Tornadoes · United States · Illinois · 2006
F1 tornado, Farmersville to Taylorville, Illinois, April 2, 2006
From Farmersville to Taylorville, this F1 tornado ran 2.2 miles across Montgomery and Christian counties on April 2, 2006, touching down at 5:56 PM CDT and reaching 100 yards wide. It killed nobody.
The rating scale
Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.
F040 to 72 mph
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
F173 to 112 mphthis tornado
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
F2113 to 157 mph
Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.
F3158 to 206 mph
Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.
F4207 to 260 mph
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
F5261 to 318 mph
Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.
Unrated
The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.
The record
- Rating
- F1
- Date
- April 2, 2006
- Touchdown
- 5:56 PM CDT (22:56 UTC)
- Path length
- 2.2 miles (3.5 km)
- Path width
- 100 yards (91 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Counties
- Montgomery and Christian counties
- Touchdown point
- 39.430, -89.570
- Lift-off point
- 39.470, -89.530
- Record number
- 238
What the Weather Service recorded
A tornado formed east of Farmersville and moved east northeast for almost 2 miles in Montgomery County. The tornado then crossed into Christian County. Machine sheds and barns were heavily damaged at three. farms along the path.
Continued from Montgomery county, WFO St Louis forecast area. Tornado briefly crossed a field in Christian county and no damage was reported.
The tornado damaged sheds and downed numerous trees along its path. Several homes and businesses in Taylorville reported roof and structural damage. There was one injury (direct) due to falling debris.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
The warnings
15 minutes of warning. NWS LSX issued a tornado warning for this county at 22:41 UTC, 15 minutes before the tornado touched down, in force until 23:17 UTC.
The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 21:17 UTC and running to 23:39 UTC.
| Issued (UTC) | Expired | Product | Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21:17 UTC | 23:39 UTC | Tornado Watch | LSX |
| 22:41 UTC | 23:17 UTC | Tornado Warning | LSX |
Every warning and watch covering the touchdown point that day, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service products. Lead time is measured from the issue of the warning in force to the touchdown time in the database, both of which were recorded to the minute by different people.
The forecast that day
The Storm Prediction Center had this point in a Moderate Risk, with a 0.10 chance of a tornado within 25 miles, in the hatched area where significant tornadoes were expected. The outlook in force was issued at 19:55 UTC.
SPC's Day 1 convective outlook as it stood when the tornado began, read at the touchdown point. The same archive is on the radar archive.
The air that afternoon
The radiosonde launches on either side of the tornado, from the nearest station that was launching then, drawn and analyzed the way Storm Lab does: the same diagram, the same parcel and shear definitions SPC's mesoanalysis uses.
Lincoln, IL (KILX), 12:00Z
10.9 hours before the tornado, 112 km from the path. April 2, 2006.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -108484 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 985 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 47 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 27 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 255 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 297 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 1.0 K/km
Lincoln, IL (KILX), 00:00Z
1.1 hours after it, 112 km from the path. April 3, 2006.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1184 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -39 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 1184 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 746 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 36 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 27 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 253 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 276 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 1.1
- Supercell composite
- 4.9
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 5.9 K/km
The surface observations
Taylorville (TAZ), 21 km from the path, in the two hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Temp (°F) | Dew point (°F) | Wind | Gust (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21:05 UTC | 69.8 | 62.6 | 160° 11 kt | 21 | 1003 | |
| 21:25 UTC | 69.8 | 62.6 | 160° 16 kt | 1002.4 | ||
| 21:45 UTC | 71.6 | 62.6 | 150° 13 kt | 19 | 1001 | |
| 22:05 UTC | 71.6 | 64.4 | 140° 15 kt | 19 | 999.7 | |
| 22:25 UTC | 71.6 | 62.6 | 170° 15 kt | 20 | 1000.3 | |
| 22:45 UTC | 69.8 | 62.6 | 170° 17 kt | 22 | 1000.3 | |
| 23:05 UTC | 69.8 | 62.6 | 170° 15 kt | 21 | 1001.4 | VCTS |
| 23:25 UTC | 53.6 | 53.6 | 240° 26 kt | 42 | 1004.7 | +TSRA |
| 23:45 UTC | 53.6 | 53.6 | 220° 16 kt | 22 | 1005.1 | +TSRA |
| 00:05 UTC | 53.6 | 53.6 | 170° 5 kt | 8 | 1004.1 | TSRA |
| 00:25 UTC | 53.6 | 53.6 | 100° 9 kt | 1001.4 | -VCTSRA | |
| 00:45 UTC | 53.6 | 53.6 | 140° 4 kt | 1002.7 | -VCTSRA |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.
