4:30 - out the door. I headed up IL route 159 from Edwardsville, with the storms visible to the NW as soon as I was out of town. A SVR went up for Jersey Co, just to the west. I headed to a position slightly north of Bunker Hill, just north of where IL route 138 crosses 159. I positioned myself just to the ENE of where the updraft appeared to be, and watched from about 5:00 to 5:20 as a monstrous hailer crossed the highway to my north and approached from the west. A SVR was issued for central and northern Macoupin Co, just to my north (I was in the southern part of the county). On the front edge was a sharp shelf cloud, which featured occasional brief, small lowerings, but nothing that would suggest an inflow notch or anything of that nature. But I remained in the inflow even as the frequent CG got within about 2 miles. To my west was a spot of thin precip with a hail shaft (video capture here) along the south edge of the heavy precip, with some nice updraft base above the spot where the precip was light. Around 5:20, 2-inch hail was reported at Woodburn, a few miles to my WSW. To the south of the hail shaft and updraft base was another precip core. I could see I was going to get majorly hailed on if I stayed in this spot, so I tried around 5:20 to go east on 138, but no luck - a minor construction project there turned into a major snarl as the workers closed the road to back large equipment off the road into a field they were using for storage. I turned around and went back to 159 and headed south, arriving in Bunker Hill just before the storm, and cut east on the road to Staunton. Getting out of this area north of Bunker Hill proved to be a very good idea, as the area where I had been was hit with 2-inch hail about 10 minutes after I left. Here is a view to the northwest from east of Bunker Hill, looking toward my earlier location (near or just left of the telephone pole, about 4 miles away) around the time that 2-inch hail was falling there. Note there is a slight lowering and even maybe a hint of an RFD notch in front of it; however this area filled in with precipitation quickly after I took this picture.

Once I reached Staunton, I proceeded south on route 4 to the southern edge of town and found a nice place to watch the approaching storm from behind a farm implements store (around 5:30-5:35). The storm was backbuilding and the area of light precip had completely filled in. To the WSW was a large area of updraft, possibly a broad, poorly-defined meso. This structure looked like it had the best potential I had seen all day for rotation - here is a photo of this area, which was already beginning to be partially surrounded by rain. This area had a nice beavertail structure on its northeast edge, but no lowerings. The CG approached and was soon zapping down all around me. As the storm backbuilt, the CG began along the leading edge and under the updraft base. The updraft area then began to occlude, or at least was becoming increasingly surrounded by precip, so I pushed south again. Behind me the sky was incredibly dark and the CG was nearly continuous, and as the storm built to the south and southwest, the lighting came with it. Around this time, golfball hail fell a few miles to the north in Gillespie.

My last stop was at a side road somewhere near where route 4 crosses I-55 - don't recall exactly where, but it would have been around 5:40-5:45. I thought I saw a beavertail and an RFD slot in some of the updraft base to my NW. Here is a photo and some additional commentary. Other updraft base was overhead and just to my west - some of the lowest general updraft base I've seen - these storms were definitely surface-based! But then I was hit with the first outflow I'd been in all day, and I was just on the leading edge of this updraft base. I took this to mean the storms were going outflow dominant, and thought it unlikely I'd see anything more here. I decided that what I had seen were just outflow features, and headed south to go home. In retrospect, I'm not so sure that is true. This structure may have been the beginnings of the meso that later produced tornadoes north of Greenville and south of Vandalia. Maybe the outflow was RFD wrapping around the storm. At this time, though, I also heard reports that the storms had generally weakened. Since I had obligations at home, I decided to call it a chase.

I headed south on 4 to 143, then headed west the few miles to my home on the east side of Edwardsville. I could see nice towers going up ahead, as the line continued to build south. As I headed west on 143, I realized I was back in the inflow, and a couple miles before I crossed I-55, I got a real blast from the south of inflow racing into the backbuilding storm to my north. I looked that way, and saw a small lowering with lots of scud around it. In front, a scud tag moved from the left to the right. Was this scud cluster rotating? Naw, I told myself, in what may have been a big mistake. Probably just outflow pushing the scud tag along. I continued home, thinking 1) this was just another meaningless scuddy lowering like other small, meaningless, scuddy lowrings I'd seen all day, 2) I had to get home because of my commitments, and 3) the storm building to the west would chase me east or force me into a core-punch if I stopped now.

