Tornado in ST. CLAIR, ILLINOIS
From 02-APR-06 16:15:00 to 02-APR-06 16:23:00 (CST)
Location: FAIRVIEW HGTS
Tornado F-scale: F2
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY

Around 515 pm CDT the tornado first caused damage 200 yards south of the intersection of Union Hill road and Long Acre Drive in southwest Fairview Heights, Illinois. Several large trees and large limbs were downed by the tornado. The damage width at this location was 60 yards wide while damage intensity was rated F0. The tornado traveled northeast through a small subdivision southwest of Lincoln Trail (US 50) and Cathy Lane. There was minor roof damage to several homes, a two car garage was damaged and several large trees were either uprooted or snapped half way up. On the east side of Cathy Lane the roof of an apartment building was damaged while a second establishment sustained side and roof damage. Damage was rated F1 intensity while the damage width ranged from 60 to 80 yards. On the north side of US 50 several large power poles were snapped off. Other establishments along the north side of US 50 sustained various degrees of damage. Light poles and tree damage revealed a convergent damage pattern indicative of a tornado. The tornado then hit the south side of the K & G clothing store. The front center part of the roof collapsed while debris from this area was pushed along the east side of the large store. There was one fatality and 11 injuries at this store. The damage width ranged between 80 to 100 yards in this area while the damage intensity was rated lower end of F2. The tornado continued northeast across St. Clair Square Mall, Interstate 64, and then hit a church on Old Collinsville Road. The tornado damaged the steeple and roof of the church. The tornado then damaged three homes and one farm just west of the intersection of Milburn School Road and Pausch Road 2 miles northeast of Fairview Heights. Several large trees were also damaged over this area. The damage width was approximately 60 yards wide while damage Intensity was rated F1. The tornado then crossed the intersection of Kyle and Simmons Road and caused only minor roof damage to six homes in a subdivision north of Kyle Road. The tornado continued to travel northeast and caused damage to several homes in the Crown Point subdivision just south of O`Fallon-Troy Road. The roof of one home was completely uplifted and tossed over 100 yards to the northeast. The damage width was 100 yards wide while damage intensity was rated F2. The tornado then crossed O`Fallon-Troy Road and totally destroyed a machine shed at a farm. Debris from the machine shed was tossed over 1/3 mile to the northeast. Two other homes 1/4 mile north of the intersection of Weil and O`Fallon road sustained varying degrees of damage. The roof of one home was uplifted and displaced to the northeast. Several trees in this area were also damaged. The width of the tornadic damage was 100 yards while damage intensity was rated F1. Insulation debris from both homes was tossed over 300 yards across an open field and line of large trees. The total tornadic damage track was approximately 7 miles. This tornado was a type referred to as a non-supercell tornado. Given that the line of thunderstorm which produced this tornado was moving 60 mph, the tornado was only on the ground for about 8 minutes.