Tornadoes · United States · Illinois · 2020
EF1 tornado, Joy to Taylor Ridge, Illinois, November 10, 2020
From Joy to Taylor Ridge, this EF1 tornado ran 20.3 miles across Mercer and Rock Island counties on November 10, 2020, touching down at 1:45 PM 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.
EF065 to 85 mph
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
EF186 to 110 mphthis tornado
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
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.
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.
EF4166 to 200 mph
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
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.
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
- EF1
- Date
- November 10, 2020
- Touchdown
- 1:45 PM CST (19:45 UTC)
- Lifted
- 2:07 PM CST (20:07 UTC)
- On the ground
- 22 minutes
- Path length
- 20.3 miles (32.7 km)
- Path width
- 50 yards (46 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Counties
- Mercer and Rock Island counties
- Touchdown point
- 41.170, -90.897
- Lift-off point
- 41.397, -90.648
- Record number
- 2011101345-01
The damage survey
6 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS DVN, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF1. The highest wind the damage implies is 100 mph.
- Wooden power poles snapped. Trees and limbs down.
- Farm outbuilding destroyed.
Survey points are preliminary and are the raw material the published rating was built from. Source: NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit.
What the Weather Service recorded
A strong and quick moving cold front made its way through the Midwest. The environment ahead of the cold front was unseasonably warm, with temperatures in the upper 60s and readings in the 40s not far behind the front. This led to strong baroclinicity along the front, and subsequent convection with just the right amount of instability. This is considered a high shear low CAPE (HSLC) event, where organized severe thunderstorms are favored in this environment. Potential hazards are damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes. Six tornadoes were confirmed and several wind reports were received (ranging between 50-60 mph, with a few gusts over 60 mph). Damage reports ranged from structural damage to tree damage. Many residents were left without power in parts of northwestern IL, leading to some schools canceling classes on the 11th. Besides the strong winds, a few severe hail reports were received.||In addition, heavy rain occurred with some of the stronger storms, with rainfall totals over an inch. For how dry it has been, flash flooding was not much of a concern. While the environment was very moist and favorable for heavy rainfall, the fast storm motions led to little accumulation through much of our forecast area.
A tornado touched down southwest of Joy, destroying an outbuilding. This tornado followed an intermittent path about 14 miles through Mercer County, exiting the county about 3 miles west of Reynolds. The tornado was rated EF-1 in Mercer County, with maximum winds around 100 mph. Occasional tree damage was observed between Joy and Hamlet.
Brief tornado touchdown with 100 mph peak winds and a 30 yard path width. This tornado destroyed a large grain bin about 1.4 miles west of Burgess, IL.
This tornado developed southwest of Joy in Mercer County, and entered Rock Island County about 3 miles west of Reynolds. The path in Rock Island County was a little over 6 miles and the tornado lifted near Taylor Ridge. The tornado was rated EF-1 in both Mercer and Rock Island Counties, with maximum winds around 100 mph. The tornado caused tree damage just south of Taylor Ridge.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the tornado touched down, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Quad Cities, IA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the tornado touched down at Nov 10, 11:47 AM CST, 1 hour 58 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Nov 10, 11:47 AM CST, 1 hour 58 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
1147 AM CST Tue Nov 10 2020
...AVIATION UPDATE...
.SYNOPSIS...
Issued at 240 AM CST Tue Nov 10 2020
Strong cold front was slowly sagging southeast across the area
this morning. The cold front was located from Boscobel southwest
to between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. Temperatures ahead of and
behind of the front were almost 20 degrees different. This
baroclinicity will set the stage for heavy rain, thunderstorms and
severe weather today across the area.
&&
.SHORT TERM...(Today and Tonight)
ISSUED AT 240 AM CST Tue Nov 10 2020
Key Messages:
1. HSLC tornado threat for late this morning into the afternoon
across the area.
2. Severe winds are also possible with the strongest storms this
afternoon.
3. Gusty winds will accompany the warm sector later today along
with the fropa.
4. 0.5 to 1.5 inches of rain looks possible across the area.
Discussion:
Guidance has reverted back to a negatively tilted trof in the
latest suite of guidance. This in turn leads to a strengthen
surface low as it moves through the area. As mentioned in last
nights AFD, this scenario means that surface winds will be more
backed leading to better directional shear and increasing the
threat for tornadoes late this morning into the afternoon. Here is
the current idea of what will happen today.
Post frontal precip will continue through the early morning hours.
