Strong winds derail train near Monmouth as three EF-1 tornadoes hit Illinois and Iowa
A train was derailed in Warren County, Illinois, as severe storms brought winds of up to 161 km/h (100 mph) across the region on June 17, 2026, with National Weather Service surveys confirming three EF-1 tornadoes in Illinois and Iowa.
Train derailed near Monmouth, Illinois on June 17, 2026 after tornadoes and straight lines winds rip through the state. Credit: Western Illinois Land Development
Strong winds sweeping through Warren County derailed a train near 80th Street and 150th Avenue just outside Monmouth on June 17.
The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed straight-line winds of 130 to 160 km/h (80 to 100 mph) in the area. The winds started near Little York at around 08:43 CDT and tracked southeast through Ormonde, damaging trees, utility poles, and derailing the train.
The derailment took out both main tracks on the BNSF Chillicothe Subdivision near milepost 193, reported Western Illinois Land Development, a local business operating in the area.
Drone footage captured by the company showed multiple cars of the double-decker train off the tracks, with some damage to a field next to the tracks.
“Thankfully, our house and shop appear to have made it through without any major damage. We’re currently waiting on power to be restored, but most importantly, everyone is safe,” they said.
BNSF crews promptly reached the site to conduct repairs, reopening the tracks by 01:50 LT on June 18.
Severe weather was already forecast across the region on June 17, with a Moderate Risk (Level 4 of 5) for severe thunderstorms issued for parts of Indiana and Illinois. Strong winds and multiple tornadoes were reported across the region on June 17.
The NWS Quad Cities office confirmed three EF-1 tornadoes in its jurisdiction on June 17.
“A strong storm system for mid-June brought two rounds of thunderstorms on June 17 that brought strong winds (some significant), heavy rain, and three EF-1 tornadoes. The tornadoes were mainly embedded within the damaging straight-line winds, occurring over Monmouth and Warsaw, Illinois, along with Linby, Iowa,” the NWS said.
The first tornado developed just south of Pekin, Iowa, at approximately 17:53 CDT with peak winds of 145 km/h (90 mph). It tracked a 3.2 km (2-mile) path, causing widespread damage in areas from Pekin Community Schools east-southeast toward Linby.
“At Pekin Schools, softwood trees were snapped above the base in a narrow area just north of the football field,” the NWS reported. “There were also portions of a metal roof peeled off an outbuilding. The tornado blew down a chain-link fence near the softball diamond, then damaged one of the softball dugouts and deposited the debris along the trees southeast of the softball diamond.”
The tornado then moved east-southeast toward Linby, where several broken tree branches and sheared trees were reported, along with a hardwood tree being uprooted.
The second tornado touched down in Monmouth, tracking southeast. It covered a 2.1 km (1.3-mile) path with estimated peak winds of 161 km/h (100 mph). Multiple buildings sustained roof damage and blown-out windows, while some homes reported blown-off shingles. Significant tree damage was also reported in the area.
While the Monmouth tornado’s path was close to the site of the derailment, the twister itself was not responsible for the derailment.
The third tornado touched down near Warsaw in Lee County, Iowa, at around 19:35 CDT. It uniquely tracked across three states, covering a 2.1 km (1.3-mile) path with peak winds of 169 km/h (105 mph).
After it developed in Lee County, Iowa, it moved southeast into Clark County, Missouri, before crossing the Mississippi River and entering Hancock County, Illinois, damaging trees across the area. Two gas station canopies were also damaged along U.S. Highway 61 in Missouri.
Multiple reported tornadoes affected parts of the Midwest on June 17, causing widespread damage in Illinois. At least one person was injured in Coles County after a reported tornado touched down near Mattoon.
Severe damage and gas leaks were reported in Effingham, while a Local State of Emergency was declared for Charleston due to the storm damage.
References:
1 Event Summary: June 17th Severe Winds and Three EF1 Tornadoes – NWS – June 18, 2026
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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