Warm and humid conditions prevailed over the northwest Illinois July 10, as a warm front surged northward into Minnesota and Wisconsin. Several rounds of showers and thunderstorms were common across areas northeast of a line from Princeton, Illinois to Waterloo, Iowa, some of which were severe.
Every event with a place to put it. 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.
Warm and humid conditions prevailed over the northwest Illinois July 10, as a warm front surged northward into Minnesota and Wisconsin. Several rounds of showers and thunderstorms were common across areas northeast of a line from Princeton, Illinois to Waterloo, Iowa, some of which were severe. Torrential rains, hail up to the size of a quarter, and wind gusts over 60 mph were observed with some of the severe thunderstorms.
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 Jul 10, 2:05 PM CST, 27 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL 305 PM CDT THU JUL 10 2008 .SYNOPSIS... VERY BUSY WEATHER DAY ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA...WITH A STRONG SURFACE BOUNDARY EXTENDING FROM THE NORTH AND SOUTH DAKOTA BORDER AREA...EAST ACROSS MINNESOTA AND NORTHERN WISCONSIN. THERE IS CONVECTION THAT FORMED ALONG IT AND IS CURRENTLY MOVING SOUTHEAST SOUTH OF THAT BOUNDARY. MORE CONVECTION HAS FORMED ALONG A WEAKER BOUNDARY EXTENDING FROM NORTHERN IOWA SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE CWA NEAR VINTON IOWA...TO ABOUT STERLING. STORMS RIGHT ALONG THIS BOUNDARY HAVE BEEN PRODUCING THE ISOLATED TORNADIC STORM...THOUGH WE HAVE HAD HAIL STORMS AS WELL ALONG AND NORTH OF HIGHWAY 30. INSTABILITY IS VERY LARGE OVER THE AREA...WITH CAPE VALUES UP OVER 3000 IN PLACES...AND SHEAR VALUES ABOVE 30 NORTH OF INTERSTATE 80. THE CONVECTION FORMED AHEAD OF A 500MB SHORTWAVE...AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE EAST ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA FOR THE NEXT FEW HOURS. EXPECT STORMS TO CONTINUE AS LONG AS THE WAVE IS IN THE AREA. && .SHORT TERM...TONIGHT AND FRIDAY...TONIGHT THE CONVECTION CURRENTLY OVER THE FORECAST AREA WILL SLOWLY SHIFT EAST...CONTINUING TO MOVE EAST ALONG WITH THE 500MB SHORT WAVE. EXPECT THAT THIS CONVECTION WILL BE EAST OF THE FORECAST AREA AROUND 00Z THIS EVENING. HOWEVER...NEW CONVECTION WILL FOLLOW AS THE SHORTWAVE THAT HAS BEEN GENERATED OFF OF THE MINNESOTA CONVECTION WILL DROP SOUTHEAST. HOWEVER...THIS CONVECTION WILL BE SHORT-LIVED AND SHOULD BE DONE BY 06Z TONIGHT. IT APPEARS THAT WE WILL HAVE A BREAK AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT...AND AT LEAST FOR A SHORT WHILE FRIDAY MORNING. FRIDAY THE MAIN CONCERN IS FOR THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY. HAVE TRIMMED BACK THE MAX TEMPERATURE FORECAST...AS HAVE SOME CONCERNS THAT CLOUDS FROM THE SOUTH WILL KEEP US FROM HAVING FULL SUN...WHICH WOULD REDUCE OUR TEMPERATURES. STILL HAVE MAX TEMPERATURES FOR FRIDAY AROUND 90...AND WITH DEWPOINTS AROUND 70...WILL BE LOOKING AT HEAT INDEX VALUES IN THE 95 TO 100 RANGE. THIS IS VERY CLOSE TO OUR HEAT ADVISORY CRITERIA...AND WE MAY NEED TO ISSUE ONE IF THOSE CLOUDS DO NOT LOOK LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO MATERIALIZE. .LONG TERM...FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH NEXT THURSDAY... FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY THE MAIN FOCUS IS THE SEVERE WEATHER CHANCES AS THE COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH THE FORECAST AREA. FOR NOW SEVERE WEATHER LOOKS LIMITED DUE TO THE TIMING OF THE FRONT PASSAGE...BUT WE WILL STILL BE LOOKING AT A SIGNIFICANT LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS MOVING THROUGH THE AREA DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS. WILL LET LATER SHIFTS TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THIS RISK...BUT SPC HAS MUCH OF THE FORECAST AREA IN A SLIGHT RISK FOR FRIDAY NIGHT...BUT THE SLIGHT RISK AREA IS SOUTHEAST OF US FOR SATURDAY. CONVECTION SHOULD CLEAR QUICKLY SATURDAY MORNING...WITH COOLER AND DRIER AIR MOVING IN FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY. MAX TEMPS SATURDAY SHOULD ONLY BE IN THE LOW TO MID 80S. SUNDAY AND