The radar
The Lincoln radar (KILX), 80 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 22:58 UTC.
Open the radar archive at this moment, over the track
Reflectivity and velocity, decoded from the Level II archive in the browser. Volumes take a few seconds to open the first time.
What was reported nearby
Local storm reports within 60 km of the path, in the three hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Report | Where | County | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21:45 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Nne Greenville | Bond, IL | NUMEROUS TREES DOWN...ONE 4 FEET IN DIAMETER...ROOF BLOWN OFF HOUSE...MACHINE SHED DAMAGED. |
| 22:15 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Medora | Macoupin, IL | IN MEDORA AND WEST OF SHIPMAN...POLE BARNS AND LARGE OUTBUILDINGS COMPLETELY DESTROYED...POWER POLES SNAPPED ON HWY 16 AND TREES BLOCKING THE ROAD. ON FS ROAD NEAR MEDORA THERE ARE MOBILE HOMES EITHER BLOWN ON THEIR SIDE |
| 22:25 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Piasa | Macoupin, IL | ROAD BLOCKED FROM DEBRIS ON RTE 16 |
| 22:35 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Hillsboro | Montgomery, IL | POWER OUT AND TREES DOWN. |
| 22:35 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Staunton | Macoupin, IL | TREE DAMAGE, WINDS GUSTED TO 60 MPH AT SITE...RP |
| 22:45 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Nne Greenville | Bond, IL | NUMEROUS TREES DOWN...ONE 4 FEET IN DIAMETER...ROOF BLOWN OFF HOUSE...MACHINE SHED DAMAGED. |
| 22:45 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Hillsboro | Montgomery, IL | POWER OUT AND TREES DOWN. |
| 22:46 UTC | TORNADO 1 | 3 N Berlin | Sangamon, IL | TOUCHED DOWN JUST NORTHWEST OF INTERSECTION OF SPRING CREEK RD AND COUNTY ROAD 8. DID WEAK F1 DAMAGE TO POLE BARN AND KNOCKED A TREE INTO A HOME. CREATED STRONGER F1 DAMAGE NEAR SOUTH WAKE RD, DESTROYED A GRAIN BIN AND P |
| 22:46 UTC | TORNADO 1 | 4 Sw Loami | Sangamon, IL | PATH LENGTH 1/2 MILE, 200 YARDS WIDE. TOUCHED DOWN NEAR INTERSECTION OF WAVERLY RD AND CAMPBELL CEMETERY RD. KNOCKED DOWN 12 POWER POLES AND SEVERAL LARGE TREES. ESTIMATED PEAK WIND SPEED 80 MPH. |
| 22:46 UTC | TORNADO | Loami | Sangamon, IL | TORNADO ON GROUND. FROM SANGAMON COUNTY EMA. |
| 22:49 UTC | TORNADO 1 | Berlin | Sangamon, IL | PATH LENGTH 2 MILES. TOUCHED DOWN JUST NORTHWEST OF INTERSECTION OF SPRING CREEK RD AND COUNTY ROAD 8. DID WEAK F1 DAMAGE TO POLE BARN AND KNOCKED A TREE INTO A HOME. CREATED STRONGER F1 DAMAGE NEAR SOUTH WAKE RD, DESTRO |
| 22:58 UTC | TORNADO 1 | 4 Wsw Springfield | Sangamon, IL | TOUCHED DOWN NEAR LEATH FURNITURE ON WABASH AVE. DAMAGED ROOF OF LOWES. BLEW DOWN LIGHT POLES AT LOWES PARKING LOT. ESTIMATED WIND SPEED 80 MPH. |
