Flooding in Illinois, January 5 to 31, 2005

Name: Flooding in Illinois, January 5 to 31, 2005
Start: 2005-01-05T11:00
End: 2005-01-31T23:59
Location: Illinois

January 5 to 31, 2005 · NWS PAH · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

Moderate to major flooding of the Ohio River and some of its tributaries occurred. A state disaster declaration included Massac, Pope, Hardin, and Gallatin Counties.

Where it happened

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.

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: $700,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 7

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 PAH wrote it up.

Moderate to major flooding of the Ohio River and some of its tributaries occurred. A state disaster declaration included Massac, Pope, Hardin, and Gallatin Counties. Floodfighting activities included the construction of temporary sandbag levees. Isolated evacuations of some lowland residents were conducted. In the city of Metropolis in Massac County, several streets were closed, a few residences were evacuated, and a casino riverboat was closed for several days. The closure of the casino had a major impact on the local economy. Flooding of the casino's parking lot and entrance prompted the closure. There was very little property damage to the casino itself. In Gallatin County, the community of Old Shawneetown was threatened, resulting in extensive sandbagging and levee patrols. Very little if any structural flooding was reported in Old Shawneetown. In Hardin County, cabins at a campground at Saline Landing were flooded, and Front Street was flooded in Elizabethtown. There was sandbagging around homes in Elizabethtown and Cave-In-Rock. Several mobile homes and trailers in Hardin County were pulled away from the water. At Rosiclare, Illinois Route 146 was closed leading into town, and water was up about 5 feet along the floodgates. In Pope County, a home on Lusk Creek near Golconda was standing in water. Rural Pope County roads were flooded around Brownfield and Hamletsburg. In Pulaski County, a road was closed at the Cache River (a tributary of the Ohio). In Alexander County, streets were damaged or collapsed in Cairo due to chronic sewer backups. Some of the backups were into homes. Several Alexander County roads were closed. A tributary of the Ohio River, the Saline River, experienced major backwater flooding extending across Gallatin and Saline Counties to the city of Harrisburg. Isolated homes were accessible only by boat in areas around Junction, Equality, and New Haven. Isolated barns and outbuildings were flooded in the Junction and Equality areas. About 40 roads were closed in Gallatin County, and about 9 county roads were closed in Saline County. In Harrisburg, one street was closed and a restaurant was threatened. State police manned barricades limiting access to New Haven and Old Shawneetown. This Ohio River flood crest was lower than in March of 1997, when the last major flood occurred. The river crested at a height of 52.00 feet at Shawneetown, compared to a crest of 54.4 feet in 1997. The crest at Brookport (near Metropolis) was 49.50 feet, which compares to 53.6 feet in 1997. At Cairo, where flood gates were closed, the crest of 53.20 feet was significantly lower than the crest of 56.2 in 1997. The dates of the crests were on the 16th or 17th at all sites. The monetary property damage estimate for this event is a rough guesstimate. The major flooding was partially the result of a record-setting snowstorm on December 22 that dumped from 14 to 22 inches across the Lower Ohio Valley. The snowpack, which contained liquid equivalents from 1 to 2 inches, melted rapidly by New Year's Day. A series of heavy rainfall events in early to mid January contributed to serious flooding. Average rainfall from 3 to 4 inches occurred from the 1st to the 5th. Another 1 to 2 inches fell between the 10th and 13th. Very cold conditions from the 15th to the 18th hampered flood-fighting activities. Low temperatures were around 10 degrees each day.

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 Paducah, KY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 5, 2:30 AM CST, 8 hours 30 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 5, 2:30 AM CST, 8 hours 30 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
230 AM CST WED JAN 5 2005

.DISCUSSION...