As the upper level wave approaches the area, the response to
falling heights will result in the warm sector actually being
pulled back north and west of where the cold front will be around
12z this AM. There will be an area where the cold front moves
through this am, then it will retreat as 'warm front' this
afternoon before finally moving through the area and ushering a
cooler airmass to the area. Storm development along and ahead of
the cold front will be the main area for severe weather risk.
Again, the parameters are there for HSLC tornadoes. Low CAPE, but
the CAPE that exists is right off the deck. This can advantage of
the 0 - 0.5 km shear of almost 20 knots along with the 0-3km shear
of 50 to 75 knots. If the updraft can tap the CAPE along with the
shear, then llvl updraft rotation looks very likely. The more
backed the surface winds, the better the chance for tornadoes to
develop. That said, with the crazy amount of shear and strong
winds won't be hard to mix down to the sfc in any downdraft. With
the high shear, expect very fast moving storms. SPC has the area
in a slight risk for this afternoon. A thing to watch is the
tornado threat will likely be tied to the sfc low. With it moving
quickly north, the actual tornado threat may be transient to the
NE through time. Another thing to mention, there may actually not
be any lightning with tornadic cells. In HSLC events this happens
frequently. Conversely, lightning, consistent lightning would be
an indicator of a sustained updraft and thus a better tor threat
with that cell. The timing of this threat looks to be noon through
about 6 PM or so across the far NE.
As with a system like this, the baroclinicity will result in
momentum responses. CAMs show the warm sector being able to mix
down wind gusts in excess of 40 knots. As such, have gone with a
wind advisory for the warm sector and then to cover the fropa
through about 4z. The southern portions of the advisory will
likely be cancelled before 4z.
As far as rainfall goes, the heaviest rainfall will be post
frontal this AM. This area has anywhere from 1 to 1.5 inches of
rain today. The storms this afternoon will be fast moving and even
though the PWATs are near records, do not think that much rain
will be seen in the warm sector. The current forecast is for under
.75 inches.
.LONG TERM...(Wednesday through Monday)
ISSUED AT 240 AM CST Tue Nov 10 2020
Key Messages:
1. Dry with temperatures generally in the mid 40s to mid 50s
2. Next precipitation system expected Saturday into early Sunday
3. Dry again Sunday PM into next week with temps above normal
Wednesday through Friday, high pressure will be the main influence
to our area. A weak disturbance will track just north of the area
Thursday afternoon and night, but should only bring a wind shift from
southerly to northwesterly. Otherwise, plenty of sunshine and rather
light winds will prevail. Temperatures will be near normal for mid
November, with some day to day fluctuation. Wednesday highs will be
in the mid 40s to low 50s. Thursday there will be warmer temps ahead
of the weak cold front, with highs reaching the 50s. Friday, a
Canadian high pressure will drift across the area with highs in the
40s.
Saturday, return flow and a system in the southern Plains will bring
the chance for mainly rain to the region. Overall, its looking like
a rather raw day with temperatures only in the mid 40s to low 50s
and a brisk SE wind of 10 to 20 MPH.
Sunday, rain will be mostly east of the area by daybreak, with gusty
west winds bringing sunshine back. Highs will be in the 50s.
Dry conditions with rather pleasant fall-like conditions are
currently forecast for early next week as a large high pressure moves
across the nation.
&&
.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Wednesday Afternoon)
ISSUED AT 1142 AM CST Tue Nov 10 2020
The cold front is stationary along the Mississippi river. Low
pressure will move along the front which may push it briefly back
north before moving east across Illinois. East of the front VFR
conditions are occurring with MVFR/IFR west of the front. MVFR/IFR
conditions with rain and embedded TSRA will be seen through
00z/11 as the main low moves along the front. After 00z/11
widespread MVFR conditions will be seen that will slowly improve
to VFR through 12z/11 from west to east.
&&
.CLIMATE...
ISSUED AT 240 AM CST Tue Nov 10 2020
Record Highs for November 10...
Moline.........71 in 2012
Cedar Rapids...72 in 2012
Dubuque........69 in 2012
Burlington.....73 in 2012
&&
.DVN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IA...Wind Advisory until 8 PM CST this evening for Cedar-Clinton-Des
Moines-Henry IA-Jackson-Lee-Louisa-Muscatine-Scott-Van
Buren.
IL...Wind Advisory until 8 PM CST this evening for Bureau-Carroll-
Hancock-Henderson-Henry IL-Jo Daviess-McDonough-Mercer-
Putnam-Rock Island-Stephenson-Warren-Whiteside.
