A nearly stationary frontal boundary interacting with a very warm and moist airmass brought heavy rainfall to much of central Illinois, particularly along and west of I-55. This rainfall, on top of rains from the past couple of days, aggravated the flooding situation across west-central Illinois.
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 ILX wrote it up.
A nearly stationary frontal boundary interacting with a very warm and moist airmass brought heavy rainfall to much of central Illinois, particularly along and west of I-55. This rainfall, on top of rains from the past couple of days, aggravated the flooding situation across west-central Illinois.
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 Lincoln, IL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Sep 13, 2:06 PM CST, 2 hours 20 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL 306 PM CDT SAT SEP 13 2008 .DISCUSSION... ISSUED 306 PM CDT SAT SEP 13 2008 SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY... A PERSISTENT BAND OF RAIN HAS BEEN ONGOING FROM QUINCY TO PEORIA TO CHICAGO FOR MUCH OF THE DAY...AND RAINFALL RATES WILL INCREASE AS A COLD FRONT APPROACHES FROM EASTERN IOWA. EXTREMELY HIGH PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES /MORE THAN 2.5 INCHES/ WILL STREAM NORTHWARD WITH THE REMNANTS OF IKE...WITH EXCESSIVE RAINFALL A GOOD BET. AGREE WITH HPC QPF AMOUNTS OF 3-5 INCHES STORM TOTAL RAIN FROM PITTSFIELD TO PONTIAC. NHC TRACK GUIDANCE FOR IKE HAS IT INTO SOUTH-CENTRAL MISSOURI BY 12Z SUN AND CONTINUING RAPIDLY ACROSS SOUTH-CENTRAL ILLINOIS DURING THE DAY. IT LOOKS LIKE THE MAIN HEAVY RAIN EVENT WILL HOLD OFF FOR THE EASTERN/SOUTHEASTERN PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA UNTIL THE ARRIVAL OF IKE AS THE AFOREMENTIONED COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO ONLY PROGRESS TO AROUND INTERSTATE 55 BY 12Z SUN. WILL THEREFORE DELAY THE START OF THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR THOSE AREAS UNTIL 12Z SUN. IN ADDITIONAL TO THE RAIN SITUATION...IKE REMAINS A LARGE TROPICAL CYCLONE AND IT WILL TAKE LONGER THAN USUAL FOR ITS SURFACE WINDS TO SETTLE DOWN. WIND SPEEDS NEAR THE CENTER OF IKE MAY REACH WIND ADVISORY CRITERIA ON SUNDAY...BUT WILL LET THIS DECISION REST WITH THE EARLY MORNING FORECAST PACKAGE TO ASSESS HOW THE WINDS ARE OVER SOUTHERN MISSOURI. AS IKE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE INTO INDIANA...RAIN WILL TAPER OFF BEGINING IN THE LATE AFTERNOON WEST AND FINISH BY SUNSET IN THE EAST. AFTER THAT...HIGH PRESSURE WILL TAKE HOLD AND BRING A PERIOD OF DRY WEATHER THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK. LONG TERM...WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY... UPPER RIDGE OVER THE WESTERN STATES WILL PLACE THE MIDWEST IN DRY NORTHWESTERLY FLOW THROUGH FRIDAY. ON THURSDAY...THE GFS TRIES TO BRING A WEAK COLD FRONT SOUTHWARD INTO NORTHERN ILLINOIS AND STALLING IT OUT. THE ECMWF IS THE PREFERRED SOLUTION AS IT BRINGS AN UPPER TROUGH INTO THE WESTERN STATES THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY AND CORRESPONDINGLY PUTS MORE RIDGING OVER THE CENTRAL CONUS...THUS HOLDING THE FRONT FURTHER NORTH. NOT A GREAT DEAL OF CONFIDENCE YET IN THE EVOLUTION/SPEED OF THE WESTERN TROUGH TOWARD THE END OF THE PERIOD...BUT BOTTOM LINE FOR CENTRAL ILLINOIS WILL BE A CONTINUATION OF THE DRY WEATHER WITH SEASONABLE TEMPERATURES. 