2015 Rochelle–Fairdale tornado

EF4 tornado in Illinois in 2015 May 2025 February 2025 2015 Rochelle–Fairdale tornado frameless|300px An EF4 tornado approaches Fairdale A dashboard camera still of the tornado between Rochelle and Fairdale. April 9, 2015, 6:39 p.m. CDT 41 minutes April 9, 2015, 7:20 p.m. CDT atl 30.14 mi km 700 yd mi km EF4 200 mph km/h on 2 22 2015 $19 million (2015 USD)$US 19000000 2015 (US USD)US Lee, Ogle, DeKalb, Boone Counties, Illinois tornado outbreak of April 8–9, 2015 and tornadoes of 2015 Throughout the evening hours of April 9, 2015, an extremely violent and long-lived multiple-vortex tornado tore through the communities near Rochelle and in Fairdale, Illinois. Part of a larger severe weather event that impacted the Central United States, the tornado first touched down in Lee County at 6:39 p.m. CDT (23:39 UTC). It progressed through the counties of Ogle, DeKalb, and Boone before finally dissipating at 7:20 p.m. CDT. Along the tornado's 30.14 mi mid path, numerous structures were heavily damaged or destroyed, especially in the small town of Fairdale, where two fatalities and eleven injuries were recorded. A few well-constructed homes were swept completely away, indicative of peak winds near 200 mph on, the upper bounds of an EF4 tornado. In the aftermath of the event, hundreds of citizens assisted in cleanup and recovery efforts. Economic losses from the tornado reached $19 million (US 26000000 2026 eq -6). Meteorological synopsis On April 4, 2015, the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued their Day 6 severe weather outlook, highlighting a substantial and widespread risk for severe weather from southeastern Oklahoma to northeastern Illinois valid for April 9.Steve Goss Day 4-8 Severe Weather Outlook Issued on Apr 04, 2015 http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/exper/day4-8/archive/2015/day4-8_20150404.html Storm Prediction Center April 4, 2015 January 29, 2017 This threat area was maintained in the Day 5 outlook and narrowed to a corridor from southern Missouri into northern Illinois in the Day 4 outlook.Steve Goss Day 4-8 Severe Weather Outlook Issued on Apr 5, 2015 http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/exper/day4-8/archive/2015/day4-8_20150405.html Storm Prediction Center April 5, 2015 January 29, 2017Steve Goss Day 4-8 Severe Weather Outlook Issued on Apr 6, 2015 http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/exper/day4-8/archive/2015/day4-8_20150406.html Storm Prediction Center April 6, 2015 January 29, 2017 On April 7, a Day 3 Enhanced risk was issued across most of Illinois, eastern Missouri, and small portions of adjacent states. No further changes to the threat level were made, although the Enhanced risk was significantly expanded late on April 8 to include portions of the southern Great Lakes, lower Ohio Valley, Ozark Plateau, and Ark-La-Tex region.Brynn Kerr Apr 8, 2015 1730 UTC Day 2 Convective Outlook http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/archive/2015/day2otlk_20150408_1730.html Storm Prediction Center April 8, 2015 January 29, 2017 Around midday on April 9, the SPC issued a 10% hatched tornado threat area across much of northern Illinois and small portions of nearby states, signifying the potential for several tornadoes, of which one or two had the potential to be strong (EF2 or stronger on the Enhanced Fujita scale).Stephen Corfidi Jeremy Grams Matt Mosier Apr 9, 2015 1630 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/archive/2015/day1otlk_20150409_1630.html Storm Prediction Center April 9, 2015 January 29, 2017 thumb|left|SPC's 16:30 UTC April 9 tornado outlook|alt=The SPC's midday tornado outlook, highlighting an enhanced risk for strong tornadoes across northern Illinois The catalyst for the severe weather outbreak came as a positively tilted shortwave trough progressed across the central High Plains into the Great Plains and eventually through the western Great Lakes region. A weaker disturbance pushed from the Ozarks into the Northeastern United States, acting to strengthen southwesterly winds aloft across the risk area. At the surface, a weak area of low pressure initially centered over northeastern Kansas early on April 9 progressed steadily northeast while intensifying, reaching the trisection of Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois