When a Monster Tornado Destroyed 4 Illinois Towns, Took 60 Lives

March 19, 1948 should have been like any typical morning in these Illinois communities. An incoming storm system had other plans. By the time most would wake that morning, a monster tornado had nearly wiped away 4 Illinois towns completely and took 60 lives.

That terrible March morning in 1948 in Illinois is documented by Ancient Air Theatre on YouTube based on research done by Western Illinois University. The tornado struck at 6:45am and some of the video from that morning shows the moment clocks stopped when the tornado touched down.

Alton, Fosterburg, Bunker Hill and Gillespie, Illinois would never be the same.

"Like a land blitzed by a thousand bombers" is an accurate way to describe the destruction from this tornado outbreak in Illinois. With 19 dead in Bunker Hill, Illinois alone and 60 overall during those storms, it ranks as one of the biggest tornado tragedies in Illinois history.

If you are old enough to remember that time, you recall that there were no real early weather warnings as most remained very rudimentary until year's later. Most weather warnings came from farmers who had learned how to read the sky and understand when dangerous weather was imminent.

Another factor is the early morning arrival of the tornado which likely caught many by complete surprise as the sound waking you up would likely be the tornado bearing down on your home.

As of this writing, it's considered the 6th worst weather disaster in Illinois history. Let's hope no small Illinois communities have to deal with this kind of tragedy any time soon.