Tornadoes and Hail in Illinois, May 13, 1995

Golf ball-size hail was reported by the fire department at Saunemin and nickel-size hail was reported by a cooperative observer just south of the Kankakee-Iroquois County line near Chebanse.

The supercell storm that produced this tornado developed over Clark County, Missouri and produced a funnel cloud over Fort Madison, Iowa before it moved into west-central Illinois and preceded to produce a large tornado. The tornado started out as an F0 when it first touched down south of Niota and, based on damage surveyed the following day, grew to F3 strength by the time it reached Dallas City. Eye witnesses saw three separate funnels at on point. The Dallas City school received major damage and one older house was blown off its foundation. Several mobile homes were destroyed and a car was rolled six feet up a hill. The tornado preceded to the northeast and gained in strength. About one mile northwest of Disco the tornado reached F4 strength. At this time the tornado was just about right on the county line between Hancock and Henderson Counties and struck the Maxine Clover farm site. The Clover brick home was totally destroyed with only a few parts of walls still standing. The tornado appeared to be about one-half mile wide. The tornado continued to the northeast where it struck the Dick Edmunds farm site. The Edmunds seventeen year old brick home was destroyed along with most of the other farm buildings. Sixty animals had to be destroyed. As the tornado crossed highway 94 just south of Terre Haute it only produced F0 to F1 damage, but still appeared to be about one-half mile wide by the scoured dirt path it ground into the area farm fields. At this time the tornado was approaching the small community of Raritan. The Wendell Shaner farm site, located one and one-half miles southwest of Raritan, was hit at this time. Mr. Shaner was thrown about 70 yards out of his home into a field east of the house. Mr. Shaner received broken rips and other internal injuries. The Shaner farm site was totally destroyed. Where the home had been located there was nothing left, but the basement stuffed full of debris. Hundreds of dead hogs were scattered along and up a hill to the northeast of the home site. The tornado then clipped the southeast corner of the community of Raritan where damage was limited to areas along and south of main street. The Carl Huss home was totally destroyed while he was in the basement. Mr. Huss received a large bruise on his back when cement blocks were pulled in from the west side of the basement as the home was shredded off its foundation. The 137-year-old farmstead of John and Bev Livermore was also hit at about this time. Mr. Livermore was in the basement with his two grand-children when the tornado struck. The home heating fuel tank, located in the basement, was sucked up and thrown 50 yards away from the house. Mr. Livermore literally had to lay on his grandson to keep him from being pulled out of the basement. The home was totally destroyed. The Richard Likes home, also on the east side of Raritan, was totally blown off the foundation and pushed 50 yards into the field to the east. The Likes were not home at the time. This is also about the time the tornado appeared to reach its maximum width of 0.6 miles. One to two miles northeast of Rariton the large tornado either weakened or dissipated. Regardless, F0 to F1 damage and debris continued across Warren County from either the weakened tornado or multiple spinoff tornados. The tornado finally exited Warren county about six miles southwest of Abingdon. This large tornado produced no fatalities and only one injury was of a serious nature.

A tornado touched down 1 N of St. Augustine and traveled to the northeast. Twelve farm structures and 14 pieces of farm equipment were destroyed. Eighteen homes were either damaged or destroyed. Numerous trees were blown over and a 10 acre orchard with over 1200 trees was destroyed. The tornado also took off the roof of the Maquon Fire Department before it lifted and dissipated 1 NE of Maquon. Two people sustained minor injuries and damage was estimated around $1.6 million.

A tornado touched down 1 NE of Ipava and traveled to the northeast for seven miles, lifting and dissipating 2 NE of Lewistown. The tops of some high power line structures were broken off and 12 homes were destroyed. Numerous livestock were killed. Numerous cars and farm equipment were either damaged or destroyed. One car was thrown over a 100 yards into a farm field. Forty-five people sustained minor injuries, mainly from flying debris. Damage was estimated around $6 million.