MONDAY TO BE DRY AND COOL WITH WEST/NORTHWEST FLOW IN BEHIND THE SATURDAY FRONT PASSAGE. MAX TEMPS BOTH DAYS TO BE SEASONABLY COOL...IN THE MID 70S TO LOW 80S SUNDAY...WARMING SLIGHTLY INTO THE UPPER 70S TO MID 80S MONDAY. RETURN FLOW KICKS IN FOR TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY...AS A SURFACE LOW MOVES FROM SOUTH DAKOTA NORTHEAST TO LAKE SUPERIOR AND NORTHEAST. THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A SURFACE BOUNDARY IN THE VICINITY FOR CONVECTION TO FOCUS ON...BUT CANNOT RULE OUT PRECIPITATION EITHER. THE COLD FRONT DROPS INTO THE AREA ON THURSDAY...SO HAVE GONE WITH SLOWLY INCREASING POPS TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY...TO CHANCE POPS FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY AS THE FRONT GETS CLOSER. DEWPOINTS AND TEMPERATURES ALSO INCREASE THROUGH THE PERIOD...WITH MAX TEMPS WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY IN THE MID 80S TO LOW 90S BOTH DAYS. && .AVIATION... CONVECTION THIS EVENING WILL BRING TEMPORARY IFR CONDITIONS DURING THE EARLY EVENING HOURS...AND SHOULD ONLY AFFECT KDBQ...KCID...AND KMLI TAF SITES. EXPECT VFR CONDITIONS AT ALL SITES AFTER 06Z TONIGHT. && .DVN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IA...NONE. IL...NONE. MO...NONE. && LE
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL 459 AM CDT THU JUL 10 2008 IAZ040>042-051>054-063>068-076>078-087>089-098-099-ILZ001-002-007- 009-015>018-024>026-034-035-MOZ009-010-111000- BUCHANAN-DELAWARE-DUBUQUE-BENTON-LINN-JONES-JACKSON-IOWA-JOHNSON- CEDAR-CLINTON-MUSCATINE-SCOTT-KEOKUK-WASHINGTON-LOUISA-JEFFERSON- HENRY IA-DES MOINES-VAN BUREN-LEE-JO DAVIESS-STEPHENSON-CARROLL- WHITESIDE-ROCK ISLAND-HENRY IL-BUREAU-PUTNAM-MERCER-HENDERSON- WARREN-HANCOCK-MCDONOUGH-SCOTLAND-CLARK- 459 AM CDT THU JUL 10 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS...NORTHWEST ILLINOIS...WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS...EAST CENTRAL IOWA...NORTHEAST IOWA...SOUTHEAST IOWA AND NORTHEAST MISSOURI. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE THIS MORNING...MAINLY IN EAST CENTRAL IOWA. THESE STORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BE SEVERE. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON ALONG AND NORTH OF HIGHWAY 34. THE MAIN SEVERE WEATHER THREATS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND HAIL. A THUNDERSTORM COMPLEX IS EXPECTED TO MOVE OUT THE NORTHERN PLAINS THIS MORNING AND THROUGH THE MIDDLE AND UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY THIS AFTERNOON. AT THIS TIME IT APPEARS THAT THE GREATEST THREAT OF SEVERE STORMS WILL BE ALONG AND NORTH OF HIGHWAY 30 WITH THE CHANCE OF STORMS DECREASING TO THE SOUTH. A FEW STORMS MAY LINGER INTO THE EARLY EVENING...ESPECIALLY OVER SOUTHEAST IOWA AND WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS. THESE STORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BE SEVERE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY HOT AND HUMID CONDITIONS CAN BE EXPECTED FRIDAY WITH BREEZY SOUTH WINDS. ACTUAL MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES WILL BE 90 TO 94 DEGREES AT MANY LOCATIONS...AND WHEN COMBINED WITH HIGH HUMIDITY MAY CREATE HEAT INDICIES OF 95 TO 105. THIS SITUATION WILL BE MONITORED FOR ANY ISSUANCE OF HEAT ADVISORIES. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FRIDAY NIGHT...MAINLY NORTHWEST OF A FREEPORT ILLINOIS TO MOLINE TO FAIRFIELD IOWA LINE. THE PRIMARY THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS OF AT LEAST 70 MPH WITH LARGE HAIL A SECONDARY THREAT. A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL PUSH INTO THE OUTLOOK AREA FRIDAY NIGHT ACCOMPANIED BY A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON. HAASE/DLF
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
258 PM CDT THU JUL 10 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0256 PM HAIL ELDRIDGE 41.64N 90.57W
07/10/2008 E0.25 INCH SCOTT IA NWS EMPLOYEE
&&
JAZPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
301 PM CDT THU JUL 10 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0258 PM TSTM WND DMG ELDRIDGE 41.64N 90.57W
07/10/2008 SCOTT IA NWS EMPLOYEE
TREE BLOWN OVER.
