Media report, quoting the National Weather Service, follows..
It has been determined that 30 ( later report said 27 - bj, still later determined to be 36) tornadoes touched down in Illinois on Friday, April 19, 1996. The 30 tornadoes Friday was the largest number of tornadoes ever to occur in Illinois in one day. The largest previous outbreak was 25 tornadoes on August 10, 1974. To put the 30 tornadoes in perspective...the average number of tornadoes for a year in Illinois is about 27.
The most tornadoes for a month is 53 set in May of 1995. The most tornadoes ever in the month of April was 21 in 1974. Detailed tornado statistics for Illinois go back to 1950.
In addition to the 30 tornadoes, some of the storms on April 19 produced hailstones the size of baseballs and straight-line or downburst winds up to 100 mph., which downed large trees and damaged structures.
Source: The National Weather Service Office, Chicago, Ill.
Preliminary damage surveys from the National Weather Service
- The Decatur Tornadic Storm...A tornado moved through the northwest and northern sections of Decatur. National Weather Service estimates indicated that most of the storm damage was of F-2 intensity on the Fujita Scale, with some isolated F-3 damage found. The F-3 areas were in northwestern Decatur near the corner of Wycles and Center Roads, and also at the west end of Ravina Park Road. Two initial damage areas were reported in Macon County; one in Niantic and one in Harristown. Both of these had short path lengths and were brief touchdowns. These were apparently early short touchdowns of F-1 damage, possibly from multiple funnels. The main storm then started at the corner of Wycles and Center Roads, producing F-3 initial damage to a church. Storm width was 1000 yards. The storm then moved east at tree top level, producing F-1 damage until it reached Ravina Park Road. F-3 damage was then seen as the storm demolished a house, and moved eastward down Ravina Park Road doing F-2 damage Storm width was 1.5 to 2 blocks in this area. The tornado then crossed Oakland Avenue, destroying Sim's Lumber Company. The storm apparently lifted and then came down again near Bloomington and Pythan Avenue, moving east where it lifted east of Morgan Street. The tornado path length was about five miles. The Urbana Storm...A tornado moved through the southern Urbana area, where damage estimates were of F-3 damage with estimated wind speeds of 160 to 170 mph. The damage path of this storm started in the southern portion of Urbana. It continued east-northeast, crossing into the Eagle Ridge subdivision. After exiting Eagle Ridge, it lifted in a field. Path width was one to two blocks with the path length about one to one and a half miles.
- The Ogden Storm...A tornado moved into the Ogden area, affecting about 80 percent of the homes in the town. Damage estimates were mostly F-2 speeds, with a few scattered F-3 damage areas with estimated speeds up to 170 mph. The damage path of the storm began just west-southwest of Ogden, moving through the heart of the town. Once east of town, the storm lifted before reaching Interstate 74. Path width appeared to be from three-quarters of a mile to nearly one mile. Path length was around one and a half miles. In Ogden, the damage to structures was variable. One house would have significant damage, while a nearby house would have only minor damage. With its larger width, it appears that this storm had multiple circulations within the parent tornado on the ground.
- Mason County Storms...One parent tornadic thunderstorm produced a number of tornadoes. The first began in the town of Bath. Damage was estimated at F-2 intensity. The storm apparently tracked northeast, finally lifting near Rural Road. Damage maps also indicate possible multiple funnels before the storm lifted. Path length was around 10 miles. The second touchdown occurred about two miles west-southwest of Easton, moving along the northwest side of the city and lifting about three and a half miles to the northeast of Easton. Path width was about 500 yards and path length was five and a half miles, with F-1 damage found. It then touched down again about one mile later, continuing east-northeast for three miles before lifting once again. Path length was three miles and path width about a quarter of a mile. Multiple funnels also seem possible from this storm.
- Eastern Morgan County and western Sangamon County...One parent tornadic thunderstorm produced a number of tornadoes. The first began two miles east of Jacksonville, at the Mobile Chemical Plant, and moved east over a portion of the Jacksonville Correctional Facility. F-2 damage was found here. Path length was one and a half miles and path width was one half mile. The storm then lifted and touched down again about two miles later. After about two miles, it lifted again. Path length was two miles, and path length was two blocks. F-1 damage was found. Other brief tornado touchdowns occurred along Interstate 72 and old Route 36. One occurred two miles east of New Berlin and another five miles east-northeast of New Berlin. Damage was F-0 with path widths of a block, and path lengths of less than a quarter mile.
More: Lincoln, IL National Weather Service severe log | SPC log | CNN report | CNN - Ogden