As a strong area of low pressure moved into the Midwest, severe thunderstorms developed along and ahead of a cold front which moved through Central Illinois during the afternoon and early evening hours. There were numerous reports of trees, tree limbs, and power lines knocked down.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS ILX wrote it up.
As a strong area of low pressure moved into the Midwest, severe thunderstorms developed along and ahead of a cold front which moved through Central Illinois during the afternoon and early evening hours. There were numerous reports of trees, tree limbs, and power lines knocked down. Also, 6 tornadoes were reported across the area. Fortunately, only a few minor injuries were reported and no deaths occurred with these tornadoes.
The Lincoln radar (KILX), 105 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:17 UTC.
15 thunderstorm wind, 5 tornado, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm winds blew down several trees, one of which blocked Route 24 just north of Rushville. In Rushville, the winds damaged the library roof causing $7,800 in damage. No injuries were reported.
Thunderstorm winds destroyed a shed and blew down several power lines in Mason City.
A tornado briefly touched down 7 miles southwest of Pekin in the Country View Estates Subdivision severely damaging a home under construction causing around $90,000 in damage. Also, the tornado damaged a garage across the street and four other homes in the area sustained minor roof damage with shingles missing. A 20 inch diameter tree was blown down blocking Bass Road. There was one minor injury reported when a man had a piece of sheetrock hit him in the head as he headed for cover, sustaining a minor injury, though he did not seek medical assistance. The total dollar amount of damage is estimated around $115,000.
A line of storms moved through Christian County causing damage in western portions of the county. The winds blew down several power lines 2 miles north of Morrisonville and at the Commonwealth Edison Plant 4 miles west of Kincaid. Then as the storms travelled east, the winds blew down 2 grain bins onto some power lines in Edinburg and then damaged several roof tops and destroyed a hog building 1 mile northeast of Edinburg. No injuries were reported and no damage estimate was available.
Thunderstorm winds took the roof off of a trailer and blew down several trees 2 miles north of Princeville. No injuries or damage estimate were available.
A tornado briefly touched down in a field 3 miles south of Blue Mound. No damage was reported.
Thunderstorm winds damaged two buildings 2 miles south of Danvers. On one of the buildings the barn doors were blown off and up over a two story farm house. Also, at the same time a spotter in Danvers reported a 67 mph wind gust and damage to the grade school (roof flashing was blown off), as well as, a school bus being lifted up onto two wheels. A machine shed was damaged and numerous large tree limbs were blown down. No injuries were reported and no damage estimate was available.
Thunderstorm winds damaged 3 sheds, destroyed a detached garage, caused minor siding and roof damage to ten homes and blew over a large store sign in Forsyth. No injuries were reported and no damage estimate was available.
A tornado briefly touched down in Oreana, destroying a mobile home and a barn. No injuries were reported and no damage estimate was available.
Thunderstorm winds blew down a billboard on Veteran's Parkway in Bloomington then knocked down roof trusses of a house under construction 1 mile northwest of Downs. No injuries were reported and no damage estimate was available.
A tornado first touched down 1.5 miles east of Downs, blowing down a barn which trapped a 32-year old pony for 16 hours. Several other barns, machine sheds, cattle sheds, and grain bins were damaged or destroyed in the area. As the tornado travelled to the northeast, it damaged a barn and grain bin 1 mile north of Holder and a cattle barn was destroyed 2.5 miles north of Holder on Route 9. Further to the northeast the tornado caused $100,000 in damage to a gas station in Cooksville where two of the three service bays were destroyed and the third one sustained some damage. The fire station and a golf cart business reported minor roof damage. Also, power poles just north of Cooksville were snapped off and others were leaning to the ground. Before the tornado lifted and dissipated, it damaged a large barn 3 miles northeast of Cooksville. No injuries were reported.
Thunderstorm winds blew off the doors of a shed and a barn 5 miles northwest of Monticello. No injuries were reported and no damage estimate was available.
A tornado briefly touched down in an open field, near the intersection of I-72 and Route 10. No damage or injuries were reported.
Thunderstorm winds damaged a house when a tree fell onto it and blew over a shed in Janesville. Also, a walnut tree was uprooted breaking 3 windows of a van parked nearby and the winds moved a bass boat about 150 yards. Damage was estimated around $4,200 and no injuries were reported.
A line of severe thunderstorms moved across Coles County causing a lot of damage. Three miles southeast of Lerna a machine shed, a small storage shed, and a grain bin were destroyed. Also, a motor home, several vehicles, and a house roof sustained minor damage. Numerous trees and tree limbs were blown down as well. At the same time in the Bushton, Fairgrange, and Charleston areas, several trees were blown down, with one causing minor damage to a building. Also, a barn roof and a grain bin were destroyed. As the storms moved further east, winds blew down numerous trees and tree limbs in the Ashmore area. One tree fell onto a house causing $1,000 in damage and several trees in the local cemetery fell, damaging some grave markers. Also, two large barns were destroyed 2 miles south of Ashmore and numerous homes and other farm buildings sustained minor damage. No injuries were reported and damage was estimated around $125,950.
Thunderstorm winds blew down numerous trees and power lines in Westfield. Two trees fell onto homes causing minor damage. Also, the winds damaged the roof of a mobile home. No injuries were reported but damage was estimated around $7,800.
Thunderstorm winds blew over a large tree onto a home in Paris, damaging the roof. No injuries were reported and no damage estimate was available.
Thunderstorm winds blew down several trees in Olney. Two trees fell onto cars, causing damage but no injuries. Also, numerous tree limbs and power lines were blown down. No damage estimate was available.
Thunderstorm winds blew over several trees in Lawrenceville. No injuries were reported.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Illinois, 1997Warnings in Illinois, April 1997
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5600138, 5600139, 5600140, 5600141, 5600235, 5600236, 5600237, 5600238, 5600239, 5600241, 5600240, 5600242, 5600243, 5600332, 5600333, 5600334, 5600335, 5600336, 5600338, 5600340, 5600337, 5600339.