As it turns out, 2 and 3 were true, but 1 may not have been. First thing when I walked in the door I saw the crawler going across the TV screen showing a tornado warning for NE Madison Co. Radar indicated tornado near New Douglas. Although I think the possible rotation I saw was farther down the line than where the meso was detected, had I pursued this east I might have heard the warnings and been able to position myself for what was to come later. Arrgh! Well, at least I got home in time to meet my family obligations. And I may not have missed as much as I at first thought. Although this storm did produce 3 tornadoes, reports from other chasers and from the NWS indicate that tornadoes were rain-wrapped and difficult to see. As indicated in the NWS damage survey, the strongest of these was rated F2, and the first, rated F1, travelled for 9 miles. So fairly significant tornadoes, even if they were rain-wrapped.

After I got home a storm went severe just to the south of Edwardsville, and I videotaped the pea-sized hail hitting my driveway as we were on the outskirts of the passing storm. Total chase distance: about 58 miles.

Warnings, local storm reports, and the NWS damage survey on the tornadoes the storm later produced can be seen below. All LSRs in Macoupin, Montgomery, Bond, and Fayette Counties are associated with this storm.

133 
WUUS53 KLSX 122110
SVRSTL
ILC083-122200-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
409 PM CDT FRI MAY 12 2000

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ST LOUIS HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
JERSEY COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS

* UNTIL 500 PM CDT

* AT 409 PM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR
INDICATED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM 2 MILES SOUTHEAST OF HARDIN..MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 50
MPH.

* LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED...
JERSEYVILLE
FIDELITY
FIELDON

THIS THUNDERSTORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE
HAIL...WHICH CAN
CAUSE EXTENSIVE PROPERTY DAMAGE AND SERIOUS INJURY
TO PEOPLE CAUGHT
OUTDOORS. MOVE INSIDE A STURDY BUILDING IMMEDIATELY.

IF SEVERE WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...GO INSIDE A
STURDY SHELTER
AWAY FROM CREEK BEDS AND OTHER FLOOD PRONE AREAS.
REMEMBER...A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM CAN PRODUCE LARGE DAMAGING
HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS IN
EXCESS OF 60 MPH...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY
RAIN.



061 
WUUS53 KLSX 122130
SVRSTL
ILC061-122220-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
430 PM CDT FRI MAY 12 2000

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ST LOUIS HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
EASTERN GREENE COUNTY IN SOUTHWESTERN ILLINOIS

* UNTIL 520 PM CDT

* AT 428 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER
RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM SOUTHWEST OF OLD KANE... MOVING
EAST NORTHEAST
AT 35 MPH.

* LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED...
OLD KANE
KANE
ROCKBRIDGE
JALAPA

THE PRIMARY SEVERE WEATHER THREAT IS DAMAGING HAIL.
LARGE HAIL CAN
CAUSE EXTENSIVE PROPERTY DAMAGE AN SERIOUS INJURY TO
PEOPLE CAUGHT
OUTDOORS. MOVE INSIDE A STURDY BUILDING IMMEDIATELY.

RP/ST


354 
WUUS53 KLSX 122151 COR
SVRSTL
ILC117-122230-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING...RETRANSMISSION FOR ISP
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
442 PM CDT FRI MAY 12 2000

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ST LOUIS HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
NORTHERN AND CENTRAL MACOUPIN COUNTY IN CENTRAL
ILLINOIS

* UNTIL 530 PM CDT

* AT 442 PM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR
INDICATED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF MEDORA..MOVING
EAST AT 30 MPH.

* LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED...
CHESTERFIELD
HETTICK
CARLINVILLE
NILWOOD
GIRARD

THIS THUNDERSTORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE
HAIL...WHICH CAN
CAUSE EXTENSIVE PROPERTY DAMAGE AND SERIOUS INJURY
TO PEOPLE CAUGHT
OUTDOORS. MOVE INSIDE A STURDY BUILDING IMMEDIATELY.

IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER FROM THE
WEATHER IN A STRONG
BUILDING. DAMAGING WIND...LARGE HAIL...VERY HEAVY
RAIN...AND DEADLY
LIGHTNING ARE ALL POSSIBLE IN SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.
STAY INSIDE AWAY
FROM WINDOWS UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.

LAT...LON 3953 9017 3915 9016 3919 8971 3953 8972



485 
WUUS53 KLSX 122202
SVRSTL
ILC083-117-122250-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
502 PM CDT FRI MAY 12 2000

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ST LOUIS HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
EASTERN JERSEY COUNTY IN SOUTHWESTERN ILLINOIS
SOUTHERN MACOUPIN COUNTY IN SOUTHWESTERN ILLINOIS

* UNTIL 550 PM CDT

* AT 459 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER
RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM FROM NEAR MEDORA TO JUST WEST
OF BRIGHTON...
MOVING NORTHEAST 35 MPH.

* LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED...
PIASA
SHIPMAN
PLAINVIEW

1 INCH HAIL WAS REPORTED NEAR MEDORA

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF DAMAGING HAIL. STAY INSIDE
AND AWAY
FROM WINDOWS.

RP/ST/GKS

&


111 
WUUS53 KLSX 122244
SVRSTL
ILC135-122340-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
542 PM CDT FRI MAY 12 2000

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ST LOUIS HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
MONTGOMERY COUNTY IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS

* UNTIL 640 PM CDT

* AT 533 PM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR
INDICATED A SEVERE 
THUNDERSTORM NEAR GILLESPIE..MOVING EAST NORTHEAST AT
30 MPH.

* LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED...
LITCHFIELD
HILLSBORO
WALSHVILLE
LAKE YEAGER
COFFEN LAKE

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF DAMAGING HAIL. STAY INSIDE
AND AWAY FROM
WINDOWS.

IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER FROM THE
WEATHER IN A STRONG
BUILDING. DAMAGING WIND...LARGE HAIL...VERY HEAVY
RAIN...AND DEADLY
LIGHTNING ARE ALL POSSIBLE IN SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.
STAY INSIDE AWAY
FROM WINDOWS UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.

RP/GKS/ST

792 
WFUS53 KLSX 122305
TORSTL
ILC005-119-122355-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
605 PM CDT FRI MAY 12 2000

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ST LOUIS HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
NORTHERN BOND COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS
NORTHEASTERN MADISON COUNTY ILLINOIS IN SOUTHWESTERN
ILLINOIS

* UNTIL 655 PM CDT

* AT 604 PM CDT... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER
RADAR INDICATED
A TORNADO NEAR NEW DOUGLAS... MOVING EAST NORTHEAST
35 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN THE PATH...
SORENTO
RENO

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM...SEEK SHELTER NOW! A
BASEMENT OFFERS THE BEST PROTECTION. IF NOT
AVAILABLE...MOVE TO
THE LOWEST FLOOR AND SEEK SHELTER IN A SMALL INTERIOR
ROOM. STAY
AWAY FROM OUTSIDE WALLS AND WINDOWS. MOBILE HOMES
SHOULD BE
ABANDONED IN FAVOR OF A MORE SUBSTANTIAL STRUCTURE.
DO NOT TRY TO
OUTRUN A TORNADO IN A VEHICLE

RP/ST/GKS



277 
WFUS53 KLSX 122349
TORSTL
ILC051-130035-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
649 PM CDT FRI MAY 12 2000

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ST LOUIS HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
FAYETTE COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS

* UNTIL 740 PM CDT

* AT 645 PM CDT... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER
RADAR INDICATED
A TORNADO JUST EAST OF GOVERNOR BOND LAKE... MOVING
EAST NORTHEAST
AT 30 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN THE PATH...
VANDALIA
SHAFTER
VANDALIA LAKE

DAMAGE HAS BEEN REPORTED AT GOVERNORS LAKE
A STORM CHASER REPORTED FUNNEL CLOUD 4 MILES NORTH OF
I70 AND
4 MILES WEST OF THE FAYETTE - BOND COUNTY LINE.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION! IF IN THE PATH...TAKE COVER
NOW!
MOVE TO A BASEMENT IF AVAILABLE. IF NOT...STAY ON THE
LOWEST LEVEL
AND GO TO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM. MOBILE HOMES AND
AUTOMOBILESHOULD
BE ABANDONED IN FAVOR OF A STRONG STRUCTURE. AS A
LAST RESORT...
MOVE TO A DITCH OR CULVERT AND COVER YOUR HEAD.

RP/ST/GKS

&



678 
WFUS53 KILX 130020
TORSPI
ILC025-049-130115-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
718 PM CDT FRI MAY 12 2000

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LINCOLN HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
EFFINGHAM COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS
CLAY COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS

* UNTIL 815 PM CDT

* AT 718 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER
RADAR INDICATED A
TORNADO 16 MILES WEST OF EDGEWOOD...OR ABOUT 8 MILES
EAST OF 
VANDALIA...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

* THE TORNADO IS EXPECTED TO BE NEAR...
EDGEWOOD
IOLA
WATSON
LOUISVILLE
BIBLE GROVE
SAILOR SPRINGS
CLAY CITY

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM...TAKE COVER IN A
BASEMENT OR
INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. VEHICLES AND MOBILE
HOMES SHOULD
BE ABANDONED FOR A SAFER SHELTER.

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM...ACT NOW TO
PROTECT YOURSELF.
DO NOT WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE THE TORNADO BEFORE TAKING
ACTION. YOU MAY
NOT SEE OR HEAR ITS APPROACH.

REPORT SEVERE WEATHER OR ANY STORM DAMAGE TO YOUR
NEAREST LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY FOR RELAY TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE. YOUR
REPORT COULD HELP SAVE LIVES. STAY TUNED FOR LATER
STATEMENTS.

LAT...LON 3905 8901 3887 8906 3861 8829 3886 8837
3905 8837

HEDGES

NNNN



746 
WFUS53 KILX 130056
TORSPI
ILC079-130145-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
756 PM CDT FRI MAY 12 2000

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LINCOLN HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
JASPER COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS

* UNTIL 845 PM CDT

* AT 756 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER
RADAR INDICATED A
DEVELOPING TORNADO 11 MILES WEST OF WHEELER...OR
ABOUT 9 MILES
SOUTH OF EFFINGHAM...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

* THE TORNADO IS EXPECTED TO BE NEAR...
WHEELER
BOGOTA
NEWTON
HIDALGO
STE. MARIE
WILLOW HILL

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM...TAKE COVER IN A
BASEMENT OR
INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. VEHICLES AND MOBILE
HOMES SHOULD
BE ABANDONED FOR A SAFER SHELTER.

REPORT SEVERE WEATHER OR ANY STORM DAMAGE TO YOUR
NEAREST LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY FOR RELAY TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE. YOUR
REPORT COULD HELP SAVE LIVES. STAY TUNED FOR LATER
STATEMENTS.

LAT...LON 3918 8838 3888 8837 3888 8794 3918 8797

HEDGES

NNNN




923 
WWUS30 KSTL 130409
LSRSTL

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
1055 PM CDT FRI MAY 12 2000

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0500 PM    MEDORA                    IL   1 INCH HAIL            
05/12/00   MACOUPIN                       AMATEUR RADIO SPOTTER 
                                          REPORTED 1 INCH HAIL IN 
                                          MEDORA 

0505 PM    BRIGHTON                  IL   1 INCH HAIL            
05/12/00   MACOUPIN                       SPOTTER REPORTED 1 INCH 
                                          HAIL IN BRIGHTON 

0511 PM    SHIPMAN                   IL   1 INCH HAIL            
05/12/00   MACOUPIN                       SPOTTER REPORTED 1 INCH 
                                          HAIL IN SHIPMAN 

0520 PM    WOODBURN                  IL   2 INCH HAIL            
05/12/00   MACOUPIN                       AMATEUR RADIO SPOTTER 
                                          REPORTED 2 INCH DIAMETER 
                                          HAIL IN WOODBURN 

0530 PM    BUNKER HILL               IL   2 INCH HAIL            
05/12/00   MACOUPIN                       SPOTTER REPORTED 2 INCH 
                                          DIAMETER HAIL 3 MILES 
                                          NORTH OF BUNKER HILL 

0535 PM    CARLINVILLE               IL   1 INCH HAIL            
05/12/00   MACOUPIN                       SPOTTER REPORTED 1 INCH 
                                          DIAMETER HAIL IN 
                                          CARLINVILLE 

0540 PM    GILLESPIE                 IL   1.75 INCH HAIL         
05/12/00   MACOUPIN                       AMATUER RADIO SPOTTER 
                                          REPORTED GOLF BALL SIZE 
                                          HAIL IN GILLESPIE 

0545 PM    LITCHFIELD                IL   .75 INCH HAIL          
05/12/00   MONTGOMERY                     SPOTTER REPORTED THREE 
                                          QUARTER INCH DIAMETER HAIL 
                                          IN LITCHFIELD 

0600 PM    LITCHFIELD                IL   1.75 INCH HAIL         
05/12/00   MONTGOMERY                     ILLINOIS STATE POLICE 
                                          REPORTED GOLF BALL SIZE 
                                          HAIL 2 MILES NORTH OF 
                                          LITCHFIELD

0601 PM    HILLSBORO                 IL   1 INCH HAIL            
05/12/00   MONTGOMERY                     MONTGOMERY COUNTY SHERIFF 
                                          OFFICER REPORTED 1 INCH 
                                          DIAMETER HAIL IN HILLSBORO

