Tornadoes and Damaging Wind in Illinois, March 14, 2024

Name: Tornadoes and Damaging Wind in Illinois, March 14, 2024
Start: 2024-03-14T06:28
End: 2024-03-14T07:00
Location: Illinois

March 14, 2024 · NWS LSX · 7 events in 2 counties and zones

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: None recorded
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.

What happened

The episode as NWS LSX wrote it up.

Just after sunrise, a quasi-linear convective system (QLCS) produced five confirmed EF-0 tornadoes. Four of these occurred in rural south-central Illinois, and another tracked through Charlack, Missouri in northern St. Louis County. No reported injuries or fatalities with these tornadoes. Also, there were a few reports of damaging winds and large hail.

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 St. Louis, MO wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 14, 5:42 AM CST, 46 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

Thunderstorms will continue to move across the area through mid morning, mainly along and north of I-70. A few of these storms over central and northeast Missouri into west central Missouri could produce large hail and damaging winds. -Additional thunderstorms are expected to develop this afternoon and evening (60 to 90 percent chance) over much of the area. The strongest of these storms will have the potential to produce hail larger than golfballs, damaging winds, and possible tornadoes.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 14, 5:42 AM CST, 46 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion...Updated Aviation
National Weather Service Saint Louis MO
642 AM CDT Thu Mar 14 2024

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Thunderstorms will continue to move across the area through mid morning,
  mainly along and north of I-70. A few of these storms over
  central and northeast Missouri into west central Missouri could
  produce large hail and damaging winds.

-Additional thunderstorms are expected to develop this afternoon
 and evening (60 to 90 percent chance) over much of the area. The
 strongest of these storms will have the potential to produce hail
 larger than golfballs, damaging winds, and possible tornadoes.

&&

.SHORT TERM...  (Through Late Friday Afternoon)
Issued at 414 AM CDT Thu Mar 14 2024

The latest surface analysis is showing a surface low just west of
Kansas City with a warm front extending east-northeastward across
northern Missouri into central Illinois.  A cold front extended
southwest into Oklahoma.   Latest regional radar is showing a train
of thunderstorms moving across northern Missouri with an additional
line of thunderstorms moving northeast out of Kansas into southwest
Missouri.  The latest runs of the CAMS including the HRRR are
showing the first line moving quickly across the CWA before sunrise,
while the second line will move across the central CWA between 11-
15Z posing an additional threat for wind and hail.  All of this
convection will likely push a outflow boundary into the southern
part of the CWA this morning, which may push a bit back to the north
by this afternoon in response to the strong southwesterly low level
flow.  Do still expect thunderstorm development along the this
boundary by mid afternoon as RAP/NAM are showing MLCAPEs near 2000
J/kg under a weakening cap underneath a right entrance region of a
upper level jet streak.  The convective mode looks thunderstorms
will likely start out as supercells which quickly become severe
capable of producing very large hail, damaging winds, and possible
tornadoes.  There will likely then be a quick transition to mixed
modes by late afternoon and evening as the shear vector becomes
aligned with the boundary. The HRRR is showing convection becoming
more numerous from around the metro and south and east before
shifting into the southern and eastern parts of the CWA overnight.

Another warm day is expected, though temperatures may be tempered
early today by the clouds and thunderstorms before there is some
recovery early this afternoon.  Temperatures will start to drop late
tonight behind the front with highs 15-20 degrees cooler tomorrow.

Britt

&&

.LONG TERM...  (Friday Night through Wednesday)
Issued at 414 AM CDT Thu Mar 14 2024

Looks like a dry weekend, but a secondary front will make Sunday
cooler than Saturday.  Both Sunday night and Monday night look like
they will have lows in the 20s over much of the area.  Temperatures
will warm back above normal by the middle next week with the next
chance of rain holding off until Wednesday night and Thursday.

