EF1 tornado in Pulaski County, Illinois

An EF-1 tornado began near the Mississippi River just northwest of Fayville in Alexander County and moved east northeast into Pulaski County just northeast of Sandusky. The tornado uprooted and snapped the trunks of numerous trees along its path. A few buildings sustained roof damage. The estimated peak wind was 105 mph. The total path length of the tornado was around 18 miles. A large area of 70-90 mph straight line winds swept just south of the tornado and eventually overtook it as it moved east of Interstate 57. Damage indicative of the 70-90 mph straight line winds continued sporadically into western Massac County.

In the base of an approaching upper-level trough, strong mid and upper-level jets overspread the middle Mississippi Valley on the afternoon of the 30th. Steep mid-level lapse rates contributed to rapid destabilization, as well, setting the stage for a widespread severe thunderstorm event. As the cold front approached, thunderstorms rapidly intensified and quickly formed into line segments upon reaching southern Illinois in the mid-afternoon. Large hail was common through the late afternoon in areas west of Interstate 57 and north of Highway 13. Quarter size to golf ball size hail was reported over much of this area. Then the storms formed into a larger line and produced damaging winds. During this transition, one storm produced an EF-1 tornado that moved east across central portions of Alexander and Pulaski Counties. Widespread 70-90mph winds swept along just south of the tornado and eventually overtook it.