)A very moist atmosphere, combined with a frontal boundary stretched across the area, produced thunderstorms that continuously developed, or trained, over parts of western Illinois. Thunderstorms produced rainfall amounts up to six inches.
Every event with a place to put it; 4 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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 episode as NWS DVN wrote it up.
Event Summary for 8/03/01: (For additional details, see individual entries for the date.)A very moist atmosphere, combined with a frontal boundary stretched across the area, produced thunderstorms that continuously developed, or trained, over parts of western Illinois. Thunderstorms produced rainfall amounts up to six inches. County highways and underpasses were flooded in Henderson and McDonough counties.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Quad Cities, IA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 2, 1:15 PM CST, 11 hours 31 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL 215 PM CDT THU AUG 2 2001 CURRENT DATA SHOWS FRONT HAS ESSENTIALLY WASHED OUT OVER THE CWA WITH JUST NUMEROUS OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES PRESENT. THIS WILL DRIVE THE IMMEDIATE SHORT TERM IN TERMS OF CONVECTION. CURRENT TSRA COMPLEX IS MAINTAINING A STEADY STATE DUE TO A RICH ENVIRONMENT OF MOISTURE/HEAT. 12Z MODELS SLIGHT MINNESOTA HIGH EASTWARD WHILE UPPER RIDGE RETROGRESS INTO THE PLAINS. ONCE REACHING THE PLAINS RIDGE AXIS REMAINS IN PLACE INTO THE EXTENDED PERIOD. MODELS DROP DEW POINTS OFF QUICKLY BUT AM HAVING TROUBLE BELIEVING THIS WILL HAPPEN AS QUICKLY AS MODELS SUGGEST. AREAS THAT DID RECEIVE SIGNIFICANT PRECIP IN NORTHERN PART OF CWA HAVE A FAIRLY GOOD CHANCE OF SEEING SOME FOG DEVELOPMENT TONIGHT/EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. CURRENT TEMPS/DEW POINTS ARE BARELY GETTING TO ADVISORY CRITERIA SO WILL ALLOW ADVISORY TO DROP WITH NEW PACKAGE BUT MENTION HEAT INDICES IN BODY OF ZONES. TEMP WISE...GUIDANCE IS SIMILAR ON MINS BUT FAN/MAV ARE COOLER ON MAXES. WARMER FWC MAXES LOOK BETTER. HEAT INDICES TO REMAIN BELOW ADVISORY CRITERIA FOR FRIDAY AS WELL BUT WILL MENTION IN ZONES. EXTENDED nWISE...RIDGE TO REMAIN IN PLACE WITH NOT MUCH CHANCE OF RAIN. DEW POINTS MAY DROP A LITTLE BIT BUT NOT MUCH. .DVN... IA...NONE. IL...NONE. MO...NONE.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
914 PM CDT THU AUG 02 2001
TIME(CDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0215 PM 5 NE OXFORD JCT IA FUNNEL CLOUD
08/02/01 JONES REPORTED BY PUBLIC.LOCAL STORM REPORT...FINAL
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
915 PM CDT THU AUG 02 2001
...EVENT SUMMARY FOR AUGUST 2...
TIME(CDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0140 PM NORWAY IA 55 MPH TSTM GUST
08/02/01 BENTON THUNDERSTORM WINDS
ESTIMATED OVER 50 MPH.
REPORTED BY EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT.
0140 PM NORWAY IA .25 INCH HAIL
08/02/01 BENTON REPORTED BY EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT.
0155 PM 1 SW OXFORD JCT IA FUNNEL CLOUD
08/02/01 JONES REPORTED BY EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT.
0201 PM CEDAR RAPIDS IA 48 MPH TSTM GUST
08/02/01 LINN REPORTED BY MEDIA.
0215 PM 5 NE OXFORD JCT IA FUNNEL CLOUD
08/02/01 JONES REPORTED BY PUBLIC.
0229 PM BETTENDORF IA FUNNEL CLOUD
08/02/01 SCOTT EVENT DURATION 5 MINUTES.
