(NEWTON/OLNEY) Yesterday’s severe weather outbreak began by mid-afternoon as the National Weather Service issued a total of eight severe thunderstorm warnings and thirteen tornado warnings between the hours of 3:00 and 8:00. All twenty-one of the warnings were issued for the area counties of Effingham, Jasper, Crawford, Lawrence, Clark, Clay, Wayne, and Richland. Along with multiple reports of hail, ranging in size from a half inch to over two inches, in most all of the before-mentioned counties, wind gusts were recorded between 40 and 60 miles-per-hour. The National Weather Service received two tornado reports in Jasper County west of Newton and one near Wheeler, plus several tornado reports in Crawford County in Hardinville, north of Chauncey, near New Hebron, and near Flat Rock, and a tornado report in Effingham County near Mason. While there were multiple buildings, homes, and mobile homes damaged, trees uprooted, utility poles blown down, and isolated power outages, the National Weather Service has yet to report any fatalities, however several injuries. The National Weather Service will have crews out in the region this weekend investigating the severe weather outbreak
