Illinois, 2000

Hail and Damaging Winds in Illinois, April 20, 2000

April 20, 2000 · NWS DVN · 9 events in 5 counties and zones

Event summary for 4/19/00 and 4/20/00. See individual storm reports for additional details.

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
$52,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
9

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.

Event summary for 4/19/00 and 4/20/00. See individual storm reports for additional details. Isolated thunderstorms developed along a warm front and produced penny-sized hail in portions of northwest Illinois during the morning of April 19th. The frontal boundary remained draped across Iowa and Illinois, and afternoon heating combined with moisture transport south of the boundary helped to de-stabilize the atmosphere, setting the stage for another round of severe weather beginning the evening of the 19th. Large hail and damaging wind were the primary threats. Hail up to golfball-sized fell over portions of northeast Iowa and northeast Missouri during the evening hours. Severe weather continued into the early morning hours of the 20th. The areas hardest hit included portions of southeast Iowa, and west central and northwest Illinois. A possible gustnado produced a swath of damage in the village of Smithshire in Warren County Illinois. The highest recorded wind speed was a 63 mph gust in McDonough County Illinois. Numerous homes and buildings suffered roof damage, and thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees and power lines. Moderate to locally heavy rain continued through much of the day on the 20th, which caused urban and small stream flooding.

The radar

The Quad Cities radar (KDVN), 88 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 06:00 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Henderson

When
April 20, 12:00 AM CST
Where
Henderson County, Biggsville
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
40.850, -90.867

Thunderstorm winds downed several trees along Illinois Route 94 between Biggsville and Rozetta.

Hail, Warren

When
April 20, 12:28 AM CST
Where
Warren County, Monmouth
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.917, -90.633

Penny-sized hail reported by law enforcement official.

Thunderstorm Wind, Henry

When
April 20, 2:05 AM CST
Where
Henry County, Kewanee
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
41.233, -89.933

Thunderstorm winds downed trees and large limbs, and caused extensive roof damage to one home. Vehicles were also damaged and an empty semi-trailer was blown over.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hancock

When
April 20, 3:20 AM CST to 3:40 AM CST
Where
Hancock County, La Harpe
Property damage
$15,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
40.583, -90.967

Thunderstorm winds downed large trees, power lines, and an advertising sign, and destroyed a barn. Numerous roofs in the community were damaged. Winds also blew a garage across a yard.

Thunderstorm Wind, Warren

When
April 20, 3:30 AM CST to 3:40 AM CST
Where
Warren County, Smithshire
Property damage
$20,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
40.800, -90.783

A possible gustnado produced a damage path around 50 yards wide and a quarter mile long. Wind tore most of the roof off the township garage. 5 grain bins, 2 homes , and several trees and fences were damaged.

Thunderstorm Wind, McDonough

When
April 20, 3:43 AM CST
Where
McDonough County, 2 mi S of Blandinsville
Measured
54 kt (62 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
40.517, -90.867

63 mph thunderstorm wind gust reported by storm spotter.

Thunderstorm Wind, Warren

When
April 20, 3:58 AM CST
Where
Warren County, Roseville
Property damage
$500
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
40.733, -90.667

Thunderstorm winds snapped a large tree limb on a power line, which caused a power outage in the community.

Thunderstorm Wind, Warren

When
April 20, 4:00 AM CST
Where
Warren County, 5 mi N of Monmouth
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
40.983, -90.633

Thunderstorm winds blew down a chimney at a residence and several trees. The roof of a machine shed, grain bins, and a barn were also damaged.

Thunderstorm Wind, Warren

When
April 20, 4:05 AM CST
Where
Warren County, 10 mi N of Monmouth
Property damage
$500
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
41.067, -90.633

Thunderstorm winds blew down a large tree, which blocked U.S. Highway 67.

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.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Illinois in 2000Every state in 2000This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, April 2000

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: 5142609, 5142601, 5142602, 5142604, 5142603, 5142605, 5142606, 5142607, 5142608.