Two EF-1 Tornadoes Confirmed in Tazewell County, Illinois as NWS Finalizes Pekin and South Pekin Tracks From April 17 With Winds Up to 95 MPH
TAZEWELL COUNTY, ILLINOIS — The National Weather Service has officially finalized two additional tornado tracks in Tazewell County from the April 17, 2026 outbreak, confirming EF-1 tornadoes in both the Pekin and South Pekin areas. The newly confirmed tracks add to the growing picture of widespread tornado damage that struck central Illinois last Friday, with survey teams continuing their work to assess the full scope of the event across the region.
Both tornadoes carried winds strong enough to cause significant structural damage and present serious danger to anyone caught in their paths during the Friday evening event.
Powerton-Pekin Tornado Rated EF-1 With 6.33 Mile Track
The first confirmed tornado, designated the Powerton-Pekin tornado, has been rated EF-1 with maximum winds of 90 miles per hour. The storm carved a path 6.33 miles long and reached a maximum width of 100 yards as it moved through the area.
A track of over 6 miles is significant for an EF-1 tornado, indicating this was a sustained and organized storm rather than a brief touchdown. The damage path through the Powerton to Pekin corridor reflects the kind of persistent, ground-level contact that produces widespread property damage across a long swath of terrain.
NE South Pekin Tornado Packs 95 MPH Winds
The second confirmed tornado, which struck northeast of South Pekin, also received an EF-1 rating but carried slightly higher maximum winds of 95 miles per hour. Its path length measured 2.32 miles with a maximum width of 250 yards, making it notably wider than the Powerton-Pekin tornado despite its shorter track.
A width of 250 yards means this tornado was capable of impacting a broad area simultaneously as it moved through, increasing the potential for widespread damage across multiple properties within its path.
Additional Tornado Tracks Still Under Investigation
Beyond the two newly finalized tracks, NWS survey teams have identified additional tornado activity from the same outbreak that has not yet been officially confirmed. A tornado track running from around Forest City to South Pekin and another moving from Bath to northeast of San Jose have both been identified, but their ratings and specifications are not yet finalized.
These pending tracks suggest the April 17 outbreak in central Illinois was even more extensive than the currently confirmed count reflects, and the final tally of confirmed tornadoes from this event could rise further as survey work continues.
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