0329 PM BETTENDORF IA FUNNEL CLOUD
08/02/01 SCOTT REPORTED BY STORM
SPOTTER. EVENT DURATION
5 MINUTES.
0335 PM 1 N BUFFALO IA 70 MPH TSTM GUST
08/02/01 SCOTT STRONG WIND PUSHED A
CAR INTO A DITCH.
0339 PM BETTENDORF IA FUNNEL CLOUD
08/02/01 SCOTT REPORTED BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.
FUNNEL OVER RIVER
MOVING SOUTHEAST
0350 PM MOLINE IL FUNNEL CLOUD
08/02/01 ROCK ISLAND REPORTED BY STORM
SPOTTER.
0408 PM KEWANEE IL FUNNEL CLOUD
08/02/01 HENRY REPORTED BY PUBLIC.
0410 PM SEATON IL WIND DAMAGE
08/02/01 MERCER LARGE TREE LIMBS
BLOCKING RESIDENTS'
DRIVEWAYS. REPORTED BY
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.
0425 PM 2 N GALVA IL FUNNEL CLOUD
08/02/01 HENRY REPORTED BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.
0432 PM GALVA IL 50 MPH TSTM GUST
08/02/01 HENRY REPORTED BY EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT.
0432 PM GALVA IL .88 INCH HAIL
08/02/01 HENRY REPORTED BY EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT.
0445 PM NIOTA IL HEAVY RAIN
08/02/01 HANCOCK ONE HALF INCH OF RAIN
REPORTED IN A 15 MINUTE
PERIOD BY STORM
SPOTTER. RAIN WAS NOW
ENDING. SOME STANDING
WATER.
0515 PM 2 SE CARTHAGE IL FUNNEL CLOUD
08/02/01 HANCOCK REPORTED BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL
MOVING SOUTHEAST.
0546 PM 1 SE DALLAS CITY IL WIND DAMAGE
08/02/01 HANCOCK POWER LINES DOWN.
REPORTED BY STORM
SPOTTER.
REA/KINNEYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
1009 PM CDT THU AUG 02 2001
TIME(CDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0550 PM COUNTYWIDE IL WIND DAMAGE
08/02/01 HANCOCK TREES AND POWER LINES
DOWN IN HAMILTON AND
CARTHAGE AREAS.
REPORTED BY MEDIA.PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
1011 PM CDT THU AUG 02 2001
TIME(CDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0553 PM MACOMB IL 54 MPH TSTM GUST
08/02/01 MCDONOUGH PEAK GUST MEASURED AT
ST. LOUIS RAMS TRAINING
CAMP. REPORTED BY MEDIA.PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
1019 PM CDT THU AUG 02 2001
TIME(CDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0415 PM BURLINGTON IA WIND DAMAGE
08/02/01 DES MOINES WIND DAMAGE IN A TWO
BLOCK AREA. NUMEROUS
TREES AND LIMBS DOWN.
UTILITY POLE SNAPPED.
PORTION OF LUMBER YARD
ROOF BLOWN OFF ONTO A
NEARBY HOUSE. ONE
PERSON WITH MINOR
INJURIES AFTER TRIPPING
OVER DEBRIS WHILE
SURVEYING STORM DAMAGE
AFTER THE EVENT. EVENT
DURATION 7 MINUTES.LOCAL STORM REPORT...FINAL
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
1020 PM CDT THU AUG 02 2001
...EVENT SUMMARY FOR AUGUST 2...
TIME(CDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0140 PM NORWAY IA 55 MPH TSTM GUST
08/02/01 BENTON THUNDERSTORM WINDS
ESTIMATED OVER 50 MPH.
REPORTED BY EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT.
0140 PM NORWAY IA .25 INCH HAIL
08/02/01 BENTON REPORTED BY EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT.
0155 PM 1 SW OXFORD JCT IA FUNNEL CLOUD
08/02/01 JONES REPORTED BY EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT.
