Illinois, 1998

Flash Flooding in Illinois, October 17 to 18, 1998

October 17 to 18, 1998 · NWS DVN · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

Rain developed over Northern Missouri during the early morning hours and spread northward dumping two to four inches of rain across much of Eastern Iowa and Northwest Illinois by late afternoon. rivers and streams to near or slightly above bankfull.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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
6

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.

Rain developed over Northern Missouri during the early morning hours and spread northward dumping two to four inches of rain across much of Eastern Iowa and Northwest Illinois by late afternoon. An additional one-half to two inches of rainfall during the evening sent several creeks...rivers and streams to near or slightly above bankfull. Heavy rain in parts of Rock Island County knocked out power and filled back yards and farm fields full of water. At southwest Rock Island's Lake View Estates at least 100 persons were stranded after rapidly rising water submerged the access roads. In Henry County the Green River at Geneseo rose seven feet. The Rock River in Illinois went up several feet bringing the river near flood stage in several communities. High water forced the closing of U.S. highway 150 near Coal Valley and shut down several access roads at the Quad City Airport hampering airport operations. Flooding was also reported near Keithsburg and Aledo. A number of minor automobile accidents occurred throughout the area...but no serious injuries were reported. Storm total rainfall amounts ranged from two to just over six inches in Eastern Iowa and West Central Illinois. In Illinois a few specific rainfall totals included; Orion 5.85 inches, Sheffield 4.61 inches, Geneseo 4.60 inches, Keithsburg 4.10 inches, Moline 4.05 inches, and Aledo and Port Byron 4.00 inches.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Bureau

When
October 17, 3:48 PM CST to October 18, 1:00 AM CST
Where
Bureau County, Countywide
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
41.404, -89.529 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Henderson

When
October 17, 3:48 PM CST to October 18, 1:00 AM CST
Where
Henderson County, Countywide
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.818, -90.925 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Henry

When
October 17, 3:48 PM CST to October 18, 1:00 AM CST
Where
Henry County, Countywide
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
41.353, -90.131 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Mercer

When
October 17, 3:48 PM CST to October 18, 1:00 AM CST
Where
Mercer County, Countywide
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
41.205, -90.741 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Rock Island

When
October 17, 3:48 PM CST to October 18, 1:00 AM CST
Where
Rock Island County, Countywide
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
41.467, -90.567 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Whiteside

When
October 17, 3:48 PM CST to October 18, 1:00 AM CST
Where
Whiteside County, Countywide
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
41.756, -89.914 (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 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, October 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: 5667473, 5667474, 5667475, 5667476, 5667477, 5667478.