Tornadoes · United States · Illinois · 2006

F1 tornado, Loami to Chatham, Illinois, April 2, 2006

From Loami to Chatham, this F1 tornado ran 0.5 miles across Sangamon County on April 2, 2006, touching down at 5:46 PM CDT and reaching 200 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.

  1. F040 to 72 mph

    Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.

  2. F173 to 112 mphthis tornado

    Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. F4207 to 260 mph

    Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.

  6. 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.

  7. 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
5:46 PM CDT (22:46 UTC)
Path length
0.5 miles (0.8 km)
Path width
200 yards (183 m)
Deaths
0
Injuries
0
County
Sangamon County
Touchdown point
39.630, -89.900
Lift-off point
39.630, -89.900
Record number
235

What the Weather Service recorded

Tornado briefly touched down and knocked down 12 power poles and several large trees.

The tornado completely destroyed a grain bin and a pole barn, with numerous 12 to 18 inch diameter trees splintered off at various heights. Near the end of the tornado track, a pole barn had its main door blown in, and half of the roof completely destroyed.

The tornado removed roofing material from several new construction homes.

From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.

The warnings

No tornado warning for this county appears in the archive as in force at the moment the tornado touched down. One was issued for the county at another hour that day.

The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 22:45 UTC and running to 02:11 UTC.

Issued (UTC)ExpiredProductOffice
22:41 UTC23:38 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningILX
22:45 UTC02:11 UTCTornado WatchILX
22:48 UTC23:15 UTCTornado WarningILX
23:15 UTC23:38 UTCTornado WarningILX

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

10.8 hours before the tornado, 125 km from the path. April 2, 2006.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Lincoln, IL at 12:00Z on 2006-04-02Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 0 joules per kilogram, CIN -108484, lifted condensation level 985 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Lincoln, IL at 12:00Z on 2006-04-02The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 255 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 47 knots.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

Lincoln, IL (KILX), 00:00Z

1.2 hours after it, 125 km from the path. April 3, 2006.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Lincoln, IL at 00:00Z on 2006-04-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 1184 joules per kilogram, CIN -39, lifted condensation level 746 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Lincoln, IL at 00:00Z on 2006-04-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 253 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 36 knots.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The surface observations

Springfield (SPI), 30 km from the path, in the two hours either side.

Time (UTC)Temp (°F)Dew point (°F)WindGust (kt)Pressure (mb)Weather
20:54 UTC6961170° 14 kt1003
21:20 UTC69.862.6160° 12 kt181002
21:54 UTC7262150° 16 kt22999.7
22:54 UTC7061160° 15 kt1000
23:09 UTC62.653.6250° 34 kt441002.7-TSRA
23:13 UTC57.251.8250° 25 kt441003+TSRA
23:20 UTC57.253.6240° 17 kt211003.4+TSRA BR
23:29 UTC57.251.8250° 13 kt191003+TSRA
23:36 UTC57.251.8220° 8 kt191002.7RA
23:43 UTC57.251.8190° 8 kt1002.7RA
23:54 UTC5751170° 13 kt1002.7RA

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.

The radar

The Lincoln radar (KILX), 75 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 22:47 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)ReportWhereCountyRemark
22:15 UTCTSTM WND DMGMedoraMacoupin, ILIN 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
22:15 UTCHAIL 0.75RoodhouseGreene, IL
22:45 UTCHAIL 0.88JacksonvilleMorgan, ILTIME ESTIMATED.
22:46 UTCTORNADO 13 N BerlinSangamon, ILTOUCHED 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 UTCTORNADO 14 Sw LoamiSangamon, ILPATH 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 UTCTORNADOLoamiSangamon, ILTORNADO ON GROUND. FROM SANGAMON COUNTY EMA.
22:49 UTCTORNADO 1BerlinSangamon, ILPATH 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
22:53 UTCTSTM WND GST 602 W TallulaMenard, IL
22:55 UTCTSTM WND DMGPetersburgMenard, ILWEST OF TOWN, ROOF BLOWN OFF ROOM ATTACHED TO BUILDING.
22:58 UTCTORNADO 14 Wsw SpringfieldSangamon, ILTOUCHED 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 UTCTORNADO 12 N ChathamSangamon, ILPATH 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 UTCTORNADOChathamSangamon, ILTORNADO ON GROUND AT ROUTE 4 AND MANSION ROAD. FROM EMA.
23:00 UTCTORNADOSpringfieldSangamon, ILTORNADO ON GROUND...WABASH AND COOKIE MILL. FROM EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
23:00 UTCTORNADOSpringfieldSangamon, ILTORNADO ON GROUND...WABASH AND KOKE MILL. FROM EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
23:01 UTCTSTM WND DMG2 W SpringfieldSangamon, ILIN LELAND GROVE, 7 TREES BROKEN OFF, DANAGING ROOF OF A HOUSE.
23:02 UTCTSTM WND GST 60MorrisonvilleChristian, IL
23:02 UTCTORNADOSpringfieldSangamon, ILCITY ESDA REPORTED LIGHT POLES DOWN BY TORNADO AT WABASH AND VETERANS.
23:05 UTCTSTM WND GST 70OakfordMenard, IL
23:06 UTCTORNADO 12 E SpringfieldSangamon, ILPATH 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 UTCTORNADO 16 Wsw TaylorvilleChristian, 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 UTCTSTM WND DMGRivertonSangamon, IL2-3 MOBILE HOMES BLOWN OVER. FROM SANGAMON ESDA.
23:13 UTCTORNADO 1RivertonSangamon, 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 UTCTORNADOTaylorvilleChristian, IL25 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 UTCTORNADOTaylorvilleChristian, ILWEST SIDE OF TAYLORVILLE. NUMEROUS BUSINESSES AND HOMES DESTROYED... FROM COUNTY ESDA.
23:15 UTCTSTM WND DMGPawneeSangamon, ILTREES AND BARN DAMAGED SOUTHWEST OF TOWN. TREE DOWN ON A HOUSE IN PAWNEE. DAMAGE TO A SHED NORTHEAST OF TOWN. TIME ESTIMATED.
23:22 UTCTORNADO 0GreenviewMenard, ILBRIEF TOUCHDOWN. NO DAMAGE.

