An area of low pressure deepened considerably as it tracked from northeast Missouri into southern Wisconsin on March 15th.  While the airmass ahead of this system across central Illinois remained capped for much of the day, an approaching upper trough helped weaken the cap and set the stage for scattered severe thunderstorms ahead of an approaching cold front during the evening of the 15th.  Several clusters of thunderstorms moved across west-central Illinois, mainly along and west of I-55.  The first cluster tracked from just north of Quincy toward the Peoria area, while a second cluster impacted locations from Jacksonville to Springfield.  Thanks to moderate instability and strong low-level wind shear near the low track, many of the storms rotated and produced large hail and tornadoes.  A total of 4 tornadoes touched down, including an EF-2 just northwest of Trivoli in Peoria County.

Hail in SCOTT, ILLINOIS
From 15-MAR-16 17:25:00 to 15-MAR-16 17:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: WINCHESTER
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Hail in SCOTT, ILLINOIS
From 15-MAR-16 17:38:00 to 15-MAR-16 17:43:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALSEY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in MORGAN, ILLINOIS
From 15-MAR-16 17:45:00 to 15-MAR-16 17:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: JACKSONVILLE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in MORGAN, ILLINOIS
From 15-MAR-16 17:59:00 to 15-MAR-16 18:04:00 (CST-6)
Location: JACKSONVILLE
Magnitude: 2.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Hail in MORGAN, ILLINOIS
From 15-MAR-16 18:20:00 to 15-MAR-16 18:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALEXANDER
Magnitude: 2.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in SANGAMON, ILLINOIS
From 15-MAR-16 18:45:00 to 15-MAR-16 18:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: SALISBURY
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in PEORIA, ILLINOIS
From 15-MAR-16 19:00:00 to 15-MAR-16 19:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALTA
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in PEORIA, ILLINOIS
From 15-MAR-16 19:05:00 to 15-MAR-16 19:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: GLASFORD
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Hail in PEORIA, ILLINOIS
From 15-MAR-16 19:05:00 to 15-MAR-16 19:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: SHERWOOD FOREST
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Hail in PEORIA, ILLINOIS
From 15-MAR-16 19:07:00 to 15-MAR-16 19:12:00 (CST-6)
Location: PEORIA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Hail in TAZEWELL, ILLINOIS
From 15-MAR-16 19:33:00 to 15-MAR-16 19:38:00 (CST-6)
Location: EAST PEORIA
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in LOGAN, ILLINOIS
From 15-MAR-16 19:38:00 to 15-MAR-16 19:43:00 (CST-6)
Location: BEASON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in MCLEAN, ILLINOIS
From 15-MAR-16 19:54:00 to 15-MAR-16 19:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: HEYWORTH
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in WOODFORD, ILLINOIS
From 15-MAR-16 20:07:00 to 15-MAR-16 20:12:00 (CST-6)
Location: SECOR
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in VERMILION, ILLINOIS
From 15-MAR-16 21:08:00 to 15-MAR-16 21:13:00 (CST-6)
Location: WESTVILLE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in VERMILION, ILLINOIS
From 15-MAR-16 21:12:00 to 15-MAR-16 21:17:00 (CST-6)
Location: DANVILLE
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in DE WITT, ILLINOIS
From 15-MAR-16 19:42:00 to 15-MAR-16 19:47:00 (CST-6)
Location: HALLVILLE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in PEORIA, ILLINOIS
From 15-MAR-16 18:58:00 to 15-MAR-16 19:03:00 (CST-6)
Location: HANNA CITY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in PEORIA, ILLINOIS
From 15-MAR-16 18:48:00 to 15-MAR-16 18:53:00 (CST-6)
Location: KICKAPOO
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in DE WITT, ILLINOIS
From 15-MAR-16 19:48:00 to 15-MAR-16 19:53:00 (CST-6)
Location: CLINTON
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in SANGAMON, ILLINOIS
From 15-MAR-16 18:33:00 to 15-MAR-16 18:38:00 (CST-6)
Location: NEW BERLIN
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Tornado in FULTON, ILLINOIS
From 15-MAR-16 17:56:00 to 15-MAR-16 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: AVON
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A tornado crossed into northwest Fulton County from southeast Warren County (NWS Quad Cities) 1.4 miles north-northwest of Avon at 6:56 PM CDT. The tornado tracked northeastward for 2 miles before lifting 2.5 miles north-northeast of Avon at 7:00 PM CDT.  The tornado damaged several trees along its path before dissipating in an open field.

