Two people were killed and at least five others were injured after a tornado struck southern Illinois on Sunday evening, destroying homes and leaving parts of Jefferson County facing major storm damage.
Authorities identified the victims as Sarita Kimble, 62, and Delores Shelton, 83. Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Bullard said both women were inside separate structures that were leveled when the tornado hit the Mount Vernon area.
The tornado touched down around 5 p.m. Sunday, according to local officials. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said at least three mobile homes were destroyed. Five people were taken to hospitals with injuries that officials said were not life-threatening.
Photos and videos shared online showed heavy damage in the Mount Vernon area and a funnel cloud rotating over the city as storms moved through southern Illinois.
TRENDING TODAY
The National Weather Service is expected to continue surveying damage to confirm the tornado’s path and strength. Local reports said the storm was rated EF-3, a classification that can produce severe damage, destroy structures and toss vehicles depending on the exact wind speed and impact area.
The deaths in Illinois came during a broader outbreak of severe weather across the Midwest. AccuWeather reported that the National Weather Service issued more than 100 tornado warnings on Sunday, while dozens of tornado reports were filed with the Storm Prediction Center. Much of the activity stretched from Illinois into Indiana.
The outbreak followed another deadly tornado-related incident in Kansas. In Sedgwick, 64-year-old Ricky Schale was killed after his family’s mobile home was reportedly torn from its anchor and destroyed during severe weather.
Illinois has already had an unusually active tornado year. AccuWeather reported that the state had recorded more tornado reports in 2026 than in any year since records began. Nationally, the Storm Prediction Center has recorded more than 1,000 tornado reports this year, including dozens rated EF2 or stronger.
Meteorologists say the pattern this year has favored severe storms farther north than traditional Tornado Alley areas such as Texas and Oklahoma. Warm air, instability and shifting storm tracks have helped fuel repeated outbreaks across Illinois and the Midwest.
The Mount Vernon tornado also highlights the danger mobile homes face during severe weather. Manufactured homes and smaller structures are especially vulnerable to tornado winds, even when storms are not at the highest end of the scale. Emergency officials often urge residents in those homes to move to sturdier shelters when tornado warnings are issued.
For Jefferson County, the immediate focus is recovery. Crews are assessing damage, checking affected properties and helping residents who lost homes or access to basic services.
The storms left families mourning and communities once again confronting the growing toll of severe weather across the central United States.
Why It Matters
The Illinois tornado matters because it turned a severe-weather outbreak into a deadly disaster, killing two older residents and destroying homes in Jefferson County. It also comes during a record-heavy tornado year for Illinois, raising concerns about preparedness, warning systems and vulnerable housing.
What Comes Next
Weather officials will continue surveying the damage path and confirming the tornado’s rating. Local authorities will focus on cleanup, shelter and recovery support for affected residents, while forecasters monitor the region for additional severe-weather risks.
A weather video showed the tornado moving across Jefferson County, Illinois, where officials said two people were killed.
A tornado moved east of Dix, Illinois on Father’s Day as severe storms swept across southern Illinois.
This video from MyRadar storm chaser @JordanHallWX shows the tornado in Jefferson County, where officials say two people were killed after storms struck rural communities. pic.twitter.com/tLfRLjYCVc
— MyRadar Weather (@MyRadarWX) June 22, 2026
