Rochelle-Fairdale tornado
Throughout the evening hours of April 9, 2015, an extremely violent and long-lived multiple-vortex tornado tore through the communities near Rochelle and in Fairdale, Illinois. Part of a larger severe weather event that impacted the Central United States, the tornado first touched down in Lee County at 6:39 p.m. CDT (23:39 UTC). It progressed through the counties of Ogle, DeKalb, and Boone before finally dissipating at 7:20 p.m. CDT. Along the tornado's 30.14-mile (48.51 km) path, numerous structures were heavily damaged or destroyed, especially in the small town of Fairdale, where two fatalities and eleven injuries were recorded. A few well-constructed homes were swept completely away, indicative of peak winds near 200 mph (320 km/h), the upper bounds of an EF4 tornado. In the aftermath of the event, hundreds of citizens assisted in cleanup and recovery efforts. Economic losses from the tornado reached $19 million (equivalent to $26,000,000 in 2025).
What was the Rochelle-Fairdale tornado?
The Rochelle-Fairdale tornado was an extremely violent, long-lived, multiple-vortex storm that struck Illinois on April 9, 2015. It first touched down in Lee County and tracked through Ogle, DeKalb, and Boone counties. This EF4 rated event caused significant destruction, particularly in the town of Fairdale. The tornado remained on the ground for 41 minutes before dissipating. It stands as a significant event within the larger severe weather outbreak that impacted the Central United States.
What was the Rochelle-Fairdale tornado wind speed?
Meteorologists estimated the peak winds of the Rochelle-Fairdale tornado at near 200 mph. This figure places the storm at the upper bounds of an EF4 tornado. Damage surveys confirmed this intensity through the observation of swept-away, well-constructed homes and vehicles tossed significant distances. The extreme wind forces caused ground scouring and structural failures consistent with these high-end velocity estimates. Research papers later discussed the potential for even higher intensity ratings based on refined wind speed scales.
What was the Rochelle-Fairdale tornado path?
The tornado touched down just northeast of Franklin Grove in Lee County at 6:39 p.m. CDT. It tracked northeast across Ogle and DeKalb counties for a total distance of 30.14 miles. The path included direct impacts on the Deer Creek subdivision and the community of Fairdale along IL 72. After crossing various rural terrain and rail lines, the storm finally dissipated at 7:20 p.m. CDT over Cherry Valley Road.
How many people died in the Rochelle-Fairdale tornado?
The Rochelle-Fairdale tornado claimed two fatalities in the town of Fairdale. Residents Geraldine Schultz and Jacklyn Klosa died when the storm destroyed their homes. Additionally, the event resulted in eleven injuries recorded throughout the community, including those sustained by Geraldine's husband, Clarence. The victims were part of a wider impact that leveled numerous homes and properties within the path of the vortex.
What did the Rochelle-Fairdale tornado destroy?
The tornado obliterated dozens of structures, including well-built homes, barns, and warehouses. It leveled entire rows of houses, swept foundations clean, and destroyed reinforced concrete silos. Large farm equipment was tossed up to half a mile, and vehicles were moved or destroyed. Notable damage occurred at the Crest Foods plant, a large restaurant, and multiple residential subdivisions. Debris was strewn for long distances across the rural landscape of northern Illinois.
What caused the Rochelle-Fairdale tornado?
A positively tilted shortwave trough moving across the central High Plains provided the catalyst for the severe weather outbreak. Modest surface heating pushed CAPE values to 1,500 J/kg, while rich moisture from the Gulf of Mexico brought dewpoints into the lower 60s °F. Strengthening winds at 850 mb and 700 mb created a favorable environment for sustained supercells. The development of southeasterly surface winds near a surface low in northern Illinois further supported the tornado formation.
What happened after the Rochelle-Fairdale tornado?
Recovery efforts began immediately with the American Red Cross and The Salvation Army setting up temporary shelters. Rochelle Community Hospital shifted into disaster mode to manage the surge of casualties. Hundreds of volunteers, including those coordinated by Operation Blessing, assisted with the cleanup of destroyed neighborhoods. Governor Bruce Rauner declared DeKalb and Ogle counties state disaster areas to release resources. Meanwhile, local officials established lost-and-found services for residents to retrieve property scattered by the storm.
Rochelle-Fairdale Tornado Track
The mapped ground track below shows the surveyed touchdown point, damage corridor, and dissipation coordinates recorded by NWS field crews. The Rochelle-Fairdale tornado traveled 30.14 miles across Lee County, Ogle County, DeKalb County, Boone County, Illinois. Coordinates are derived from the official SPC historical tornado database.
How long was the Rochelle-Fairdale tornado on the ground?
The tornado remained on the ground for 41 minutes, with a path covering 30.14 miles.
Was the Rochelle-Fairdale tornado an EF5?
Official damage surveys rated the tornado as an EF4, though recent research papers have proposed that it should be considered an EF5 candidate.
How much was the economic loss from the Rochelle-Fairdale tornado?
Economic losses reached $19 million, which is equivalent to $26,000,000 in 2025.
Who captured video of the Rochelle-Fairdale tornado?
Clarence 'Clem' Schultz recorded the tornado on a phone camera from his home.