Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Illinois, April 20, 2025

Name: Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Illinois, April 20, 2025
Start: 2025-04-20T17:48
End: 2025-04-20T19:26
Location: Illinois

April 20, 2025 · NWS LSX · 17 events in 6 counties and zones

During the early evening of Sunday, April 20, 2025 (Easter Sunday) a line of severe thunderstorms responsible for multiple tornadoes and wind damage in Missouri crossed into Illinois. The line went on to produce 6 tornadoes spanning west-central, south-central, and southwest Illinois and no shortage of wind damage.

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: $280,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 17

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.

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 Apr 20, 5:42 PM CST, 6 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

The threat for severe thunderstorms will continue as storms move eastward. All hazards remain possible through this evening.
Near to above normal temperatures stretch through the upcoming week with dry conditions Monday and Tuesday. The pattern becomes active once again beginning midweek.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 20, 5:42 PM CST, 6 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion...Updated Aviation
National Weather Service Saint Louis MO
642 PM CDT Sun Apr 20 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- The threat for severe thunderstorms will continue as storms move
  eastward. All hazards remain possible through this evening.

- Near to above normal temperatures stretch through the upcoming
  week with dry conditions Monday and Tuesday. The pattern becomes
  active once again beginning midweek.

&&

.SHORT TERM... (Through Tonight)
Issued at 238 PM CDT Sun Apr 20 2025

Complicated surface pattern exists currently as of 1900 UTC, with
what looks like to be the effective warm front now near
KMYJ>>KUIN. This boundary should continue to lift northward over
the next 2-3 hours, effectively putting basically the entire CWA
in the warm sector. Far northwestern counties may be the
exception, where in/around Knox county may not high enough time to
warm/destabilize given the progress of the front and the copious
clouds on visible satellite imagery in place and upstream. Low-
topped/mini supercells that rode the warm front have
weakened/dissipated over the past hour. The main concern is then
turning to points upstream. Ongoing thunderstorms in southeast
Kansas and southwest Missouri are expected to grow upscale, with
both some embedded supercells and bowing segments expected through
the afternoon hours.

Tornadoes are the main concern through early this evening,
followed by damaging winds of 70+ mph given the mostly linear
storm mode and lack of deeper instability. Cannot rule out some
marginally severe hail, but earlier supercells that moved through
parts of central Missouri only managed very small hail. Storms in
southwest Missouri are expected to reach parts of central Missouri
by about 2200 UTC, spreading east/northeast with time. By around
0100 UTC, they should reach the Mississippi River. There is still
the expectation for a weakening trend near or not too long after
storms cross the river due to weakening diurnal instability and
abating low-level convergence along the boundary. Around midnight,
the dryline should be moving out of the CWA, ending any lingering
threat for strong to severe convection.

Gosselin

&&

.LONG TERM... (Monday through Next Sunday)
Issued at 238 PM CDT Sun Apr 20 2025

(Monday - Monday Night)

A cool, dry day is in store for Monday as a weak ridge of surface
high pressure moves across the mid-Mississippi Valley. Highs in
the mid 60s to low 70s are forecast from north to south. After a
cloudy start to the day, the stratus should decrease from west to
east due to advection leaving at least some sunshine for the
afternoon areawide.

A seasonably cool night is on tap Monday night due to a mostly
clear sky and light winds. Lows in the 40s are forecast, with the
coolest locations in favored valley terrain in east central and
southeast Missouri.

(Tuesday - Next Sunday)

A warmup will begin on Tuesday as winds turn out of the south
behind the departing surface ridge. Highs in the mid 70s to near
80 degrees are forecast along with dry conditions once again.

A more active pattern remains likely for mid/late work week. Lots
of uncertainty remains however on specifics as timing individual
disturbances within the zonal flow aloft is extremely difficult
this far out. It still looks like the best chance (60-70+%) is
centered on Friday as a cold front comes down. Before then, there
is a lot of spread with where/when any rain would be favored with
the ECMWF/EPS on the drier side of guidance through
Thursday/Thursday night while the GFS/GEFS would suggest a wetter
period of time.

