A storm system blamed for several tornadoes in Central Illinois yesterday is also responsible for a 20 car pileup near Midway International Airport in Chicago. The first tornado report occurred just before 3pm about 50 miles west of Springfield, Illinois. Several buildings were damaged in Mechanicsburg, but other places only reported minor damage to power poles, trees, and outbuildings elsewhere.

The flooding threat increased with the heavy rain and melting snow. Some places were expected to receive up to an inch and a half of rain. 13 tornadoes were reported yesterday, all of which were in Illinois, according to the Storm Prediction Center.