Tornadoes · United States · Illinois · 2025
EF1 tornado, DeWitt County, Illinois, June 18, 2025
This EF1 tornado ran 3.5 miles across DeWitt County on June 18, 2025, touching down at 1:50 PM CDT and reaching 100 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
- June 18, 2025
- Touchdown
- 1:50 PM CDT (18:50 UTC)
- Lifted
- 1:55 PM CDT (18:55 UTC)
- On the ground
- 5 minutes
- Path length
- 3.5 miles (5.7 km)
- Path width
- 100 yards (91 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- County
- DeWitt County
- Touchdown point
- 40.239, -88.765
- Lift-off point
- 40.268, -88.710
- Record number
- 2506181250-01
The damage survey
9 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS ILX, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EFU. The highest wind the damage implies is 100 mph.
- Damage began about half mile southwest in corn field
- Corn flattened. Beginning point of tornado just to northeast in field.
- Tornado dissipated just northeast of this location in field.
- Video relayed by broadcast media shows a brief tornado touchdown in a field to the east of Route 54 near Bellflower. The McLean County Emergency Manager reported no damage in the area, so this tornado has been labeled EF-Unknown.
Survey points are preliminary and are the raw material the published rating was built from. Source: NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit.
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 14:46 UTC and running to 20:18 UTC.
| Issued (UTC) | Expired | Product | Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14:46 UTC | 20:18 UTC | Tornado Watch | ILX |
| 17:22 UTC | 17:45 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX |
| 18:00 UTC | 00:00 UTC | Wind Advisory | ILX |
| 18:05 UTC | 18:30 UTC | Tornado Warning | ILX |
| 18:48 UTC | 19:15 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX |
| 18:52 UTC | 19:16 UTC | Tornado Warning | ILX |
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 16:19 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
6.8 hours before the tornado, 16 km from the path. June 18, 2025.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 550 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -132 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 333 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 960 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 39 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 27 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 124 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 110 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.5
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 4.4 K/km
Lincoln, IL (KILX), 00:00Z
5.2 hours after it, 16 km from the path. June 19, 2025.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 44 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -78 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 687 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 960 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 39 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 22 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 30 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 34 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.1
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 5.9 K/km
The surface observations
Bloomington/Norm (BMI), 29 km from the path, in the two hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Temp (°F) | Dew point (°F) | Wind | Gust (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16:50 UTC | 1007.5 | |||||
| 16:55 UTC | 1007.1 | -RA | ||||
| 16:56 UTC | 78 | 72 | 90° 11 kt | 1007.1 | VCTS -RA | |
| 17:00 UTC | 90° 7 kt | 1007.1 | +RA | |||
| 17:05 UTC | 330° 4 kt | 1007.8 | +RA BR | |||
| 17:10 UTC | 230° 5 kt | 1008.5 | +RA BR | |||
