Damage is reported in both Salem and northeast Marion County from a fast-moving severe thunderstorm early Saturday morning that may have produced a tornado.
In Salem, the tornado siren behind Taco Bell on West Main fell to the ground. Southeast of Kinmundy, the 3 C Rodeo on the Kinmundy Road received extensive damage to a barn as well as the rodeo area. Trees and tree limbs were brought down throughout the area, sometimes bringing power lines with them and resulting in power outages.
Marion County Sheriff Kevin Cripps says there is a path of damage from the Kinmundy Road south of Williams Road to Forbes State Park, to the Brown Church Road, and Louisville Road area. There was damage reported to other outbuildings. Northeast Marion County was under a tornado warning when the storm hit. Cripps believes the National Weather Service may look at the damage to determine if a tornado was involved.
Salem Police say a large tree fell across the 1400 block of South College, bringing down power lines. A car drove into a tree and became high-centered, but the driver got out safely. There was damage to the roof of Booher’s Tin Shop on South Broadway. Another building near the Marion County Fairgrounds was also damaged.
In Centralia, city firefighters say they received only one call of a power line down that was arcing on North Pine. There were also some downed tree limbs, but substantially less damage than in the Salem area.
Tri-County Electric reported over 800 customers off after the storm, mostly in the Kinmundy area. All but 3 customers had power restored by seven Saturday night. Ameren Illinois had a total of 899 without power. As of 7 pm, that number was down to 24.
The Salem Water Plant reported 91-hundredths of an inch of rain. As of seven Saturday morning, the Salem Reservoir was an inch below the spillway.
The Centralia Water Plant recorded 1.02 inches of rain. One gate was opened Friday night to prepare for the rains. The lake is currently ten inches below the spillway, leaving room for additional rain forecast the rest of the weekend.
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The leaning tornado warning siren behind Taco Bell in Salem finally crashed to the ground during the early Saturday morning. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Power poles were broken by the strong winds along Parrill Road in rural Kinmundy. Photo by Angie Brubaker.
A large tree fell crushing a camper on Pine Tree Drive in Salem. Photo by Henry Morton.
More damage at the 3 C Rodeo on Kinmundy Road. Photo by Angie Brubaker.
