EF3 tornado in Effingham County, Illinois

Originating in Beecher City within Effingham County, the tornado

first touched down along E State Highway 33 at 7:56PM CDT. The storm's initial

path spanned approximately one-quarter mile in width, resulting

in EF0 and EF1 level damage. This impact was characterized by the

snapping and uprooting of large trees, alongside sporadic damage

to grain silos and farm out-buildings, with notable effects

observed near N 300th St on the outskirts of Beecher City.

Moving eastward through Shumway, the tornado crossed State

Highway 32 and proceeded parallel to E 1800th Ave. Although the

path width constricted to just over one-tenth of a mile, the storm

intensified, producing EF-2 level damage. The increased strength

resulted in hardwood and softwood tree trunks being snapped

approximately two-thirds of the way up. Additionally, the tornado

caused significant structural destruction, including the removal

of a roof from a single-family home and the collapse of several

farm outbuildings.

Upon reaching the northern outskirts of rural Effingham, the

tornado intensified to EF-3 status as it traveled along E 1800th

Ave. During this stage, the storm produced peak wind speeds

estimated at 145 mph, leading to severe tree damage and the total

destruction of one single-family home, which suffered complete

exterior wall collapses.

Continuing its path along Effingham's northern perimeter, the

EF-3 tornado maintained a width of one- tenth to one-quarter mile.

Substantial structural damage occurred at a farmstead on E 1680th

Ave, where several large outbuildings were demolished and a

single-family home suffered a total roof uplift alongside partial

exterior wall failure. Upon entering Effingham city limits and

crossing US HWY 45, the storm destroyed a substantial metal

building system after an X-brace failed on its eastern side.

Nearby properties sustained further structural and severe tree

damage, and the force of the winds threw a delivery van

approximately 150 yards to the east.

After departing Effingham, the tornado tracked southeastward and

broadened to a width of approximately one-third of a mile. As the

storm crossed Interstate 70, it inflicted major damage to trees

and caused total roof uplift at multiple single- family homes. The

tornado then proceeded across the northern and eastern parts of

Teutopolis, where it caused extensive structural destruction to a

farmstead located near the HWY 40 and N 1950th St intersection.

Impacts at this location included the complete destruction of

several large barns and outbuildings, as well as the total uplift

of a single- residence roof. The tornadic storm maintained its

EF-3 intensity as it moved eastward into rural Teutopolis, though

its path narrowed to roughly one-tenth of a mile. Near the

intersection of N 2100th St and E 1500th Ave, the storm produced

peak wind speeds of 140 mph, resulting in the destruction of two

single-family homes and significant damage to trees and

outbuildings. Multiple non-life-threatening injuries were reported

in this area. The tornado continued east-southeastward and crossed into western Jasper County along E 1400th Ave at 8:26PM CDT.

Several rounds of significant convection impacted central Illinois on June 17th, 2026. Clusters of thunderstorms initially formed on the nose of a strong low-level jet streak across Iowa during the pre-dawn hours, then tracked southeastward along a warm frontal boundary into central Illinois through midday. Scattered damaging wind gusts were reported in north-central Illinois, with the most concentrated corridor of 60-70 mph winds focused along a Galesburg, to Peoria, to Chenoa line.

Thunderstorms re-developed along a remnant outflow boundary from the morning convection by mid to late afternoon, with the most intense cells materializing along and south of a Springfield to Paris line where several tornadoes occurred and hail larger than baseballs (3 diameter) was reported across portions of Moultrie, Douglas, and Coles counties. An EF2 tornado impacted the Mattoon to Charleston area, and an EF3 tracked just north of Effingham.