January Tornadoes - During the evening of January 21 into the wee morning hours of January 22, a series of tornadoes struck southeast Missouri and adjacent portions of southern Illinois and western Kentucky. Although no fatalities were reported, a number of injuries occurred, primarily to residents of mobile homes. A detailed summary is available. A stretch of Interstate 57 in southern Illinois was shut down. Total damage was well in the millions of dollars, and at least 15 injuries were reported.
Detailed summary is available.
The year got off to a rough start, as heavy icing glazed parts of southern Illinois and southeast Missouri. Up to an inch of ice accumulation downed numerous trees and power lines. The governor of Illinois issued a disaster declaration for the entire state. Derecho - A derecho, which is a severe thunderstorm complex, swept across the entire region. The concentration of heaviest damage was from southeast Missouri across southern Illinois, where gusts to near 90 MPH were estimated.