by late that evening. A cold front stemming from the low progressed eastward across the Mid-South, whereas an arching warm front slowly pushed northward across eastern Iowa and northern Illinois. Modest surface heating ahead of the cold front allowed mid-level Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE) values to reach 1,000–1,500 J/kg, and a mass of rich moisture transported northward from the Gulf of Mexico pushed dewpoints into the lower 60s °F across the Enhanced risk area.Chris Broyles Joey Picca Apr 9, 2015 1200 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/archive/2015/day1otlk_20150409_1200.html Storm Prediction Center April 9, 2015 January 30, 2017 Winds at 850 mb (4,781 ft) strengthened at or above 45 mph on below winds of 70 mph on at 700 m ft on, creating a favorable setup for sustained supercells. Although the overall directional component of low-level winds was expected to be less than ideal as a whole, a small area of southeasterly surface winds developed near the surface low in northern Illinois. At 1:50 p.m. CDT (18:50 UTC), the SPC issued a tornado watch for northern and central Illinois, far northwestern Indiana, far southern Wisconsin, and portions of Lake Michigan. A 60% chance of two or more tornadoes was assessed across the watch box, with a 40% chance of at least one strong tornado.Jeremy Grams Stephen Corfidi Tornado Watch 41 http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/2015/ww0041.html Storm Prediction Center April 9, 2015 January 30, 2017 Isolated shower activity began forming across the region just prior to the issuance of watch,Mark Darrow Jeremy Grams Mesoscale Discussion 246 http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/2015/md0246.html Storm Prediction Center April 9, 2015 January 30, 2017 eventually growing into a line of strong to severe thunderstorms, including supercells.Matt Mosier Mesoscale Discussion 251 http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/2015/md0251.html Storm Prediction Center April 9, 2015 January 30, 2017 One such high-precipitation supercell was first severe warned at 6:11 p.m. CDT (23:11 UTC); the National Weather Service office in Chicago, Illinois, warned of winds up to 70 mph on and quarter- to golf ball-sized hail.Severe Weather Statement: Severe Thunderstorm Warning https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/vtec/#2015-O-NEW-KLOT-SV-W-0009/USCOMP-N0Q-201504092315 Iowa Environmental Mesonet April 9, 2015 January 30, 2017 The weather forecast office upgraded the severe thunderstorm warning to a tornado warning at 6:35 p.m. CDT (23:35 UTC), and four minutes later, trained storm spotters reported a damaging tornado north of Ashton.Severe Weather Statement: Tornado Warning https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/vtec/#2015-O-NEW-KLOT-TO-W-0005/USCOMP-N0Q-201504092335 Iowa Environmental Mesonet April 9, 2015 January 30, 2017 This was one of several tornadoes observed across the Central United States on April 8 and April 9.National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Chicago, Illinois April 9, 2015 Tornado Event, Including Rochelle/Fairdale EF-4 Tornado http://www.weather.gov/lot/15apr09 National Weather Service April 10, 2015 April 28, 2017 Tornado summary The tornado first began at 6:39 p.m. CDT (23:39 UTC) on April 9, just northeast of Franklin Grove, Illinois. It touched down over a field, producing swirls in crops, before moving northeast, crossing IL 38 twice before causing EF1 damage to a Crest Foods plant. The tornado soon exited Lee County and entered Ogle County, inflicting EF1 damage to two farm outbuildings that were completely destroyed and EF0 damage to a similar structure that had a portion of its roof uplifted as it crossed IL 38 two more times. Intensifying to EF3 strength, much more severe damage was noted along South Skare Court as the tornado entered an area of semi-rural subdivisions to the northwest of Rochelle. A few homes in this area were destroyed at EF3 intensity, with other homes nearby sustaining EF2 damage. One large house had a room ripped off on its second floor, while a split-level home was almost completely leveled.NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit https://apps.dat.noaa.gov/StormDamage/DamageViewer/ National Weather Service January 