For next weekend, dry weather is favored at this time along with
temperatures closer to normal behind Friday's cold front.

Gosselin

&&

.AVIATION...  (For the 00z TAFs through 00z Monday Evening)
Issued at 639 PM CDT Sun Apr 20 2025

Thunderstorms have cleared KCOU/KJEF, but will impact KUIN and
metro terminals over the next 1-2 hours. Heavy downpours with
brief visibilities to around 1SM and strong SW wind gusts of 40-50
mph are expected. Behind the storms, variable winds may be
observed for a few hours before becoming southwest and then west.
Low MVFR ceilings will come in from the west this evening before
exiting from west to east early Monday.

Gosselin

&&

.LSX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MO...Flood Watch until 1 AM CDT Monday for Audrain MO-Boone MO-
     Callaway MO-Cole MO-Crawford MO-Franklin MO-Gasconade MO-
     Iron MO-Jefferson MO-Lincoln MO-Madison MO-Moniteau MO-
     Montgomery MO-Osage MO-Pike MO-Reynolds MO-Saint Charles MO-
     Saint Francois MO-Saint Louis City MO-Saint Louis MO-Sainte
     Genevieve MO-Warren MO-Washington MO.

IL...Flood Watch until 1 AM CDT Monday for Bond IL-Calhoun IL-Clinton
     IL-Fayette IL-Greene IL-Jersey IL-Macoupin IL-Madison IL-
     Marion IL-Monroe IL-Montgomery IL-Randolph IL-Saint Clair
     IL-Washington IL.

&&

WFO LSX

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 20, 2:10 PM CST, 3 hours 38 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service St Louis MO
310 PM CDT Sun Apr 20 2025

ILZ058>060-064-065-069-070-074-079-095>102-MOZ018-019-026-027-
034>036-041-042-047>052-059>065-072>075-084-085-099-212015-
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-
310 PM CDT Sun Apr 20 2025

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

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Showers and thunderstorms are expected through late this evening. The
strongest thunderstorms will be capable of large hail, damaging
winds, and tornadoes.

Locally heavy rain is possible in and around thunderstorms, posing
an isolated threat for flash flooding. A flash flood watch remains
in effect through 1 AM tonight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday.

Showers and thunderstorms are possible Tuesday night through
Friday night.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are encouraged to report any wind damage or hail to the
National Weather Service.

Gosselin

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 20, 5:10 PM CST, 38 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service St Louis MO
610 PM CDT Sun Apr 20 2025

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

0551 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 NW Mineola            38.92N 91.61W
04/20/2025                   Montgomery         MO   911 Call Center

            Down tree on State Highway N near Graham
            Cave State Park.

&&

MRB

Local storm report, Apr 20, 5:17 PM CST, 31 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service St Louis MO
617 PM CDT Sun Apr 20 2025

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

0610 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     1 WSW Vandalia          39.30N 91.51W
04/20/2025  M63 MPH          Audrain            MO   Mesonet

            Vandalia MO Ag site.

&&

MRB

Local storm report, Apr 20, 5:37 PM CST, 11 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service St Louis MO
637 PM CDT Sun Apr 20 2025

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

0445 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Clarksburg              38.67N 92.66W
04/20/2025                   Moniteau           MO   Trained Spotter

            Multiple 6-86inch diameter tree limbs down.

&&

MRB

Local storm report, Apr 20, 5:40 PM CST, 8 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service St Louis MO
640 PM CDT Sun Apr 20 2025

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

0610 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Monroe City             39.65N 91.73W
04/20/2025  E60 MPH          Monroe             MO   Public

            Estimated with near-zero visibility.

&&

MRB

Local storm report, Apr 20, 5:44 PM CST, 4 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service St Louis MO
644 PM CDT Sun Apr 20 2025

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

0638 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     4 W Hannibal            39.72N 91.47W
04/20/2025  E70 MPH          Marion             MO   Emergency Mngr

            From two sources west of Hannibal, MO.

