Illinois, 1996

Flash Flood in Illinois, May 8, 1996

May 8, 1996 · NWS ILX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Slow moving thunderstorms dumped up to 5 inches of rain over a large portion of Sangamon county. Storm drains in Southern View overflowed and water damaged several homes in the area.

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
None recorded
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 ILX wrote it up.

Slow moving thunderstorms dumped up to 5 inches of rain over a large portion of Sangamon county. Storm drains in Southern View overflowed and water damaged several homes in the area. Flooding was also reported in Chatham, Divernon, Pawnee, and Pleasant Plains. Also, flooding was reported in downtown Springfield, causing damage to numerous vehicles and buildings in the area. Also, some sewer system and infrastructure damage occurred in Springfield. Up to 600 homes were affected by the flooding, though most of the damage was minor. Numerous roads were flooded and some sustained damage. At this time no injuries have been reported and no damage estimate is available yet.

The radar

The Lincoln radar (KILX), 52 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 09:59 UTC.

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Event by event

1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Sangamon

When
May 8, 4:00 AM CST to 1:30 PM CST
Where
Sangamon County, Countywide
Coordinates
39.758, -89.659 (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: 5561524.