Illinois, 2006

Tornadoes in Illinois, March 12, 2006

March 12, 2006 · NWS ILX · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

2 tornado, 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

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.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Lincoln, IL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 12, 3:06 PM CST, 4 hours 52 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 12, 3:06 PM CST, 4 hours 52 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
306 PM CST SUN MAR 12 2006

.DISCUSSION...
MAIN CONCERN IS SEVERE WEATHER TONIGHT. A MAJOR AIRMASS CHANGE
IS COMING AFTER MONDAY/S COLD FRONT.

AT 21Z...THE 998 MB SURFACE LOW WAS JUST ENTERING W KANSAS...WHILE
THE WARM FRONT EXTENDING EAST OF THE LOW REACHED ACROSS C MISSOURI
INTO C ILLINOIS. THE FRONT PLACEMENT WAS FROM JUST N OF ST LOUIS TO
JUST SOUTH OF SPRINGFIELD IL... TO JUST NORTH OF CHAMPAIGN IL. THE
FRONT HAS BECOME ALMOST STATIONARY OVER THE LAST FEW HOURS.

SHORT TERM....TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT...
HIGH RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IS IN PLACE FOR DAY ONE ACROSS
THE WESTERN HALF OF OUR CWA. BASICALLY WEST OF A LINE FROM CHAMPAIGN
COUNTY TO SHELBY COUNTY. THE EAST OF THERE IS IN A MODERATE RISK.
THE MAIN DIFFERENCE BEING THE THREAT FOR LONG TRACK F2 TO F5
TORNADOES WILL BE IN THE HIGH RISK AREA. ELEVATED INSTABILITY NORTH
OF THE WARM FRONT HAS BEEN STRONG ENOUGH TO GENERATE SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS ALREADY LATE THIS MORNING AND EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.
THESE HAVE BEEN RATHER ISOLATED IN NATURE...AND THE MAIN SEVERE
EVENT WILL LIKELY HOLD OFF UNTIL THE H5 SHORT WAVE EJECTS INTO OUR
AREA...IN CONJUCTION WITH A VERY STRONG LLJ AT H85. HELICITY
INDICES WILL INCREASE THROUGH MIDNIGHT...WHEN THE LOWER AND UPPER
JET MAXES COUPLE ACROSS C IL. THIS WILL AID IN PRODUCING INTENSE
UPDRAFTS TO STRETCH THE HIGH HELICITY AIR AT LOWER LEVELS. SPC HAS
HIGHLIGHTED THIS EVENT WITH A PDS TOR WATCH (PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS
SITUATION). MID EVENING APPEARS TO BE THE ONSET TIME OF THE MAIN
ORGANIZED LINE OF CONVECTION...BASED ON TIMING THE SHORTWAVE AND
THE INTENSIFICATION OF THE LLJ, AND THE APPROACH OF THE DRY LINE.
WITH THE COLD FRONT LAGGING THE DRY LINE, ADDITIONAL STORMS MAY
REGENERATE BETWEEN 3 AM AND 6 AM WHEN THE COLD FRONT MOVES
THROUGH THE CWA.

DUE TO THE HIGH THREAT OF INTENSE TORNADOES, LARGE HAIL, AND
DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS TONIGHT...AN ADDITIONAL HIGH RISK
CONFERENCE CALL WILL BE HELD AT 6 PM FOR THE EMS AND MEDIA WITH THE
LATEST INFORMATION. PHONE INFORMATION WAS SENT VIA E-MAIL.

THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN OUR SE COUNTIES WILL CONTINUE THROUGH 6
AM...AND THE MAIN THREAT FOR STORMS SUBSIDES.

THE COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE LATE TONIGHT WILL SIGNIFY THE ONSET OF A
MAJOR AIRMASS CHANGE FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK. ANY LINGERING
SHOWERS ON MONDAY MAY CHANGE OVER TO SNOW...PRIMARILY IN THE NORTH
HALF OF THE CWA. FLURRIES MAY CONTINUE MONDAY NIGHT...BUT THAT
SHOULD BE IT FOR PRECIP UNTIL WEDNESDAY NIGHT...WHEN THE NEXT LOW
PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVES BY NORTH OF ILLINOIS.

