Storm Chase Log: Central Illinois Tornadoes

Storm Chase Details

Chase Date: June 17, 2026
Miles Logged: 374
States Chased: IL
Tornadoes Witnessed: 2

Blue Mound

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Blue Mound

Latitude: 39.69

Longitude: -89.14

EF Rating: EF-1

Start Time: 17:05

End Time: 17:16

End Latitude: 39.64

End Longitude: -88.97
Mattoon

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Mattoon

Latitude: 39.52

Longitude: -88.37

EF Rating: EF-2

Start Time: 18:42

End Time: 18:59

End Latitude: 39.48

End Longitude: -88.14

Highest Wind Encountered: 60 MPH
Spotter Network Reports: 1

Funnel Cloud 2 miles ENE of COLES, IL

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Funnel Cloud 2 miles ENE of COLES, IL

Timestamp: June 17, 2026, 5:54 PM CDT

Latitude: 39.5209999

Longitude: -88.435997

NWS Office: Lincoln, IL

Narrative: Funnel and possible tornado about 3/4 of the way down. Lasted approximately 60 seconds. 4 miles north of location

Funnel Cloud: Yes

Severe Risks: SPC Outlooks
Severe Reports: Storm Reports

A highly advertised highly sheared day which was apparent on models from almost a week out. We made the trek for the potentially big day in Illinois on Wednesday the 17th.

Arriving into Chicago

We came from South Dakota, staying in Sioux Falls the night before. The long trek down I-90 through Minnesota and into Wisconsin was broken up with a trip to the Jolly Green Giant in Blue Earth, Minnesota.

We also met up with Lorraine and her family before heading to south Chicago suburbs for the night. We had been on the road for a few days already, so it was good to get some sleep.

Departing Chicago for Springfield

We woke up and prepared the vehicle to depart. Unfortunately, it was a downpour and we had to setup the vehicle under the hotel overhang. The rain would continue as we drove south. Optimism was not a word I’d use at this point in the day. It was obvious the only play would be much further south as the cold, convectively reinforced air was moving south and rapidly.

The first stop was at the Williamsville exit where we met up with Lorraine and eventually Bill. The approaching shelf cloud was not doing much to improve my outlook on the day. The only obvious play was to get south into the warmer air.

The individual storm updrafts in the line were intensifying as we dropped through Springfield. We eventually exited I55 at the Auburn/Pawnee exit and headed east on IL-104. We zig-zagged through the back roads and ended up near Blue Mound. The storm to our northwest had become tornado warned.

Blue Mound Illinois Tornado

We parked close to the train tracks in Blue Mound near a silo and watched the storm approach. JR had mentioned a train was going to box us in, and of course a train came by. Luckily, it did not block us in.

The storm was approaching fast, as storm speeds were 50-60 MPH. We stair stepped to Moweaquea and then south. Every chaser on the planet ended up on the same road near Findlay. Luckily we were near the front of the conga line, so we were able to keep ahead of the line. Our mirrors were full of headlights.

Funnel Cloud Northwest of Mattoon

We had been on the same east/west county road for about 25 miles when we sighted a brief funnel to our north. We were just northwest of the town of Mattoon at this point. JR pulled off the road and onto a circular driveway, and we were able to capture this footage of the funnel.

After this brief stop, we continued east to I-57 where we jumped southbound to bypass Mattoon. We went right by the Texas Roadhouse and Garden inn we’d eat at and stay at later, and headed south.

Mattoon Charleston Illinois Tornado

The Embarras River ruined road options, requiring us to continue dropping south. The correct move may have been to continue eastbound on highway 16 to Charleston, then heading back. It would have definitely set us up for the tornado about to occur. The only path east was a number of miles south otherwise, which managed to screw us over twice.

It became quickly obvious that this storm was going to get away from us, and that we should focus on the next storm in the line behind it. We went back to just northwest of Mattoon and watched the next storm come over us. It was spinning like crazy and we waited to the last second to bail. This would eventually touch down just a mile or two east and become the Mattoon-Charleston tornado. Due to the disorientation while outside, I did not realize the road we were on was East/West oriented. The smarter decision might have been to go through or north of Mattoon to the east.

Calling the Chase

We bailed south the same way we came, with the same river crossing problem. This time we made it across the river, and were 10 miles south of the main part of the storm. With storm speeds and HP nature of the storms, JR and I decided to bid adieu to Lorraine and Brian and headed back to Mattoon for Texas Roadhouse. I grabbed a room in Mattoon and we were officially done for the night.

After arriving at Texas Roadhouse, we then watched social media fill of pictures of a very photogenic tornado approximately 25 miles south of us over dinner. We gave up too soon. Oops.