An outbreak of severe thunderstorms occurred during the afternoon and evening. Several tornadoes were spawned along a line of fast-moving thunderstorms. Four of the tornadoes were associated with a persistent circulation that moved east across Williamson and Saline Counties, passing just north of Marion and Harrisburg. The circulation exited southern Illinois along the Wabash River southeast of Carmi. A fifth tornado was associated with a circulation that tracked east across Massac and Pope Counties in the southern tip of the state.  The severe storm outbreak occurred ahead of a cold front that accelerated east-southeast toward the mid Mississippi Valley. Cooling aloft ahead of a shortwave trough over the Plains, combined with diurnal heating and moist southerly winds, resulted in a corridor of deepening convection ahead of the front. Steep mid-level lapse rates and strong effective wind shear promoted some large hail within the strongest storms.

Hail in JEFFERSON, ILLINOIS
From 03-APR-18 15:52:00 to 03-APR-18 15:52:00 (CST-6)
Location: WOODLAWN
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in PERRY, ILLINOIS
From 03-APR-18 15:55:00 to 03-APR-18 15:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: DU QUOIN
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in WAYNE, ILLINOIS
From 03-APR-18 16:17:00 to 03-APR-18 16:17:00 (CST-6)
Location: ORCHARDVILLE
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in ALEXANDER, ILLINOIS
From 03-APR-18 16:30:00 to 03-APR-18 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: EAST CAPE GIRARDEAU
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in PULASKI, ILLINOIS
From 03-APR-18 16:53:00 to 03-APR-18 16:53:00 (CST-6)
Location: ULLIN
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Quarter-size hail was reported along Interstate 57.

Hail in WILLIAMSON, ILLINOIS
From 03-APR-18 18:30:00 to 03-APR-18 18:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: MARION
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Thunderstorm Wind in JACKSON, ILLINOIS
From 03-APR-18 15:51:00 to 03-APR-18 15:51:00 (CST-6)
Location: MURPHYSBORO
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A large tree was blown down. A former police officer reported very strong winds caused the tree to fall.

Tornado in WILLIAMSON, ILLINOIS
From 03-APR-18 16:17:00 to 03-APR-18 16:33:00 (CST-6)
Location: CRAINVILLE
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The tornado touched down in Carterville and tracked east-northeast across Energy to Interstate 57. One to two dozen homes received roof and siding damage. Some of the roof damage was considerable, including loss of the roof decking. One business in Energy sustained major damage, with considerable roof loss and blown out windows. Several barns, sheds, and other structures sustained roof damage. Hundreds of trees were damaged or uprooted. Some downed trees blocked roads. Power poles were snapped. About 400 utility customers lost power throughout the county. The tornado lifted a couple miles northeast of Spillertown, where it was reported by state police. Peak winds were estimated near 105 mph.

Tornado in WILLIAMSON, ILLINOIS
From 03-APR-18 16:39:00 to 03-APR-18 16:42:00 (CST-6)
Location: PITTSBURG
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 40.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

At least a half dozen homes lost shingles. Windows were blown out of one home. A couple of barns lost parts of their roofs. A fence was blown over. There were dozens of trees with broken limbs or snapped trunks. Peak winds were estimated near 95 mph.

Tornado in WILLIAMSON, ILLINOIS
From 03-APR-18 16:47:00 to 03-APR-18 16:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: CORINTH
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 7.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The tornado touched down a few miles east of Corinth, where numerous trees were snapped or uprooted. Some shingles were blown off a well-built house. The tornado gained intensity in Saline County, where it attained its peak EF-2 rating. The tornado was on the ground in Williamson County for only a few minutes before moving into Saline County.

Tornado in SALINE, ILLINOIS
From 03-APR-18 16:50:00 to 03-APR-18 17:07:00 (CST-6)
Location: BANLICK
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The tornado entered Saline County from Williamson County. In Saline County, three homes were destroyed. The peak intensity occurred between the Williamson County line and Galatia, where a single-wide mobile home was completely demolished. A well-built house was completely unroofed, and portions of the exterior walls collapsed. Peak winds were estimated near 125 mph at this location. Over a dozen other homes were damaged, with at least partial loss of shingles and siding. A couple dozen barns and pole barns were destroyed or heavily damaged. Hundreds of trees were snapped or uprooted.

Tornado in MASSAC, ILLINOIS
From 03-APR-18 17:29:00 to 03-APR-18 17:43:00 (CST-6)
Location: METROPOLIS MUNI ARPT
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 130.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This tornado touched down just half a mile southwest of the Metropolis airport, then moved east along the northern city limit of Metropolis. Numerous buildings sustained shingle damage. Large tree limbs were blown down, and Bradford pear trees were snapped. A grain bin was destroyed. At the end of the damage track, most of the metal roof was blown off a barn. This location is where the tornado reached its peak intensity, which was estimated near 90 mph. The tornado lifted only about a mile before reaching the Pope County line in national forestland.

Tornado in WHITE, ILLINOIS
From 03-APR-18 17:38:00 to 03-APR-18 17:42:00 (CST-6)
Location: NEW HAVEN
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

At a farming business located in very sparsely populated country, considerable damage occurred in a storage yard. Numerous heavy irrigation pipes were moved, and some were bent. Three barns lost metal roofing. A semi tanker trailer was overturned. Debris was thrown 200 to 400 yards. Farming irrigation equipment was damaged and moved. In a small wooded area immediately behind the storage yard, dozens of large trees were snapped or uprooted in a convergent pattern. The path continued intermittently through a wooded area to the flood plain of the Wabash River. Peak winds were estimated near 110 mph.

Hail in SALINE, ILLINOIS
From 03-APR-18 18:49:00 to 03-APR-18 18:49:00 (CST-6)
Location: GALATIA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorm Wind in PERRY, ILLINOIS
From 03-APR-18 15:55:00 to 03-APR-18 15:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: DU QUOIN
Magnitude: 63.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A wind gust to 72 mph was measured by a trained spotter.

Hail in JACKSON, ILLINOIS
From 03-APR-18 15:51:00 to 03-APR-18 15:51:00 (CST-6)
Location: MURPHYSBORO
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public