0630 PM    GREENVILLE                IL   TORNADO                
05/12/00   BOND                           TORNADO 3 MILES WEST OF 
                                          GREENVILLE, CAUSED TREE 
                                          AND POWER LINE DAMAGE, 
                                          REPORTED BY BOND COUNTY 
                                          SHERIFF

0640 PM    GREENVILLE                IL   TORNADO                
05/12/00   BOND                           TORNADO OCCURRED AT THE 
                                          SPRINGWOOD ESTATES NEAR 
                                          GOVERNOR BOND LAKE, TREES 
                                          AND POWER LINES DOWN ALONG 
                                          WITH DAMAGE TO SEVERAL 
                                          HOMES REPORTED BY BOND
                                          COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICERS

0710 PM    MASCOUTAH                 IL   .75 INCH HAIL          
05/12/00   ST CLAIR                       SPOTTER REPORTED DIME SIZE 
                                          HAIL IN MASCOUTAH 

0715 PM    VANDALIA                  IL   TORNADO                
05/12/00   FAYETTE                        ILLINOIS STATE POLICE
                                          REPORTED A TORNADO         
                                          TOUCHDOWN 4 MILES SOUTH OF 
                                          VANDALIA WHICH CAUSED
                                          DAMAGE TO ONE HOUSE        
                                          TRAILER ALONG WITH SEVERAL
                                          DOWNED TREES AND POWER
                                          LINES

0740 PM    GERMANTOWN                IL   .75 INCH HAIL          
05/12/00   CLINTON                        SPOTTER REPORTED DIME SIZE 
                                          HAIL IN GERMANTOWN 

0805 PM    KINMUNDY                  IL   .88 INCH HAIL          
05/12/00   MARION                         SPOTTER REPORTED NICKEL 
                                          SIZE HAIL IN KINMUNDY 

0815 PM    IRVINGTON                 IL   .88 INCH HAIL          
05/12/00   WASHINGTON                     WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF 
                                          DEPARTMENT REPORTED NICKEL 
                                          SIZE HAIL IN IRVINGTON

0825 PM    CENTRALIA                 IL   1 INCH HAIL            
05/12/00   MARION                         SPOTTER REPORTED 1 INCH 
                                          DIAMETER HAIL IN THE SOUTH 
                                          SIDE OF CENTRALIA 

GKS/RP





687 
ABUS34 KSTL 140426
PNSSTL

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
1100 PM CDT SAT MAY 13, 2000

...PRELIMINARY DAMAGE SURVEY OF BOND..FAYETTE COUNTY TORNADOES - MAY 
12, 2000...

A DETAILED SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
PERSONNEL TO INVESTIGATE THE DAMAGE ACROSS PARTS OF BOND AND FAYETTE 
COUNTIES WHICH OCCURRED DURING THE EARLY EVENING OF MAY 12, 2000. IT 
APPEARS THAT THREE TORNADOES OCCURRED ACROSS THESE AREAS.  

THE FIRST TORNADO TOUCH DOWN OCCURRED 2.5 MILES NORTH-NORTHEAST OF 
THE COMMUNITY OF OLD RIPLEY ILLINOIS AROUND 625 PM CDT. SEVERAL 
LARGE TREES WERE DAMAGED OVER THIS AREA. DAMAGE INTENSITY WAS RATED 
(F0) WHILE THE DAMAGE WIDTH WAS APPROXIMATELY 50 YARDS. THE FUNNEL 
SKIPPED EASTWARD AND TRAVELED ALONG AND JUST SOUTH OF COUNTY ROAD 
1300 NORTH OR 2.5 MILES NORTH OF STATE ROAD 140. ONE BARN AND TWO 
MACHINE SHEDS WERE DESTROYED APPROXIMATELY 6 MILES WEST-NORTHWEST OF 
GREENVILLE ILLINOIS. OTHERWISE SEVERAL TREES AND LARGE TREE LIMBS 
WERE DOWNED BY THE TORNADO. DAMAGE INTENSITY WAS (FO) ACROSS MUCH OF 
THE DAMAGE TRACK. 

THE FUNNEL TOUCHED DOWN AGAIN JUST EAST OF STATE ROAD 127...2.5 
MILES NORTH OF GREENVILLE ILLINOIS AT APPROXIMATELY 635 PM CDT. 
SEVERAL LARGE TREES WERE SNAPPED OR UPROOTED FROM THIS POINT 
EASTWARD TOWARDS GOVERNOR BOND LAKE. THE DAMAGE WAS RATED THE LOWER 
END OF (F1) WHILE THE DAMAGE WIDTH WAS APPROXIMATELY 50 YARDS WIDE.  

