AI Generated Image
Watch: Double-stack train cars toppled by vicious winds in Illinois
FOX Weather • • nation
Key Points:
- Severe straight-line winds reaching hurricane strength (80-100 mph) caused multiple train cars to derail in Warren County, Illinois, near Ormonde, creating damage more typical of a tornado aftermath.
- A National Weather Service storm survey confirmed the wreckage was due to widespread straight-line winds, not a tornado, with the event occurring between 8:13 a.m. and 8:31 a.m. CDT.
- The derailment damaged the tracks and blocked rail traffic, requiring emergency crews to work through the night to install temporary tracks and restore train movement within approximately 17 hours.
- In addition to the straight-line winds, three EF-1 tornadoes were confirmed in the area on the same day, though local resident Alec Marty reported no damage to his property despite the severe weather.
- The region's flat terrain and open farmland contribute to the severity of windstorms, which are a more common weather hazard there than tornadoes.
