Nearly 30 tornadoes hit Illinois, western Morgan County damaged

Damage that stretched from just east of Winchester into western Morgan County put Morgan County in the path of one of central Illinois’ most serious spring storms, with hail up to 2 inches in diameter and multiple wind damage reports adding to the destruction.

Officials initially counted 28 tornadoes in central Illinois from the Friday storm system, and the National Weather Service in Lincoln sent multiple survey teams into the affected areas Saturday to assess damage and refine the total. The agency warned that the preliminary count could still change as those surveys continued, a reminder that the final picture of the outbreak was still being assembled even after the worst weather had passed.

For Morgan County, the key fact was not just the statewide number but the local track. The reported damage path ran from just east of Winchester, through Pike County and into the western edge of Morgan County, placing western communities directly inside the storm’s footprint. That made the event more than a distant weather headline for county residents. It was a nearby severe-weather emergency with visible damage in the county itself.

The broader review later showed the outbreak was even larger than the first count suggested. The National Weather Service in Lincoln said the mid-April storm produced 33 tornadoes across central Illinois and identified a pair of EF2 tornadoes in western Illinois. One of those EF2 tornadoes started near Industry in McDonough County and moved into Fulton County with estimated peak winds of 115 mph, underscoring how intense the storm became across the region.

The National Weather Service Forecast Office in Lincoln has also posted an April 17 severe-weather event summary for central Illinois, showing the outbreak was significant enough to merit a formal post-event review. For Morgan County residents who saw damaged trees, buildings or farm property in the western part of the county, the practical next step is to report what they found so survey teams can confirm the extent of the storm.

As the count continued to be refined, one point was already clear: western Morgan County was not brushed by a passing squall. It was hit by part of a multi-tornado outbreak that left measurable damage across central Illinois.