| 22:59 UTC | TORNADO 1 | 2 N Chatham | Sangamon, IL | PATH LENGTH 1 MILE, WINDS ESTIMATED AT 80 MPH. TOUCHED DOWN 1/2 MILE SOUTHWEST OF IL-4/MANSION RD INTERSECTION. REMOVED ROOFING MATERIAL FROM SEVERAL HOMES UNDER CONSTRUCTION, AND ROOF DAMAGE TO SEVERAL OTHER HOMES. |
| 22:59 UTC | TORNADO | Chatham | Sangamon, IL | TORNADO ON GROUND AT ROUTE 4 AND MANSION ROAD. FROM EMA. |
| 23:00 UTC | TORNADO | Springfield | Sangamon, IL | TORNADO ON GROUND...WABASH AND COOKIE MILL. FROM EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. |
| 23:00 UTC | TORNADO | Springfield | Sangamon, IL | TORNADO ON GROUND...WABASH AND KOKE MILL. FROM EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. |
| 23:00 UTC | TORNADO | Hillsboro | Montgomery, IL | BUILDINGS DAMAGED, CAR PORTS FLIPPED OVER, CAMPER ROLLED, METAL ROOF DAMAGE, POWER LINES BROKEN, DAMAGE THROWN 100 TO 150 FEET AWAY. DAMAGE PATH NARROW AND IN A STRAIGHT LINE. |
| 23:01 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 W Springfield | Sangamon, IL | IN LELAND GROVE, 7 TREES BROKEN OFF, DANAGING ROOF OF A HOUSE. |
| 23:02 UTC | TSTM WND GST 60 | Morrisonville | Christian, IL | |
| 23:02 UTC | TORNADO | Springfield | Sangamon, IL | CITY ESDA REPORTED LIGHT POLES DOWN BY TORNADO AT WABASH AND VETERANS. |
| 23:06 UTC | TORNADO 1 | 2 E Springfield | Sangamon, IL | PATH LENGTH 3/4 MILE. TOUCHED DOWN JUST WEST OF ILLINOIS DOT BUILDING NEAR ASH ST AND DIRKSEN PKWY. DAMAGED ROOF OF IDOT BUILDING. EYEWITNESS INDICATES THE TORNADO CROSSED I-55 AND DISSIPATED BEFORE REACHING LOST BRIDGE |
| 23:08 UTC | TORNADO 1 | 6 Wsw Taylorville | Christian, IL | *** 1 INJ *** PATH LENGTH 6.3 MILES, MAXIMUM WIDTH 300 YARDS. ENTERED TAYLORVILLE ALONG SPRESSER ST AT THE WEST EDGE OF TOWN AROUND 612 PM. MAJOR ROOF DAMAGE AT HARDWARE STORE. MOVED THROUGH RESIDENTIAL AREAS NORTH OF SP |
| 23:13 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Riverton | Sangamon, IL | 2-3 MOBILE HOMES BLOWN OVER. FROM SANGAMON ESDA. |
| 23:13 UTC | TORNADO 1 | Riverton | Sangamon, IL | *** 1 INJ *** PATH LENGTH 1.5 MILES. TOUCHED DOWN JUST EAST OF OAKS GOLF COURSE. CREATED STRONG F1 DAMAGE AT LINCOLN PLACE TRAILER COURT...DAMAGING 8 MOBILE HOMES...WITH WINDS ESTIMATED 110 MPH. 30 MOBILE HOMES MOVED SIG |
| 23:13 UTC | TORNADO | Taylorville | Christian, IL | 25 HOMES AND 7 BUSINESSES DAMAGED, TWO BUSINESSES WITH MAJOR DAMAGE. ONE HOME WITH DAMAGE EAST OF TAYLORVILLE. 2 MOBILE HOMES DAMAGED WEST OF TAYLORVILLE. |
| 23:13 UTC | TORNADO | Taylorville | Christian, IL | WEST SIDE OF TAYLORVILLE. NUMEROUS BUSINESSES AND HOMES DESTROYED... FROM COUNTY ESDA. |
| 23:14 UTC | TORNADO 1 | 2 Wnw Oconee | Shelby, IL | PATH LENGTH AT LEAST 6 MILES. MAY HAVE MOVED IN FROM MONTGOMERY COUNTY. CROSSED INTO CHRISTIAN COUNTY AROUND 615 PM. MOVED ACROSS SOUTHEAST AND EAST SIDE OF PANA. DAMAGED TREES, ROOFS. DISSIPATED 1 MILE EAST NORTHEAST OF |
| 23:15 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Pawnee | Sangamon, IL | TREES AND BARN DAMAGED SOUTHWEST OF TOWN. TREE DOWN ON A HOUSE IN PAWNEE. DAMAGE TO A SHED NORTHEAST OF TOWN. TIME ESTIMATED. |
