Mason City, IL – A tornado briefly touched down in Mason County on Saturday, Sept. 20, crossing farmland southeast of Mason City but causing no major damage, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
The NWS confirmed that the twister, which struck between 3:09 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. CDT, was rated EF-0 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, with estimated peak winds of 65 mph. Survey results show the tornado traveled 2.38 miles with a maximum width of 40 yards.
According to NWS meteorologists, the tornado formed along a weak boundary as storms developed in the area. It remained over open fields, drifting southeast before dissipating. While no structural damage occurred, officials noted minor tree damage along its path.
The tornado crossed Illinois State Route 10 east of Mason City before dissipating in rural Mason County. No injuries or deaths were reported.
This marks one of the latest confirmations of tornado activity during Illinois’ active late-summer storm season. Residents are encouraged to remain weather-aware as fall storm systems can still produce severe weather across the region.
