Power Outage in Metropolis, IL

Near Round Knob, a large section of shingles was removed from a home. Trees and power poles were down in the Unionville area.

Near Round Knob, a large section of shingles was removed from a home. Trees and power poles were down in the Unionville area.

Power lines were down. Power outages were reported.

Widespread damaging winds occurred across the county. Numerous trees and power lines were down. The roof was lifted off a business in Metropolis. Trees landed on some structures, including a carport near Brookport, a trailer near Round Knob, and a house in Metropolis.

Widespread damaging winds occurred across the county. Numerous trees and power lines were down. The roof was lifted off a business in Metropolis. Trees landed on some structures, including a carport near Brookport, a trailer near Round Knob, and a house in Metropolis.

A swath of damaging winds crossed northern and central Massac County. Wind speeds estimated up to 80 mph broke utility poles, snapped numerous trees, and blew down a barn. On the western side of the county, power poles were snapped near the intersection of Highway 169 and County Road 12. On the eastern side of the county, a barn was blown down east of Highway 145 near County Road 2. Some of the most concentrated damage was in the New Columbia area, where numerous trees were snapped and uprooted. Shingles were blown off a house on the northwest side of New Columbia. Large tree limbs were blown down on U.S. Highway 45 north of Mermet.

A swath of damaging winds crossed northern and central Massac County. Wind speeds estimated up to 80 mph broke utility poles, snapped numerous trees, and blew down a barn. On the western side of the county, power poles were snapped near the intersection of Highway 169 and County Road 12. On the eastern side of the county, a barn was blown down east of Highway 145 near County Road 2. Some of the most concentrated damage was in the New Columbia area, where numerous trees were snapped and uprooted. Shingles were blown off a house on the northwest side of New Columbia. Large tree limbs were blown down on U.S. Highway 45 north of Mermet.

Downed tree limbs and power lines were reported on a street on the north end of town.

Numerous trees were blown down and widespread minor roof damage occurred, mainly in the southern part of the county. Between Metropolis and Brookport, a large metal shed was blown apart, and a tree landed on a house. The house roof sustained minor to moderate damage. In Metropolis, a window was blown out of a downtown museum. A portion of the roof was blown off a Metropolis city business, and a shed was destroyed. There were numerous reports of downed tree limbs on Metropolis city streets and some county roads. The west part of Metropolis was without power. One tree fell onto a house in Brookport. The house was heavily damaged, and the family was displaced. A mobile home was partially unroofed in Brookport.

A funnel cloud crossed the Ohio River from Kentucky, then touched down on the southwest edge of Metropolis a few blocks from the Ohio River. The most significant damage occurred along a residential street next to the city's elementary school. The school had window and roofing damage. The primary school received more serious structural damage, likely in excess of 100,000 dollars. Nearby homes sustained roof damage, and numerous large trees were uprooted or snapped. Power poles were down. The city fire department responded to six fire calls and three medical calls directly related to the storm. A tree fell on a car, resulting in minor injuries to the driver. On the east edge of Metropolis, the tornado ripped the roof off of a maintenance shed. The tornado moved through Fort Massac State Park and exited the park on U.S. Highway 45 just west of Interstate 24. A motel just west of the interstate sustained minor to moderate roof damage. The path ended near the intersection of Highway 45 and I-24. A photograph was taken of the funnel cloud over Metropolis, but the bottom part of the funnel was behind trees and buildings. Widespread power outages lasted for at least 12 hours. Peak winds were estimated near 105 mph.

The rubber roof was lifted from the county courthouse. The roof was partially removed from a second structure. Power lines were blown down. A large awning was blown off, and two plate glass windows were blown out in the downtown area. A trained spotter measured a wind gust to 68 mph.

At Hohman Lake, trees and power lines were blown down. A johnboat sank.

In Metropolis, a window was blown out of a house. Power lines and tree limbs were blown down. An awning was torn off a cafe, and there was siding and gutter damage to houses. A large tree was down across a main street just north of town.

In Metropolis, a window was blown out of a house. Power lines and tree limbs were blown down. An awning was torn off a cafe, and there was siding and gutter damage to houses. A large tree was down across a main street just north of town.

Several large trees were blown down, and tree tops were blown out. About half the city of Metropolis was reported to be out of power. The highest wind gusts were estimated near 60 mph. The tree damage area included Joppa, Metropolis, and the Midway area.

Several large trees were blown down, and tree tops were blown out. About half the city of Metropolis was reported to be out of power. The highest wind gusts were estimated near 60 mph. The tree damage area included Joppa, Metropolis, and the Midway area.

The tornado began along the Ohio River, where power poles were damaged at a barge-loading facility. Further east along the track, the roof was blown off a trailer, and some roof and utility pole damage occurred at an industrial complex. Portable buildings were destroyed and a trailer was overturned just east of the industrial complex. On the north end of Metropolis, several trees were blown down. There was tree damage to at least one garage, two homes, and two vehicles. There was minor roof damage to two other homes. Several utility poles were snapped. Near Interstate 24, part of the metal roof was torn off a large building in an industrial park. One trailer was overturned. One barn was heavily damaged. Peak winds were estimated near 110 mph. The average path width was 225 yards.

The tornado began along the Ohio River, where power poles were damaged at a barge-loading facility. Further east along the track, the roof was blown off a trailer, and some roof and utility pole damage occurred at an industrial complex. Portable buildings were destroyed and a trailer was overturned just east of the industrial complex. On the north end of Metropolis, several trees were blown down. There was tree damage to at least one garage, two homes, and two vehicles. There was minor roof damage to two other homes. Several utility poles were snapped. Near Interstate 24, part of the metal roof was torn off a large building in an industrial park. One trailer was overturned. One barn was heavily damaged. Peak winds were estimated near 110 mph. The average path width was 225 yards.

