Tornadoes · United States · Illinois · 2012

EF0 tornado, New Baden, Illinois, March 2, 2012

This EF0 tornado ran 0.7 miles across Clinton County on March 2, 2012, touching down at 10:11 AM CST and reaching 50 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
March 2, 2012
Touchdown
10:11 AM CST (16:11 UTC)
Lifted
10:12 AM CST (16:12 UTC)
On the ground
1 minutes
Path length
0.7 miles (1.0 km)
Path width
50 yards (46 m)
Deaths
0
Injuries
0
County
Clinton County
Touchdown point
38.553, -89.693
Lift-off point
38.553, -89.681
Record number
1203021011-01

What the Weather Service recorded

Elevated convection fired up across the region north of a warm front that was just south of the Missouri/Arkansas border. There were numerous reports of large hail.

A tornado briefly touched down just west of Illinois Route 160 about a mile north of New Baden. As it travelled to the east it caused minor roof damage to several homes in a subdivision and topped off several trees. A couple of fences were blow over as well. It crossed Illinois Route 160, just south of intersection with Court Road, lifting and dissipating about a quarter of a mile east of Illinois Route 160.

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.

The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 15:54 UTC and running to 18:26 UTC.

Issued (UTC)ExpiredProductOffice
11:59 UTC15:54 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WatchLSX
15:49 UTC16:30 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSX
15:54 UTC18:26 UTCTornado WatchLSX
16:10 UTC17:00 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSX
17:29 UTC18:00 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSX
19:59 UTC00:00 UTCWind AdvisoryLSX

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 12:59 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

4.2 hours before the tornado, 201 km from the path. March 2, 2012.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Lincoln, IL at 12:00Z on 2012-03-02Temperature 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 -83166, lifted condensation level 1770 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 2012-03-02The 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 76 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 61 knots.1939587897117136156Sfc1 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
-83166 J/kg
Surface CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1770 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
61 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
12 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
76 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
163 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0
0-3 km lapse rate
2.8 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

Lincoln, IL (KILX), 00:00Z

7.8 hours after it, 201 km from the path. March 3, 2012.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Lincoln, IL at 00:00Z on 2012-03-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 1 joules per kilogram, CIN 0, lifted condensation level 512 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 2012-03-03The 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 -186 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 108 knots.1939587897117136156Sfc1 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
1 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
0 J/kg
Surface CAPE
9 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
512 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
108 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
26 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-186 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-14 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0
0-3 km lapse rate
4.9 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The surface observations

Belleville - Scott AFB (BLV), 14 km from the path, in the two hours either side.

Time (UTC)Temp (°F)Dew point (°F)WindGust (kt)Pressure (mb)Weather
14:55 UTC56.1251100° 4 kt994.6
15:10 UTC5951.8130° 6 kt993.9
15:55 UTC6758 6 kt992.2
16:04 UTC64.455.4300° 27 kt33994.2VCTS HZ
16:05 UTC64.453.6300° 22 kt33993.9VCTS HZ
16:06 UTC62.653.6310° 18 kt33993.9VCTS -RA
16:14 UTC55.453.6300° 11 kt24993.6VCTS -RA BR
16:15 UTC55.455.4300° 10 kt24993.6-RA BR
16:21 UTC57.255.4290° 11 kt21993.2
16:55 UTC57.7455290° 10 kt993.2
17:02 UTC57.255.4320° 8 kt993.2VCTS -RA
17:28 UTC55.455.40° 0 kt992.9
17:55 UTC60.4457260° 13 kt992.2

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

The radar

The St Louis radar (KLSX), 88 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 16:09 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
15:48 UTCHAIL 0.251 Ese SaugetSt. Clair, IL
16:00 UTCTSTM WND DMG6 Se BellevilleSt. Clair, IL8 50 FOOT PINE TREES SNAPPED HALF WAY UP ALONG RENTCHLER ROAD
16:03 UTCHAIL 0.5O'FallonSt. Clair, IL
16:10 UTCTORNADO4 S TrentonClinton, ILTORNADO OBSERVED FUNNEL CLOUD 50FT OFF THE GROUND WITH DEBRIS UNDER IT...MINOR DAMAGE...FENCES KNOCKED DOWN
16:11 UTCHAIL 0.75O'FallonSt. Clair, IL
16:20 UTCHAIL 1.25AvistonClinton, IL
16:21 UTCHAIL 1.753 N BreeseClinton, IL
16:33 UTCTSTM WND DMG2 Ese BellevilleSt. Clair, ILMINOR SHINGLE DAMAGE
17:22 UTCHAIL 0.254 S CarlyleClinton, IL
17:25 UTCHAIL 0.75 Sw SpartaRandolph, IL
17:40 UTCHAIL 1New MindenWashington, IL
17:46 UTCHAIL 0.88NashvilleWashington, ILHAIL COVERING GROUND.
17:47 UTCHAIL 1HoyletonWashington, IL
17:49 UTCHAIL 1NashvilleWashington, IL
17:50 UTCHAIL 1.75CentraliaMarion, IL
17:54 UTCHAIL 1CentraliaMarion, IL
17:55 UTCTSTM WND GST 553 Nw Walnut HillMarion, IL
17:58 UTCHAIL 1.753 Ne Walnut HillMarion, IL

