A line of thunderstorms intensified as it moved east from Missouri. The storms increased as they moved into slightly more unstable air associated with a strengthening low level jet. The storms were aided by the approach of a strong upper level trough. Despite weak instability, winds of 90 knots in the lowest 3 kilometers coupled with extreme shear values resulted in damaging winds and isolated tornadoes with the strongest storms. Ahead of the thunderstorms, strong southerly gradient winds gusted up to 55 mph in spots. A wind gust to 53 mph was measured in Hamilton County ahead of the storms.

Thunderstorm Wind in PERRY, ILLINOIS
From 29-JAN-13 21:15:00 to 29-JAN-13 21:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: DU QUOIN
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

On the southwest side of DuQuoin, an attached garage was destroyed. The garage door was blown completely in, and the back wall of the garage was knocked out. Trees were blown down around the damaged house. South of DuQuoin along Route 14, a barn was destroyed. Trained spotters reported leaning power poles and tree damage in Old DuQuoin.

Strong Wind in HAMILTON, ILLINOIS
From 29-JAN-13 19:00:00 to 29-JAN-13 22:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 46.00 MG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Strong Wind in JACKSON, ILLINOIS
From 29-JAN-13 19:00:00 to 29-JAN-13 22:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 39.00 MG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Tornado in SALINE, ILLINOIS
From 29-JAN-13 22:16:00 to 29-JAN-13 22:18:00 (CST-6)
Location: GALATIA
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 200.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

One home was destroyed. The home was unroofed, and three out of four exterior walls collapsed. Several homes sustained roof damage, including roof decking. Windows were blown out of at least one house. A poorly constructed garage and an awning were destroyed. A machine shed was levelled, and the doors were blown out of another one. One home lost a brick chimney. A hay bale feeder was thrown 250 yards. Huge trees up to 14 feet in circumference were uprooted and snapped. There was an eyewitness to the funnel cloud. One person was critically injured by a large tree which fell on his mobile home, trapping him inside. Another person received minor injuries. The average path width was 100 yards. Peak winds were estimated near 115 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in JACKSON, ILLINOIS
From 29-JAN-13 21:20:00 to 29-JAN-13 21:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: MURPHYSBORO
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 40.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A trailer was thrown into another trailer. One of the trailers was destroyed. A double wide mobile home sustained major damage.

Thunderstorm Wind in JEFFERSON, ILLINOIS
From 29-JAN-13 21:23:00 to 29-JAN-13 21:23:00 (CST-6)
Location: WOODLAWN
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 6.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A carport and awning received moderate damage.

Thunderstorm Wind in WILLIAMSON, ILLINOIS
From 29-JAN-13 21:43:00 to 29-JAN-13 21:43:00 (CST-6)
Location: HERRIN
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Radio antennas were damaged.

Thunderstorm Wind in PERRY, ILLINOIS
From 29-JAN-13 20:54:00 to 29-JAN-13 20:54:00 (CST-6)
Location: LAYFIELD
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Power poles were blown across Highway 154 several miles west of Pinckneyville.

Thunderstorm Wind in FRANKLIN, ILLINOIS
From 29-JAN-13 21:45:00 to 29-JAN-13 21:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: REND CITY
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 40.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

About a mile north of Route 14 between Benton and Rend Lake Dam, a camper was overturned. A home received shingle damage. A mobile office trailer was thrown on its side. Several trees were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in WAYNE, ILLINOIS
From 29-JAN-13 22:00:00 to 29-JAN-13 22:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: WAYNE CITY
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 8.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Several large trees were uprooted. Two 20-inch diameter trees were snapped off about three feet above the ground.

Thunderstorm Wind in WILLIAMSON, ILLINOIS
From 29-JAN-13 22:00:00 to 29-JAN-13 22:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: PULLEYS MILL
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

About one-third of the roof decking was blown off a mobile home. Almost the entire roof was ripped off another home. A 20-foot metal pole was snapped in half and blown into a neighbor's yard. Windows were blown out of a nearby home. Some trees were snapped. Debris was wrapped around a few trees. The damage was reported in and around the Lake of Egypt.

Thunderstorm Wind in UNION, ILLINOIS
From 29-JAN-13 22:05:00 to 29-JAN-13 22:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: DONGOLA
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A large poplar tree was blown down on a car.

Thunderstorm Wind in JACKSON, ILLINOIS
From 29-JAN-13 21:33:00 to 29-JAN-13 21:33:00 (CST-6)
Location: DE SOTO
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Trees were blown down near the community of Desoto.

Thunderstorm Wind in JACKSON, ILLINOIS
From 29-JAN-13 21:25:00 to 29-JAN-13 21:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: (MDH)CRBNDL/MRFYSBRO
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

A wind gust to 63 mph was measured by the automated observing system at the Carbondale/Southern Illinois Airport.

Thunderstorm Wind in JEFFERSON, ILLINOIS
From 29-JAN-13 21:35:00 to 29-JAN-13 21:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: (MVN)MT VERNON ARPT
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

A wind gust to 59 mph was measured by the automated observing system at the Mount Vernon Airport.

Thunderstorm Wind in ALEXANDER, ILLINOIS
From 29-JAN-13 21:50:00 to 29-JAN-13 21:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: TAMMS
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter estimated a wind gust to 70 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in FRANKLIN, ILLINOIS
From 29-JAN-13 21:51:00 to 29-JAN-13 21:51:00 (CST-6)
Location: WEST FRANKFORT
Magnitude: 61.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A wind gust to 70 mph was measured by a trained spotter.

Thunderstorm Wind in WILLIAMSON, ILLINOIS
From 29-JAN-13 21:55:00 to 29-JAN-13 22:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: HERRIN
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 8.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Numerous tree limbs were down in Herrin, where a trained spotter estimated the wind gusted to 70 mph. In Johnston City, a trained spotter estimated a wind gust to 70 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in WABASH, ILLINOIS
From 29-JAN-13 23:00:00 to 29-JAN-13 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: KEENSBURG
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter estimated the wind gusted to 60 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in WHITE, ILLINOIS
From 29-JAN-13 22:51:00 to 29-JAN-13 22:51:00 (CST-6)
Location: CROSSVILLE
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter estimated the wind gusted to 70 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in MASSAC, ILLINOIS
From 29-JAN-13 23:04:00 to 29-JAN-13 23:04:00 (CST-6)
Location: METROPOLIS
Magnitude: 59.00 MG
Property damage: 70.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

The rubber roof was lifted from the county courthouse. The roof was partially removed from a second structure. Power lines were blown down. A large awning was blown off, and two plate glass windows were blown out in the downtown area. A trained spotter measured a wind gust to 68 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in EDWARDS, ILLINOIS
From 29-JAN-13 22:42:00 to 29-JAN-13 22:42:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALBION
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Unknown

Windows were blown out of a house.

Tornado in FRANKLIN, ILLINOIS
From 29-JAN-13 21:38:00 to 29-JAN-13 21:39:00 (CST-6)
Location: MULKEYTOWN
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Two spotters eyewitnessed a brief tornado touchdown along Highway 14 near Old Du Quoin, about 1/4 mile east of the Franklin/Perry county line. Winds were estimated at 85 mph. No damage was reported with the tornado, partly because this stretch of road was devoid of trees and power lines.

Thunderstorm Wind in FRANKLIN, ILLINOIS
From 29-JAN-13 21:40:00 to 29-JAN-13 21:41:00 (CST-6)
Location: CHRISTOPHER
Magnitude: 74.00 EG
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A pole barn was heavily damaged at the intersection of Route 14 and Old Route 14. A day care center lost part of a wall. A few outbuildings were damaged.