&&

MRB

Local storm report, Apr 20, 5:45 PM CST, 3 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service St Louis MO
645 PM CDT Sun Apr 20 2025

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

0445 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Clarksburg              38.67N 92.66W
04/20/2025                   Moniteau           MO   Trained Spotter

            Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from
            Clarksburg. Multiple 6-8inch diameter tree
            limbs down.

&&

MRB

The radar

The St Louis radar (KLSX), 133 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:47 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

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

Tornado, Adams

When: April 20, 5:48 PM CST to 5:52 PM CST
Where: Adams County, 0.89 mi NNE of North Quincy to 0.41 mi E of Payson
Rating: EF0
Path length: 4.18 mi
Path width: 25 yd
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 39.791, -91.311

A weak tornado began near the intersection of Highways 172 and 57, and traveled roughly 4.2 miles to the northeast before dissipating. Damage to trees was most common, with some damage to bleachers as well. The tornado was rated EF-0 with a path length of 4.18 miles and a maximum path width of 25 yards.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pike

When: April 20, 5:50 PM CST
Where: Pike County, 1.38 mi N of Hull Arpt
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 39.740, -91.220

Thunderstorm winds downed power poles along Illinois Route 57 near Hull. This is not to be confused with Interstate 57.

Thunderstorm Wind, Adams

When: April 20, 5:51 PM CST
Where: Adams County, 1.27 mi ENE of Fall Creek
Measured: 64 kt (74 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 39.790, -91.280

Thunderstorm winds snapped and uprooted several trees near Fall Creek.

Thunderstorm Wind, Adams

When: April 20, 5:53 PM CST
Where: Adams County, 3.17 mi W of Ursa
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 40.070, -91.430

Thunderstorm winds destroyed a barn near Ursa.

Thunderstorm Wind, Adams

When: April 20, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Adams County, 0.53 mi W of Coatsburg
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 40.030, -91.160

Thunderstorm winds lifted off a portion of a school's old gym roof.

Tornado, Adams

When: April 20, 6:04 PM CST to 6:10 PM CST
Where: Adams County, 1.41 mi NNW of Camp Pt to 1.16 mi SE of La Prairie
Rating: EF0
Path length: 8.17 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Property damage: $120,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 40.050, -91.078

A weak tornado touched down along Hickman Road at 7:04 PM and destroyed an outbuilding with winds estimated as strong as 85 mph. It then moved northeast through Bailey Park and produced roof damage to another outbuilding along E 2400th Street near N 2150th Ave. The tornado continued to move northeast past Golden, IL and produced roof damage to multiple outbuildings along E 2700th Street between N 2500th Ave and N 2600th Ave before dissipating just north of N 2600th Ave at 7:10 PM. The tornado was rated EF-0 with a path length of 8.17 miles and a maximum path width of 100 yards.

Thunderstorm Wind, Adams

When: April 20, 6:12 PM CST
Where: Adams County, 3.79 mi ENE of La Prairie
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 40.180, -90.940

Thunderstorm winds snapped a large tree about 5 feet above its base.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jersey

When: April 20, 6:32 PM CST
Where: Jersey County, 1.07 mi E of Grafton
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 38.970, -90.430

Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees in Grafton.

Tornado, Monroe

When: April 20, 7:00 PM CST to 7:07 PM CST
Where: Monroe County, 2.07 mi ESE of Madonnaville to 1.77 mi ESE of Waterloo
Rating: EF1
Path length: 7.33 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 38.253, -90.218

The tornado touched down at 8:00 PM along Koch Road, southeast of Madonnaville, and moved northeast, producing minor damage to a home and an outbuilding along Rock Road. Further to the northeast along LRC Road the tornado overturned an outbuilding and caused tree damage. More tree damage and minor outbuilding roof damage occurred along JJ road as the tornado tracked northeast between Wartburg and Burksville. The tornado moved into southern Waterloo and produced minor roof damage to one of the greenhouses at Waterloo High School before turning to the east and damaging power poles along Highway 156. The power pole damage was the worst damage and winds were estimated as high as 100 mph (EF-1). The tornado dissipated shortly thereafter at 8:07 PM.The tornado was rated EF-1 with a path length of 7.33 miles and a maximum path width of 100 yards.

