Damaging Winds in Illinois, April 2, 2006

Name: Damaging Winds in Illinois, April 2, 2006
Start: 2006-04-02T16:30
End: 2006-04-02T16:35
Location: Illinois

April 2, 2006 · NWS LSX · 2 events in 1 county or zone

Thunderstorm winds blew some billboards down along I-55 near Hamel. Trees and power lines were down in Alhambra.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 2

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 LSX wrote it up.

Thunderstorm winds blew some billboards down along I-55 near Hamel. Trees and power lines were down in Alhambra.

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 St. Louis, MO wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 2, 12:49 PM CST, 3 hours 41 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 2, 12:49 PM CST, 3 hours 41 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
149 PM CDT SUN APR 2 2006

.DISCUSSION...
SURFACE LOW WAS LOCATED OVER THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF IA EARLY THIS
AFTERNOON WITH WARM FRONT DRAPED ACROSS NORTH MO. SURFACE
DEWPOINTS HAVE INCREASED INTO LOWER 60S ACROSS MOST OF THE
FORECAST AREA. THE LAPS DATA FROM 18Z INDICATED CAPES HAVE
INCREASED TO 2500 J/KG ACROSS CENTRAL MO WITH THE CIN LESS THAN
40. LIS ARE AROUND -9. MSAS SURFACE MOISTURE CONVERGENCE EXTENDED
FROM CENTRAL MO INTO THE EASTERN OZARKS AT SAME TIME.

STRONG H5 SHORT WAVE WILL ROLL ACROSS THE AREA TONIGHT. MODELS
FORECAST A 160 METER HEIGHT FALL CENTER OVER NORTHERN INDIANA BY 12Z
MONDAY. RIDGE BUILDS FROM THE GREAT PLAINS INTO THE AREA BY
WEDNESAY. THE GFS CLOSES OFF AN UPPER LOW OVER WY EARLY THURSDAY
WITH SYSTEM FORECAST TO MOVE SLOWLY INTO THE MIDWEST BY LATE IN THE
WEEK. THE GFS IS COMING AROUND TO THE EUROPEAN SOLUTION FROM LAST
EVENINGS RUN.

PLAYING A WAITING GAME FOR CONVECTION TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE WESTERN
PORTION OF THE FORECAST AREA. TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL
800 PM CDT. NEXT BEST CHANCE OF RAIN RETURNS TO THE AREA BY EARLY
WEDNESDAY. THE UKMET AND NAM FORECAST SIGNIFICANT 850 MOISTURE
CONVERGENCE INTO CENTRAL AND SOUTH MO BY THAT TIME WITH DECENT UPPER
DIVERGENCE.

&&

.AVIATION...
FOR THE 18Z TAFS...
SFC LOW OVER THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF MISSOURI WITH A WARM FRONT
INTO E CENTRAL MISSOURI AND A COLD FRONT/DRY LINE SOUTHWEST INTO
SOUTHEAST KANSAS.  THUNDERSDTORMS ARE FORECAST TO DEVELOP ALONG
AND AHEAD OF THE DRYLINE/COLDFRONT. SEVERAL STORMS COULD BECOME
SEVERE AND THEY SHOULD FORM AS DESCRETE STORMS AND EVOLVE INTO
A DANDY SQUALL LINE WHICH WILL MOVE EAST NORTHEAST AT 45 KNOTS
OR MORE.  HAVE A 4 HOUR WINDOW OF STORMS IN THE TAFS.  LATER...
MOISTURE WRAPS AROUND THE BACK SIDE OF THE SURFACE LOW AND DROPS
SOUTHEAST ACROSS ALL THE TAF SITES DURING THE EVENING...FIRST
AT QUINCY...THEN COLUMBIA...AND FINALLY IN THE ST LOUIS AREA
AFTER MIDNIGHT. OH...I HAVE LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR IN THE ST LOUIS
AREA FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS.  WINDS AT 2 TO 4 THOUSAND FEET ARE 40
KNOTS OR MORE WHILE THE SURFACE WINDS ARE REMAINING BLO 10 KTS.

HOT AIR BALLOONISTS....TOO MUCH WIND TODAY AND RISK FOR SEVERE
STORMS...TOO MUCH GRADIENT AGAIN THROUGH TOMORROW AS WELL.

