By NICK VLAHOS
For The Weekly Post
A trio of tornadoes last week in southeast Knox and northwest Peoria counties damaged buildings, trees and power poles.
The tornadoes spawned from a storm that passed through the area April 2, according to the National Weather Service office in Lincoln. No injuries were reported, although downed power lines near Laura entrapped a vehicle.
In general, the tornadoes moved from the southwest to the northeast. All three touched down within five minutes of each other.
At 6:18 p.m., a tornado began near Douglas and damaged an outbuilding along Illinois Route 8. Also damaged were numerous large trees along Knox Highway 18 south of Knox Road 750 North, as well as roofing and siding on several houses in that area.
Once the tornado crossed Knox Road 2300 East, it damaged more trees before it dissipated at 6:25 p.m. about three miles north of Yates City. The tornado was as wide as 100 yards and its path was 5.74 miles long. Peak winds were 105 mph. It was rated EF-1 according to the Enhanced Fujita Scale (85-110 mph).
A second EF-1 tornado at 6:18 p.m. reached 110 mph after it touched down about two miles southeast of Williamsfield. It destroyed an outbuilding before it crossed from Knox County into Peoria County, then snapped seven utility poles along Illinois Route 78 near U.S. Route 150.
The tornado also damaged trees near Brimfield and Maher roads. After 6.2 miles and a maximum width of 250 yards, the tornado dissipated at 6:26 p.m. about two miles west-southwest of Monica.
An EF-0 tornado that had peak winds of 85 mph and a maximum width of 60 yards began at 6:23 p.m. about four miles north of Yates City. It damaged trees just south of Knox Road 900 North. Then it crossed Interstate 74 near East Knox Road, where it damaged an outbuilding and more trees.
The tornado, which covered 3.67 miles, also damaged trees along Elmore and Swab Run roads before it dissipated about 6:28 p.m. near McClellan Road, about four miles west-northwest of Brimfield.
Power lines were felled along McClellan Road and at Elmore Road and Route 150. Downed lines at the latter location became entangled in the wheels of a vehicle that drove over them, according to the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office. Ameren Illinois representatives were summoned to free the vehicle.
The sheriff’s office reported at least 10 downed utility poles at or near the Elmore-150 intersection. Firefighters from Brimfield and Williamsfield also responded, as did BYE Ambulance Service, the sheriff’s office indicated.
An additional tornado was reported about 5:30 p.m. south of Galesburg. It skirted the south side of the city and damaged trees. After almost eight miles and a peak wind of 85 mph, it dissipated just east of East Galesburg, according to the weather service.
Wind gusts of 63 mph were recorded in Elmwood. Similar wind speeds were reported in Farmington, as was pea-to-dime-sized hail at Main and Vernon streets. No significant damage in either city was noted.
April is the start of peak tornado season, which extends through June, according to the state climatologist at the University of Illinois. About two-thirds of tornadoes in Illinois occur in that span.
