Updated: 3:20 pm on April 6, 2023

The National Weather Service has released a map showing the path of the EF-1 tornado that was confirmed in Rockford on Friday, March 31, 2023.

According to the details from the NWS, the Rockford tornado lasted from 7:31 to 7:38 pm on March 31 and had peak winds of around 95 mph.

The tornado was 5.9 miles long and took a path that began around the Charles Street and E. State Street area and continued to travel toward the northeast part of the city.

Johnny Vincent
Johnny Vincent
loading...

The tornado crossed Rural Street, Brendenwood Road, and Highcrest Road, then traveled over Spring Creek Road before eventually ending just before Riverside Drive near Rock Valley College.

NWS
NWS
loading...

March 31, 2023, will be a historic day in weather history for the Rockford region after multiple tornadoes tore through the area.

How many tornadoes have been confirmed in Illinois?

20 tornadoes were reported in the National Weather Service Chicago forecast area on Friday night (3/31) with 16 being confirmed in Illinois and 4 in Northern Indiana.

The total number of confirmed tornadoes could grow as survey teams from the National Weather Service (NWS) continue to investigate storm damage around Northern Illinois.

How strong was the tornado in Rockford?

According to the preliminary reports from National Weather Service, the tornado that hit Rockford was an EF-1.

The "Enhanced Fujita" scale can go from an EF-0 to an EF-5. Here's the corresponding speed in MPH (miles per hour).

  • EF0 (Weak) 65 to 85 mph
  • EF1 (Weak) 86 to 110
  • EF2 (Strong) 111 to 134
  • EF3 (Strong) 136 to 165
  • EF4 (Violent) 166 to 200
  • EF5 (Violent) 200+ mph

Where was the path of the Rockford tornado?

According to the National Weather Service, the EF1 tornado in Rockford is still being analyzed and a tracking path will be revealed later.

Many are speculating which area of Rockford the tornado may have gone through, and most believe it was the area around Sinnissippi Park with the dozens of downed trees.

Johnny Vincent
Johnny Vincent
loading...

While the EF-1 tornado was confirmed for Rockford, details of where exactly the path took it through Winnebago County are going to be "made available at a later time."

This story is continuing to develop and will be updated as more information becomes available.

LOOK: The most expensive weather and climate disasters in recent decades

Stacker ranked the most expensive climate disasters by the billions since 1980 by the total cost of all damages, adjusted for inflation, based on 2021 data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The list starts with Hurricane Sally, which caused $7.3 billion in damages in 2020, and ends with a devastating 2005 hurricane that caused $170 billion in damage and killed at least 1,833 people. Keep reading to discover the 50 of the most expensive climate disasters in recent decades in the U.S.

LOOK: The 25 least expensive states to live in

Here are the top 25 states with the lowest cost of living in 2022, using data Stacker culled from the Council for Community and Economic Research.