At least 17 tornadoes confirmed after April 2 storms
(KBSI) – The National Weather Service reports that multiple tornadoes moved through the FOX23 viewing area on April 2.
Multiple lines of thunderstorms formed across southeast Missouri after midnight on April 2, 2024.
The southern line quickly ejected east across the Mississippi River, racing across southern Illinois and into western Kentucky and southwest Indiana between 3-7 a.m.
The thunderstorm complex remained intact across Kentucky and all the way to West Virginia.
This event officially met the definition requirements of a derecho, with widespread significant wind damage, according to the NWS.
Embedded within the line were dozens of circulations that led to at least 17 tornadoes across the forecast area.
This was the most tornadoes in a single event across the Quad-State region since Halloween 2013 (19 tornadoes that day).
The National Weather Service confirmed 7 EF-2 tornadoes and 10 EF-1 tornadoes.
The longest path was 14.7 miles with the tornado that crossed from Posey through Vanderburgh and into Warrick counties in Indiana (St Wendel and Hilldale).
Tap here to see tracks of all the tornadoes on April 2.
- Tornado #1 – West of Cape Girardeau, MO (Cape Girardeau County)
A brief EF-0 tornado with estimated peak winds of 80 mph uprooted a few trees and downed several large tree limbs along County Road 319 in central Cape Girardeau County during the early morning hours of Tuesday, April 2. The tornadic circulation quickly diminished as it the storm moved east, but continued to produce sporadic straight line wind damage as it moved east southeast into the west side of Cape Girardeau.
Tornado #1 West of Cape Girardeau MO EF-0 (Source: NWS)
- Tornado #2 – Lake of Egypt, IL (Williamson County)
An EF-2 tornado impacted the Lake Of Egypt community in the early morning hours of Tuesday, April 2. The tornado began along Highway 148, just west of Interstate 57. After crossing Highway 37 east of Interstate 57, the tornado passed along Lake of Egypt Road. The most severe damage occurred near the intersection of Lake of Egypt Road and Market Road, where severe roof and structural damage occurred to three businesses. The Lake of Egypt Fire Protection building nearby had one of its windows blown out. Paralleling Kimmel Orchard Road, the tornado did damage to homes and outbuildings before lifting just to the west of Wagon Creek Road. Hundreds of trees were uprooted, snapped at the base, or suffered damage to large limbs along the path.
- Tornado #3 – Stonefort, IL (Williamson and Saline counties)
Tornado 3 in Stonefort, IL (Source: NWS)
An EF-1 tornado impacted the Stonefort community during the early morning hours of Tuesday, April 2. The tornado began just east of Creal Springs along Saltpetre Road. Damage was mainly to trees as the tornado moved parallel to Pleasant Valley Road. The tornado moved directly through the community of Stonefort, causing extensive tree damage. Most damage to buildings was caused by trees falling onto the building. However, a couple of homes has portions of their roofs removed. The tornado continued east into Saline County for about one mile, lifting near the crossing of Battleford Road and the Illinois Central Railway.
- Tornado #4 – El Dorado, IL (Southeast)
Tornado 4 El Dorado, IL (Southeast) Saline County (Source: NWS Paducah)
An EF-2 tornado occurred approximately two miles southeast of Eldorado during the early morning hours of Tuesday, April 2nd. The tornado began near the Intersection of Highway 142 and Ridgway Road. Here, the tornado destroyed an outbuilding, uprooted several large trees, and removed portions of the roofs of two homes. Crossing Ridgway Road and the intersection of White Road, the tornado severely damaged an industrial garage and two manufactured homes. One manufactured home was moved several feet off its foundation and had one of its walls torn open. About five large hardwood trees just behind this home were all snapped at the base. Two occupants of the home suffered laceration injuries due to flying debris. Moving east-southeast, the tornado lifted near Dusty Road just south of Ridgway Road.
- Tornado #5 – Ridgway, IL – Gallatin County
Tornado 5 Ridgway, IL in Gallatin County (Source: NWS Paducah)
A brief EF-1 tornado impacted the west side of Ridgway, IL, during the early morning hours of Tuesday, April 2. The tornado began just south of Main Street along St. Joseph Road, where one home suffered minor roof damage and several large tree limbs were downed. Moving northeast, the tornado damaged a grain bin just south of Main Street and damaged the roof of an outbuilding just north of Main Street. The tornado did limited tree damage in the city park before lifting near the intersection of City Park Drive and Murphy Street.
- Tornado #6 – New Haven, IL (South)
Tornado 6 – New Haven, IL (Source: NWS Paducah)
An EF-1 tornado impacted far northeast Gallatin County, IL, and extreme southwest Posey County, IN, during the early morning hours of Tuesday, April 2. The tornado began in the Cottonwood community along Noel Road. Here several large trees were uprooted, one crushing a small brick building. One manufactured home was severely damaged and a nearby outbuilding had a part of its roof removed. Moving eastward the tornado did mainly tree damage as passed south of the community of New Haven. The tornado lifted shortly after crossing the Wabash River in Posey County, IN, just south of the confluence of the Little Wabash and Wabash Rivers.
Tap here to view the tracks of tornadoes #7 through #13 that went through Indiana.
- Tornado #14 – Kevil, KY (Northeast) McCracken County
Tornado #14 Kevil, KY (Northeast) McCracken County, KY (Source: NWS Paducah)
A brief EF-1 tornado struck just east of the Woodville community in far western McCracken County, KY. The tornado moved parallel along the south side of Woodville Road. The most severe damage was to a house that had a portion of its roof removed. Another couple homes suffered facia and siding damage. About a dozen trees had large limbs downed. The tornado path was about 0.6 mile in length with an estimated maximum width of 50 yards.
- Tornado #15 – Ridgway, IL (East) Gallatin County
Tornado #15 – Ridgway, IL (East) (Source: NWS Paducah)
A brief EF-1 tornado occurred in eastern Gallatin County during the early morning hours of Tuesday, April 2. The tornado began about five miles east of Ridgway along Maloney Road. A couple of large farm outbuildings had significant portions of their roofs removed, with debris tossed hundreds of feet. One home on Maloney Road suffered shingle damage. After crossing Big Hill Road, the tornado lifted just west of the intersection of Hulda Lake Road and Sand Road. Several trees along the path were uprooted or had large limbs broken.
Tap here to see tracks of all the tornadoes on April 2.
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