A strong cold front triggered a squall line across western Iowa into eastern Kansas during the afternoon of March 6th.  These storms raced eastward and reached west-central Illinois by the late evening, then pushed across the remainder of central Illinois during the early morning hours of March 7th.  The storms produced widespread wind gusts of 50-70 mph and 3 tornadoes.  One tornado touched down near Easton in Mason County, while two tornadoes occurred further east in Tazewell County.  The most significant tornado caused EF-2 damage in rural Tazewell County just northeast of Delavan.

Thunderstorm Wind in FULTON, ILLINOIS
From 06-MAR-17 23:43:00 to 06-MAR-17 23:48:00 (CST-6)
Location: MONTEREY
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A tree was snapped several feet off the ground.

Thunderstorm Wind in PEORIA, ILLINOIS
From 06-MAR-17 23:47:00 to 06-MAR-17 23:52:00 (CST-6)
Location: PRINCEVILLE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

A 12-inch diameter tree limb was blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in EDGAR, ILLINOIS
From 07-MAR-17 02:53:00 to 07-MAR-17 02:58:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELBRIDGE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A large tree limb was blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in MARSHALL, ILLINOIS
From 07-MAR-17 00:23:00 to 07-MAR-17 00:28:00 (CST-6)
Location: WENONA
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Several tree branches were broken in Wenona.

Strong Wind in MCLEAN, ILLINOIS
From 06-MAR-17 22:00:00 to 06-MAR-17 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 43.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Gradient winds gusting to 45-50mph ahead of an approaching line of thunderstorms caused a tree to fall along the 1200 block of West College Avenue in Bloomington.

Hail in CASS, ILLINOIS
From 06-MAR-17 23:20:00 to 06-MAR-17 23:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: BEARDSTOWN
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in KNOX, ILLINOIS
From 06-MAR-17 23:28:00 to 06-MAR-17 23:33:00 (CST-6)
Location: RAPATEE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in PEORIA, ILLINOIS
From 06-MAR-17 23:45:00 to 06-MAR-17 23:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALTA
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in MORGAN, ILLINOIS
From 07-MAR-17 00:00:00 to 07-MAR-17 00:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: JACKSONVILLE
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in TAZEWELL, ILLINOIS
From 07-MAR-17 00:07:00 to 07-MAR-17 00:12:00 (CST-6)
Location: WASHINGTON
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in SANGAMON, ILLINOIS
From 07-MAR-17 00:25:00 to 07-MAR-17 00:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: WILLIAMSVILLE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in VERMILION, ILLINOIS
From 07-MAR-17 02:02:00 to 07-MAR-17 02:07:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOOPESTON
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Thunderstorm Wind in FULTON, ILLINOIS
From 06-MAR-17 23:37:00 to 06-MAR-17 23:42:00 (CST-6)
Location: FARMINGTON
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A large object was blown onto a house.

Thunderstorm Wind in VERMILION, ILLINOIS
From 07-MAR-17 02:20:00 to 07-MAR-17 02:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALVIN
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A tree was blown down across Route 119.

Thunderstorm Wind in MASON, ILLINOIS
From 06-MAR-17 23:58:00 to 07-MAR-17 00:03:00 (CST-6)
Location: MASON CITY
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

A 7-foot privacy fence was blown down, snapping 5 of its poles at the base.

Thunderstorm Wind in SHELBY, ILLINOIS
From 07-MAR-17 01:52:00 to 07-MAR-17 01:57:00 (CST-6)
Location: WINDSOR
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A small boat was overturned.

Thunderstorm Wind in MCLEAN, ILLINOIS
From 07-MAR-17 00:37:00 to 07-MAR-17 00:42:00 (CST-6)
Location: NORMAL
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A fence was blown over and a mailbox was torn off its post.

Thunderstorm Wind in SCHUYLER, ILLINOIS
From 06-MAR-17 23:00:00 to 06-MAR-17 23:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: HUNTSVILLE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The roof of a house was damaged in Huntsville.

Thunderstorm Wind in KNOX, ILLINOIS
From 06-MAR-17 23:07:00 to 06-MAR-17 23:12:00 (CST-6)
Location: GALESBURG
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 14.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

A car was crushed by a falling tree near Knox College in Galesburg.

Thunderstorm Wind in KNOX, ILLINOIS
From 06-MAR-17 23:11:00 to 06-MAR-17 23:16:00 (CST-6)
Location: ABINGDON
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Sheet metal was blown off a building.

Thunderstorm Wind in KNOX, ILLINOIS
From 06-MAR-17 23:26:00 to 06-MAR-17 23:31:00 (CST-6)
Location: MAQUON
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 7.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A power pole was blown down near the intersection of 1200E and 650N.

Thunderstorm Wind in FULTON, ILLINOIS
From 06-MAR-17 23:33:00 to 06-MAR-17 23:38:00 (CST-6)
Location: CANTON
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 75.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Ten power poles were snapped at the base near the Correctional Center.

Thunderstorm Wind in TAZEWELL, ILLINOIS
From 06-MAR-17 23:43:00 to 06-MAR-17 23:48:00 (CST-6)
Location: MORTON
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 12.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A semi was blown over on I-155 at the Main Street exit.

Thunderstorm Wind in MASON, ILLINOIS
From 06-MAR-17 23:37:00 to 06-MAR-17 23:42:00 (CST-6)
Location: KELSEY
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 12.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A tree was blown onto a house in Matanzas Beach.