| 23:20 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 4 W Tower Hill | Shelby, IL | DAMAGE FROM 4 MILES WEST TO 2 MILES EAST OF TOWER HILL. NUMEROUS POWER LINES AND POLES DOWN. DAMAGED A ROOF AND DESTROYED A BARN. ESTIMATED WIND SPEED 80 TO 100 MPH. |
| 23:20 UTC | TORNADO 1 | Assumption | Christian, IL | PATH LENGTH 1 MILE, MAX WIDTH 100 YARDS. DAMAGED TREES AND ROOF AT SLOAN IMPLEMENT, AND DOOR AT FORD DEALERSHIP. |
| 23:25 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 E Tower Hill | Shelby, IL | POWER POLES BROKEN OFF EAST OF TOWER HILL. REPORTED BY NWS TRAINED SPOTTER. |
| 23:25 UTC | TORNADO | 1 Ne Niantic | Macon, IL | TORNADO ON THE GROUND FROM A NWS TRAINED SPOTTER. |
| 23:25 UTC | TORNADO | 1 Ne Niantic | Macon, IL | TORNADO ON THE GROUND REPORTED BY NWS TRAINED SPOTTER. |
| 23:30 UTC | TORNADO 0 | 1 E Niantic | Macon, IL | PATH LENGTH 0.1 MILE, WIDTH 30 YARDS. NO DAMAGE. SIGHTED BY TRAINED SPOTTER. |
| 23:30 UTC | TORNADO 2 | 1 Sw Macon | Macon, IL | PATH LENGTH 4.5 MILES, MAX WIDTH 300 YARDS. DESTROYED A 6600 SQUARE FOOT BARN 1 MILE SOUTHEAST OF MACON. DAMAGED TREES AND DID MINOR DAMAGE TO A ROOF. DISSIPATED 4 MILES EAST OF MACON AROUND 634 PM. |
| 23:36 UTC | TORNADO 1 | 2 Sw Elwin | Macon, IL | *** 3 INJ *** PATH LENGTH 7.5 MILES, MAX WIDTH 150 YARDS. SNAPPED POWER POLES, DAMGED TREES AFTER CROSSING FAR SOUTHEAST PART OF LAKE DECATUR. CROSSED ROUTE 121 ABOUT A QUARTER MILE SOUTH OF US-36. DAMAGED ROOF OF CREDIT |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2006 tornado in IllinoisEvery tornado in Illinois since 1950Warnings in force in Illinois nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of April 2, 2006
66 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 2 | 3:47 PM CDT | F0 | Davis, IA | 0.2 | 30 | |||
| April 2 | 3:57 PM CDT | F0 | Davis, IA | 0.1 | 25 | |||
| April 2 | 4:03 PM CDT | F2 | Van Buren, IA | 3.0 | 100 | $30,000 | ||
| April 2 | 4:15 PM CDT | F1 | Van Buren, IA | 2.0 | 50 | $10,000 | ||
| April 2 | 4:18 PM CDT | F1 | Jefferson, IA | 0.3 | 50 | $10,000 | ||
| April 2 | 4:19 PM CDT | F1 | Van Buren, IA | 3.0 | 50 | $10,000 | ||
| April 2 | 4:25 PM CDT | F2 | Ralls, MO | 3.5 | 350 | |||
| April 2 | 4:46 PM CDT | F2 | Washington, IA | 1.0 | 75 | $30,000 | ||
| April 2 | 4:59 PM CDT | F1 | Sharp, AR | 9.5 | 100 | $100,000 | ||
| April 2 | 5:00 PM CDT | F0 | Saint Francois, MO | 0.1 | 50 | |||
| April 2 | 5:00 PM CDT | F1 | Washington, IA | 0.1 | 50 | $10,000 | ||
| April 2 | 5:05 PM CDT | F0 | Sainte Genevieve, MO | 2.0 | 40 | |||
| April 2 | 5:06 PM CDT | F0 | Warren, IA | 0.2 | 30 | |||
| April 2 | 5:15 PM CDT | F2 | Saint Clair, IL | 7.0 | 100 | 1 | 11 | |
| April 2 | 5:15 PM CDT | F0 | Macoupin, IL | 2.0 | 30 | |||
| April 2 | 5:15 PM CDT | F0 | Macoupin, IL | 0.5 | 30 | |||
| April 2 | 5:16 PM CDT | F0 | Henderson, IL | 0.0 | 25 | |||