Thunderstorm Wind, Monroe

When: April 20, 7:09 PM CST
Where: Monroe County, 1.77 mi ENE of Waterloo
Measured: 75 kt (86 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 38.340, -90.120

Thunderstorm winds snapped multiple trees and toppled several at their base.

Thunderstorm Wind, Monroe

When: April 20, 7:11 PM CST
Where: Monroe County, 1.29 mi WNW of Hecker
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 38.310, -90.020

Thunderstorm winds downed power poles west of Hecker.

Thunderstorm Wind, Monroe

When: April 20, 7:12 PM CST
Where: Monroe County, 0.54 mi W of Waterloo
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 38.330, -90.160

Broadcast media reported estimated 65 mph thunderstorm wind gusts in Waterloo. They also reported visibility near zero statute miles coinciding with the wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind, St. Clair

When: April 20, 7:13 PM CST
Where: St. Clair County, 1.28 mi WNW of Floraville
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.390, -90.070

Thunderstorm winds downed a tree over Vogel School Road just north of Floraville.

Tornado, Monroe

When: April 20, 7:13 PM CST to 7:14 PM CST
Where: Monroe County, 3.41 mi SE of Columbia to 3.46 mi SE of Columbia
Rating: EF1
Path length: 0.35 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 38.417, -90.154

A brief and weak tornado touched down along EE Road just south of Gilmore Lake and quickly moved northeast before dissipating at the intersection of EE Road and Gilmore Lake Road at 8:13 PM. When the tornado touched down it overturned an outbuilding, and was rated at 99 mph (EF-1) at this point. Tree damage was also recorded. The tornado dissipated shortly thereafter at 8:07 PM.The tornado was rated EF-1 with a path length of 0.35 miles and a maximum path width of 100 yards.

Tornado, St. Clair

When: April 20, 7:14 PM CST to 7:15 PM CST
Where: St. Clair County, 2.51 mi N of Floraville to 2.52 mi SE of Millstadt
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.75 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 38.416, -90.054

A brief and weak tornado touched down on Schwab Road, southwest of Millstadt at 8:14 PM. It destroyed an outbuilding and produced tree damage along Schwab Road with winds estimated as high as 85 mph. The tornado dissipated shortly thereafter at 8:15 PM. The tornado was rated EF-0 with a path length of 0.75 miles and a maximum path width of 100 yards.

Thunderstorm Wind, St. Clair

When: April 20, 7:22 PM CST
Where: St. Clair County, 1.38 mi S of Belleville
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 38.500, -89.980

Thunderstorm winds downed trees crossing Illinois Route 15.

Tornado, Randolph

When: April 20, 7:25 PM CST to 7:26 PM CST
Where: Randolph County, 2.26 mi NE of Preston to 3.36 mi SW of Houston
Rating: EF1
Path length: 1.32 mi
Path width: 75 yd
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 38.126, -89.844

The tornado touched down on Baldwin Road at 8:25 PM, producing tree damage with winds estimated around 70 mph. The tornado then moved northeast and uprooted and snapped trees along Ridge Road. The snapped trees were the worst damage, with winds estimated as high as 93 mph. Moving northeastward, the tornado removed the roof of a grain silo along Pearidge Road before lifting at 8:26 PM just east of Pearidge Road. The tornado was rated EF-1 with a path length of 1.32 miles and a maximum path width of 75 yards.

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 2025 Every state in 2025 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Illinois, 2025 Warnings in Illinois, April 2025

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: 1242846, 1242619, 1242620, 1242622, 1242624, 1242849, 1242627, 1242628, 1242855, 1242631, 1242650, 1242652, 1242630, 1242858, 1242859, 1242654, 1242863.