Flash Flooding in Illinois, July 4 to 5, 2000

Thunderstorms trained over the area during the evening hours of the 4th and into the morning of the 5th. Radar estimates and surface reports indicated 5 to 6 inches of rain had fallen across most of the county, mainly between Midnight and 8 AM. Numerous roads were reported closed by flood waters, including IL Routes 33, 40 and 45 in and around Effingham, with water reported as deep as 2 feet in some locations. A two mile stretch of US 40, west of Effingham, will remain closed indefinitely due to a 6 foot by 10 foot hole under the road as a result of a nearby culvert flooding. Train tracks, running along US 40 around Effingham, had to be closed briefly when flooding under a track trestle over the Salt Creek River caused a 50 foot deep by 100 foot long hole under the tracks. No injuries were reported and no damage estimates were available.

Thunderstorms trained over the area during the evening hours of the 4th into the morning hours of the 5th. Radar estimates and surface reports indicated between 5 to 6 inches of rain had fallen across most of the county. Numerous roads were reported closed by flood waters, including IL Route 45, north of Hord. No injuries were reported and no damage estimates were available.

Thunderstorms occurred during the evening hours of the 4th across the county. Some minor flooding was reported in a few locations. As the rain persisted into the morning hours of the 5th, more significant thunderstorms dropped heavy rainfall on the already saturated ground. Radar estimates and surface reports indicated that 3 to 5 inches of rain fell mainly during the morning. Several roads across the county were flooded. Three homes in Newton had to be evacuated and a vehicle was swept into a nearby creek that went over its banks. In the town of Wheeler, four mobile homes and one house had to be evacuated as well. No injuries were reported and no damage estimates were available.

Thunderstorms occurred during the evening hours of the 4th across the county. Some minor flooding was reported in a few locations. As the rain persisted into the morning hours of the 5th, more significant thunderstorms dropped heavy rainfall on the already saturated ground. Radar estimates and surface reports indicated that 3 to 5 inches of rain fell mainly during the morning. Several roads across the county were flooded. A road north of Noble collapsed, causing a vehicle to get stuck in the area. No injuries were reported and no damage estimates were available.

Thunderstorms trained over the area during the evening hours of the 4th into the morning of the 5th. The heaviest rainfall occurred during the morning when radar estimates and surface reports indicated 3 to 5 inches of rain had fallen across the county. Numerous county roads were reported underwater in and around Stewardson, as were low lying areas around the Little Wabash river basin. No injuries were reported and no damage estimates were available.