Thunderstorm Wind in PEORIA, ILLINOIS
From 15-MAR-16 19:15:00 to 15-MAR-16 19:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: LONG SHR PARK
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 80.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Several trees and power lines were blown down.

Tornado in SANGAMON, ILLINOIS
From 15-MAR-16 18:44:00 to 15-MAR-16 18:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: KNAPP
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 280.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A tornado touched down 2.4 miles west of Curran along Werner Road about three quarters of a mile west of the intersection with Farmingdale Road at 7:44 PM CDT.  The roof of a home lost some shingles and a few pine trees were broken off in this area.  The tornado tracked across mainly open fields and crossed I-72 just east of Farmingdale Road at 7:45 PM CDT.  The tornado continued northeastward and damaged a house along Bunker Hill Road, blowing out windows, removing shingles, and breaking several trees.  It then caused minor shingle damage to a home along Emerson Road about a quarter mile south of Iles Avenue.  Further northeast, the tornado caused significant damage to a home along Iles Avenue about a half mile east of the intersection with Emerson Road, removing most of the roof and blowing out a wall on the west side of the structure.  Across the street, a barn lost its roof and several trees were snapped off.  The tornado then dissipated in an open field 6.6 miles west-southwest of Springfield at 7:50 PM CDT.

Tornado in PEORIA, ILLINOIS
From 15-MAR-16 19:05:00 to 15-MAR-16 19:14:00 (CST-6)
Location: POTTSTOWN
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 260.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A tornado touched down 4 miles northwest of Peoria just northwest of the intersection of Richwoods Boulevard and Molleck Drive at 8:05 PM CDT.  Damage was done to the roof, gutters, soffit, and ceiling tiles of the St. Francis Woods Supportive Living Center.  The tornado intermittently touched down along a path to the northeast through the city of Peoria.  Damage was done to roofs and trees near University and Christine, the Farmer's Market at the Metro Centre shopping facility, and trees at the Donovan Golf Course.  The tornado broke a pole, snapped a tree that fell into a garage, and damaged shingles and siding in Peoria Heights on Prospect and Wickwood Roads.  The tornado then dissipated 1 mile northwest of Peoria Heights before it approached Forest Park at 8:14 PM CDT.

Tornado in PEORIA, ILLINOIS
From 15-MAR-16 18:42:00 to 15-MAR-16 18:57:00 (CST-6)
Location: TRIVOLI
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A tornado touched down 2 miles northwest of Trivoli just west of Quarry Road at 7:42 PM CDT.  A garage and house roofs were damaged, a car was picked up and thrown 50 yards into a field, a pickup truck was damaged, and several trees were snapped.  As the tornado approached Trivoli Road, it developed multiple vorticies and widened to about one quarter of a mile across.  Several outbuildings and grain bins were destroyed, house roofs were damaged, and numerous trees were uprooted.  Near Texas Road and Cottonwood Road, a church roof was severely damaged and several trees were snapped.  As the tornado continued tracking to the northeast, more outbuildings and trees were damaged.  The worst damage occurred at a residence on Southport Road between Cutoff Road and Kramm Road, where the roof was completely torn off a house, outbuildings were damaged, and a tree was ripped out of the ground and thrown.  The tornado then dissipated 2.7 miles southwest of Kickapoo near Kickapoo Creek at 7:57 PM CDT.