Power Outage in Tuscola, IL

Westerly winds increased to around 40mph with gusts of 50-60mph. A few large tree limbs and power lines were blown down.

Two power lines were blown down in Tuscola.

Power poles were snapped off and fell onto a car at Eagle Mountain Church.

Powerlines were blown down in Tuscola.

Weather observers across Douglas County reported snowfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches. Winds gusting to between 45 and 55 mph created whiteout conditions from 1030 to 1430 CST. Snow-covered roads and poor visibility due to falling and blowing snow contributed to numerous traffic accidents across the county, especially on I-57 and US-36. In addition, many trees and power lines were blown down, resulting in more than half the county being without power for 5 to 8 hours.

A tornado touched down 3.7 miles NW of Tuscola at 12:44 PM CST, then tracked northeastward and crossed into Champaign County about 1.5 miles NW of Villa Grove at 12:52 PM CST. The roof of a house and 2 outbuildings were damaged during the first 2 miles of the track. The tornado strengthened after it crossed U.S. Highway 45 doing major damage to 2 homes, several large farm buildings, numerous power poles, and a garage. The tornado then turned to the east, damaging the roofs of two homes and destroying several outbuildings. It then crossed I-57 near mile marker 218 where it destroyed a mobile home just east of the highway. The tornado did major damage to several more roofs and outbuildings before it merged with another tornado 2 miles WNW of Villa Grove, turned to the northeast, and crossed into Champaign County.

This tornado crossed into Douglas County from Moultrie County about 5 miles north of Arthur at 12:37 PM CST, then tracked northeastward before lifting 0.8 miles east of Garrett at 12:41 PM CST. The tornado damaged the roofs of 3 homes and 5 outbuildings, as well as, numerous trees and power poles in rural western Douglas County. It then crossed U.S. Highway 36 and tracked into the town of Garrett where it damaged the roofs of about two dozen homes and mobile homes before dissipating.

A tornado touched down in a field just west of mile marker 216 along I-57 at 12:46 PM CST, then tracked northeastward before dissipating 2 miles WNW of Villa Grove at 12:51 PM CST. The tornado crossed the interstate, then destroyed 3 outbuildings and damaged the roofs of 2 homes. For the next 4 miles, it moved through mainly open fields, damaging trees and power lines. The tornado dissipated about 2 miles WNW of Villa Grove when it merged with a larger tornado that was moving ENE across north-central Douglas County.

Tree limbs and power lines were blown down near the mall in Tuscola.

Numerous tree limbs and power lines were blown down in Garrett.

Weather observers across Douglas County measured 3 to 4 inches of sleet along with 4 to 6 inches of snow and around one quarter of an inch of ice. Due to ice accumulations, numerous tree branches and power lines were downed, causing power outages across the county. Snow-covered and icy roads resulted in numerous traffic accidents.

A tree was blown onto a house in Tuscola. Numerous power lines were downed around town as well.

Numerous trees and powerlines down across Douglas County. Wind damaged a gas station and 2 hardware stores in Tuscola.

A few trees, tree limbs and power lines were blown down. One tree fell onto a house and damaged a portion of the roof.

Several tree limbs and power poles were snapped around the county.

Several trees, tree limbs, and power lines were blown down.

Numerous trees and power lines blown down. Two trees were blown down onto parked cars and damaged them. No injuries were reported. Some crop damage was caused by nickel size hail.

Trees and power lines down.

Numerous reports of wind damage in and near the east side of Atwood. Damage at the East Forest Estates Mobile Home Park included a mobile home blown off its foundation and numerous other homes with windows and doors blown out. A large tree was blown over onto a garage and caused significant damage to the structure and its contents in the Oaks subdivision on the southeast corner of Atwood. Numerous trees and power lines were blown down in the area.

Numerous trees, tree limbs and power lines were blown down. One tree was uprooted in Tuscola damaging a car nearby. No injuries were reported.

Thunderstorm winds caused considerable damage throughout Douglas county, though the most intense damage occurred in a swath from Arcola to Hindsboro. Numerous trees, tree limbs, power poles, and power lines were blown down countywide. A 20 foot section of bleachers at the Arcola high school were blown onto the track. A metal roof from a lumber yard was blown off. Several sheds, grain bins, campers, and boats were destroyed between Arcola and Hindsboro. Also, two semis were blown over on I-57, one near Tuscola and one near Arcola. No injuries were reported.

Six people were injured at a local festival in Atwood from flying debris, which is west of Tuscola on the Douglas/Piatt county line. One of the people injured was taken to a local hospital. Several power lines were reported down as well as a number of trees falling onto cars and houses in Atwood. Also, numerous power lines were blown down in Tuscola, Arthur and Arcola. Several large trees were blown down in Tuscola.

Several trees, large tree limbs, and power lines were blown down.

A powerful storm system tracking from Iowa into the Upper Midwest pulled a strong cold front through central Illinois during the evening of January 22nd. A few of the storms produced wind gusts from 50 to 60 mph, particularly along and east of the I-57 corridor.