Damaging Wind in Illinois, May 19, 1998

Name: Damaging Wind in Illinois, May 19, 1998
Start: 1998-05-19T19:31
End: 1998-05-19T20:18
Location: Illinois

May 19, 1998 · NWS ILX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

1 thunderstorm wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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: $60,000
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.

The radar

The Lincoln radar (KILX), 120 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:31 UTC.

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Event by event

1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Coles

When: May 19, 7:31 PM CST to 8:18 PM CST
Where: Coles County, Countywide
Property damage: $60,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 39.500, -88.220

A line of severe thunderstorms moved southeast across Coles County. It caused considerable damage. Numerous trees, power poles, and power lines were blown down throughout the county. One tree fell onto a house in Mattoon damaging the roof and front porch. Also, the thunderstorm winds peeled about a third of the roof off the high school gym in Mattoon. No injuries were reported and damage to the high school was estimated around $60,000.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Illinois in 1998 Every state in 1998 This day in weather history Warnings in Illinois, May 1998

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: 5649549.