Flash Flooding and Hail in Illinois, June 12 to 13, 2002

Name: Flash Flooding and Hail in Illinois, June 12 to 13, 2002
Start: 2002-06-12T18:55
End: 2002-06-13T08:00
Location: Illinois

June 12 to 13, 2002 · NWS DVN · 15 events in 5 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 11 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 15

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.

A nearly stationary front, combined with abundant moisture and a strong upper level storm system to produce scattered strong to severe thunderstorms Wednesday evening. A few reports of hail to near golfball size and wind gusts of around 60 mph were received. Damage was confined mainly to trees and power lines. The thunderstorms continued through the late evening and into Thursday morning. During this time the threat shifted from hail and high wind to very heavy rain and flash flooding, as the thunderstorms continuously developed over some of the same areas. Rainfall amounts of up to 3 to 5 inches were reported in portions of West Central Illinois, an area which just 48 hours earlier received anywhere from 2 to 5 inches of rain. As a result, much of the heavy rain went into runoff resulting in fairly widespread flash flooding.

What forecasters said that day

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 Jun 12, 1:20 PM CST, 5 hours 35 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 12, 1:20 PM CST, 5 hours 35 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
220 PM CDT WED JUN 12 2002

DIFFUSE SURFACE FRONT DIFFICULT TO DISCERN DUE TO NUMEROUS MESO
BOUNDARIES...BUT MAINLY INDICATED FROM NEAR CHI THROUGH NORTHERN
IA TO E CENTRAL NEB. MESO BOUNDARY INITIATING CELLS THIS AFTERNOON
CURVED FROM NE IL NEAR LAKE FRONT THROUGH MLI TO CID AT 18Z. AT
UPPER LEVELS...H85 MOISTURE RIDGE AXIS NOTED AT 12Z FROM W TX INTO
SE IA. STRONG H5 LOW CHURNED OVER SW ALBERTA WITH 90 KT H25 JET JUST
SOUTH FROM WY TO MI. FAVORABLE UPPER DIFFLUENCE...UPSTREAM MID LEVEL
FORCING...SLOW MOVING E-W FRONT...AND ABUNDANT LOW LEVEL MOISTURE
SETTING THE STAGE FOR SEVERE POTENTIAL THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING...THEN OVERNIGHT HEAVY RAIN AND FLOODING CONCERNS.

MODELS AGAIN HAVING DIFFICULTY HANDLING SURFACE FRONTS AND QPF
PLACEMENT. AVN WAS TOO FAR SOUTH WITH SURFACE FRONT AT 18Z...WITH
ETA PLACEMENT CLOSER TO REALITY. BOTH BRING STRONG MID LEVEL WAVE
CURRENTLY MOVING INTO SE NEB INTO EASTERN IA TOWARD 06Z WHICH
MATCHES WELL WITH NOWCAST TOOLS. THIS PUSHES SURFACE LOW PRESSURE
WAVE ALONG THE FRONT AND WITH STRONG UPPER DIVERGENCE AND HIGH
PRECIPITABLE WATER...HEAVY RAIN STRONG POSSIBILITY. AVN MAY BE
OVERDONE WITH HUGE QPF BULLSEYE OVER FAR W CENTRAL IL...BUT CANNOT
IGNORE. MOST VULNERABLE WILL BE AREAS MAINLY SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 34
WHERE 88D STP AMOUNTS EXCEEDED 3 INCHES LAST NIGHT.  AREAS FURTHER
NORTH NOT IN MUCH BETTER SHAPE WITH RAIN YESTERDAY AND RIVERS STILL
HIGH FROM LAST WEEKS EVENT...SO WILL ISSUE FLOOD WATCH FOR CWFA
ALONG AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 80 COORIDOR. BELIEVE CONVECTION SHOULD
GET GOING THIS EVENING WITH MCV CURRENTLY SPINNING INTO N CENTRAL MO
AND FAR SOUTHERN IA WITH REINFORCEMENT FROM STRONGER AFOREMENTIONED
MID LEVEL WAVE IN CENTRAL NEB.

ON THURSDAY WILL KEEP LOW SCATTERED POPS FOR SHOWERS WITH MUCH
COOLER TEMPERATURES THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AS UPPER LOW PASSES JUST
TO NORTHEAST. AVN CONTINUES TO HINT AT SHOWERS FOR SATURDAY WITH
WEAK E-W TROUGH...BUT WILL LEAVE OUT FOR NOW DUE TO UNIMPRESSIVE
FORCING. MAIN MESSAGE WILL BE COOLER TEMPERATURES AND LOWER HUMIDITY
OVER WEEKEND.

MEDIUM RANGE MODELS IN AGREEMENT WITH WESTERN CONUS RIDGE BUILDING
EARLY NEXT WEEK WITH TROUGHING FROM GREAT LAKES AND NORTHEAST.
BIG DIFFERENCES WITH MRF ALONE IN CUTTING OFF ANOTHER H5 LOW OVER
LOWER MI...WHICH DIVES INTO OHIO RIVER VALLEY BY MID WEEK. LATEST
AVN EXT MORE IN LINE WITH WEAKER EASTERN TROUGH SHOWN BY ECMWF AND
UK. WITH SUCH BIG DISAGREEMENT...WILL CONTINUE CURRENT TRENDS OF
RAIN CHANCES MONDAY AND TUESDAY WITH SOME SORT OF UPPER NW FLOW AND
IMBEDDED WAVES...THEN DRY WEDNESDAY WITH UPPER RIDGE MOVING OVERHEAD.