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

This ground now

The live radar over the trackEvery 2012 tornado in IllinoisEvery tornado in Illinois since 1950Warnings in force in Illinois nowThe forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of March 2, 2012

69 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
March 29:10 AM CSTEF3Limestone, AL34.0250
March 210:06 AM CSTEF2Madison, AL7.3220
March 210:08 AM CSTEF1Franklin, AL to TN0.9100$10,000
March 211:15 AM CSTEF1Marion, TN0.5100$3,000
March 212:41 PM ESTEF3Hamilton, TN41.040044$35 million
March 212:28 PM CSTEF0White, IL2.6100$15,000
March 212:37 PM CSTEF2Posey, IN6.1140$500,000
March 21:47 PM ESTEF2Monroe, TN14.34003$5.0 million
March 21:00 PM CSTEF0Vanderburgh, IN2.050
March 21:38 PM CSTEF2Union, KY6.62001
March 22:50 PM ESTEF4Henryville tornado, Indiana and Kentucky46.680011$58 million
March 22:52 PM ESTEF0Swain, NC0.140
March 21:55 PM CSTEF0Limestone, AL2.750
March 21:55 PM CSTEF0Henderson, KY3.8100$50,000
March 22:06 PM CSTEF0Webster, KY0.850
March 22:22 PM CSTEF0Daviess, KY0.350
March 23:30 PM ESTEF1Clark, IN6.660$300,000
March 22:38 PM CSTEF2Hancock, KY16.5200$190,000
March 23:41 PM ESTEF3Trimble, KY3.375$500,000
March 23:44 PM ESTEF1Carroll, KY2.4150$1.3 million
March 22:45 PM CSTEF0Lincoln, TN0.650
March 23:52 PM ESTEF3Ripley, IN8.735035$275,000
March 24:01 PM ESTEF0Trimble, KY2.7100$50,000
March 24:02 PM ESTEF0Meade, KY0.730$2,000
March 24:12 PM ESTEF1Henry, KY0.340
March 24:23 PM ESTEF4Crittenden tornado, KY9.888048$21 million
March 24:24 PM ESTEF2Owen, KY5.41503$320,000
March 23:26 PM CSTEF0Limestone, AL5.075
March 23:39 PM CSTEF1Limestone, AL to KY, OH2.6150
March 24:39 PM ESTEF3Campbell, KY to OH20.4440313$9.2 million
March 23:48 PM CSTEF1Cheatham, TN0.6100$300,000
March 25:02 PM ESTEF0Bracken, KY0.150$70,000
March 24:05 PM CSTEF1Warren, KY0.560$50,000
March 25:25 PM ESTEF1Adams, OH2.9400$200,000
March 25:30 PM ESTEF0Adams, OH0.125$30,000
March 25:33 PM ESTEF2Adams, OH11.133012$2.0 million
March 25:39 PM ESTEF3Menifee, KY to WV85.01,58010118$81 million
March 25:46 PM ESTEF0Pike, OH4.1200$35,000
March 25:46 PM ESTEF0Scioto, OH2.0100$170,000
March 25:52 PM ESTEF0Rhea, TN2.775$10,000
March 25:53 PM ESTEF0Pike, OH2.8100$25,000
March 25:01 PM CSTEF0Coffee, AL0.525
March 26:08 PM ESTEF1Bath, KY7.4250$775,000
March 25:10 PM CSTEF1Marion, TN0.2100$2,000
March 25:26 PM CSTEF2Jackson, TN3.788020$2.0 million
March 25:31 PM CSTEF1Putnam, TN1.6500$250,000
March 25:33 PM CSTEF2Overton, TN6.9400$1.0 million
March 26:50 PM ESTEF3Magoffin, KY to WV49.01,320237$37 million
March 25:53 PM CSTEF1Lowndes, AL17.6400
March 25:56 PM CSTEF0Fentress, TN6.4300
March 27:04 PM ESTEF2Laurel, KY7.2310640$5.0 million
March 26:17 PM CSTEF0Geneva, AL0.125
March 26:23 PM CSTEF1Lamar, MS11.9300$400,000
March 27:32 PM ESTEF1Lincoln, WV16.0300$150,000
March 26:42 PM CSTEF1Forrest, MS3.0300$15,000
March 27:44 PM ESTEF2Cherokee, NC21.5400$2.0 million
March 28:09 PM ESTEF3Haralson, GA29.02001$12 million
March 28:26 PM ESTEF2Claiborne, TN2.62504$500,000
March 28:45 PM ESTEF1Claiborne, TN2.5200$100,000
March 28:50 PM ESTEF1Lee, VA2.52001$1.6 million

All 70 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.