MO...Wind Advisory until 8 PM CST this evening for Clark-Scotland.
&&
SYNOPSIS...Gibbs
SHORT TERM...Gibbs
LONG TERM...14
AVIATION...08
CLIMATE...GibbsHazardous weather outlook, Nov 10, 3:29 AM CST, 10 hours 16 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL 329 AM CST Tue Nov 10 2020 IAZ040>042-051>054-063>068-076>078-087>089-098-099-ILZ001-002-007- 009-015>018-024>026-034-035-MOZ009-010-110930- Buchanan-Delaware-Dubuque-Benton-Linn-Jones-Jackson-Iowa-Johnson- Cedar-Clinton-Muscatine-Scott-Keokuk-Washington-Louisa-Jefferson- Henry IA-Des Moines-Van Buren-Lee-Jo Daviess-Stephenson-Carroll- Whiteside-Rock Island-Henry IL-Bureau-Putnam-Mercer-Henderson- Warren-Hancock-McDonough-Scotland-Clark- 329 AM CST Tue Nov 10 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central Illinois...northwest Illinois...west central Illinois...east central Iowa...northeast Iowa...southeast Iowa and northeast Missouri. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A strong cold front will bring rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds to the area today. There is a slight risk for severe weather mainly east of a line from Dubuque to Iowa City to Memphis. The main threats from these storms would be damaging wind gusts to 60 mph and tornadoes. These storms will be very fast moving today. You may not hear thunder before the storms are upon you. Be sure to be weather aware today. The main threat timing will be from noon to 6pm today. This afternoon and into the evening winds ahead and behind of the front could gust to 45 mph. A wind advisory is in effect. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is possible from noon to 6 pm today.
In the hours before
Local storm report, Nov 10, 12:51 PM CST, 54 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
1251 PM CST TUE NOV 10 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1237 PM TSTM WND GST 3 ENE CHARLIE HEATH MEM 40.61N 91.84W
11/10/2020 E45 MPH CLARK MO TRAINED SPOTTER
ESTIMATED THUNDERSTORM WIND GUST OF 40 TO 45
MPH.
&&
DCLocal storm report, Nov 10, 1:20 PM CST, 25 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
120 PM CST TUE NOV 10 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0118 PM TSTM WND GST KEOKUK 40.41N 91.41W
11/10/2020 E45 MPH LEE IA TRAINED SPOTTER
ESTIMATED WIND GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH.
&&
DCLocal storm report, Nov 10, 1:44 PM CST, 1 minute before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
144 PM CST TUE NOV 10 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0140 PM TSTM WND GST GULFPORT 40.81N 91.09W
11/10/2020 E55 MPH HENDERSON IL TRAINED SPOTTER
WIDESPREAD WINDS OF 50-55 MPH.
&&
TJGLocal storm report, Nov 10, 1:45 PM CST, 0 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
145 PM CST TUE NOV 10 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0140 PM TSTM WND GST 1 ENE WEST BURLINGTON 40.83N 91.17W
11/10/2020 E60 MPH DES MOINES IA TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
TJGThe 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.
Davenport, (KDVN), 12:00Z
7.8 hours before the tornado, 44 km from the path. November 10, 2020.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 97 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -91 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 45 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 614 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 52 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 28 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 192 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 173 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 4.6 K/km
The surface observations
Moline (MLI), 29 km from the path, in the two hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Temp (°F) | Dew point (°F) | Wind | Gust (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00:00 UTC |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.
The radar
The Quad Cities radar (KDVN), 40 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 19:44 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.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2020 tornado in IllinoisEvery tornado in Illinois since 1950Warnings in force in Illinois nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of November 10, 2020
8 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 10 | 2:02 PM CST | EF1 | Mercer, IL | 0.5 | 30 | |||
| November 10 | 12:20 PM PST | EF0 | Columbia, OR | 1.7 | 200 | $40,000 | ||
| November 10 | 2:38 PM CST | EF1 | Whiteside, IL | 0.3 | 100 | |||
| November 10 | 2:42 PM CST | EF1 | Henry, IL | 0.3 | 30 | |||
| November 10 | 2:50 PM CST | EF1 | Whiteside, IL | 3.5 | 100 | |||
| November 10 | 3:00 PM CST | EF1 | Whiteside, IL | 4.3 | 100 | |||
| November 10 | 4:19 PM CST | EF0 | DeKalb, IL | 10.0 | 50 | |||
| November 10 | 4:39 PM CST | EF0 | Kane, IL | 3.7 | 50 |
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.