| April 2 | 5:20 PM CDT | F1 | McDonough, IL | 12.0 | 233 | $150,000 | ||
| April 2 | 5:21 PM CDT | F0 | Madison, IL | 16.0 | 50 | |||
| April 2 | 5:30 PM CDT | F1 | Madison, IL | 2.0 | 100 | |||
| April 2 | 5:31 PM CDT | F0 | Polk, IA | 0.2 | 30 | |||
| April 2 | 5:35 PM CDT | F0 | Macoupin, IL | 0.1 | 20 | |||
| April 2 | 5:37 PM CDT | F3 | Randolph, AR to MO | 77.0 | 880 | 2 | 177 | $86 million |
| April 2 | 5:41 PM CDT | F0 | Montgomery, IL | 1.0 | 50 | |||
| April 2 | 5:46 PM CDT | F1 | Sangamon, IL | 0.5 | 200 | |||
| April 2 | 5:49 PM CDT | F1 | Sangamon, IL | 2.0 | 100 | |||
| April 2 | 5:50 PM CDT | F2 | Montgomery, IL | 20.0 | 200 | |||
| April 2 | 5:56 PM CDT | F1 | Sangamon, IL | 1.0 | 100 | |||
| April 2 | 5:58 PM CDT | F1 | Sangamon, IL | 1.0 | 100 | |||
| April 2 | 5:59 PM CDT | F0 | Sangamon, IL | 1.3 | 50 | |||
| April 2 | 6:00 PM CDT | F2 | White, AR | 6.3 | 100 | |||
| April 2 | 6:06 PM CDT | F1 | Sangamon, IL | 0.8 | 50 | |||
| April 2 | 6:08 PM CDT | F1 | Christian, IL | 6.3 | 300 | 1 | ||
| April 2 | 6:13 PM CDT | F1 | Sangamon, IL | 1.5 | 100 | 1 | ||
| April 2 | 6:14 PM CDT | F1 | Christian, IL | 6.0 | 150 | |||
| April 2 | 6:17 PM CDT | F0 | Christian, IL | 0.1 | 50 | |||
| April 2 | 6:20 PM CDT | F1 | Christian, IL | 1.0 | 100 | |||
| April 2 | 6:22 PM CDT | F0 | Menard, IL | 0.3 | 40 | |||
| April 2 | 6:29 PM CDT | F3 | Woodruff, AR | 38.0 | 500 | 5 | $5.0 million | |
| April 2 | 6:30 PM CDT | F0 | Macon, IL | 0.1 | 30 | |||
| April 2 | 6:30 PM CDT | F2 | Macon, IL | 4.5 | 300 | |||
| April 2 | 6:32 PM CDT | F0 | Logan, IL | 1.0 | 80 | |||
| April 2 | 6:36 PM CDT | F0 | Logan, IL | 2.5 | 50 | |||
| April 2 | 6:36 PM CDT | F1 | Macon, IL | 7.5 | 150 | 3 | ||
| April 2 | 6:42 PM CDT | F0 | Cumberland, IL | 0.8 | 100 | |||
| April 2 | 6:43 PM CDT | F0 | Scott, MO | 1.5 | 50 | $20,000 | ||
| April 2 | 7:01 PM CDT | F0 | DeWitt, IL | 0.1 | 30 | |||
| April 2 | 7:08 PM CDT | F0 | McLean, IL | 0.1 | 30 | |||
| April 2 | 7:12 PM CDT | F0 | McLean, IL | 0.5 | 50 | |||
| April 2 | 7:13 PM CDT | F1 | McLean, IL | 1.0 | 50 | |||
| April 2 | 7:15 PM CDT | F0 | Champaign, IL | 0.1 | 30 | |||
| April 2 | 7:22 PM CDT | F0 | McLean, IL | 2.6 | 50 | |||
| April 2 | 7:25 PM CDT | F0 | Champaign, IL | 0.3 | 50 | |||
| April 2 | 7:31 PM CDT | F0 | Ballard, KY | 0.1 | 30 | |||
| April 2 | 7:32 PM CDT | F3 | Dyer, TN | 18.0 | 880 | 16 | 70 | $20 million |
| April 2 | 9:07 PM EDT | F1 | Lawrence, IN | 0.5 | 100 | $100,000 | ||
| April 2 | 8:09 PM CDT | F3 | Gibson, TN | 31.0 | 880 | 6 | 44 | $27 million |
| April 2 | 9:25 PM EDT | F1 | Tippecanoe, IN | 0.5 | 100 | $50,000 | ||
| April 2 | 9:37 PM EDT | F1 | Jackson, IN | 0.5 | 100 | $200,000 | ||
| April 2 | 8:43 PM CDT | F3 | Gibson, TN | 8.0 | 880 | 2 | 6 | $15 million |
What this means
Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.
Sources
NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.