Power Outage in Granville, IL

An NWS Storm Survey determined that straight-line thunderstorm winds caused extensive damage in Granville, Illinois during the early morning hours. The winds snapped power poles, uprooted and snapped trees, and caused roof damage at several homes and business. The maximum winds were estimated between 90 to 100 MPH. The damage path was approximately 1 mile long and one half mile wide.

A power line was reported down in Granville and a tree was down across the Highway 26 near Hennepin. The time of the event was estimated using radar.

Trained Spotters reported 0.5 to 0.75 inches of ice accumulation. Power outages from down power lines, numerous downed power poles, and tree branch damage were widespread throughout the county.

Emergency manager reported several power lines down from trees blown down in near Granville. Time of the report is estimated from radar.

Wind gusts estimated to be 75 mph blew down some trees and power lines in Granville, IL at 1140 am CDT May 29.

Wind gusts estimated to be 70 mph blew down power poles and large trees on the south side of Spring Valley beginning around 550 pm CDT June 23. Areas most affected included Highway 89 on the south side of town, Oakdale Avenue, Marquette Road, and Ladd Road. The local newspaper included reports and pictures of many trees that fell onto cars, houses, and decks causing structural damage. The bleachers at the Hall High School track were also overturned and crumpled by the wind.

Wind gusts estimated to be 65 mph blew down some power lines in the Granville, IL area at 337 pm June 18. Heavy rain and lightning was also reported.

The low topped supercell that produced 2 earlier tornadoes in Stark and Marshall/Bureau counties continued to be a cyclic tornado producer. The deadliest and longest lived tornado started at 1644 CST, 0.7 miles North Northeast of Florid in Putnam County and moved northeast toward Granville. The long lived nature of the tornado was due to it riding along a warm front pushing through Putnam and La Salle counties. Satellite imagery indicated a strengthening mesocyclone at 1625 CST (2225 Z) with the formation of a new line of feeder clouds into the supercell, and KDVN 88D velocity data showed a strengthening TVS signature by 1635 CST (2235 Z). Witnesses reported a multiple vortex tornado just prior to its arrival in Granville. The tornado hit Granville at 1647-1648 CST which coincided with the failure of the main power feed into town. The town was bisected by the half mile wide tornado with 12 buildings destroyed, 45 with major damage, and 26 with minor damage (mainly residential). The Granville State National Bank lost its roof and Hopkins Elementary School lost the roof over the old gymnasium with damage in nearly all the classrooms. Significant damage also occurred to Granville Drugs, the only drug store in town. In a strange twist of irony, the town had finally recovered from a major fire 4 years earlier that decimated much of the business district. The tornado continued northeast out of Granville and crossed over into La Salle County (WFO LOT) at 1653 CST (2253 Z), 3.8 miles Northeast of Granville. The Granville/Utica tornado was the first significant test of a new statewide mutual aid response agreement. In Granville 5 people were injured by the tornado, including an eldery female who suffered a heart attack during the tornado and was eventually Life Flighted to a Peoria hospital. Injuries were low due to the 32 minutes of lead time before the tornado struck Granville. Damage in Granville is estimated to be at least $8 million with the school suffering at least $3.5 million in damage.