Tornadoes · United States · Illinois · 2008

EF0 tornado, Sedan, Illinois, February 5, 2008

This EF0 tornado ran 0.1 miles across Marion County on February 5, 2008, touching down at 6:12 PM CST and reaching 40 yards wide. It killed nobody.

The rating scale

Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Enhanced Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.

  1. EF065 to 85 mphthis tornado

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

  2. EF186 to 110 mph

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

  3. EF2111 to 135 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. EF3136 to 165 mph

    Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.

  5. EF4166 to 200 mph

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

  6. EF5over 200 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
EF0
Date
February 5, 2008
Touchdown
6:12 PM CST (00:12 UTC)
Lifted
6:13 PM CST (00:13 UTC)
On the ground
1 minutes
Path length
0.1 miles (0.2 km)
Path width
40 yards (37 m)
Deaths
0
Injuries
0
County
Marion County
Touchdown point
38.507, -88.996
Lift-off point
38.507, -88.994
Record number
0802051812-01

What the Weather Service recorded

A strong cold front moved through the region, triggering showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms were severe with large hail, damaging winds and flash flooding. There were also two brief tornado touchdowns in Marion county Illinois.

A tornado briefly touched down along Medlin Road half a mile south of Illinois Route 161. It caused moderate damage to a machine shed with significant pieces of roof strewn up to a quarter of a mile southeast of the shed. An adjacent abandoned house had two uprooted trees laid to the east across its roof. No other damage was found.

A second tornado briefly touched down at the same time about a mile south of Illinois Route 161 on Medlin Road. A machine shed sustained major damage with the north, west and south faces of the shed buckled and collapsed. An attached awning was completely upturned and thrown to the southeast. Also, the entire roof was lifted and thrown 100 yards to the southeast.

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.

Issued (UTC)ExpiredProductOffice
00:12 UTC00:35 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSX

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 Slight Risk, with a 0.05 chance of a tornado within 25 miles. The outlook in force was issued at 19:40 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), 00:00Z

0.2 hours before the tornado, 186 km from the path. February 6, 2008.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Lincoln, IL at 00:00Z on 2008-02-06Temperature 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 0, lifted condensation level 449 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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 00:00Z on 2008-02-06The 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 474 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 92 knots.1939587897Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Surface CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
449 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
92 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
26 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
474 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
387 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0
0-3 km lapse rate
1.9 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

Lincoln, IL (KILX), 12:00Z

11.8 hours after it, 186 km from the path. February 6, 2008.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Lincoln, IL at 12:00Z on 2008-02-06Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 2 joules per kilogram, CIN 0, lifted condensation level 456 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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 2008-02-06The 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 360 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 111 knots.1939587897117136Sfc1 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
2 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
0 J/kg
Surface CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
456 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
111 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
28 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
360 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
424 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0
0-3 km lapse rate
3.0 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The surface observations

Centralia (ENL), 8 km from the path, in the two hours either side.

Time (UTC)Temp (°F)Dew point (°F)WindGust (kt)Pressure (mb)Weather
22:25 UTC57.248.290° 4 kt1002HZ
22:45 UTC57.250110° 4 kt1001.7HZ
23:05 UTC57.250110° 5 kt1001.4HZ
23:25 UTC5951.8110° 6 kt1000.3
23:45 UTC5951.8130° 9 kt999.3VCTS
00:03 UTC51.844.6300° 34 kt471001.7+TSRA

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

The radar

The Evansville,IN radar (KVWX), 114 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 00:12 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
23:45 UTCTSTM WND DMG5 W AshleyWashington, ILBARN DOORS BLOWN IN. TIME APPROXIMATE.
23:50 UTCTSTM WND DMGHoyletonWashington, ILPOWER LINES REPORTED DOWN IN THE HOYLETON AREA. TIME APPROXIMATE.
00:10 UTCTSTM WND DMGCentraliaMarion, ILTREES AND POWER LINES DOWN. ONE TREE ON A MOBILE HOME AND ANOTHER ON A VEHICLE.
00:13 UTCTSTM WND GST 60SesserFranklin, IL
00:15 UTCTSTM WND DMGSalemMarion, ILREPORTS OF TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN SOUTH OF SALEM. ALSO A REPORT OF A TRACTOR-TRAILER BLOWN OVER ON I-57. TIME APPROXIMATE.
00:21 UTCTSTM WND DMGSalemMarion, ILREPORTS OF TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN SOUTH OF SALEM. ALSO A REPORT OF A TRACTOR-TRAILER BLOWN OVER ON I-57.
00:22 UTCTSTM WND GST 60InaJefferson, IL
00:25 UTCTSTM WND DMG8 Ne BentonFranklin, ILFEW TREES DOWN...ONE ON A POWER LINE AND IT IS SPARKING.
00:29 UTCTSTM WND DMGBelle RiveJefferson, ILSEVERAL TREES BLOWN DOWN IN TOWN.
00:30 UTCTSTM WND DMGFarinaFayette, ILBARN STUCTURE OF WOOD AND STEEL COMPOSITE HEAVILY DAMAGED IN TOWN...HIGH SCHOOL GYM ROOF TOTALLY GONE....PARTS OF THE ROOF OF THE HIGH SCHOOL ITSELF ALSO RIPPED OFF...
01:05 UTCFUNNEL CLOUDFairfieldWayne, ILHIGHWAY 15 JUST WEST OF FAIRFIELD ILLINOIS.

