Illinois, 1997

Flooding in Illinois, March 1 to 22, 1997

March 1 to 22, 1997 · NWS PAH · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

The Mississippi River remained above flood stage from late February well into March at Thebes. The river crested about 6 feet above flood stage at Thebes on March 3, then a couple feet over flood stage on the 17th.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 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
$20,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

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.

The Mississippi River remained above flood stage from late February well into March at Thebes. The river crested about 6 feet above flood stage at Thebes on March 3, then a couple feet over flood stage on the 17th. Generally minor to moderate flooding of the river caused agricultural fields to flood. Water lapped against some of the levees, including the one near Ware. A half mile stretch of Old Cape Road was closed because of 8 inches of water across it.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Jackson

When
March 1, 12:01 AM CST to March 22, 8:00 AM CST
Where
Jackson forecast zone
Property damage
$20,000
Coordinates
37.785, -89.382 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Union

When
March 1, 12:01 AM CST to March 22, 8:00 AM CST
Where
Union forecast zone
Coordinates
37.471, -89.255 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Alexander

When
March 1, 12:01 AM CST to March 22, 8:00 AM CST
Where
Alexander forecast zone
Coordinates
37.192, -89.338 (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, March 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: 5594929, 5594930, 5594931.