LONG TERM...WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...
THE MODELS HAVE BEEN TAKING THE TRACK OF THE WEDNESDAY LOW FARTHER
NORTH WITH EACH RUN...AND HAVE SLOWED DOWN THE TIMING AS WELL. IT
NOW APPEARS THAT THE CHC OF RAIN OR SNOW WILL BE MAINLY IN THE
NORTH HALF OF THE CWA...WITH VERY LITTLE PRECIP ACCUM EXPECTED. A
COLD FRONT WILL PASS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT LOW SYSTEM...AND AN
ADDITIONAL SHOT OF COLD AND DRY AIR WILL FILTER INTO OUR AREA FOR
FRIDAY MORNING. THE COLDEST TEMPS OF THE WEEK APPEAR ON TAP FOR
SATURDAY MORNING...THE SECOND NIGHT OF HIGH PRESSURE.

&&

.ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FLOOD WATCH (FOR FLASH FLOODING) IN EFFECT THROUGH 6 AM MONDAY
MORNING FOR AREAS ROUGHLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM SHELBYVILLE
TO PARIS.

&&

SHIMON
Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 12, 2:55 PM CST, 5 hours 3 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED FOR CONFERENCE CALL AT 6 PM
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
255 PM CST SUN MAR 12 2006

ILZ027>031-036>038-040>055-131200-
KNOX-STARK-PEORIA-MARSHALL-WOODFORD-FULTON-TAZEWELL-MCLEAN-
SCHUYLER-MASON-LOGAN-DE WITT-PIATT-CHAMPAIGN-VERMILION-CASS-
MENARD-SCOTT-MORGAN-SANGAMON-CHRISTIAN-MACON-MOULTRIE-DOUGLAS-
255 PM CST SUN MAR 12 2006

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
ILLINOIS AND EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

...HIGH RISK OF A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OUTBREAK LATE THIS
AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT WITH A FEW STRONG LONG-TRACK TORNADOES
POSSIBLE...

VERY STRONG LOW PRESSURE OVER WESTERN KANSAS WILL APPROACH THE AREA
BY TONIGHT AND LIFT A WARM FRONT NORTH ACROSS CENTRAL ILLINOIS THIS
AFTERNOON. THIS SYSTEM WILL INTERACT WITH A VERY WARM AND MOIST AIR
MASS TO PRODUCE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS ILLINOIS LATE THIS AFTERNOON
AND TONIGHT. THERE IS A HIGH RISK THAT THESE STORMS WILL BE SEVERE.
THESE STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP WEST OF ILLINOIS EARLY THIS
AFTERNOON AND MOVE INTO THE AREA AFTER 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON AND
CONTINUE THROUGH AT LEAST MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. THE STORMS WILL BE
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF BASEBALLS...
DAMAGING WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH AND A FEW STRONG LONG-TRACK
TORNADOES.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE NEEDED LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO TONIGHT.

A CONFERENCE CALL FOR ESDA DIRECTORS AND MEDIA WILL BE CONDUCTED AT
6 PM TODAY.

ILZ056-057-061>063-066>068-071>073-131200-
COLES-EDGAR-SHELBY-CUMBERLAND-CLARK-EFFINGHAM-JASPER-CRAWFORD-
CLAY-RICHLAND-LAWRENCE-
255 PM CST SUN MAR 12 2006

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
ILLINOIS...EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS AND SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

...HIGH RISK OF A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OUTBREAK LATE THIS AFTERNOON
AND TONIGHT WITH A FEW STRONG LONG-TRACK TORNADOES POSSIBLE...

