Storm Events Database

Storm Events Database

Event Details:

Event Tornado
-- Scale EF3
-- Length 9.56 Miles
-- Width 420 Yards
State ILLINOIS
County/Area WHITE
WFO PAH
Report Source NWS Storm Survey
NCEI Data Source CSV
Begin Date 2017-02-28 21:55 CST-6
Begin Location 3NE CARMI MUNI ARPT
Begin Lat/Lon 38.137/-88.1148
End Date 2017-02-28 22:08 CST-6
End Location 4ESE CALVIN
End Lat/Lon 38.1797/-87.9474
Deaths Direct/Indirect 1/0 (fatality details below, when available...)
Injuries Direct/Indirect 1/0
Property Damage 2.00M
Crop Damage 0.00K
Episode Narrative Isolated supercell thunderstorms moved into southern Illinois during the evening hours. The storms developed ahead of a cold front in a destabilizing air mass characterized by dew points in the lower to mid 60's. The most intense supercell storm awaited the approach of a mid-level impulse from Oklahoma, which was downstream from the primary shortwave trough over the southern Plains. The supercell produced two long-track strong tornadoes, the first of which originated in Perry County, Missouri and tracked almost 50 miles before dissipating. The second strong tornado formed in the Wabash Valley and crossed into southwest Indiana. A southwesterly low-level jet increased substantially during the evening, creating favorable conditions for tornadoes.
Event Narrative The tornado touched down between Crossville and Carmi, quickly strengthening to EF-3 intensity before crossing Illinois Route 1. The tornado track stayed northeast of Carmi, in relatively sparsely populated farmland. In White County, 35 structures were damaged or destroyed. At least several of those were homes. Just west of Highway 1, several vehicles were rolled over and moved, and a single-wide mobile home was destroyed. Near where the tornado crossed Route 1, an older house was moved three feet off its foundation. The house did not appear to be bolted to the foundation. Most of the second floor was removed. A double-wide mobile home was destroyed in the same area near Route 1. The width of the damage path was about 300 yards along Route 1. Just south of Crossville on County Road 1675E, a vehicle was rolled about 30 yards, and a house was destroyed. Some walls of the house collapsed, and most of the roof came off. Peak winds at this location were estimated near 150 mph. The sole fatality occurred south of Crossville, where an elderly man was caught outdoors when the tornado struck. The man was found in a farm field about 40 yards from his house. His wife was inside in the house, and she received scrapes and bruises. Another EF-3 damage location was east of Crossville, where a vehicle was moved about 30 yards and an old house was partially destroyed. The average path width was about 300 yards in White County. The tornado continued across the Wabash River into Posey County, Indiana.


Event Fatality Details:

Type Age Gender Fatality Location
Death (Direct) 71 Male Outside/Open Areas


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Event Map:

Note: The tornado track is approximate based on the beginning (B) and ending (E) locations. The actual tornado path may differ from a straight line.
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Measure
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All events for this episode:

Location County/Zone St. Date Time T.Z. Type Mag Dth Inj PrD CrD
Totals: 1 1 8.806M 0.00K
CORA JACKSON CO. IL 02/28/2017 20:18 CST-6 Tornado EF3 0 0 6.000M 0.00K
MULKEYTOWN FRANKLIN CO. IL 02/28/2017 20:50 CST-6 Tornado EF3 0 0 800.00K 0.00K
BENTON FRANKLIN CO. IL 02/28/2017 21:00 CST-6 Hail 3.00 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
CROSSVILLE WHITE CO. IL 02/28/2017 21:54 CST-6 Hail 1.00 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
CARMI MUNI ARPT WHITE CO. IL 02/28/2017 21:55 CST-6 Tornado EF3 1 1 2.000M 0.00K
GRAND TOWER JACKSON CO. IL 02/28/2017 22:18 CST-6 Hail 1.75 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
CARBONDALE JACKSON CO. IL 02/28/2017 22:29 CST-6 Hail 1.00 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
MURPHYSBORO JACKSON CO. IL 02/28/2017 22:30 CST-6 Hail 0.75 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
CRAINVILLE WILLIAMSON CO. IL 02/28/2017 22:44 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 6.00K 0.00K
JOHNSTON CITY WILLIAMSON CO. IL 02/28/2017 22:56 CST-6 Hail 3.00 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
JOHNSTON CITY WILLIAMSON CO. IL 02/28/2017 22:56 CST-6 Funnel Cloud 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
Totals: 1 1 8.806M 0.00K