOMES WERE DAMAGED AND TWO MOBILE HOMES WERE DESTROYED. ONE MOBILE HOME WAS THROWN ACROSS THE ROAD AND THE FRAME WAS WRAPPED AROUND A TREE. ONE WOMEN INSIDE WAS INJURED. ANOTHER NEARBY MOBILE HOME WAS TURNED ON ITS SIDE. ONE HOME HAD PART OF THE ROOD LIFTED OFF. GARAGE OF THE RESIDENCE WAS DESTROYED BUT MOST OF THE ARTICLES INSIDE WERE LEFT UNHARMED. DEBRIS FROM THIS RESIDENCE WAS THROWN SEVERAL HUNDRED YARDS. SEVERAL OUTBUILDINGS WERE DESTROYED.Tornado #25: Brookport-New Liberty, Pope-Massac Counties - 2:23 P.M. - EF-3
* EVENT TYPE.........EF3 TORNADO * EVENT DATE.........SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013 * EVENT TIME.........205 PM-256 PM * EVENT LOCATION.....WOODVILLE KY TO 3 MILES NW OF EDDYVILLE KY * PEAK WIND..........145 MPH * MAX PATH WIDTH.....500 YARDS (AVERAGE WIDTH APPROX. 225 YARDS) * PATH LENGTH........42 MILES * INJURIES...........13 PLUS * FATALITIES.........3 (Massac County, IL) * DAMAGE DETAIL......IN MASSAC/POPE COUNTIES: DOZENS OF MOBILE HOMES DESTROYED, MANY BLOWN 100 FEET OR MORE. ONE HOME LEVELLED WITH DOZENS OF HOMES, GARAGES, STORAGE BUILDINGS, BUSINESSES AND OTHER BUILDINGS STRUCTURALLY DAMAGED. SEVERAL CARS AND A SCHOOL BUS TOSSED AROUND. AT LEAST HUNDREDS OF TREES SNAPPED AND UPROOTED. DAMAGE WAS IN BROOKPORT AND ALONG AND NORTH OF UNIONVILLE ROAD TO THE OHIO RIVER SOUTHWEST OF HAMLETSBURG, AND RATED EF-3. ONE FATALITY OCCURRED IN BROOKPORT...WITH THE OTHER TWO OCCURRING BETWEEN BROOKPORT AND UNIONVILLE. So what have we learned from the November 17th outbreak? There were many wins to take away from this event from a forecasting standpoint. This event was very well advertised! Not only did I hit the event hard in the days leading up to it, but the National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center really brought their A game as well. Hundreds of tornado warnings were issued with a very acceptable false alarm ratio. The general motto is to "not miss the big ones" and I believe as a whole the NWS was at 100% on warning accuracy for strong or violent tornadoes. We can chalk this up as a case where hype, continual reminders, and even a little fear was warranted. A tornado outbreak that occurred during the off-season, on a Sunday, and in the morning is as unusual as our weather gets!Author:
