F3 tornado in Massac County, Illinois

This tornado, which contained peak winds near 160 MPH, struck between Joppa and the Metropolis airport. The damage path started about a mile from the Ohio River, where F-1 winds uprooted numerous trees. As the tornado crossed U.S. Highway 45 near Joppa Road, a barn was destroyed. The tornado then strengthened to F-3 intensity, destroying a log home. The roof and an exterior wall of the well-constructed log home were blown about one-half mile. Another house nearby sustained major damage. Four mobile homes were destroyed, along with garages and outbuildings. Part of a double wide mobile home blew into a church sanctuary. Six vehicles were tossed up to 100 yards. At least one of the vehicles landed in a pond. The only two persons injured were residents of a destroyed mobile home. The worst of the injuries was a broken arm. Hundreds of trees were broken or uprooted, and numerous trees fell on cars. Numerous power poles were downed. A seriously injured dog was found in a ditch one quarter mile away. The most intense damage, where vehicles were tossed, occurred about two-thirds of the way along the damage path near Red Oak Road. The tornado was witnessed by the general public. The average path width was 100 yards.