COORDINATED WITH DSM AND ILX...THANKS.

.DVN...
IA...FLOOD WATCH TONIGHT FOR ALONG AND SOUTH OF I-80.
IL...FLOOD WATCH TONIGHT FOR ALONG AND SOUTH OF I-80.
MO...FLOOD WATCH TONIGHT.

DLS

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jun 12, 3:33 PM CST, 3 hours 22 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
433 PM CDT WED JUN 12 2002

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

1215 PM    5 W COVINGTON             IA   TORNADO
06/12/02   LINN                           SPINNING DUST UNDER
                                          FUNNEL.  BRIEF
                                          TOUCHDOWN ALSO REPORTED
                                          BY PUBLIC. REPORTED BY
                                          LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

Local storm report, Jun 12, 5:35 PM CST, 1 hour 20 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
635 PM CDT WED JUN 12 2002

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0625 PM    3 NW KEOTA                IA   TORNADO
06/12/02   KEOKUK                         TORNADO ON THE GROUND,
                                          MOVING SOUTH.
                                          DISSIPATED AT 190TH ST
                                          AND G32.  REPORTED BY
                                          LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

0632 PM    KALONA                    IA   FUNNEL CLOUD
06/12/02   WASHINGTON                     LONG THIN FUNNEL.
                                          REPORTED BY STORM
                                          SPOTTER.

Local storm report, Jun 12, 6:14 PM CST, 41 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
714 PM CDT WED JUN 12 2002

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0713 PM    3 E WASHINGTON            IA   TORNADO
06/12/02   WASHINGTON                     REPORTED BY STORM
                                          SPOTTER.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

11 flash flood, 4 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Mercer

When: June 12, 6:55 PM CST
Where: Mercer County, Matherville
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 41.267, -90.600

Hail, Henderson

When: June 12, 7:16 PM CST
Where: Henderson County, Oquawka
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 40.933, -90.950

Hail, Mercer

When: June 12, 7:35 PM CST
Where: Mercer County, North Henderson
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.083, -90.467

Hail, Mercer

When: June 12, 8:06 PM CST
Where: Mercer County, Aledo
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 41.200, -90.750

Flash Flood, Henderson

When: June 12, 10:25 PM CST to June 13, 1:00 AM CST
Where: Henderson County, Countywide
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 40.818, -90.925 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Portions of Highway 34 and sections of Route 116 between Media and Stronghurst under water. Numerous county roads at least 6 inches under water.

Flash Flood, Warren

When: June 12, 10:45 PM CST to June 13, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Warren County, Smithshire
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 40.849, -90.615 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Residence surrounded by high water. Smithshire blacktop county road under water.

Flash Flood, Warren

When: June 13, 1:00 AM CST to 3:30 AM CST
Where: Warren County, 4 mi N of Monmouth
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.849, -90.615 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Highway 67 closed due to high water.

Flash Flood, Warren

When: June 13, 4:30 AM CST to 7:00 AM CST
Where: Warren County, Alexis
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.849, -90.615 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several city roads closed due to high water.

Flash Flood, Henderson

When: June 13, 4:50 AM CST to 7:30 AM CST
Where: Henderson County, Countywide
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.818, -90.925 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous county roads closed due to flood waters. Also, 4 feet of water reported around a home in Stronghurst.

Flash Flood, Warren

When: June 13, 5:00 AM CST to 7:30 AM CST
Where: Warren County, 2 mi E of Monmouth
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.849, -90.615 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Highway 164 covered with water 6 to 12 inches deep.

Flash Flood, Hancock

When: June 13, 5:05 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where: Hancock County, 5 mi S of Nauvoo
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.404, -91.165 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Portions of a blacktop road between Nauvoo and Hamilton covered with 6 inches of water.

Flash Flood, Hancock

When: June 13, 5:05 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where: Hancock County, Carthage
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.404, -91.165 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood water debris blocking many county roads.

Flash Flood, McDonough

When: June 13, 5:10 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where: McDonough County, Prairie City
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.456, -90.678 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Route 41 closed due to high water.

Flash Flood, McDonough

When: June 13, 5:10 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where: McDonough County, 3 mi E of Good Hope
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.456, -90.678 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Water covered Route 9 making it impassable in spots.

Flash Flood, Hancock

When: June 13, 5:50 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where: Hancock County, La Harpe
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 40.404, -91.165 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several roads in and around town closed due to flood waters.

What these are

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

Every storm in Illinois in 2002 Every state in 2002 This day in weather history Warnings in Illinois, June 2002

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: 5301723, 5301724, 5301725, 5301726, 5301727, 5301728, 5301729, 5301730, 5301731, 5301732, 5301733, 5301734, 5301735, 5301736, 5301737.