Illinois, 1996

Flash Flood in Illinois, May 10 to 11, 1996

May 10 to 11, 1996 · NWS PAH · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Very heavy rains caused many roads to become impassable across the county. This rain compounded the flood damage that occurred in late April.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$1.0 million
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS PAH wrote it up.

Very heavy rains caused many roads to become impassable across the county. This rain compounded the flood damage that occurred in late April. A cooperative observer in Marion reported 7.33 inches of rain, most of which fell in a three hour period. Between 60 and 70 residents of a nursing home in Marion were evacuated. The county was declared a federal disaster area. Nearly 100,000 dollars damage occurred to county roads. Several residents were evacuated. Some people were trapped in their cars, which were stalled in up to 4 feet of water. The damage total listed above is for all the flood events since April 28. A total of at least 41 businesses and 40 homes received water damage. Several hundred vehicles were damaged. At least 40 residents took shelter at a Red Cross shelter.

The radar

The Paducah radar (KPAH), 75 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:28 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Williamson

When
May 10, 7:30 PM CST to May 11, 12:30 AM CST
Where
Williamson County, Marion
Property damage
$1.0 million
Coordinates
37.730, -88.930 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Illinois in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, May 1996

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5554381.