29, 2017 EF4 intensity in deer creek subdivision As the tornado crossed South Richard Road, it intensified to very high-end EF4 strength and inflicted catastrophic damage to several large homes as it impacted the Deer Creek subdivision. Well-built homes along South Richard Road and East Kuehl Court were leveled and swept from their foundations with debris strewn downwind. Several vehicles parked at these residences were moved some distance or tossed, and wind rowing of debris occurred. One house had its concrete walkway pulled a few inches from its original location, and notable scouring of lawn grass was observed in the subdivision. These structures were estimated to have been impacted by winds near 200 mph on, the upper bound of an EF4 tornado. Continuing northeast, the tornado crossed the BNSF Aurora Subdivision and temporarily weakened as it approached and crossed another railway line, producing EF2 to EF3 damage. A few large barns and outbuildings were destroyed, two brick residences had their roofs ripped off, and another home had most of its walls collapsed. The tornado began to intensify again as it approached and crossed IL 251. A large restaurant and a residence had their exterior walls collapse in this area. thumb|left|A reinforced concrete silo that was completely destroyed by the tornado.|alt=Image of a concrete reinforced silo that was completely demolished by the tornado. Very high-end EF4 damage was again observed near the intersection of IL 64 and IL 251, where a row of five homes was completely leveled, two of which were swept away. Anchor bolts were again present at these residences, though the foundations were of cinder-block construction. Intense ground scouring was evident nearby, a car was thrown a full mile (1.6 km), and debris was wind-rowed long distances through fields in this area. Winds were again estimated at 200 mph on, with the damage at this location again being near-EF5 intensity. Further to the northeast, the tornado inflicted high-end EF4 damage as a large farmstead was completely destroyed. A well-constructed barn was obliterated, and a 40 ft m on reinforced concrete silo was reduced to a pile of rubble. A large farmhouse on the property was completely swept away, and nearby trees were severely stripped and debarked. The tornado weakened as it crossed North Moore Road, where a warehouse building had a collapse of its non-bearing exterior walls. One small barn or outbuilding had a collapse of exterior walls, while another had a few metal roof panels ripped off. After crossing I-39/US 51, it caused moderate roof damage to a large residence and tossed and rolled a heavy barn. The tornado continued to produce generally EF1 damage to trees and outbuildings before exiting Ogle County, and it was briefly accompanied by an EF0 satellite tornado that damaged crops to its southeast. After entering DeKalb County, the large tornado crossed over a Canadian Pacific rail line and directly impacted the small community of Fairdale along IL 72. Approximately 71 homes sustained some degree of damage, including 13 that were destroyed. Several houses on the northwest side of town sustained damage consistent with an upper-end EF3 tornado, with all walls collapsed. A few houses that were nailed to the foundation—not bolted—were swept clean. Neighbors Geraldine Schultz and Jacklyn Klosa were both killed in their homes, and an additional 11 people were injured throughout the town, including Geraldine's husband, Clarence.2015-04-10 Death toll reaches 2 in Fairdale tornado https://www.shawlocal.com/2015/04/10/death-toll-reaches-2-in-fairdale-tornado/aossxue/ 2023-05-18 Shaw Local en Continuing northeast across Wheeler Road, one residence had a large portion of its roof ripped off, a second residence had its exterior walls collapsed, and a two-story 80-year-old well-constructed barn was destroyed. A large garage was destroyed and had its debris deposited well downstream, and significant denuding and debarking of trees was evident. Near the intersection of Irene Road and McNeal Road near Irene, a well-built seven-year-old house lost its second story and many exterior walls. A two-story, well-built barn with cinder block attachment was totally destroyed, and a nearby two-story, rebar-reinforced cinder block silo was ripped apart. Large farm equipment was tossed 