04 && .AVIATION... ISSUED 1248 PM CDT SAT SEP 13 2008 RAIN NOW CONFINED TO ALONG AND NW OF THE IL RIVER VALLEY FOR ILX CWA. OCCASIONAL SHOWERS STILL POSSIBLE FOR BMI AND SPI...BUT MAJORITY OF THE FA GETTING A BIT OF A BREAK AT LEAST UNTIL LATER ON THIS AFTERNOON WHEN EVERYTHING MAY FIRE BACK UP A BIT. PIA HANGING IN THERE WITH MVFR...THOUGH DOES NOT LOOK LIKE THEY WILL GET TO STAY THAT WAY. COLD FRONT ON APPROACH...AS WELL AS REMNANTS OF IKE COMING UP FROM THE SW...CREATING PLENTY OF RAIN AND LOW CLOUDS FOR THE FORECAST. HAVE VCTS IN FOR THE BEST CHANCES AT CONVECTION THIS EVENING/OVERNIGHT AHEAD OF THE LOW CENTER...AND TRY TO START THE TREND OUT OF THE HEAVIER RAIN BY LATE MORNING TOMORROW. ALSO PUNCH THE WINDS UP A BIT AS THE GRADIENT TIGHTENS AHEAD OF THE LOW. HJS && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH 7 PM SUNDAY FOR ILZ027>031-036>038-040>045-047>054-061. FLASH FLOOD WATCH FROM 7 AM SUNDAY TO 7 PM SUNDAY FOR ILZ046-055>057-062-063-066>068-071>073. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL 310 PM CDT SAT SEP 13 2008 ILZ027>031-036>038-040>045-047>054-061-141100- CASS-CHAMPAIGN-CHRISTIAN-DE WITT-FULTON-KNOX-LOGAN-MACON-MARSHALL- MASON-MCLEAN-MENARD-MORGAN-MOULTRIE-PEORIA-PIATT-SANGAMON- SCHUYLER-SCOTT-SHELBY-STARK-TAZEWELL-WOODFORD- 310 PM CDT SAT SEP 13 2008 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS AND EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL LIFT NORTHEAST THROUGH WISCONSIN TONIGHT...KEEPING THE CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND STORMS IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS THROUGH THE EVENING AS MOISTURE FROM HURRICANE IKE WILL FLOW INTO THE AREA. A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE SOUTHEAST INTO CENTRAL ILLINOIS IN THE OVERNIGHT HOURS AND SHOWERS WILL BECOME MORE NUMEROUS...WITH PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN EXPECTED. RAINFALL RATES UP TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR WILL BE POSSIBLE. HEAVY RAIN AND FLASH FLOODING WILL BE THE PRIMARY HAZARD. ANY HEAVY RAINFALL MAY CAUSE FLASH FLOODING. NEVER DRIVE THROUGH A FLOODED ROADWAY. TURN AROUND AND FIND A BETTER ROUTE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY THE LOW PRESSURE CENTER FROM THE REMNANTS OF IKE WILL PASS FROM SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS ON SUNDAY...MOVING NORTHEAST ALONG THE COLD FRONT. PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN ARE EXPECTED ALONG AND NORTH OF THE TRACK OF THE LOW. WINDS WILL INCREASE DRAMATICALLY ON SUNDAY AS THE LOW APPROACHES FROM THE SOUTHWEST. RAINFALL RATES OF 2 INCHES PER HOUR WILL BE POSSIBLE...WITH FLASH FLOODING LIKELY WHERE THE RAINS ACCUMULATE QUICKLY. TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES ARE EXPECTED...WITH LOCALIZED AREAS RECEIVING 6 INCHES OF RAIN. FLASH FLOODING WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH EARLY EVENING ON SUNDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED THROUGH TONIGHT. ILZ046-055>057-062-063-066>068-071>073-141100- CLARK-CLAY-COLES-CRAWFORD-CUMBERLAND-DOUGLAS-EDGAR-EFFINGHAM- JASPER-LAWRENCE-RICHLAND-VERMILION- 310 PM CDT SAT SEP 13 2008 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS AND SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL LIFT NORTHEAST THROUGH WISCONSIN TONIGHT...KEEPING THE CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND STORMS IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS THROUGH THE EVENING AS MOISTURE FROM HURRICANE IKE WILL FLOW INTO THE AREA. A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE SOUTHEAST INTO CENTRAL ILLINOIS