Rochelle, Illinois, Wedge Tornado

May 29, 2015

Rochelle Tornado Wide WM

Photographer: Jodi Mair
Summary Author: Jodi Mair; Jim Foster

Shown above is a large, wedge tornado that touched down near Rochelle, Illinois, on April 9, 2015. This was the most powerful tornado observed in this area of northern Illinois since at least 1950. For a portion of its approximately 18 mi (30 km) path, this twister was rated EF4 -- devastating winds in excess of 200 mph (320 kmph). It killed two people and injured more than twenty. The tornado developed in a large, supercell thunderstorm that formed when a strong, low-pressure system plowed into moist, unstable air. I was approximately 1.5 mi (3.8 km) or so southeast of the tornado when I captured this picture.

Photo Details: Camera Model: Canon EOS REBEL T2i; Lens: EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II; Focal Length: 18mm; Aperture: ƒ/4.0; Exposure Time: 0.025 s (1/40); ISO equiv: 125; Software: Adobe Photoshop CC 2014 (Windows).