0.25 – 0.5 mi km on, and convergent scouring of road pavement was noted in this area. After passing over rural terrain, the tornado finally dissipated at 7:20 p.m. CDT (00:20 UTC) over Cherry Valley Road, ending its 30.14 mi km on and 41-minute path of destruction. Clem Schultz video left|thumb|A frame of the Clem Schultz footage, depicting the tornado approaching Fairdale at high-end EF3 intensity The disaster was captured on a phone camera by Clarence "Clem" Schultz (85), who recorded the tornado from his home. He survived with a compressed broken vertebra, but his wife, Geraldine "Geri" Schultz (67), and their neighbor, Jacklyn Klosa (69), were killed. The Schultzes' dog, Missy, and Clem's phone with the footage were found unharmed after the disaster. The footage, which captured the tornado's approach and destruction of several houses (including the homes of Klosa and the Schultzes), was recovered and released online and in news broadcasts as a cautionary example.Angela Fritz A huge tornado killed his wife and destroyed their home. He filmed the whole thing. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2016/04/06/a-huge-tornado-killed-his-wife-and-destroyed-their-home-he-filmed-the-whole-thing/ The Washington Post April 6, 2016 January 31, 2017Elizabeth Armstrong Moore Elderly Man Films Tornado That Kills His Wife, Neighbor https://www.newser.com/story/223185/elderly-man-films-tornado-that-kills-his-wife-neighbor.html Newser April 6, 2018 October 22, 2022 Aftermath In the immediate wake of the tornado, The Salvation Army and American Red Cross set up temporary shelters for residents in Fairdale.Bruce Wright Illinois Tornado 2015: Fairdale, Rochelle Survivors React To Storm That Killed 1, Injured At Least 7 http://www.ibtimes.com/illinois-tornado-2015-fairdale-rochelle-survivors-react-storm-killed-1-injured-least-1877293 International Business Times April 10, 2015 January 31, 2017 The Rochelle Community Hospital was shifted into "disaster mode" to quickly handle the large number of casualties.Catherine E. Shoichet et al Severe weather: Tornadoes hit Iowa, Illinois, Ohio http://fox5sandiego.com/2015/04/09/severe-weather-tornadoes-hit-iowa-illinois-ohio/ Fox 5 News Cable News Network April 9, 2015 January 31, 2017 Equipment and resources from over a dozen nearby fire departments aided in sifting through the remains of dozens of houses.Mike Danahey Elgin area firefighters part of tornado relief and rescue efforts http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/elgin-courier-news/news/ct-ecn-elgin-mabus-tornado-st-0412-20150410-story.html Elgin Courier-News April 11, 2015 January 31, 2017 More than 675 volunteers, coordinated by the Virginia faith-based nonprofit organization Operation Blessing, and countless residents from surrounding areas assisted in cleanup efforts.Scott C. Morgan Volunteers flock to Rochelle to help with tornado cleanup http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20150411/news/150419718/ Daily Herald April 11, 2015 January 31, 2017 AmeriCorps coordinated their own operations beginning on April 12.Volunteer Information for Fairdale and Rochelle http://www.wifr.com/home/headlines/Volunteer-Information-for-Fairdale-and-Rochelle-299500691.html WIFR-TV April 12, 2015 January 31, 2017 February 11, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170211081447/http://www.wifr.com/home/headlines/Volunteer-Information-for-Fairdale-and-Rochelle-299500691.html dead Switchyard Bar and Grill in Rochelle hosted a donation drive to provide victims with new household items.Erik Runge Volunteers needed again Sunday in tornado-stricken Rochelle http://wgntv.com/2015/04/11/hundreds-help-tornado-stricken-rochelle-saturday/ WGN-TV April 11, 2015 January 31, 2017 Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle and DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott set up a lost-and-found for residents to retrieve missing items.Tony Briscoe Sheriff whose home was razed by tornado gets grandfather's baseball glove back http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-ogle-county-sheriff-finds-glove-met-20150422-story.html Chicago Tribune April 23, 2015 January 31, 2017 Workers from "Bees Designs" created and sold shirts in Rochelle, with all proceeds donated to help tornado victims.Phillip Reed Despite Last Thursday's