VERY STRONG LOW PRESSURE OVER WESTERN KANSAS WILL APPROACH THE AREA
BY TONIGHT...LIFTING A WARM FRONT NORTH ACROSS CENTRAL ILLINOIS THIS
AFTERNOON. THIS SYSTEM WILL INTERACT WITH A VERY WARM AND MOIST AIR
MASS TO PRODUCE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS ILLINOIS LATE THIS AFTERNOON
AND TONIGHT. THERE IS A MODERATE TO HIGH RISK THAT THESE STORMS WILL
BE SEVERE. THESE STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP WEST OF ILLINOIS AND
MOVE INTO THE AREA BY THIS EVENING AFTER 5 PM AND CONTINUE INTO
TONIGHT THROUGH AT LEAST 3 AM. THE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF
PRODUCING LARGE HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF BASEBALLS... DAMAGING WIND
GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH AND A FEW STRONG LONG-TRACK TORNADOES.
THERE WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO BE A FLASH FLOODING THREAT THROUGH
TONIGHT...WITH 1 TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN LIKELY ON TOP OF THE 3 TO 6
INCHES THAT FELL SINCE TUESDAY NIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE NEEDED LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO TONIGHT.

A CONFERENCE CALL FOR ESDA DIRECTORS AND MEDIA WILL BE CONDUCTED AT
6 PM TODAY.

AUTEN/HUETTL

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 12, 3:53 PM CST, 4 hours 5 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
353 PM CST SUN MAR 12 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0344 PM     HAIL             BRADFORD                41.18N 89.66W
03/12/2006  E0.88 INCH       STARK              IL   EMERGENCY MNGR

0351 PM     HAIL             4 S WYOMING             41.01N 89.77W
03/12/2006  M0.75 INCH       STARK              IL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            RELAYED VIA PEORIA CITY EOC.

&&

GEELHART
Local storm report, Mar 12, 4:08 PM CST, 3 hours 50 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
408 PM CST SUN MAR 12 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0400 PM     HAIL             5 W SPARLAND            41.03N 89.54W
03/12/2006  M0.75 INCH       MARSHALL           IL   EMERGENCY MNGR

&&

GEELHART
Local storm report, Mar 12, 4:35 PM CST, 3 hours 23 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
435 PM CST SUN MAR 12 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0400 PM     HAIL             LACON                   41.02N 89.41W
03/12/2006  M0.88 INCH       MARSHALL           IL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            AT LACON AIRPORT

0410 PM     HAIL             LACON                   41.02N 89.41W
03/12/2006  M1.75 INCH       MARSHALL           IL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            LAKE WILDWOOD SUBDIVISION

&&

GEELHART
Local storm report, Mar 12, 4:41 PM CST, 3 hours 17 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
441 PM CST SUN MAR 12 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0425 PM     HAIL             WENONA                  41.07N 89.07W
03/12/2006  M1.00 INCH       MARSHALL           IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            QUARTER SIZE HAIL COVERING THE GROUND.

&&

BAK
Local storm report, Mar 12, 7:50 PM CST, 8 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
750 PM CST SUN MAR 12 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0730 PM     TSTM WND DMG     ALSEY                   39.56N 90.43W
03/12/2006                   SCOTT              IL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            POWER POLES DOWN NEAR ALSEY ALONG ROUTE 106.

&&

SCHAFFER
Local storm report, Mar 12, 7:57 PM CST, 1 minute before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
757 PM CST SUN MAR 12 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0753 PM     HAIL             NEW BERLIN              39.73N 89.91W
03/12/2006  M1.75 INCH       SANGAMON           IL   EMERGENCY MNGR

&&

SCHAFFER

The radar

The Lincoln radar (KILX), 85 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:59 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Morgan

When
March 12, 7:58 PM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where
Morgan County, Franklin
Rating
F1
Path length
4.6 mi
Path width
440 yd
Reported by
NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates
39.617, -90.050

A tornado touched down just northeast of Franklin. The tornado continued into Sangamon county.

Tornado, Sangamon

When
March 12, 8:00 PM CST to 8:11 PM CST
Where
Sangamon County, 6 mi SW of Loami
Rating
F1
Path length
7.4 mi
Path width
440 yd
Reported by
NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates
39.600, -89.933

Continuation of tornado from Morgan county. The total tornado path length was 12.0 miles. Damage with this tornado consisted of snapped power poles, as well as damage to farm buildings and trees. No injuries or fatalities 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.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Illinois in 2006Every state in 2006This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Illinois, 2006Warnings in Illinois, March 2006

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: 5493733, 5493734.