Tornadoes and Hail in Illinois, August 18, 2001

A tornado briefly touched down 5.3 miles north of Mason City. It ripped off a large top of a tree and carried it 100 feet. One small tree was snapped. All gutters on a house were lifted off, as well as a table being blown into a open garage door (facing south). A door on the house was also blown open with the air moving through the attic in the house breaking out some windows. A small shed nearby was intact. Fire officials about 1.5 miles south of the house saw swirling clouds over the house's location. No injuries were reported.

Hail varying in size from 3/4 inch to 3.75 inches fell across northern Logan County. The largest hail occurred in San Jose.

A power pole was blown down onto US Highway 136, two miles east of Interstate 155.

Hail up to one inch in diameter fell in a swath from 2 miles north of Rantoul to 2 miles northeast of Rantoul. It covered the ground at the Brookhill Golf Course. Also, several homes sustained siding damage due to the hail.

Several large trees were blown down.

Damaging downburst winds moved across central portions of Dewitt county. The path of the damage was two to three miles wide and extended from 2.25 miles north of Clinton to Dewitt to 2.5 miles north of Weldon. The extent of the damage included a cement block wall blown over at a construction site north of Clinton, campers blown over at Clinton Lake State Park, siding damage to numerous homes, sporadic trees and tree limbs blown down, plus crop damage. A warehouse at a power plant sustained some roof damage and and empty grain bin was picked up and carried around 150 feet. No injuries were reported.

A tornado formed along the leading edge of downburst winds just northwest of Dewitt. It moved southeast into town before lifting. It blew a chimney off of a church as well as some of its windows. Also, two homes sustained roof damage and a garage was blown down. Numerous large trees were ripped up and blown over. No injuries were reported.

Downburst winds caused sporadic damage in the county in a two to three mile wide area. Several large trees were blown down. A door on a machine shed was blown in and sporadic crop damage was noted. No injuries were reported.

A large tree was blown down near Rossville.

Thunderstorm winds damaged the roof of a barber shop on the west side of Champaign. Also, a large tree was blown down on top of an unoccupied truck.

A tornado briefly touched down in a field. No damage or injuries were reported.

Hail ranging from dime to golf ball size was reported in Ivesdale, Tolono, Pesotum, Philo and Broadlands.

Several trees, tree limbs, and power lines were blown down in Atwood near the Piatt/Moultrie/Douglas county lines.

Several trees, tree limbs, and power lines were blown down in and around Atwood on the Piatt/Moultrie/Douglas county lines.

Six people were injured at a local festival in Atwood from flying debris, which is west of Tuscola on the Douglas/Piatt county line. One of the people injured was taken to a local hospital. Several power lines were reported down as well as a number of trees falling onto cars and houses in Atwood. Also, numerous power lines were blown down in Tuscola, Arthur and Arcola. Several large trees were blown down in Tuscola.

Large tree fell onto the roof of a house.

A brief touchdown was noted over an open field by an University of Illinois student and his wife. No damage was reported.

A few trees and tree limbs were blown down one mile west of Horace and in Nevins.

A large tree limb was blown down, landing on the roof of a motel causing minor damage.

Dime size hail was reported in Oblong, Robinson and Palestine.

Thunderstorm winds caused minor shingle damage to one home, blew over a large tree, as well as numerous tree limbs.

Thunderstorm winds blew down several large tree limbs and power lines.

Trees and power lines were blown down across the town.