EF-1 Tornado Hits New Athens Causing Structural Damage

NEW ATHENS - The National Weather Service in St. Louis said an EF-1 tornado struck New Athens in St. Clair County on Sunday evening, March 15, 2026. An EF-1 tornado has wind speeds between 86 mph and 110 mph.

Matt Beitscher, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in St. Louis, said the tornado that caused some significant damage was "a weak EF-1 tornado with peak winds of 90 mph [that] touched down just west of New Athens, Illinois at 5:47 pm on March 15, 2026 and caused damage to a few structures and trees before lifting just east of town one minute later."

Beitscher said on Monday, March 16, 2026, the Weather Service will have a survey team investigating possible tornadoes in Nokomis, Witt, and some other Illinois locations.

Beitscher said the tornadoes formed ahead of a humid front and the strength of thunderstorms ahead of a temperature drop.

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He said a low of 16 degrees is predicted for Monday night, March 16, 2026.

"It is unusually cold for this time of year," Beitscher said.

A high temperature of 34 degrees is predicted in the St. Louis area on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, and it is expected to rise up to 66 degrees on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.

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