0201 PM CEDAR RAPIDS IA 48 MPH TSTM GUST
08/02/01 LINN REPORTED BY MEDIA.
0215 PM 5 NE OXFORD JCT IA FUNNEL CLOUD
08/02/01 JONES REPORTED BY PUBLIC.
0229 PM BETTENDORF IA FUNNEL CLOUD
08/02/01 SCOTT EVENT DURATION 5 MINUTES.
0329 PM BETTENDORF IA FUNNEL CLOUD
08/02/01 SCOTT REPORTED BY STORM
SPOTTER. EVENT DURATION
5 MINUTES.
0335 PM 1 N BUFFALO IA 70 MPH TSTM GUST
08/02/01 SCOTT STRONG WIND PUSHED A
CAR INTO A DITCH.
0339 PM BETTENDORF IA FUNNEL CLOUD
08/02/01 SCOTT REPORTED BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.
FUNNEL OVER RIVER
MOVING SOUTHEAST
0350 PM MOLINE IL FUNNEL CLOUD
08/02/01 ROCK ISLAND REPORTED BY STORM
SPOTTER.
0408 PM KEWANEE IL FUNNEL CLOUD
08/02/01 HENRY REPORTED BY PUBLIC.
0410 PM SEATON IL WIND DAMAGE
08/02/01 MERCER LARGE TREE LIMBS
BLOCKING RESIDENTS'
DRIVEWAYS. REPORTED BY
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.
0415 PM BURLINGTON IA WIND DAMAGE
08/02/01 DES MOINES WIND DAMAGE IN A TWO
BLOCK AREA. NUMEROUS
TREES AND LIMBS DOWN.
UTILITY POLE SNAPPED.
PORTION OF LUMBER YARD
ROOF BLOWN OFF ONTO A
NEARBY HOUSE. ONE
PERSON WITH MINOR
INJURIES AFTER TRIPPING
OVER DEBRIS WHILE
SURVEYING STORM DAMAGE
AFTER THE EVENT. EVENT
DURATION 7 MINUTES.
0425 PM 2 N GALVA IL FUNNEL CLOUD
08/02/01 HENRY REPORTED BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.
0432 PM GALVA IL .88 INCH HAIL
08/02/01 HENRY REPORTED BY EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT.
0432 PM GALVA IL 50 MPH TSTM GUST
08/02/01 HENRY REPORTED BY EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT.
0445 PM NIOTA IL HEAVY RAIN
08/02/01 HANCOCK ONE HALF INCH OF RAIN
REPORTED IN A 15 MINUTE
PERIOD BY STORM
SPOTTER. RAIN WAS NOW
ENDING. SOME STANDING
WATER.
0515 PM 2 SE CARTHAGE IL FUNNEL CLOUD
08/02/01 HANCOCK REPORTED BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL
MOVING SOUTHEAST.
0546 PM 1 SE DALLAS CITY IL WIND DAMAGE
08/02/01 HANCOCK POWER LINES DOWN.
REPORTED BY STORM
SPOTTER.
0550 PM COUNTYWIDE IL WIND DAMAGE
08/02/01 HANCOCK TREES AND POWER LINES
DOWN IN HAMILTON AND
CARTHAGE AREAS.
REPORTED BY MEDIA.
0553 PM MACOMB IL 54 MPH TSTM GUST
08/02/01 MCDONOUGH PEAK GUST MEASURED AT
ST. LOUIS RAMS TRAINING
CAMP. REPORTED BY MEDIA.
REA/KINNEYThe Lincoln radar (KILX), 119 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 06:43 UTC.
3 flash flood, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Lightning struck an Illinois State Police tower, which resulted in a temporary communications outage.
Thunderstorms produced torrential rain, which flooded the intersection of Route 9 and Highway 41. Reported by Emergency Management.
Heavy rain flooded route 116. Reported by law enforcement.
Heavy rain completely flooded an underpass along Highway 94. Reported by law enforcement.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2001Every state in 2001This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, August 2001
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: 5265909, 5265910, 5265911, 5265912.