Were you living here in 1996? On April 19th of that year, Illinois recorded it’s largest tornado outbreak, with a total of 39. Two of those tornados ripped through Champaign County, specifically Ogden and south of Urbana. The Ogden tornado was particularly devastating. According to the National Weather Service website, it “passed northeast directly through the middle of Ogden, destroying 68 homes, 12 businesses, 3 churches, the library, and the grade school. East of town, it killed a woman in a semi as the tornado crossed I-74.”
Andrew Pritchard, of Chambana Weather, will be hosting a YouTube Live with former WILL Chief Meteorologist Ed Kieser on April 19th at 7 p.m. reflecting on the events of that day. Kieser provided the weather coverage for the radio station during the outbreak. From Chambana Weather’s Facebook post:
“While we can’t be together in person this year, the YouTube premiere feature will allow us to watch the program together with a live chat feature for questions during and afterward! The video will remain online for those unable to join on the 19th.”
Here is some video footage of the Urbana tornado: