SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS/WRSP) — After an active evening of severe weather across central Illinois, the National Weather Service (NWS) is confirming at least two tornado touchdowns on Tuesday afternoon.
The first tornado touch down happened shortly after 4:00 PM in Auburn, Sangamon County. At least three tornado reports from the National Weather Service have come out of Sangamon County around Auburn, but these as of right now are attributed to one tornado. Multiple reports of trees taken down, power lines bent and/or taken down have been received as well as damage to a grain building and outbuilding were reported. Also, a 55 foot tall, 12 inch in diameter tree was taken down across a road.
The second tornado touch down happened in Montgomery County, shortly before 4:20 PM. This tornado report came from Montgomery County Emergency Management and they reported a tornado on the ground near White Oak. As of right now, no damage being reported from the Montgomery County touchdown. The National Weather Service in Saint Louis will be working over the next few days to gather damage reports and determent whether a damage assessment visit will be needed to the area.
The National Weather Service in Lincoln says they will not be coming down into Sangamon County as they will be working with Sangamon County Emergency Management to determine tornado damage around Auburn and potentially near Virden over the next few days and issue Public Information Statements with more information.
Other, multiple funnel cloud reports were received this afternoon in northern portions of Morgan County right around Jacksonville, but no tornado touchdowns or warnings were reported there.
by Bryan Schuerman (2020, July 21)