Britt

&&

.AVIATION...  (For the 12z TAFs through 12z Friday Morning)
Issued at 633 AM CDT Thu Mar 14 2024

Showers and thunderstorms will continue to be possible through
this evening with the most likely times to affect each terminal
to be at UIN through 14Z and again 17-22Z, at COU/JEF between
through 14Z and again 21-01Z, and the St. Louis metro sites
between 13-15Z and 22-02Z. The strongest storms will have the
potential to have MVFR and possible IFR visibilities and ceilings
in brief heavy downpours and well as possible hail and wind gusts
over 35 knots. These windows may still shift depending on when
the thunderstorms develop again later today. In addition, a cold
front will move through the terminals tonight causing winds to
turn out of the north late in the period. Ceilings will also fall
into the low MVFR range tonight at UIN and the St. Louis metro TAF
sites.

Britt

&&

.LSX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MO...None.
IL...None.
&&

WFO LSX

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 14, 3:58 AM CST, 2 hours 30 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service St Louis MO
458 AM CDT Thu Mar 14 2024

ILZ058>060-064-065-069-070-074-079-095>102-MOZ018-019-026-027-
034>036-041-042-047>052-059>065-072>075-084-085-099-151000-
Greene IL-Macoupin IL-Montgomery IL-Bond IL-Fayette IL-Clinton IL-
Marion IL-Washington IL-Randolph IL-Adams IL-Brown IL-Pike IL-
Calhoun IL-Jersey IL-Madison IL-Saint Clair IL-Monroe IL-Knox MO-
Lewis MO-Shelby MO-Marion MO-Monroe MO-Ralls MO-Pike MO-Boone MO-
Audrain MO-Moniteau MO-Cole MO-Osage MO-Callaway MO-Montgomery MO-
Lincoln MO-Gasconade MO-Warren MO-Saint Charles MO-Franklin MO-
Saint Louis MO-Saint Louis City MO-Jefferson MO-Crawford MO-
Washington MO-Saint Francois MO-Sainte Genevieve MO-Iron MO-
Madison MO-Reynolds MO-
458 AM CDT Thu Mar 14 2024

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of eastern and
central Missouri as well as west central and southwest Illinois.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Thunderstorms are likely through tonight. Some of these
thunderstorms could be severe capable of producing very large hail,
damaging winds, and isolated tornadoes through this evening.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will likely be needed through this evening.

Britt

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 14, 3:01 AM CST, 3 hours 27 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service St Louis MO
401 AM CDT Thu Mar 14 2024

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

0306 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 SW La Grange          40.04N 91.51W
03/14/2024                   Lewis              MO   911 Call Center

            Large tree down. Diameter unknown.

&&

Pfahler

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 tornado, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Jersey

When: March 14, 6:28 AM CST to 6:38 AM CST
Where: Jersey County, 2.75 mi E of Fieldon to 2.63 mi WNW of Delhi
Rating: EF0
Path length: 8.65 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 39.096, -90.449

A tornado touched down 2.8 miles southeast of Fieldon, on Richey Hollow Road, snapping off several large tree branches. As it moved to the southeast it crossed County Road 1100N. In this area numerous trees and tree limbs were snapped off. Also, an open sided barn had the majority of it’s roof ripped off and a large barn had around a quarter of it’s roof ripped off and thrown east into a nearby field. Before it crossed Beaty Mound Road it snapped off several large trees as well as numerous tree limbs. A nearby house sustained minor shingle damage. As it crossed Lodi Road it snapped off several more trees and tree limbs and began to move in a more easterly direction. As it crossed Illinois Route 109, around 3.8 miles south of Jerseyville, it snapped off a few more trees. Before lifting and dissipating 4 miles south southeast of Jerseyville, it caused a very old open sided barn to lean and minor damage to a large machine shed and roof of a chicken coop. Overall, the tornado was rated EF0 with a path length of 8.65 miles and a max path width of 100 yards. No deaths or injuries were reported.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jersey

When: March 14, 6:30 AM CST to 6:35 AM CST
Where: Jersey County, 3.79 mi W of Monument to 3.35 mi W of Monument
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 38.970, -90.541

There was extensive tree damage at Pere Marquette State Park. Dozens of trees were blown over or snapped off as well as widespread tree limbs blown down.