| 17:13 UTC | 73.4 | 73.4 | 260° 12 kt | 18 | 1008.8 | +TSRA BR |
| 17:15 UTC | 250° 10 kt | 1008.8 | +RA BR | |||
| 17:20 UTC | 280° 8 kt | 1008.5 | -RA BR | |||
| 17:23 UTC | 73.4 | 73.4 | 250° 6 kt | 1008.5 | VCTS | |
| 17:25 UTC | 240° 5 kt | 1008.5 | ||||
| 17:29 UTC | 75.2 | 75.2 | 240° 7 kt | 1008.5 | ||
| 17:30 UTC | 240° 4 kt | 1008.5 | ||||
| 17:35 UTC | 200° 5 kt | 1008.5 | ||||
| 17:40 UTC | 240° 7 kt | 1008.1 | ||||
| 17:45 UTC | 250° 5 kt | 1007.8 | ||||
| 17:50 UTC | 330° 5 kt | 1007.5 | -RA | |||
| 17:55 UTC | 330° 5 kt | 1007.1 | -RA | |||
| 17:56 UTC | 77 | 76 | 340° 5 kt | 1007.1 | VCTS -RA | |
| 18:00 UTC | 340° 2 kt | 1006.8 | -RA | |||
| 18:04 UTC | 77 | 75.2 | 0° 0 kt | 1006.8 | -RA | |
| 18:05 UTC | 0° 0 kt | 1006.8 | -RA | |||
| 18:10 UTC | 10° 5 kt | 1006.8 | -RA | |||
| 18:15 UTC | 20° 5 kt | 1007.1 | ||||
| 18:20 UTC | 50° 4 kt | 1006.8 | ||||
| 18:25 UTC | 0° 0 kt | 1006.8 | ||||
| 18:30 UTC | 50° 2 kt | 1006.4 | ||||
| 18:35 UTC | 40° 4 kt | 1006.1 | ||||
| 18:40 UTC | 50° 4 kt | 1006.1 | -RA | |||
| 18:45 UTC | 20° 5 kt | 1005.8 | -RA | |||
| 18:50 UTC | 1005.4 | RA | ||||
| 18:55 UTC | 50° 8 kt | 1005.4 | RA BR | |||
| 18:56 UTC | 75 | 75 | 70° 8 kt | 1005.4 | RA BR | |
| 19:00 UTC | 1005.8 | +RA BR | ||||
| 19:03 UTC | 71.6 | 71.6 | 200° 11 kt | 27 | 1005.8 | -RA |
| 19:05 UTC | 190° 11 kt | 1005.4 | -RA | |||
| 19:10 UTC | 190° 11 kt | 1005.4 | -RA | |||
| 19:15 UTC | 200° 11 kt | 1005.1 | -RA | |||
| 19:17 UTC | 75.2 | 75.2 | 210° 13 kt | 1005.1 | -RA | |
| 19:20 UTC | 200° 13 kt | 1005.1 | -RA | |||
| 19:25 UTC | 190° 14 kt | 1004.7 | -RA | |||
| 19:30 UTC | 190° 14 kt | 1004.7 | -RA | |||
| 19:35 UTC | 1004.7 | -RA | ||||
| 19:40 UTC | 27 | 1004.7 | -RA | |||
| 19:45 UTC | 1004.7 | -RA | ||||
| 19:50 UTC | 1004.7 | -RA | ||||
| 19:55 UTC | 31 | 1004.4 | ||||
| 19:56 UTC | 75 | 69 | 220° 27 kt | 34 | 1004.4 | |
| 20:00 UTC | 1004.4 | |||||
| 20:05 UTC | 31 | 1004.4 | ||||
| 20:10 UTC | 30 | 1004.4 | ||||
| 20:15 UTC | 1004.7 | |||||
| 20:20 UTC | 1004.4 | |||||
| 20:25 UTC | 1004.1 | BR | ||||
| 20:30 UTC | 30 | 1004.1 | -RA BR | |||
| 20:35 UTC | 1004.4 | -RA | ||||
| 20:40 UTC | 1004.4 | -RA | ||||
| 20:45 UTC | 250° 17 kt | 1004.7 | -RA |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.
The radar
The Lincoln radar (KILX), 52 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 18:48 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17:30 UTC | RAIN 1.02 | 2 E Bloomington | Mclean, IL | |
| 17:34 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Pesotum | Champaign, IL | Corned flattened from Tolono south to nearly Tuscola. Time estimated from radar. |
| 17:44 UTC | TSTM WND GST 59 | Willard Airport | Champaign, IL | Peak wind at KCMI ASOS. |
| 17:47 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Philo | Champaign, IL | Large tree blown down onto a chain link fence, causing damage to the fence. Photo shared via social media. Time estimated from radar. |
| 17:50 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Wsw Rantoul | Champaign, IL | Snapped power poles near the sports complex, plus several trees damaged in town. |
| 17:50 UTC | TORNADO | Rantoul | Champaign, IL | Power lines down in Rantoul...near the Family Sports Complex. |
| 17:59 UTC | TSTM WND GST 59 | Paxton | Ford, IL | |
| 18:01 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Wnw Loda | Iroquois, IL | Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from 1 WNW Loda. A 50 foot tree fell and impacted a house along Bayles Lake. The window to the living room was shattered due to the impact of the tree. Time estimated by radar. |
| 18:50 UTC | TORNADO | 4 Nne De Witt | De Witt, IL | EF-1 tornado with max winds of 100 mph. It tracked about 3.5 miles flattening corn, damaging trees, and a farmstead. |
