Number of Tornadoes in Illinois during November since 1950
A significant late season tornado outbreak occurred on November 17, 2013. In total 25 tornadoes occurred on this day including two EF-4s (one in NWS Lincoln's and one in NWS St. Louis's County Warning Area (CWA)). This outbreak ranks among the largest in November in Illinois' history. Twenty-one of these tornadoes were rated significant (EF-2 or higher).
The most significant tornado touched down near Washington, IL and traveled through Tazewell and Woodford Counties. It was rated an EF-4 with winds of 190 mph as it moved through the west side of Washington. It was on the ground for 46.2 miles and injured 125 people, while killing 3.
Tornado Rating and Fast Facts
A mapping of the overall tornado path, from the NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit
Overall track of the Washington tornado (46.2 miles)
Fast Facts
This event had just over 70 tornadoes across seven states - Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. Illinois and Indiana had 55 of these tornadoes.
There were 25 tornadoes in Illinois, with 14 being significant (EF-2 or stronger). Of these, two were EF-4 and three were EF-3.
At the time, this ranked as the 4th largest outbreak for the state of Illinois, in terms of number of tornadoes, since 1950.
One supercell in Illinois produced five tornadoes, which were the ones to impact Pekin, Washington, Dana, Coal City, Manhattan, and Frankfort.
The EF-4 tornado with maximum estimated winds of 190 mph that struck Washington, IL was the strongest on record for Illinois in the month of November since 1950.
101 tornado warnings were issued for Illinois by the National Weather Service on November 17.
The second update to the day 1 outlook shows little change overall for the forecast period. Illinois is still under a moderate risk for severe weather with a 15% hatched tornado risk (EF2+ tornadoes are possible in the hatched area).
A PDS tornado warning issued for areas near Washington.
11:07 am
Tornado moves through Washington
11:12 am
PDS Tornado Warning - Radar Confirmed (debris ball signature) for: Near Washington, Roanoke, Minonk, Toluca, Wenona, Cazenovia, Low Point, La Rose, and Pattonsburg
A PDS tornado warning issued for areas near Washington.
11:15 am
Severe Weather Statement
A severe weather statement issued for a radar indicated rotation storm.
11:21 am
NWS Lincoln Hazardous Weather Outlook
This hazardous weather outlook discusses that strong tornadoes are possible.
11:22 am
PDS Tornado Warning
A PDS tornado warning issued for the storm near Roanoke. This tornado is confirmed by emergency management.
11:47 am
Washington Tornado lifts in Livingston County after 46.2 mile path
Environmental Data
Twice a day, 95 NWS offices across the country launch a weather balloon with an attached radiosonde. The radiosonde ascends through the atmosphere to get a vertical "snapshot" of current weather conditions. The weather conditions are plotted onto a skew-T diagram to get a profile of the atmosphere. The left image is the 12z/6AM CST morning sounding that was launched by NWS Lincoln. The NWS office at the Quad Cities launched a weather balloon at 14Z/8AM CST (middle) which helped capture a snapshot of the environment before NWS Lincoln released a weather balloon at 16Z/10AM CST (right).
The 12Z sounding from ILX displays very strong speed and directional shear above the surface.
The 14Z DVN sounding still displays very strong speed and directional shear. The additional sunlight has aided in a slight increase in surface CAPE.
The 16Z sounding displays very strong speed and directional shear in the vertical column. The hodograph is curved in the 0-3km layer indicating that rotation will likely be present on any storm. Additional CAPE is present as well.
Upper-Air and Surface Analysis
The weather balloon data from the balloon launches across the NWS is then analyzed on standard pressure levels above the ground. This will create upper-air surface analyses.
250 mb wind heights from 12Z and 00Z.
250 mb analysis chart at 6 am (left) and 6 pm (right)
300 mb wind heights from 12Z and 00Z.
300 mb analysis chart at 6 am (left) and 6 pm (right)
500 mb wind heights from 12Z and 00Z.
500 mb analysis chart at 6 am (left) and 6 pm (right)
700 mb wind heights from 12Z and 00Z.
700 mb analysis chart at 6 am (left) and 6 pm (right)
850 mb wind heights from 12Z and 00Z.
850 mb analysis chart at 6 am (left) and 6 pm (right)
Surface analysis depicts a cold front moving into the area.
Surface analysis from 9 am (left) and 12 pm (right)
This animation has surface observations overlaid with dew points. This allows for an easy depiction of where the cold front is.
Animated map of surface conditions from 4 am to 5 pm on November 17, 2013 (colors depict dewpoint temperatures)
Kinematic (motion of objects) Environment
Very strong deep layer shear occurring at the time of tornadogenesis ~ 60 kts
0-6 km wind shear shows a favorable environment for storm development across Illinois.
0-6km shear vector from 10 am (left) to 11 am (right)
Very high Storm Relative Helicity (SRH) values which are indicative of producing tornadoes
Very high amounts of SRH are favorable for tornadoes.
0-1 km SRH values from 10 am (left) to 11 am (right)
Effective Bulk Shear 0f 60 - 70 knots is supportive of supercells
High values of effective bulk shear are conducive for supercells.