Several trees and power lines were down, and a vacant old trailer was blown over on County Road 700E near New Columbia. Debris from the trailer blocked the road. A tree was down on a road near Midway.

Several trees and power lines were down, and a vacant old trailer was blown over on County Road 700E near New Columbia. Debris from the trailer blocked the road. A tree was down on a road near Midway.

High tension power lines were down along a side street. Wind gusts were estimated near 60 mph by law enforcement officers.

Numerous trees and power lines were blown down. Shingles were blown off a number of homes.

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.

Several trees were blown down, mainly on the west side of town. One large tree limb landed on a house on U.S. Route 45. Another building was damaged by a downed large tree limb. Power lines were downed.

Power poles were down.

The continuous path of damage that began near Ullin in Pulaski County became tornadic as it crossed into Massac County. The damage path extended only about a mile into extreme northwest Massac County. The damage ended near State Route 169 at Boaz Road. Dozens of trees were snapped or uprooted. Two barns were destroyed, and a side wall of a third barn was blown out. Power poles were snapped or blown down along Highway 169. A mobile home near Boaz was unroofed and severely damaged. A citizen reported seeing the tornado. Peak winds were estimated near 70 MPH.

A wind gust to 59 MPH was measured at the Metropolis airport. In Metropolis, a construction trailer at the riverfront casino was blown over. A tree fell on a house on Route 145. Trees and power lines were down east of Metropolis.

Trees and power poles were blown down at several locations around Massac County. The tree and utility line damage was most significant near Joppa, where winds were estimated near 60 MPH. Strong winds were also reported in neighboring counties, but they were not as high as in Massac County. Wind gusts were measured to 45 MPH at the airport near Cairo in Alexander County. In Pulaski County, wind gusts estimated up to 50 MPH blew some debris and tree limbs onto roads. The winds weakened north and east of Massac County, with gusts estimated from 30 to 40 MPH in Gallatin County. The wind event was associated with a mesoscale area of low pressure in the wake of an area of showers.

The roofs of several houses were severely damaged or blown off. One business was destroyed. Several barns and outbuildings were destroyed. Numerous large trees were blown down, along with seven power poles. Peak winds were estimated near 125 MPH. The damage path began due north of Metropolis and crossed Illinois Route 145 about 7 miles north-northeast of Metropolis. Route 145 and several smaller roads were closed due to large trees blown across them. This damage was located in nearly the exact location where damaging thunderstorm winds occurred about 48 hours earlier, on the evening of May 4.

The tornado was near its maximum F-4 intensity as it crossed the Pulaski County line into western Massac County near the community of Hillerman. Estimated winds of 210 MPH disintegrated mobile homes and levelled several modern frame homes. One frame house was swept clean off its foundation, with only the roof left intact in a creek about 200 yards away. Many vehicles were lifted, rolled, or thrown up to 100 yards or more. Numerous cases of missiling were observed, including glass embedded in trees. Tree destruction in forested areas was nearly complete, and a few trees were debarked. The only fatality in Massac County was a 65-year-old female who was killed when her mobile home disintegrated. The official cause of death was blunt trauma to the head. She was found in a water-filled ravine about 100 yards from the former site of her mobile home. The frame of the mobile home was wrapped around the trunks of two trees that were stripped of all their limbs. Most of the levelled frame homes were concentrated on Boaz Road and Rolling Hills Road, in or near Hillerman. After passing through Hillerman, the tornado overturned dozens of railroad cars of a train just west of the Mermet Lake Conservation Area, which is off U.S. Route 45. The Mermet Lake Conservation Area was extensively damaged. An estimated 300 acres of forest were destroyed, boat docks were destroyed, and bathing facilities were destroyed. Dozens of waterfowl were found dead. After destroying additional residences and high tension power lines, the tornado crossed Interstate 24 near mile marker 28, about a mile south of the New Columbia exit. Tractor-trailer rigs and a tour bus were overturned on the interstate, injuring the drivers. The interstate was closed due to grain bins, tree limbs, and some building debris on the highway. Additional residences were destroyed between the interstate and the Pope County line. The tornado crossed into Pope County near where Illinois Route 145 crosses the county line. In Massac County, a total of 15 single-family houses and 13 mobile homes were destroyed. About 20 other single-family houses and 15 mobile homes received major damage. Several dozen other residences had some type of minor damage. Numerous vehicles and farming implements were destroyed, including combines. About 20 persons were injured in Massac County, but only one or two were hospitalized in serious or critical condition. Most of the injuries involved lacerations, bruises, broken bones, and internal injuries. Near Hillerman, a deputy sheriff escaped unhurt after his patrol car was thrown about 50 yards and struck by a flying tree and telephone pole.

A thunderstorm downburst struck a small area on the east side of Metropolis. About 10 trees were blown down, including one that fell on a house and another on power lines. A carport was blown about 100 feet into some woods. A sign was damaged at a car dealership.

Two power lines were blown down.

The Ohio River rose above flood stage at most locations along the Illinois shore on March 20th or 21st. At Shawneetown, where flood stage is 33 feet, the river crested at 43.70 feet on the morning of the 29th. At Golconda, where flood stage is 40 feet, the river crested at 44.12 feet on the 28th. Crests at Brookport, Grand Chain, and Cairo were all 7 to 8 feet above flood stage on the 26th and 27th. The impact of this flooding was minor to moderate. Several county roads were closed near Shawneetown. Water reached the power house at Lock and Dam 53 near Grand Chain. Low-lying agricultural bottomlands were flooded, but planting season had not yet begun.