IN THE OVERNIGHT HOURS AND SHOWERS WILL BECOME MORE NUMEROUS...WITH PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN EXPECTED. RAINFALL RATES UP TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR WILL BE POSSIBLE. HEAVY RAIN AND FLASH FLOODING WILL BE THE PRIMARY HAZARD. ANY HEAVY RAINFALL MAY CAUSE FLASH FLOODING. NEVER DRIVE THROUGH A FLOODED ROADWAY. TURN AROUND AND FIND A BETTER ROUTE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY THE LOW PRESSURE CENTER FROM THE REMNANTS OF IKE WILL PASS FROM SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS ON SUNDAY...MOVING NORTHEAST ALONG THE COLD FRONT. PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN ARE EXPECTED ALONG AND NORTH OF THE TRACK OF THE LOW. WINDS WILL INCREASE DRAMATICALLY ON SUNDAY AS THE LOW APPROACHES FROM THE SOUTHWEST. RAINFALL RATES OF 2 INCHES PER HOUR WILL BE POSSIBLE...WITH FLASH FLOODING LIKELY WHERE THE RAINS ACCUMULATE QUICKLY. TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES ARE EXPECTED...WITH LOCALIZED AREAS RECEIVING 6 INCHES OF RAIN. FLASH FLOODING WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH EARLY EVENING ON SUNDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED THROUGH TONIGHT. HJS
The Lincoln radar (KILX), 110 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:23 UTC.
20 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
High water was flowing across Blue Ring Road and County Line Road at US-67.
High water was flowing across Route 116 near Farmington.
High water was flowing across Route 78 two miles south of Canton.
Water was flowing across numerous roads in Bernadotte and Seville.
A road near Lake Wee-Ma-Tuk was washed away.
County highway 13 one mile south of Roanoke was closed due to high water.
I-74 near the North University Street exit in Peoria was flooded due to heavy rainfall. A vehicle became stranded in the high water.
Alsey Smith Road in Alsey was closed due to high water.
Route 106 south of Winchester was closed due to high water. In addition, there were numerous reports of flooded basements in Winchester.
The basement at Westfair Christian Academy in Jacksonville was flooded.
Numerous streets were flooded in Ashland.
Route 125 northwest of Philadelphia was closed due to high water.
Water from Indian Creek was flooding homes in a subdivision 2 miles south of Beardstown.
Market Street in Gridley was flooded due to heavy rainfall. A small portion of East Third Street caved in.
Panther Creek rose out of its banks and flooded Main Street and Mill Street in Roanoke...with 1.5 feet of water coming into the American Legion. Numerous other homes and businesses around Roanoke had water in their basements.
Funks Run Creek overflowed its banks and flooded streets in Spring Bay near Mill Point Park. Some small levees along the creek also gave way, aggravating the flooding in that area.
Multiple roads in the city of Rantoul were closed due to high water.
More than 50 homes and basements were flooded in Champaign. In addition, numerous streets were flooded across the city due to heavy rain.
Numerous roads with water flowing across them in Germantown Hills and Metamora.
Several homes were flooded in Spring Bay, prompting boat evacuations.
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, September 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: 136059, 136060, 136062, 136076, 136077, 136064, 136071, 136072, 136073, 136079, 136080, 136082, 136084, 136085, 136088, 136091, 136092, 136095, 136068, 136070.