March 20, 1976

"Sadorus was hit hard with 15 families left homeless there…cars and trucks flipped like playthings." Photograph by Jean Konda, The News-Gazette, March 21, 1976.

This F4 tornado traveled 63 miles across Piatt, Champaign, and Vermilion counties. It initially touched down near Decatur and ended close to Danville. In Champaign County, the twister passed south of Ivesdale, passing through Sadorus, Tolono, and Ogden. The tornado ranged in diameter from 0.5 mile to 1 mile. When it reached Sadorus around 1:45 PM, it split into multiple funnels; one witness described it as "two whirling clouds running side-by-side in the manner of an egg beater." At 2:10 PM, the twin funnels crashed through downtown Ogden destroying a lumberyard, bank, water tower, grain elevator, firehouse, and several homes. Sadorus was hit hard with five injured, 15 families left homeless, and dozens of vehicles crushed by falling debris.