Tornado, Rochelle Residents Remain 'Hub Strong' http://www.mystateline.com/news/despite-last-thursdays-tornado-rochelle-residents-remain-hub-strong/140365640 MyStateLine April 16, 2015 January 31, 2017 A check from near Rochelle was discovered approximately 80 mi on northeast in Racine, Wisconsin, a common occurrence with violent tornadoes.Jon Erdman Rochelle, Fairdale Tornado Debris Found Up to 80 Miles Away https://weather.com/storms/tornado/news/fairdale-rochelle-illinois-tornado-debris-found April 14, 2015 January 31, 2017 Widespread severe weather across northern Illinois prompted the cancellation of more than 850 flights at Chicago O'Hare International Airport.Tornado rocks Illinois, kills one, traps 11 in restaurant storm cellar http://www.oregonlive.com/today/index.ssf/2015/04/tornadoes_rock_illinois_kills.html Oregon Live Associated Press April 9, 2015 January 31, 2017 Governor Bruce Rauner declared DeKalb and Ogle counties as state disaster areas, freeing up a wide variety of resources for response efforts. Both the governor and Illinois U.S. Senator Mark Kirk toured the area.Juan Perez Jr. et al Illinois tornado that killed 2, destroyed town packed EF4 punch http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-illinois-tornadoes-20150410-story.html Chicago Tribune April 10, 2015 January 31, 2017 Total economic losses from the tornado reached $19 million (US 19000000 2015 eq -6US).National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Chicago, Illinois Illinois Event Report: EF1 Tornado https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/storm-events-database/event-details/574336 National Centers for Environmental Information 2015 January 31, 2017National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Chicago, Illinois Illinois Event Report: EF4 Tornado https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/storm-events-database/event-details/574337 National Centers for Environmental Information 2015 January 31, 2017National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Chicago, Illinois Illinois Event Report: EF3 Tornado https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/storm-events-database/event-details/574338 National Centers for Environmental Information 2015 January 31, 2017Illinois Event Report: EF0 Tornado https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/storm-events-database/event-details/574339 National Centers for Environmental Information National Weather Service 2 August 2022 Possible EF5 intensity Disagreements on the intensity of tornadoes EF5 drought On January 23, 2025, Anthony W. Lyza with the National Severe Storms Laboratory along with Harold E. Brooks and Makenzie J. Kroca with the University of Oklahoma’s School of Meteorology published a paper to the American Meteorological Society, where they stated the tornado in Rochelle was an "EF5 candidate" and opened that the EF5 starting wind speed should be 190 mph km/h on instead of 201 mph km/h on.Lyza Anthony W. Brooks Harold E. Krocak Makenzie J. Where Have the EF5s Gone? A Closer Look at the "Drought" of the Most Violent Tornadoes in the United States Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 23 January 2025 10.1175/BAMS-D-24-0066.1 https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/bams/aop/BAMS-D-24-0066.1/BAMS-D-24-0066.1.xml 2 February 2025 American Meteorological Society subscription See also Weather of 2015 List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks Disagreements on the intensity of tornadoes List of F4 and EF4 tornadoes List of F4 and EF4 tornadoes (2010–2019) 2013 Washington, Illinois tornado – A deadly EF4 tornado in central Illinois less than 2 years prior. 2025 Marion, Illinois tornado – A destructive EF4 tornado in southern Illinois over 10 years later. References 30em External links NWS Chicago's Event Report for the April 9, 2015 tornado outbreak Video of a close encounter with the Rochelle tornado Clem Schults Footage Category:2015 natural disasters in the United States Category:F4, EF4 and IF4 tornadoes Clem Schultz Fairdale Tornado Video Category:Rochelle, Illinois Category:Tornadoes in Illinois Category:Lee County, Illinois Category:Ogle County, Illinois Category:DeKalb County, Illinois Category:Boone County, Illinois 04-09 Category:2015 in Illinois Rochelle-Fairdale, Illinois tornado