Illinois, 1999

Tornadoes and Hail in Illinois, April 8, 1999

April 8, 1999 · NWS ILX · 7 events in 4 counties and zones

3 tornado, 3 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$250,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
7

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 radar

The St Louis radar (KLSX), 106 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:07 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 tornado, 3 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Scott

When
April 8, 7:07 PM CST to 7:08 PM CST
Where
Scott County, 5 mi SW of Oxville
Rating
F1
Path length
0.3 mi
Path width
120 yd
Property damage
$150,000
Reported by
NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates
39.650, -90.630

As the tornado crossed the Illinois River from Pike County into Scott County, it caused extensive damage to a residence next to a pump house located near the river, 5 miles southwest of Oxville. The windows on the west side of the house were blown out and the east wall was blown out as well. Shortly after hitting the home the tornado lifted and dissipated. No injuries were reported and the damage was estimated around $150,000.

Hail, Knox

When
April 8, 7:07 PM CST to 7:37 PM CST
Where
Knox County, Galesburg to Douglas
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
40.950, -90.370

Tornado, Scott

When
April 8, 7:10 PM CST to 7:18 PM CST
Where
Scott County, Oxville to Bluffs
Rating
F1
Path length
4 mi
Path width
120 yd
Property damage
$100,000
Reported by
NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates
39.700, -90.570

A tornado developed 0.3 of a mile north northwest of Oxville. It took the roof off of a trailer then continued to the northeast. One mile northeast of Oxville, it destroyed a barn and three grain bins. It destroyed numerous trees and caused damage to several barns and silos before lifting and dissipating 3 miles southeast of Bluffs. No injuries were reported and damage was estimated around $100,000.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fulton

When
April 8, 7:17 PM CST to 7:50 PM CST
Where
Fulton County, Avon to 2 mi N of Canton
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
40.630, -90.430

As a line of severe thunderstorms moved through northern Fulton county, widespread damage was reported. A horse trailer was blown over 2 miles south of Avon and a semi was blown over on Route 116 near London Mills. Three miles northeast of Fairview to 6 miles north of Canton, several barns, machine sheds, and silos were destroyed. Also, numerous power poles and power lines were blown down. No injuries were reported.

Tornado, Morgan

When
April 8, 7:27 PM CST to 7:37 PM CST
Where
Morgan County, Jacksonville to 6 mi of Arcadia
Rating
F1
Path length
9.5 mi
Path width
200 yd
Reported by
NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates
39.730, -90.330

A tornado touched down 5.5 miles west of Jacksonville. It threw a boat off its trailer a quarter of a mile into a neighbor's pond. A house nearby sustained some shingle and window damage and a truck was damaged. As the tornado travelled to the northeast, it blew down dozens of trees and destroyed a barn. Nearby the roof of an airplane hanger was peeled back with the sheet metal thrown into trees. A 2x4 was driven into the southwest side of a house. After the tornado crossed Route 67, it continued to the northeast knocking down trees and power poles. In Arcadia, a barn was severely damaged, several outbuildings were destroyed, a garage was damaged, and roof damage was reported to several homes before the tornado lifted and dissipated. No injuries were reported.

Thunderstorm Wind, Morgan

When
April 8, 7:30 PM CST to 7:32 PM CST
Where
Morgan County, Jacksonville
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
39.730, -90.230

Thunderstorm winds blew down ten power poles in Jacksonville and caused minor damage to a couple of homes in town. No injuries were reported.

Thunderstorm Wind, Knox

When
April 8, 7:42 PM CST
Where
Knox County, 1 mi S of Williamsfield
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
40.900, -90.020

One mile south of Williamsfield, a shed was destroyed. No injuries were reported.

What these are

Tornado
A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Illinois in 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Illinois, 1999Warnings in Illinois, April 1999

Sources

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: 5686883, 5686887, 5686884, 5686885, 5686966, 5686967, 5686886.