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.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
April 23:47 PM CDTF0Davis, IA0.230
April 23:57 PM CDTF0Davis, IA0.125
April 24:03 PM CDTF2Van Buren, IA3.0100$30,000
April 24:15 PM CDTF1Van Buren, IA2.050$10,000
April 24:18 PM CDTF1Jefferson, IA0.350$10,000
April 24:19 PM CDTF1Van Buren, IA3.050$10,000
April 24:25 PM CDTF2Ralls, MO3.5350
April 24:46 PM CDTF2Washington, IA1.075$30,000
April 24:59 PM CDTF1Sharp, AR9.5100$100,000
April 25:00 PM CDTF0Saint Francois, MO0.150
April 25:00 PM CDTF1Washington, IA0.150$10,000
April 25:05 PM CDTF0Sainte Genevieve, MO2.040
April 25:06 PM CDTF0Warren, IA0.230
April 25:15 PM CDTF2Saint Clair, IL7.0100111
April 25:15 PM CDTF0Macoupin, IL2.030
April 25:15 PM CDTF0Macoupin, IL0.530
April 25:16 PM CDTF0Henderson, IL0.025
April 25:20 PM CDTF1McDonough, IL12.0233$150,000
April 25:21 PM CDTF0Madison, IL16.050
April 25:30 PM CDTF1Madison, IL2.0100
April 25:31 PM CDTF0Polk, IA0.230
April 25:35 PM CDTF0Macoupin, IL0.120
April 25:37 PM CDTF3Randolph, AR to MO77.08802177$86 million
April 25:41 PM CDTF0Montgomery, IL1.050
April 25:49 PM CDTF1Sangamon, IL2.0100
April 25:50 PM CDTF2Montgomery, IL20.0200
April 25:56 PM CDTF1Sangamon, IL1.0100
April 25:56 PM CDTF1Montgomery, IL2.2100
April 25:58 PM CDTF1Sangamon, IL1.0100
April 25:59 PM CDTF0Sangamon, IL1.350
April 26:00 PM CDTF2White, AR6.3100
April 26:06 PM CDTF1Sangamon, IL0.850
April 26:08 PM CDTF1Christian, IL6.33001
April 26:13 PM CDTF1Sangamon, IL1.51001
April 26:14 PM CDTF1Christian, IL6.0150
April 26:17 PM CDTF0Christian, IL0.150
April 26:20 PM CDTF1Christian, IL1.0100
April 26:22 PM CDTF0Menard, IL0.340
April 26:29 PM CDTF3Woodruff, AR38.05005$5.0 million
April 26:30 PM CDTF0Macon, IL0.130
April 26:30 PM CDTF2Macon, IL4.5300
April 26:32 PM CDTF0Logan, IL1.080
April 26:36 PM CDTF0Logan, IL2.550
April 26:36 PM CDTF1Macon, IL7.51503
April 26:42 PM CDTF0Cumberland, IL0.8100
April 26:43 PM CDTF0Scott, MO1.550$20,000
April 27:01 PM CDTF0DeWitt, IL0.130
April 27:08 PM CDTF0McLean, IL0.130
April 27:12 PM CDTF0McLean, IL0.550
April 27:13 PM CDTF1McLean, IL1.050
April 27:15 PM CDTF0Champaign, IL0.130
April 27:22 PM CDTF0McLean, IL2.650
April 27:25 PM CDTF0Champaign, IL0.350
April 27:31 PM CDTF0Ballard, KY0.130
April 27:32 PM CDTF3Dyer, TN18.08801670$20 million
April 29:07 PM EDTF1Lawrence, IN0.5100$100,000
April 28:09 PM CDTF3Gibson, TN31.0880644$27 million
April 29:25 PM EDTF1Tippecanoe, IN0.5100$50,000
April 29:37 PM EDTF1Jackson, IN0.5100$200,000
April 28:43 PM CDTF3Gibson, TN8.088026$15 million

All 67 of them

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.