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.

This ground now

The live radar over the trackEvery 2008 tornado in IllinoisEvery tornado in Illinois since 1950Warnings in force in Illinois nowThe forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of February 5, 2008

61 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
February 53:26 PM CSTEF1Ashley, AR0.650$40,000
February 54:04 PM CSTEF0Chicot, AR1.150
February 54:27 PM CSTEF0Phillips, AR0.225
February 54:45 PM CSTEF0Bolivar, MS3.450$70,000
February 54:49 PM CSTEF4Atkins–Clinton tornado, AR121.81,32013139$119 million
February 54:50 PM CSTEF1Smith, TX1.0300$30,000
February 55:00 PM CSTEF2Shelby, TN8.11501$1.0 million
February 55:02 PM CSTEF2Marion, AR12.5880136$18 million
February 55:18 PM CSTEF0Tipton, TN0.250$7,000
February 55:18 PM CSTEF0DeSoto, MS2.6100$50,000
February 55:23 PM CSTEF1Tipton, TN0.750$75,000
February 55:31 PM CSTEF0Yell, AR0.630
February 55:32 PM CSTEF1Tipton, TN to MS0.350$50,000
February 55:32 PM CSTEF2DeSoto, MS to TN10.2440313$128 million
February 55:53 PM CSTEF0Panola, MS0.225$12,000
February 55:55 PM CSTEF1Weakley, TN5.1150$160,000
February 55:57 PM CSTEF1Lafayette, MS6.925$25,000
February 55:57 PM CSTEF3Lafayette, MS7.21,00014$35 million
February 56:02 PM CSTEF0Shelby, TN4.950$50,000
February 56:12 PM CSTEF0Marion, IL0.230
February 56:21 PM CSTEF3Fayette, TN31.1600314$10 million
February 56:25 PM CSTEF1Calloway, KY1.4150$35,000
February 56:36 PM CSTEF0Tippah, MS1.450$50,000
February 56:45 PM CSTEF1Trigg, KY0.140$8,000
February 56:50 PM CSTEF0Tippah, MS2.550$100,000
February 56:50 PM CSTEF1Trigg, KY5.6150$60,000
February 56:56 PM CSTEF1Alcorn, MS2.61004$250,000
February 56:59 PM CSTEF4Jackson tornado, TN7.612551$100 million
February 57:05 PM CSTEF1Faulkner, AR5.5100$140,000
February 57:09 PM CSTEF2Christian, KY14.12752$4.4 million
February 57:13 PM CSTEF2Madison, TN0.4150$200,000
February 57:13 PM CSTEF1McNairy, TN8.9150$250,000
February 57:19 PM CSTEF0St. Francis, AR0.125$1,000
February 57:20 PM CSTEF1Randolph, AR to MO31.92004$280,000
February 57:30 PM CSTEF0Union, AR7.0100$200,000
February 57:40 PM CSTEF4Hardin County tornado, TN16.288035$18 million
February 57:44 PM CSTEF3Muhlenberg, KY18.1375324$21 million
February 57:48 PM CSTEF0Monroe, AR8.075$15,000
February 57:59 PM CSTEF0Lee, AR0.125$1,000
February 58:03 PM CSTEF1Butler, MO3.4300$100,000
February 58:05 PM CSTEF1Benton, TN2.050
February 58:07 PM CSTEF2Benton, TN6.6440$10 million
February 58:10 PM CSTEF1Lewis, TN22.9200$900,000
February 58:10 PM CSTEF1Wayne, TN10.150
February 59:15 PM ESTEF1Greene, IN2.050$1.3 million
February 58:18 PM CSTEF2Butler, MO13.9200$300,000
February 58:40 PM CSTEF2Hickman, TN25.33001$750,000
February 510:02 PM CSTEF3Sumner, TN to KY50.38802263$28 million
February 511:54 PM ESTEF1Meade, KY6.5350$2.0 million
February 511:17 PM CSTEF0Catahoula Parish, LA1.550$2,000
February 512:21 AM ESTEF2Hardin, KY7.1400$3.0 million
February 512:27 AM ESTEF2Hardin, KY1.0300$150,000
February 511:32 PM CSTEF1Hart, KY10.5150$500,000
February 512:38 AM ESTEF0Spencer, KY0.7220$150,000
February 512:38 AM ESTEF2Nelson, KY1.3300$50,000
February 511:41 PM CSTEF0Perry, TN0.120
February 512:43 AM ESTEF0Spencer, KY0.62201$200,000
February 512:46 AM ESTEF2Shelby, KY7.0250$175,000
February 512:50 AM ESTEF2Nelson, KY0.83002$250,000
February 511:51 PM CSTEF0Hickman, TN0.120

All 62 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.