Effective Bulk Shear values from 10 am (left) to 11 am (right)
High values of Effective SRH of 400-600 are supportive of a significant tornado. This is in the upper echelon of significant tornadoes.
High values of ESRH are conducive for supercells.
Effective SRH values from 10 am (left) to 11 am (right)
Thermodynamics (heat/energy/work)
Surface Based CAPE (SBCAPE) was nearing 2000 J/kg and was uncapped. This storm system had plenty of energy to work with.
SBCAPE is the energy for storms to use. Unseasonably high values were present on November 17.
SBCAPE values from 10 am (left) to 11 am (right)
0-3 km MLCAPE overlaid with surface vorticity indicates strong CAPE in the lower levels with lift at the surface.
MLCAPE has high values that is overlaid with surface vorticity. Low-level energy and surface lift, can provide a spark for tornadoes.
0-3 km MLCAPE with surface vorticity 10 am (left) and 11 am (right)
Composite Indices
From the Significant Tornado Parameter Indices, values over one have a statistically higher odds to be EF-2 or greater. On November 17, The values were approaching three.
Significant tornado parameter (effective) is high with a value of 3 across east-central Illinois.
Significant Tornado Parameter 10 am (left) and 11 am (right)
Radar Imagery
Radar loop from 10 am to 11:36 am
Radar can tell meteorologists not only where precipitation is occurring, but if storms are capable of producing a tornado. In the image below, the reflectivity (left panel) is showing a classic "hook" echo. The pink/purple "ball" north of Washington is the debris ball. This occurs as large amounts of debris such as trees, buildings, and other objects are lofted into the air. The image to the right is where velocity (wind) data is seen by the radar. When the greens (winds going towards the radar, located south of Washington) and reds (winds going away from the radar) meet and are next to each other, meteorologists call this a couplet. On this day, a strong couplet was noted where the debris ball is located, furthering the confidence that a strong tornado was on the ground.
Reflectivity from the storm that went through Washington displays a debris ball north of town.
Storm relative velocity displays a tight couplet where the debris ball is located.
Radar imagery at 11:07 am depicting reflectivity (left) and storm relative velocity (right)
Different views of the storm from a radars perspective. Including parameters as far as reflectivity, differential reflectivity, correlation coefficient, and specific differential phase.
Radar image at 11:07 am depicting a debris ball
These images were taken at 11:07 am, and are collectively showing what is referred to as a Tornado Debris Signature. By this time, the tornado had passed through Washington. The debris ball is in the top left. The other images are part of the dual-polarization upgrade that was performed on the radar in the fall of 2012. The top right image is called "differential reflectivity" (ZDR), and is a ratio of the reflected horizontal and vertical parts of the radar beam. The lower right image is called "correlation coefficient" (CC), and is a measure of how the horizonal and vertical pulses of the radar beam are behaving. Low values of CC are an indication of non-precipitation targets detected by the radar beam. The low values of ZDR and CC (blue shades) within the yellow circles, which line up with the significantly high values of the standard reflectivity, help the radar operator be certain that a tornado is occurring.
Radar tracks from the lifecycle of the storm as it progressed from the beginning to the ending.
Overall reflectivity tracks from NWS Lincoln and NWS Chicago radars
Tornado Timeline via Radar on November 17, 2013
10:58 am
This radar image from 10:58 am shows a hook echo, associated with the developing tornado, approaching the east end of I-474. The tornado touched down at 10:59 am
Hook echo near Marquette Heights, southwest of Washington.
11:03 am
The next radar image, from 11:03 am, shows the hook echo persisting near the red triangle (which is the radar's Tornado Vortex Signature, or TVS)
Hook echo with a TVS signature as it moving closer to Washington.
11:07 am
This radar image is after the tornado went through Washington. The Debris Ball is just north of the "W" in Washington
A debris ball is displayed north of Washington.
11:12 am
The tornado had exited the northeast corner of Tazewell County and entered Woodford County southeast of Metamora
The storm moves on and continues with the hook echo as it approaches Metamora.
11:17 am
The tornado was between Metamora and Roanoke. The debris ball is still clearly visible
A large debris ball is visible on radar.
11:22 am
By 11:22 am, the tornado was passing north of Roanoke
Tornado passes north of Roanoke with a debris ball still present.
11:31 am
The tornado was approaching I-39 near Minonk
The tornado begins to exit NWS Lincoln's CWA.
11:41 am
The tornado remained on the ground as it moved through extreme southern La Salle County. On this image at 11:41 am, it was located just north of Dana and was crossing into Livingston County. The tornado finally lifted at 11:47 am, just east of Long Point
The end of the tornado as it lifts six minutes later.
Radar-Indicated Circulation Tracks
Rotation tracks of the Washington supercell. You can see rotation near Washington.
Radar Indicated Tracks of the Tornado
Rotation tracks for the whole state during November 17, 2013. Many storms were rotating on this day.
Overall radar rotation tracks on November 17, 2013
Tornado and Damage Photos
Early stages of Washington tornado
Washington tornado photo
Washington tornado
Washington tornado
Washington tornado moving from right to left in the image.