| 18:53 UTC | TORNADO | 2 N Minier | Tazewell, IL | Tornado reported on the ground between Mackinaw and Minier...relayed by Emergency Management. |
| 18:56 UTC | NON-TSTM WND GST 49 | Decatur Airport | Macon, IL | Peak gradient wind at KDEC ASOS. |
| 18:56 UTC | NON-TSTM WND GST 51 | Decatur Airport | Macon, IL | Corrects magnitude of previous report of peak gradient wind at KDEC ASOS. |
| 18:56 UTC | TORNADO | 2 Nne Hopedale | Tazewell, IL | EF-U tornado. A video shows a brief touchdown for about 45 seconds. No damage was observed or reported. |
| 18:56 UTC | TORNADO | 2 S Mackinaw | Tazewell, IL | Tornado reported on ground. |
| 19:01 UTC | TORNADO | 3 Nw Farmer City | De Witt, IL | Rain-wrapped tornado with tree debris in the air. No structural damage. |
| 19:13 UTC | TORNADO | 1 Ssw Bellflower | Mclean, IL | [Delayed Report] - Video relayed by broadcast media shows a tornado touchdown in a field to the east of Route 54. Time estimated by radar. |
| 19:13 UTC | TORNADO | 1 Ssw Bellflower | Mclean, IL | EF-U tornado relayed via video shows a rope-shaped tornado occurring in a field. There have been no reports of damage. |
| 19:25 UTC | FUNNEL CLOUD | Bellflower | Mclean, IL | |
| 19:34 UTC | FUNNEL CLOUD | 1 N Fisher | Champaign, IL | |
| 19:34 UTC | NON-TSTM WND GST 49 | Willard Airport | Champaign, IL | Peak gradient wind at KCMI ASOS. |
| 20:00 UTC | RAIN 1.55 | 2 S Cooksville | Mclean, IL | Mesonet station EW0890 Cooksville. |
| 20:05 UTC | RAIN 1.24 | 3 Wnw Towanda | Mclean, IL | Mesonet station FW2710 Towanda. |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2025 tornado in IllinoisEvery tornado in Illinois since 1950Warnings in force in Illinois nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of June 18, 2025
29 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 18 | 1:04 AM CDT | EF1 | Cherokee, OK | 7.7 | 1,000 | $50,000 | ||
| June 18 | 1:14 AM CDT | EF1 | Adair, OK | 8.8 | 750 | $100,000 | ||
| June 18 | 1:20 AM CDT | EF1 | Benton, AR | 3.2 | 800 | |||
| June 18 | 1:29 AM CDT | EF1 | Benton, AR | 1.7 | 300 | $500,000 | ||
| June 18 | 1:54 AM CDT | EF1 | Washington, AR | 2.3 | 300 | $25,000 | ||
| June 18 | 10:55 AM CDT | EF1 | Calhoun, MO to IL | 3.6 | 100 | |||
| June 18 | 11:30 AM CDT | Unrated | Scott, IL | 1.5 | 10 | |||
| June 18 | 11:53 AM CDT | EF0 | Morgan, IL | 4.7 | 80 | |||
| June 18 | 11:54 AM CDT | EF1 | Scott, IL | 1.0 | 50 | |||
| June 18 | 12:02 PM CDT | EF1 | Morgan, IL | 3.9 | 75 | |||
| June 18 | 12:07 PM CDT | EF2 | Morgan, IL | 6.9 | 300 | |||
| June 18 | 12:15 PM CDT | EF1 | Morgan, IL | 7.6 | 50 | 1 | ||
| June 18 | 12:25 PM CDT | EF1 | Sangamon, IL | 7.4 | 200 | |||
| June 18 | 12:29 PM CDT | Unrated | Cass, IL | 1.4 | 10 | |||
| June 18 | 12:37 PM CDT | Unrated | Menard, IL | 3.0 | 10 | |||
| June 18 | 12:41 PM CDT | EF1 | Menard, IL | 1.4 | 200 | |||
| June 18 | 2:15 PM EDT | EF0 | Anne Arundel, MD | 0.1 | 75 | $250,000 | ||
| June 18 | 1:18 PM CDT | EF0 | Mason, IL | 0.1 | 100 | |||
| June 18 | 1:56 PM CDT | Unrated | Tazewell, IL | 0.2 | 50 | |||
| June 18 | 3:02 PM EDT | EF0 | Tippecanoe, IN | 0.6 | 30 | $20,000 | ||
| June 18 | 3:10 PM EDT | EF0 | Tippecanoe, IN | 0.3 | 20 | $25,000 | ||
| June 18 | 2:13 PM CDT | Unrated | McLean, IL | 0.1 | 30 | |||
| June 18 | 5:02 PM EDT | EF0 | Macomb, MI | 2.4 | 400 | |||
| June 18 | 6:10 PM CDT | Unrated | Jackson, OK | 1.0 | 20 | |||
| June 18 | 7:44 PM EDT | EF0 | Ottawa, OH | 0.5 | 10 | $85,000 | ||
| June 18 | 7:50 PM EDT | EF0 | Ottawa, OH | 2.9 | 10 | $49,000 | ||
| June 18 | 8:26 PM EDT | EF1 | Huron, OH | 9.3 | 200 | $40,000 | ||
| June 18 | 8:37 PM CDT | EF0 | Hickman, TN | 6.9 | 175 | $250,000 | ||
| June 18 | 8:37 PM CDT | EF0 | Macon, TN | 4.3 | 300 | $250,000 |
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.