Potential was there, but storm damage minimal

The potential for severe storms was great early Monday evening with a Tornado Watches in place, a Tornado Warning and Severe Thunderstorm Warnings issued by the National Weather Service.

However, little damage occurred.

The most severe damage to Saline County from the heavy weather that passed through our area Monday night and Tuesday morning was a tree blown down on North Main Street, Carrier Mills.

Village workers were out early clearing the debris which blocked the intersection of North Main and Fife streets in the village.

Jim Swan of the village Street and alley Department was supervising the clean-up.

"It snapped the pole and took down some phone lines," Swan said. "Didn't touch the power lines across the street."

Village worker John Seets told the Daily Register that this was the only damage from the overnight storms. Village workers expected to have the intersection cleared by noon.

"The only thing I saw was just a few limbs down. I haven't heard any reports other than that," Gallatin County Emergency Management Agency Coordinator Steve Galt said.

There were reports on social media of a house north of Shawneetown having siding torn away and trees felled, but Galt said that damage had not been reported officially to him.

The NWS issued a Tornado Warning 7 miles northeast of Shawneetown traveling northeast at 50 mph.

Saline County EMA Coordinator Allan C. Ninness said the weather station at the Saline County Courthouse recorded the peak wind speed at about 33 mph.

He said the potential for weather was there and people should not grow complacent just because little materialized.

"Some discussions I've had with people this morning were whether we get a little too excited about it. But remember, the Leap Day Tornado happened in 'slight risk.' 'Slight risk' can be a horrible, horrible storm," Ninness said.

The National Weather Service now says that at least three tornadoes touched down Monday across southwestern and central Illinois. Roofs were damaged, trees were uprooted and power interrupted but no serious injuries were reported.

Meteorologist Fred Glass said Tuesday that two tornadoes in southwest Illinois were classified as EF1s. That means they had wind speeds of 86 to 110 miles per hour.

Glass says one twister that touched down just northwest of the village of Freeburg cut a swath nearly one and a half miles long. The other tornado was west of New Baden in northwestern St. Clair County.

Meteorologist Llyle Baker says a third tornado near the central Illinois

community of Moweaqua damaged a farm house. That tornado was an EF2 with

winds of 110-120 mph.

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<li>The Associated Press contributed to this report.</li>

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