PEDIGO

&&

.LSX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MO...NONE.
IL...NONE.
&&

WFO LSX

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 2, 1:57 PM CST, 2 hours 33 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
257 PM CDT SUN APR 2 2006

ILZ058>060-064-065-069-070-074-079-095>102-MOZ018-019-026-027-
034>036-041-042-047>052-059>065-072>075-084-085-099-031200-
ADAMS IL-AUDRAIN-BOND IL-BOONE-BROWN IL-CALHOUN IL-CALLAWAY-
CLINTON IL-COLE-CRAWFORD-FAYETTE IL-FRANKLIN-GASCONADE-GREENE IL-
IRON-JEFFERSON-JERSEY IL-KNOX-LEWIS-LINCOLN-MACOUPIN IL-MADISON-
MADISON IL-MARION-MARION IL-MONITEAU-MONROE-MONROE IL-MONTGOMERY-
MONTGOMERY IL-OSAGE-PIKE-PIKE IL-RALLS-RANDOLPH IL-REYNOLDS-
SHELBY-ST. CHARLES-ST. CLAIR IL-ST. FRANCOIS-ST. LOUIS-
ST. LOUIS CITY-STE. GENEVIEVE-WARREN-WASHINGTON-WASHINGTON IL-
257 PM CDT SUN APR 2 2006

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN AND
CENTRAL MISSOURI AS WELL AS SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A MODERATE RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON
AND EVENING FOR MOST OF EASTERN MISSOURI AND SOUTHERN ILLINOIS.

A SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK WILL TAKE PLACE THROUGH THIS
EVENING. A COOL FRONT WILL MOVE EAST ACROSS THE AREA ACTING ON
WARM MOIST AND VERY UNSTABLE AIR. SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS WILL
DOT THE AREA. SOME OF THE STRONGER STORMS COULD PRODUCE BASEBALL
SIZED HAIL...DAMAGING WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH AND POSSIBLE
A FEW TORNADOES.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM WILL FORM OVER THE CENTRAL PLAINS BY
MIDWEEK BRINGING ANOTHER THREAT FOR THUNDERSTORMS WEDNESDAY
THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT. ONCE AGAIN SEVERE STORMS ARE A POSSIBILITY
ON THURSDAY. KEEP ABREAST OF LATEST FORECASTS DURING THAT TIME PERIOD.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS WILL DEFINITELY BE NEEDED THROUGH MID EVENING.  IF YOU
HAVE NOT BEEN CALLED YET...CHECK WITH THOSE GROUPS YOU NORMALLY
WORK WITH...YOU WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED. MEDIA SHOULD BE PREPARED
FOR AN ESPECIALLY BUSY EVENT FROM 300 PM THROUGH 900 PM THIS
EVENING.  THE HIGHEST THREAT IS HAIL...BUT OTHER SEVERE WEATHER
PARAMETERS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE.

PEDIGO

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 2, 4:17 PM CST, 13 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
517 PM CDT SUN APR 02 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0450 PM     HAIL             DETROIT                 39.62N 90.68W
04/02/2006  E1.50 INCH       PIKE               IL   PUBLIC

&&

JPEDIGO

Local storm report, Apr 2, 4:25 PM CST, 5 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
525 PM CDT SUN APR 02 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0500 PM     HAIL             1 WSW FREDERICKTOWN     37.56N 90.31W
04/02/2006  E0.75 INCH       MADISON            MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

JPEDIGO

Local storm report, Apr 2, 4:26 PM CST, 4 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
526 PM CDT SUN APR 02 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0500 PM     HAIL             ANTONIA                 38.36N 90.47W
04/02/2006  E0.75 INCH       JEFFERSON          MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

JPEDIGO

Local storm report, Apr 2, 4:28 PM CST, 2 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
528 PM CDT SUN APR 02 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0455 PM     TSTM WND DMG     COTTLEVILLE             38.75N 90.65W
04/02/2006                   ST. CHARLES        MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ROOFS DAMAGED BY HIGH WINDS

&&

JPEDIGO

Local storm report, Apr 2, 4:29 PM CST, 1 minute before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
529 PM CDT SUN APR 02 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0505 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST MAEYSTOWN               38.23N 90.23W
04/02/2006  E75 MPH          MONROE             IL   EMERGENCY MNGR

&&

JPEDIGO

Local storm report, Apr 2, 4:30 PM CST, 0 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
530 PM CDT SUN APR 02 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0510 PM     TSTM WND GST     COLUMBIA                38.46N 90.23W
04/02/2006  E70 MPH          MONROE             IL   EMERGENCY MNGR

&&

JPEDIGO

The radar

The St Louis radar (KLSX), 76 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:30 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Madison

When: April 2, 4:30 PM CST
Where: Madison County, 1 mi N of Hamel
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 38.900, -89.850

Thunderstorm Wind, Madison

When: April 2, 4:35 PM CST
Where: Madison County, Alhambra
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 38.883, -89.717

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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Illinois in 2006 Every state in 2006 This day in weather history Warnings in Illinois, April 2006

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: 5501667, 5501668.