Tornado, Jersey

When: March 14, 6:44 AM CST to 6:46 AM CST
Where: Jersey County, 1.28 mi SW of Fidelity to 1.37 mi ESE of Fidelity
Rating: EF0
Path length: 2.28 mi
Path width: 75 yd
Continued into: Macoupin, Il (LSX)
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 39.137, -90.187

A weak tornado touched down 1.7 miles southwest of Fidelity in Jersey County, on Bowman Station Road. In this location is destroyed a small shed, snapped off several trees and tree limbs and damaged a power pole. It then tracked east northeast. As it crossed Fidelity Road it tore a carport off of a house and threw it into a nearby field. A bit further east it caused minor roof damage to a farm house, uprooted a large tree and caused damage to two older brick grain silos. Then the tornado tracked east into Macoupin County. The tornado was rated EF0 in Jersey County with a path length of 2.28 miles and a max path width of 75 yards. No deaths or injuries were reported.

Tornado, Macoupin

When: March 14, 6:46 AM CST to 6:48 AM CST
Where: Macoupin County, 2.05 mi SSW of Medora to 1.6 mi N of Piasa
Rating: EF0
Path length: 1.62 mi
Path width: 75 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 39.143, -90.146

As it moved into Macoupin County it crossed Illinois Route 111, just north of the intersection with Three Trees Road. As it crossed Piasa Road, it damaged a farm outbuilding and threw debris to the south in a nearby field. Then before lifting and dissipating 2.7 miles southeast of Fidelity, it snapped off a few large tree limbs. In Macoupin County the tornado was rated EF0 with a path length of 1.62 miles and a max path width of 75 yards. Overall, the tornado was rated EF0 with a path length of 3.90 miles and a max path width of 75 yards. No deaths or injuries were reported.

Tornado, Jersey

When: March 14, 6:46 AM CST to 6:47 AM CST
Where: Jersey County, 5.45 mi ENE of Delhi to 5.41 mi SSE of Fidelity
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.39 mi
Path width: 200 yd
Continued into: Macoupin, Il (LSX)
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 39.071, -90.152

A weak tornado touched down 2.3 miles north northwest of Brighton in Jersey County, on W. Miles Station Road. In this area it destroyed a small outbuilding and damaged a pickup truck that was parked in it. It also caused minor to moderate roof damage to at least 4 other outbuildings, destroyed another small outbuilding and snapped off a couple of trees. As it tracked to the northeast, it crossed into Macoupin County. In Jersey County, the tornado was rated EF0 with a path length of 0.39 miles and a max path width of 200 yards.

Tornado, Macoupin

When: March 14, 6:47 AM CST to 6:48 AM CST
Where: Macoupin County, 3.16 mi NNW of Brighton to 2.33 mi SSE of Piasa
Rating: EF0
Path length: 2.36 mi
Path width: 200 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 39.074, -90.146

After crossing into Macoupin County it damaged a small outbuilding throwing the debris west into a field that was just over the county line in Jersey County. As it continued to the northeast it crossed Illinois Route 111 uprooting a large tree. Before lifting and dissipating 3.8 miles north northeast of Brighton, it snapped off several power poles along Bachman Road. In Macoupin County the tornado was rated EF0 with a path length of 2.36 miles and a max path width of 200 yards. Overall, the tornado was rated EF0 with a path length of 2.75 miles and a max path width of 200 yards. No deaths or injuries were reported.

Tornado, Macoupin

When: March 14, 6:58 AM CST to 7:00 AM CST
Where: Macoupin County, 1.73 mi ENE of Macoupin Station to 3.54 mi E of Macoupin Station
Rating: EF0
Path length: 2.13 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 39.231, -89.941

A weak tornado touched down 4.7 miles southwest of Carlinville on Shipman Road. At this location, it damaged a couple of small sheds, snapped off several large tree limbs, blew down a large tree and caused minor shingle damage to a house. As the tornado tracked to the southeast, it snapped off several more tree limbs and caused minor roof damage to another house on Stagecoach Road before lifting and dissipating 4.2 miles south southeast of Carlinville. Overall, the tornado was rated EF0 with a path length of 2.13 miles and a maximum width of 100 yards. The maximum sustained winds were estimated to be near 80 mph. No deaths or 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.
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

Every storm in Illinois in 2024 Every state in 2024 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Illinois, 2024 Warnings in Illinois, March 2024

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: 1168696, 1168727, 1168702, 1168704, 1168731, 1168732, 1168736.