Tornado in TAZEWELL, ILLINOIS
From 07-MAR-17 00:00:00 to 07-MAR-17 00:06:00 (CST-6)
Location: WINKEL
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 175.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A tornado touched down along Wagonseller Road about 5 miles southwest of Green Valley at 12:00 AM CST March 7th.  The tornado quickly tracked northeastward and widened to around 150 yards and increased in intensity to EF-1 as it destroyed an outbuilding and an historic single room schoolhouse about 4 miles southwest of Green Valley.  It then continued moving northeastward through mainly open fields, but did produce damage to 2 grain bins, a barn, and several trees along Towerline Rd.  The tornado dissipated about 3 miles east-northeast of Green Valley at 12:06 AM CST.

Tornado in MASON, ILLINOIS
From 06-MAR-17 23:52:00 to 06-MAR-17 23:57:00 (CST-6)
Location: EASTON
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 150.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A tornado touched down 2.2 miles north-northwest of Easton at 11:52 PM CST.  The tornado tracked northeastward, hitting a homestead 2.5 miles north of Easton where a machine shed was severely damaged, with most of its roof removed and part of the north wall bowed out.  From here to the end of the track, most of the damage was to power poles or overturned irrigation rigs: however, a farm along County Road 2930E received damage as well.  A grain silo had half its peaked roof cave in, and part of a machine shed had a couple smaller wall pieces blown out.  The tornado dissipated 5.5 miles southeast of Forest City at 11:57 PM CST.

Thunderstorm Wind in PEORIA, ILLINOIS
From 07-MAR-17 00:01:00 to 07-MAR-17 00:06:00 (CST-6)
Location: NORTH HAMPTON
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Several power poles were blown down along Krause Road between Cloverdale and Spillman Roads.

Thunderstorm Wind in MARSHALL, ILLINOIS
From 07-MAR-17 00:01:00 to 07-MAR-17 00:06:00 (CST-6)
Location: HENRY
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 120.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A 2-story barn was destroyed, a cob shed was blown down, and a 4-foot diameter tree was snapped.  Several power poles and power lines were blown down as well.

Thunderstorm Wind in MARSHALL, ILLINOIS
From 07-MAR-17 00:08:00 to 07-MAR-17 00:13:00 (CST-6)
Location: WILBERN
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 40.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Two cars from a 108-car train were blown off the tracks between Chillicothe and Wilbern.

Tornado in TAZEWELL, ILLINOIS
From 07-MAR-17 00:09:00 to 07-MAR-17 00:13:00 (CST-6)
Location: DELAVAN
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 120.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A tornado touched down in an open field 1.4 miles north-northeast of Delavan at 12:09 CST.  The tornado quickly tracked northeastward and widened to 200 yards, causing EF-2 damage to one outbuilding and EF-1 damage to several other outbuildings and trees.  It continued northeastward before dissipating 4.1 miles northeast of Delavan at 12:13 AM CST.

Thunderstorm Wind in TAZEWELL, ILLINOIS
From 07-MAR-17 00:12:00 to 07-MAR-17 00:17:00 (CST-6)
Location: COOPER
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A wall was blown down at the Washington Township shed.

Thunderstorm Wind in LOGAN, ILLINOIS
From 07-MAR-17 00:26:00 to 07-MAR-17 00:31:00 (CST-6)
Location: LINCOLN
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A storm siren was blown over on Pulaski Street on the southeast side of Lincoln.

Thunderstorm Wind in SANGAMON, ILLINOIS
From 07-MAR-17 00:34:00 to 07-MAR-17 00:39:00 (CST-6)
Location: RIVERTON
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

A small trailer was overturned.

Thunderstorm Wind in MCLEAN, ILLINOIS
From 07-MAR-17 00:34:00 to 07-MAR-17 00:39:00 (CST-6)
Location: SHIRLEY
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Shingle damage occurred to 4 homes.  Two fence sections were toppled and a stop sign was blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in MCLEAN, ILLINOIS
From 07-MAR-17 00:36:00 to 07-MAR-17 00:41:00 (CST-6)
Location: NORMAL
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A portion of the Wilkins Hall roof was torn off and thrown onto an apartment on the campus of Illinois State University.

Thunderstorm Wind in MCLEAN, ILLINOIS
From 07-MAR-17 00:41:00 to 07-MAR-17 00:46:00 (CST-6)
Location: HEYWORTH
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A few small trees were blown down in Heyworth.

Thunderstorm Wind in SHELBY, ILLINOIS
From 07-MAR-17 01:26:00 to 07-MAR-17 01:31:00 (CST-6)
Location: OCONEE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

A small shed was destroyed in Oconee.

Thunderstorm Wind in MOULTRIE, ILLINOIS
From 07-MAR-17 01:38:00 to 07-MAR-17 01:43:00 (CST-6)
Location: BETHANY
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

A grain bin was blown off its foundation.

Thunderstorm Wind in DOUGLAS, ILLINOIS
From 07-MAR-17 01:52:00 to 07-MAR-17 01:57:00 (CST-6)
Location: ARTHUR
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

A roof was partially blown off a building and a sign and fence were damaged.

Thunderstorm Wind in COLES, ILLINOIS
From 07-MAR-17 02:10:00 to 07-MAR-17 02:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: JONES
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A semi was blown over at mile marker 187 on I-57.

Thunderstorm Wind in VERMILION, ILLINOIS
From 07-MAR-17 02:17:00 to 07-MAR-17 02:22:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALLERTON
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A shed was damaged in Allerton.