A FLOOD WATCH WAS POSTED LAST NIGHT FOR MOST OF THE PADUCAH FA
EXCEPT THE FAR SE...AND IT IS IN EFFECT TODAY AND TONIGHT. MODEL QPF
AND HPC SUGGEST AVERAGE QPF TOTALS FROM 0.75 TO 1.5 ACROSS THE
AREA...WHICH WILL ONLY EXASCBERATE ALREADY SATURATED GROUND
CONDITIONS. WITH DITCHES...CREEKS...AND STREAMS REPORTED AT OR NEAR
BANKFULL IN MANY LOCALES...THIS ADDITIONAL RAINFALL MAY WELL LEAD TO
SOME FLOODING PROBLEMS...ESPECIALLY MINOR LOW LAND AND ROAD/CREEK
FLOODING. PLUS WITH THE CONTINUATION OF A CONVECTIVE THREAT PER THE
LATEST SWODY1...A LOCALLY HEAVIER RAIN THREAT WOULD ONLY HEIGHTEN
FLOOD CONCERNS. THE FAR SE PTNS OF THE FA...MAINLY THE PENNYRILE
REGION OF WKY...WILL REMAIN OUT OF THE WATCH SINCE MOST PCPN WILL
HOLD OFF THERE UNTIL LATE...AND GENERALLY AMOUNTS THERE WILL BE LESS
THAN 3/4 INCH ON AVERAGE...IE LOWER THAN EVEN THE MOST MINIMAL FFG
THRESHOLDS. ALSO THE AREA IS JUST OUTSIDE OF THE BEST CONVECTIVE
THREAT. OF COURSE THIS IS NOT TO SAY ISOLATED LOW LAND OR FLOOD
PRONE AREAS WONT INUNDATE WITH A STEADY RAIN OVER A FEW HOURS...BUT IN
GENERAL EXPECTATIONS ARE SUCH THAT A WIDER AREAL-FLOOD WATCH IS NOT
SUPPORTED THERE.

THE OTHER NEAR TERM FORECAST CHANGE IS WITH REGARD TO PRECIPITATION
ENDING TONIGHT. ALL MODELS ARE MUCH QUICKER WITH THE SHUT OFF OF
PCPN AND AS A RESULT...THE COLD AIR LAG IS SUCH THAT THE CHANGE-OVER
TO A MIX OF FROZEN BEFORE ENDING HAS BEEN ELIMINATED FROM THE GOING
ZONE WORDING/GRIDS. WHILE THE POSSIBILITY IS STILL THERE...THE
CHANCES ARE MINIMIZING ACCORDING TO THE LATEST TIME/HEIGHT CROSS
SECTIONS AND LOWER TROPOSPHERIC THERMODYNAMIC PROFILE IN RELATION TO
THE DEPARTURE OF THE DEEPEST MOISTURE.

BEYOND THE NEAR TERM THERE WAS VERY LITTLE SYNOPTIC FORECAST CHANGE.
TEMPERATURE WISE THE EXTENDED MEX MOS WARMED A LITTLE AND WE
RESPONDED IN KIND...STEPPING TOWARDS/INTO IT RATHER THAN BUYING
WHOLE HEARTEDLY. NEAR TERM WE FAVORED AN OVERALL MODEL BLEND.

&&

.PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
KY...FLOOD WATCH TODAY-TONIGHT ALL BUT SE-MOST/PENNYRILE COUNTIES.
MO...FLOOD WATCH TODAY-TONIGHT ALL OF SEMO.
IL...FLOOD WATCH TODAY-TONIGHT ALL OF SIL.
IN...FLOOD WATCH TODAY-TONIGHT ALL OF SWIN.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 5, 3:18 AM CST, 7 hours 42 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
318 AM CST WED JAN 5 2005

ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087-100-
107>112-114-061100-
ALEXANDER IL-BALLARD KY-BOLLINGER MO-BUTLER MO-CALDWELL KY-
CALLOWAY KY-CAPE GIRARDEAU MO-CARLISLE KY-CARTER MO-CHRISTIAN KY-
CRITTENDEN KY-DAVIESS KY-EDWARDS IL-FRANKLIN IL-FULTON KY-
GALLATIN IL-GIBSON IN-GRAVES KY-HAMILTON IL-HARDIN IL-HENDERSON KY-
HICKMAN KY-HOPKINS KY-JACKSON IL-JEFFERSON IL-JOHNSON IL-
LIVINGSTON KY-LYON KY-MARSHALL KY-MASSAC IL-MCCRACKEN KY-MCLEAN KY-
MISSISSIPPI MO-MUHLENBERG KY-NEW MADRID MO-PERRY MO-PERRY IL-PIKE IN-
POPE IL-POSEY IN-PULASKI IL-RIPLEY MO-SALINE IL-SCOTT MO-SPENCER IN-
STODDARD MO-TODD KY-TRIGG KY-UNION KY-UNION IL-VANDERBURGH IN-
WABASH IL-WARRICK IN-WAYNE MO-WAYNE IL-WEBSTER KY-WHITE IL-
WILLIAMSON IL-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SIKESTON...POPLAR BLUFF...PERRYVILLE...
CAPE GIRARDEAU...HERRIN...HARRISBURG...CARMI...CARBONDALE...CAIRO...
PADUCAH...OWENSBORO...MURRAY...MAYFIELD...HOPKINSVILLE...
EVANSVILLE...MADISONVILLE AND HENDERSON
318 AM CST WED JAN 5 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST MISSOURI...SOUTHERN
ILLINOIS...SOUTHWEST INDIANA...AND WESTERN KENTUCKY.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF THE QUAD STATE EXCEPT FOR THE
PENNYRILE REGION OF WESTERN KENTUCKY. RIVER FLOODING WILL CONTINUE
ALONG PORTIONS OF THE GREEN AND OHIO RIVERS. PLEASE REFER TO THE
LATEST FLOOD PRODUCTS...INCLUDING WATCHES...WARNINGS...AND
STATEMENTS...FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION.

THERE IS AN ISOLATED CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS...MAINLY ELEVATED. THE
MAIN THREAT OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE THE ADDED POTENTIAL FOR POCKETS
OF LOCALLY HEAVIER RAINFALL ON ALREADY SATURATED GROUNDS AND THE
RESULTANT HEIGHTENED RISK OF FLOODING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

RIVER FLOODING IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE ALONG PORTIONS OF THE OHIO AND
GREEN RIVERS. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST RIVER FLOOD WARNINGS AND
STATEMENTS FOR MORE DETAILS.

IN ADDITION...MORE PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED FRIDAY NIGHT AND
SATURDAY...AND AGAIN MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY. THE COMBINATION OF ALL
OF THE FORECAST RAIN EPISODES WILL LEAD TO CLOSE MONITORING OF THE
POTENTIAL FUTURE FLOODING RISK.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUESTED TODAY AND TONIGHT FOR FLOODING
REPORTS.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Alexander

When: January 5, 11:00 AM CST to January 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Alexander forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 37.192, -89.338 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Gallatin

When: January 5, 11:00 AM CST to January 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Gallatin forecast zone
Property damage: $300,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 37.500, -88.383

Flood, Hardin

When: January 5, 11:00 AM CST to January 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Hardin forecast zone
Property damage: $70,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 41.150, -87.900

Flood, Massac

When: January 5, 11:00 AM CST to January 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Massac forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 37.219, -88.708 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Pope

When: January 5, 11:00 AM CST to January 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Pope forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 37.413, -88.562 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Pulaski

When: January 5, 11:00 AM CST to January 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Pulaski forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 41.683, -88.367

Flood, Saline

When: January 5, 11:00 AM CST to January 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Saline forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 37.753, -88.541 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Illinois in 2005 Every state in 2005 This day in weather history Warnings in Illinois, January 2005

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: 5438483, 5438484, 5438485, 5438486, 5438487, 5438564, 5438565.