THE TORNADO TRAVELED ACROSS GOVERNOR BOND LAKE AND CAUSED VARYING 
DEGREES OF DAMAGE TO SEVEN HOMES IN THE SPRINGWOOD ESTATES 
SUBDIVISION NEAR AND JUST EAST OF THE LAKE BETWEEN 640 AND 645 PM 
CDT. LARGE PIECES OF THE SIDES OF ONE HOME AND PIECES OF ROOFS FROM 
TWO OTHER HOMES WERE TOSSED 1/2 MILE EAST OF THE SUBDIVISION. MANY 
OF THESE PIECES WERE EJECTED AT ANGLES OF 45 TO 60 DEGREES INTO THE 
GROUND. NUMEROUS LARGE TREES IN THE SUBDIVISION WERE SNAPPED NEAR 
THE BASE OR UPROOTED. DEBRIS WAS DEPOSITED IN A COVERGENT-LIKE 
PATTERN WHICH IS REPRESENTATIVE OF A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO CONTINUED 
TO CAUSE SOME TREE DAMAGE FOR APPROXIMATELY ANOTHER 1/4 MILE BEFORE 
LIFTING. THE DAMAGE WIDTH WAS 50 YARDS WHILE DAMAGE INTENSITY WAS 
RATED (F1). 

THE SECOND TORNADO INITIALLY TOUCHED DOWN APPROXIMATELY 100 YARDS 
SOUTHEAST OF THE FIRST IN A HEAVILY WOODED AREA NEAR THE EASTERN END 
OF THE SUBDIVISION. THIS TORNADO TRAVELED EASTWARD THROUGH THIS 
HEAVILY WOODED AREA AND DESTROYED HUNDREDS OF LARGE TREES ALONG A 
1/3 MILE PATH. THE DAMAGE WIDTH IN THIS AREA WAS APPROXIMATELY 80 
YARDS AND DAMAGE INTENSITY WAS RATED THE LOWER END OF (F2). THE 
TORNADO CONTINUED EASTWARD AND CAUSED ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO SOME 
TREES BEFORE LIFTING JUST EAST OF COUNTY ROAD 1400 EAST OR 
APPROXIMATELY 3.0 MILES NORTHEAST OF GREENVILLE. 

THE TOTAL DAMAGE PATH OF THE FIRST TORNADO IN BOND COUNTY WAS 9.0 
MILES...WHILE THE SECOND TORNADO HAD A DAMAGE PATH OF 1.5 MILES. 

A THIRD TORNADO BRIEFLY TOUCHED DOWN APPROXIMATELY 4.0 MILES SOUTH 
OF VANDALIA IN SOUTH-CENTRAL FAYETTE COUNTY AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO ONE 
HOUSE TRAILER AND SEVERAL LARGE TREES. THE TORNADO INITIALLY TOUCHED 
DOWN AT APPROXIMATELY 710 PM CDT. DAMAGE WIDTH WAS 40 YARDS AND 
DAMAGE INTENSITY WAS RATED (F0). THE TOTAL DAMAGE TRACK OF THE THIRD 
TORNADO WAS 1.5 MILES. 

THE TORNADOES WHICH OCCURRED ACROSS BOND AND FAYETTE COUNTIES WERE 
ASSOCIATED WITH A HIGH-PRECIPITATION SUPERCELL STORM. THE PARENT 
STORM CIRCULATION (MESOCYCLONE) WAS LOCATED ALONG THE FORWARD 
(SOUTHEAST) SIDE OF THE STORM AND PARTIALLY WRAPPED IN HEAVY 
RAINFALL. ONE WITNESS WHO BRIEFLY OBSERVED THE TORNADO EXPERIENCED 
HEAVY RAINFALL. TORNADOES WRAPPED IN HEAVY RAINFALL ARE COMMON IN 
HIGH-PRECIPITATION SUPERCELL STORMS.       

FUJITA DAMAGE SCALE
F0 (40-72 MPH)
F1 (73-112 MPH)
F2 (113-157 MPH)
F3 (158-206 MPH)
F4 (207-260 MPH)
F5 (261-318 MPH)

RON PRZYBYLINSKI
SCIENCE AND OPERATIONS OFFICER
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST. LOUIS