Photo of the Washington tornado, taken from Douglas Park on the south side of Metamora
(Photo credits: Top row - Tom Johnson; lower left - Justin Hassler; lower center - Kirk Roberts; lower right - Jared Barker. Used with permission.)
Debris scattered through the neighborhood.
Tornado debris scattered through a neighborhood.
Houses are damaged and debris is scattered through the yard.
This neighborhood suffered major damage.
A portion of this house has been removed by the tornado.
This house was slabbed from the tornado.
This neighborhood had houses destroyed and debris scattered through the yard.
House debris is scattered throughout this neighborhood.
A portion of a wall is in a yard with car damage.
This house is completely destroyed with debris covering up the yard.
Every house in this neighborhood suffered major structural damage.
This house has only a partial wall standing with everything else destroyed.
(NWS staff)
Rubble sitting next to a car.
This neighborhood was destroyed by the tornado. Every house on this block had damage.
Only a tree is left standing in this part of town. Everything else has been destroyed.
This house is still standing but suffered major damage to the roof and siding.
An upside down car and damaged trees in this photo. The water tower is in the background.
A car is on its side wrapped around a tree.
Major tree damage in this neighborhood.
Half of this house was destroyed and trees are thrown on it.
Rubble is displayed in this picture with rubble next to a car.
(NWS staff)
Wooden boards are jabbed into a house. Behind the house is debris from the tornado.
A neighborhood with nothing but rubble left.
This building has nothing left to it. The tornado left it in a pile.
The two story house in the background has its roof missing. The yard contains debris such as wood planks and tree limbs.
Debris in a yard with houses missing roofs in the background.
Major house damage pictured as one house is split in half.
A portion of this house is slabbed from the tornado.
Wooden branches have been thrown into a house and are sticking into the siding.
A wooden board is sticking into a piece of siding on a house.
Debris is scattered through a yard with a house in the background with its roof missing.
Building damage with a neighborhood that has been destroyed in the background.
A house was once here, now it is just the foundation.
(Woodford County EMA, used with permission)
People continue to look through debris after this neighborhood was destroyed.
This car is destroyed as it sits in a yard on top of debris.
(Steve Smedley/Bloomington Pantagraph, used with permission)
Lingering tornado damage in February 2014
Lingering tornado damage in February 2014
Lingering tornado damage, in February 2014
(Shujen Chen, taken February 2014, used with permission)
Path Photos
Satellite close-up of the damage north of Washington Rd. east of Gillman Ave.
Wider satellite image showing the track extending northeast out of Washington, with ground scouring showing up in farm fields outside of town
Satellite image showing the ground scouring through farm fields northeast of Washington
Satellite map showing the Parsons Manufacturing facility near Roanoke (rebuilt after being destroyed by an F4 tornado in 2004), and how close it came to being struck again
Google Earth images taken the next day, showing the widespread damage and scouring in the dirt. In the lower right image, the Parsons Manufacturing Plant near Roanoke, which was destroyed by an F4 tornado in 2004, came within 2/3 of a mile of being hit once again.
View from above of some of the worst damage in Washington
View from the air of the scour marks in bare farm fields northeast of Washington
(Ethan Schisler, used with permission)
Interactive Map
Click the (+) button to zoom into the map to see the EF4 damage points (red triangles) and the (-) button to zoom out to see the whole path with damage points. The triangles will contain information about damage indicators for that location.
Washington Tornado Track and Damage Points
For Those Affected
We at the National Weather Service Lincoln want to express our deepest sympathy to those who were affected by this powerful storm. The tornado that impacted Washington left not only a mark on the city, but on us at NWS Lincoln as well.
This map was made to commemorate the 10 year anniversary of the tornado.
Number of Tornadoes in Illinois during November since 1950
Overall track of the Washington tornado (46.2 miles)
250 mb analysis chart at 6 am (left) and 6 pm (right)
300 mb analysis chart at 6 am (left) and 6 pm (right)
500 mb analysis chart at 6 am (left) and 6 pm (right)
700 mb analysis chart at 6 am (left) and 6 pm (right)
850 mb analysis chart at 6 am (left) and 6 pm (right)
Surface analysis from 9 am (left) and 12 pm (right)
Animated map of surface conditions from 4 am to 5 pm on November 17, 2013 (colors depict dewpoint temperatures)
0-6km shear vector from 10 am (left) to 11 am (right)
0-1 km SRH values from 10 am (left) to 11 am (right)
Effective Bulk Shear values from 10 am (left) to 11 am (right)
Effective SRH values from 10 am (left) to 11 am (right)
SBCAPE values from 10 am (left) to 11 am (right)
0-3 km MLCAPE with surface vorticity 10 am (left) and 11 am (right)
Significant Tornado Parameter 10 am (left) and 11 am (right)
Radar image at 11:07 am depicting a debris ball
Overall reflectivity tracks from NWS Lincoln and NWS Chicago radars
Radar Indicated Tracks of the Tornado
Overall radar rotation tracks on November 17, 2013