0258 PM TSTM WND GST ELDRIDGE 41.64N 90.57W
07/10/2008 E60.00 MPH SCOTT IA NWS EMPLOYEE
&&
JAZPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
302 PM CDT THU JUL 10 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0302 PM TORNADO ELVIRA 41.87N 90.35W
07/10/2008 CLINTON IA LAW ENFORCEMENT
REPORTED WEST OF ELVIRA...EXACT DISTANCE UNKNOWN.
REPORTED BY IA STATE PATROL.
&&
JAZPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
314 PM CDT THU JUL 10 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0310 PM HAIL 1 W CLINTON 41.84N 90.25W
07/10/2008 E0.88 INCH CLINTON IA LAW ENFORCEMENT
REPORTED BY CLINTON COUNTY SHERIFF/S DEPT.
&&
JAZPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
315 PM CDT THU JUL 10 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0310 PM TSTM WND DMG 6 N CLINTON 41.93N 90.23W
07/10/2008 CLINTON IA LAW ENFORCEMENT
BARN DAMAGE. REPORTED BY CLINTON COUNTY SHERIFF/S DEPT.
&&
JAZPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
322 PM CDT THU JUL 10 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0318 PM FUNNEL CLOUD PRINCETON 41.67N 90.36W
07/10/2008 SCOTT IA LAW ENFORCEMENT
MOVING E. REPORTED BY PRINCETON FIRE DEPT.
0321 PM HAIL 1 W CLINTON 41.84N 90.25W
07/10/2008 E1.00 INCH CLINTON IA LAW ENFORCEMENT
REPORTED BY CLINTON COUNTY SHERIFF/S DEPT.
&&
JAZThe Chicago radar (KLOT), 98 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:30 UTC.
10 hail, 2 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Penny-sized hail fell 1 mile east of La Moille, IL around 332 pm July 10. This report was relayed by the Emergency Manager.
Wind gusts estimated to be 60 mph blew a semi truck over on Interstate 80 about 6 miles west of Princeton, IL at 436 pm July 10.
Nickel-sized hail fell 6 miles northwest of Cambridge, IL at 440 pm July 10.
Penny-sized hail fell in Tiskilwa, IL at 642 pm July 10.
Spotter drove through dime-sized hail the entire route from Tiskilwa, IL to Lake Thunderbird, IL between 650 pm and 657 pm July 10.
Dime-sized hail fell at Lake Thunderbird or 3 miles northwest of Putnam, IL around 657 pm July 10.
Nickel-sized hail fell 5 miles southwest of Mc Nabb, IL at 710 pm July 10.
Heavy rains measuring 1.00 inches in just 15 minutes resulted in flash flooding in Galena, IL during the evening of July 10.
Nickel-sized hail fell 3 miles southeast of Coleta, IL at 839 pm July 10.
Penny-sized hail fell 2 miles south of Rock Falls, IL at 900 pm July 10.
Quarter-sized hail fell on Baseline Road about 2 miles north of Walnut, IL at 917 pm July 10.
Wind gusts estimated to be 50 to 60 mph were observed near a funeral home just east of Walnut, IL at 925 pm July 10.
Quarter-sized hail fell 1 mile northeast of Walnut, IL at 928 pm July 10.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, July 2008
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: 127150, 127152, 127153, 127154, 127158, 127161, 127163, 127165, 127166, 127168, 127169, 127171, 127172.