Damaging Wind in Illinois, May 17, 1999

Name: Damaging Wind in Illinois, May 17, 1999
Start: 1999-05-17T14:18
End: 1999-05-17T14:18
Location: Illinois

May 17, 1999 · NWS PAH · 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: 1
Property damage: $75,000
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 Paducah radar (KPAH), 51 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:19 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Alexander

When: May 17, 2:18 PM CST
Where: Alexander County, Willard to Miller City
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph)
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 37.080, -89.350

A wood-frame house sustained major damage to its roof and an attached garage. The garage was totally destroyed. A large section of the house's roof was blown off. A woman, who was standing in front of the window when the storm hit, received cuts to an artery in her neck. She was hospitalized overnight. Heavy rain coming through the damaged roof caused extensive water damage. About half a dozen trees were uprooted or snapped. Near the community of Willard, a garage was severely damaged by high winds. The walls of the garage were bowed outward, and the door was caved in.

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 1999 Every state in 1999 This day in weather history Warnings in Illinois, May 1999

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: 5693464.