Washington Illinois tornado
In the late morning hours of Sunday, November 17, 2013, a powerful and devastating tornado tracked through central Illinois, inflicting catastrophic damage to the city of Washington and several farmsteads in the rural areas past the city. The tornado resulted in three fatalities and injured 125 people. This tornado was one of the two violent tornadoes in the tornado outbreak of November 17, 2013, and was the strongest, costliest, and longest-tracked tornado. It was the deadliest tornado of the outbreak, tied with another intense tornado that went through Brookport, Illinois. The tornado was one of the nine violent tornadoes of the below-average yet destructive year of 2013.
What was the Washington Illinois tornado?
The Washington Illinois tornado was a devastating weather event that occurred on November 17, 2013. It originated as part of a severe supercell that tracked through central Illinois. The storm reached a peak intensity of EF4 on the Enhanced Fujita scale. It caused catastrophic damage to the city of Washington and surrounding rural farmsteads. This event ranks as one of the most significant tornadoes of the 2013 season.
What was the Washington Illinois tornado wind speed?
The tornado reached estimated peak wind speeds of 190 mph. These winds occurred as the vortex traveled through the Trail Edge subdivision. The damage survey confirmed high-end EF4 intensity based on the destruction of well-built homes. Earlier in its life cycle, the tornado fluctuated between EF2 and EF3 wind speeds. Wind measurements throughout the path varied based on the structural damage observed by survey teams.
What was the Washington Illinois tornado path?
The tornado touched down at 10:59 a.m. CST, 2.5 miles east of North Pekin. It traveled 46.2 miles in a northeasterly direction across central Illinois. The path crossed major infrastructure including I-474 and I-74. The vortex moved through East Peoria and directly into the city of Washington. It finally dissipated 48 minutes after touchdown near the town of Long Point.
How many people died in the Washington Illinois tornado?
The Washington Illinois tornado resulted in three fatalities. One victim died in the Farm Creek area, while two residents of Washington passed away from injuries sustained during the storm. Additionally, the event caused 125 injuries among local residents. These casualty figures reflect the intensity of the damage inflicted on homes and apartment complexes. The storm stands as one of the deadliest events of the November 17 outbreak.
What did the Washington Illinois tornado destroy?
The tornado leveled an auto parts store and multiple rows of houses in Washington. It destroyed the Georgetown Commons apartment complex and decimated buildings at the Hillcrest Golf Course. Farmsteads located north of the city suffered total obliteration. The storm also ripped roofs off homes, crumpled electrical transmission towers, and shredded numerous trees. Bare foundations remained in several neighborhoods where the vortex swept away entire structures.
What caused the Washington Illinois tornado?
The Storm Prediction Center anticipated the severe weather event by monitoring atmospheric instability along a cold front. A supercell developed as increasing moisture, wind shear, and high CAPE levels converged in the region. The SPC issued a high-risk area for Illinois and neighboring states in anticipation of this environment. An intense upper-level trough and strong mid-level jet stream supported the development of the violent supercell. This system maintained a mesocyclone for over 50 miles.
What happened after the Washington Illinois tornado?
Communities affected by the storm received massive amounts of aid from various charity organizations. A controversy arose when the Federal Emergency Management Agency declined federal aid to the state of Illinois. This decision triggered public outrage from the mayor of Washington and other government officials. The city faced a long period of rebuilding following the catastrophic destruction of its housing and commercial districts. Hillcrest Golf Course remained closed for two years after the event.
Washington Illinois Tornado Track
The mapped ground track below shows the surveyed touchdown point, damage corridor, and dissipation coordinates recorded by NWS field crews. The Washington Illinois tornado traveled 46.2 miles across Washington, East Peoria, Tazewell County, Illinois. Coordinates are derived from the official SPC historical tornado database.
What was the peak wind speed of the Washington Illinois tornado?
The tornado reached estimated peak wind speeds of 190 mph.
When did the Washington Illinois tornado occur?
The tornado touched down on the morning of Sunday, November 17, 2013, at 10:59 a.m. CST.
How long was the path of the Washington Illinois tornado?
The tornado tracked across central Illinois for a distance of approximately 46.2 miles.
What was the total damage cost of the Washington Illinois tornado?
The tornado caused $935 million in damages, with $800 million of that total occurring within Washington.