A tornado touched down 1 W of Princeville and traveled to the east northeast. Two homes were destroyed and two homes had major damage. Several outbuildings were either damaged or destroyed, as well as, numerous trees. Also, a country club in Edelstein sustained major roof damage. Numerous power poles were blown down as well. No injuries were reported and no damage estimate was available.

A tornado touched down along the Illinois River (3 NE of Goofy Ridge) and traveled to the northeast for 25 miles before lifting and dissipating in Tremont (Tazwell County). The tornado damaged or destroyed over 36 homes and mobile homes in Mason County and injured 23 people. Numerous trees were blown down, especially in the Sand Ridge State Forest, as well as, numerous power poles. In Tazwell County, 25 homes were either damaged or destroyed (seven homes were destroyed in a subdivision 1 S of South Pekin were two people suffered minor injuries). Numerous silos and machine sheds were destroyed. Damage was estimated around $4 million.

A tornado briefly touched down 2 SW of Congerville damaging one home and five outbuildings. The roof of a mobile home was blown off and several trees and power poles were blown over. No one was injured and no damage estimate was available.

A tornado briefly touched down 2 SW of Congerville damaging one home and five outbuildings. The roof of a mobile home was blown off and several trees and power poles were blown over. No one was injured and no damage estimate was available.

A tornado briefly touched down 1 SW of Carlock damaging two homes and three outbuildings. No injuries were reported and damage was estimated around $150,000.

This was one of the largest tornados to strike west-central Illinois in many years. Hancock and Henderson Counties were both declared disaster areas by Governor Jim Edgar. Damage from the entire event was estimated at $10 million. The small community of Raritan was by far the hardest hit area where damage was estimated at $2 million. Twenty-five homes were destroyed, forty-eight homes were damaged, and ten farmsteads received heavy damage. Seventy-five other homes received damage of a lesser nature. Hundreds of farm buildings were damaged or destroyed and hundreds of head of livestock were killed by the tornado or later had to be destroyed due to injury. Damage in Dallas City was estimated at $1.2 million where the elementary school received heavy damage and four of their school busses were damaged. Eight mobile homes were destroyed and four were damaged in Dallas City. What could be listed a interesting tidbits: a Montgomery Ward order form from Dallas City was found 135 miles away in Princeton, a four and one-half pound hail stone was found and saved in Lomax by Roy McVeigh, volunteers served 1000 to 1400 meals per day during cleanup operations.

A tornado damaged barns and tree limbs between Papineau and Martinton. Siding was ripped off a home.

A tornado touched down 3 W of Sabina and traveled to the east lifting and dissipating 1 E of Sabina. The tornado destroyed one home and damaged 14 homes. Several grain bins and outbuildings were either damaged or destroyed. Numerous trees and power poles were blown down. No one was injured and damage was estimated around $518,000.

A tornado damaged barns and tree limbs between Papineau and Martinton. Siding was ripped off a home.

A downburst occurred in Forsyth damaging 43 homes (one home was destroyed, three homes had major damage, and four businesses had minor damage). There was also some minor damage to a public park. Damage was estimated around $1,400,000.

Reported by county officials.

Reported by the county sheriff's department and SKYWARN spotters.

Reported by the county sheriff's department and SKYWARN spotters.

Power lines down. One home had roof damage from a fallen tree and other homes had minor wind damage.

Reported by the county sheriff's department and SKYWARN spotters.

Thunderstorm winds destroyed 10 mini-warehouse structures, blowing them onto the railroad tracks nearby. No one was injured and no damage estimate was available.

Reported by the county sheriff's department.

Reported by the county sheriff's department and SKYWARN spotters.

County officials reported power lines and poles down.

Thunderstorm winds tore the roof off of a gym in Mary Miller Junior High and did significant structural damage to an adjoining administration building. Damage was estimated around $140,000.

Reported by the Illinois State Police.

Several trees and large limbs were blown down in Wayne City.