The damage a tornado can do to a forest stand can be very severe. This photo of a Central Hardwood forest stand was taken 15 months after a tornado hit. The tornado that destroyed this forest touched down in Monroe County, Illinois, April 1995. It was reportedly over 1/2 mile wide and remained on the ground for a total of 10 miles. The tops of 18 - 20" dbh hickory trees (Carya) seen in this photo were completely twisted off.