Illinois, 1997

Flooding in Illinois, April 8 to 30, 1997

April 8 to 30, 1997 · NWS DVN · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

Spring snowmelt from very heavy snow cover across the upper basin brought significant flooding to portions of the Mississippi River. Several locations reached the third through fifth highest crests of record.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 7 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
7

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 DVN wrote it up.

Spring snowmelt from very heavy snow cover across the upper basin brought significant flooding to portions of the Mississippi River. Several locations reached the third through fifth highest crests of record. Crests might have been higher; however, precipitation for March and April over Iowa and Illinois was well below normal, therefore the area tributary rivers contributed very little to the crest.Economic impacts were significant; however, because the initial forecasts from the River Forecast Center were quite good, most of the cost of the flood was due to preventative messures rather than flood repairs or replacement. Commerce was impacted with barge navigation on the Mississippi River and train travel along the river suspended for up to two weeks.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

7 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Jo Daviess

When
April 8, 6:00 AM CST to April 30, 8:00 PM CST
Where
Jo Daviess forecast zone
Coordinates
42.366, -90.212 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Carroll

When
April 8, 6:00 AM CST to April 30, 8:00 PM CST
Where
Carroll forecast zone
Coordinates
42.069, -89.934 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Whiteside

When
April 8, 6:00 AM CST to April 30, 8:00 PM CST
Where
Whiteside forecast zone
Coordinates
41.756, -89.914 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Rock Island

When
April 8, 6:00 AM CST to April 30, 8:00 PM CST
Where
Rock Island forecast zone
Coordinates
41.467, -90.567 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Mercer

When
April 8, 6:00 AM CST to April 30, 8:00 PM CST
Where
Mercer forecast zone
Coordinates
41.205, -90.741 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Henderson

When
April 8, 6:00 AM CST to April 30, 8:00 PM CST
Where
Henderson forecast zone
Coordinates
40.818, -90.925 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Hancock

When
April 8, 6:00 AM CST to April 30, 8:00 PM CST
Where
Hancock forecast zone
Coordinates
40.404, -91.165 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Illinois in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, April 1997

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: 5592372, 5592373, 5592374, 5592375, 5592376, 5592377, 5592378.