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Weekend tornado outbreak makes the history books

In terms of tornadoes, Knox and Warren Counties got lucky over the weekend.

What has now been termed the largest December tornado outbreak in Illinois history Saturday afternoon and evening largely spared the immediate area, despite tornado warnings being issued for parts of both counties over the weekend.

Storm reports still being gathered by the National Weather Service indicate the worst outbreak close to home was indeed in Fulton County, where tornadoes near and south of Lewistown destroyed a winery. At least two tornadoes were reported in McDonough County, but did not stay on the ground for very long, nor caused significant damage.

The worst of the tornado outbreak came in Christian County near Springfield, where a number of houses are either heavily damaged or leveled.

The tornado outbreak comes more than five years after tornadoes all but destroyed Washington, Illinois. Twenty-three tornadoes have been confirmed so far, eclipsing a similar outbreak in 1957. Forecasters are continuing surveys to refine the total.

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