A slowly approaching cold front interacted with an unstable airmass to produce widely scattered thunderstorms across the Illinois River Valley during the evening of June 4th. A few of the storms became severe across Fulton County, producing gusty winds and hail up to 2 inches in diameter.
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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 slowly approaching cold front interacted with an unstable airmass to produce widely scattered thunderstorms across the Illinois River Valley during the evening of June 4th. A few of the storms became severe across Fulton County, producing gusty winds and hail up to 2 inches in diameter.
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 Jun 4, 2:00 PM CST, 2 hours 30 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL 300 PM CDT FRI JUN 4 2010 .DISCUSSION... ISSUED 300 PM CDT FRI JUN 4 2010 SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY... MAIN FORECAST ITEM IN THE SHORT TERM WILL BE THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER AND EXCESSIVE RAINFALL TONIGHT AND SATURDAY. LEAD IMPULSE IS MOVING ACROSS ILLINOIS AT THIS TIME...HOWEVER 18Z SOUNDING DATA FROM LINCOLN INDICATES THE BASE OF A WARM CAPPING LAYER AT ABOUT 5KFT. ON JUST SURFACE HEATING ALONE...THIS CAP WOULD HOLD PRETTY STRONG. HOWEVER...SURFACE ANALYSIS SHOWS A CONFLUENT ZONE FROM NORTHEASTERN MISSOURI INTO NORTH-CENTRAL ILLINOIS. MECHANICAL LIFT ALONG THIS BOUNDARY MAY BE SUFFICIENT FOR BOUNDARY LAYER PARCELS TO REACH THE LEVEL OF FREE CONVECTION. THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT WOULD THEN PRETTY RAPID GIVEN MLCAPES 2000-2500 J/KG AND EFFECTIVE BULK SHEAR OF 35-40 KT. WITH THESE FACTORS IN MIND...WILL GO WITH LIKELY POPS OVER THE NORTHWEST THIS EVENING. THE EXPECTED STORMS WILL THEN CONSOLIDATE INTO AN MCS WHICH WILL TRACK ACROSS THE NORTHERN THIRD OF THE STATE OVERNIGHT. MEANWHILE...ANOTHER CONVECTIVE COMPLEX IS FORECAST TO DEVELOP LATER TONIGHT FURTHER WEST OVER EASTERN NEBRASKA/KANSAS AND COME EASTWARD OVERNIGHT. THIS ACTIVITY WILL PROBABLY HOLD TOGETHER AS IT ENTERS NORTH-CENTRAL ILLINOIS BY 12Z SAT. SEVERE WEATHER WILL ALSO BE LIKELY WITH THIS FEATURE...ALONG WITH AN INCREASING THREAT FOR HEAVY RAINFALL. FLASH FLOOD GUIDANCE VALUES OVER SOME COUNTIES OF NORTH-CENTRAL ILLINOIS ARE AROUND 2 INCHES WITHIN 6 HOURS...WHICH WILL BE WITHIN REACH CONSIDERING THE UPPER FLOW PARALLEL TO THE LOW LEVEL FORCING ALONG WITH THE MULTIPLE HITS FROM AT LEAST 2 CONVECTIVE SYSTEMS. WILL ISSUE A FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR FULTON- TAZEWELL-MCLEAN COUNTIES AND NORTHWARD FOR 12Z SAT TIL 00Z SUN. TIMES MAY NEED TO BE ADJUSTED DEPENDING ON HOW FAR WEST THE STORMS DEVELOP OVERNIGHT...OR IF THEY LINGER LONGER THAN EXPECTED SATURDAY EVENING. A BRIEF BREAK FROM THE ACTIVE WEATHER WILL ARRIVE FOR SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY AS THE EFFECTIVE SURFACE BOUNDARY DRIFTS TO THE SOUTH OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. LONG TERM...TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY... ON TUESDAY...A SURFACE LOW IS FORECAST TO DEVELOP OVER THE CENTRAL PLAINS ALONG THE TAIL END OF THE STALLED OUT FRONT TO OUR SOUTH. THIS LOW WILL THEN MIGRATE EASTWARD PROVIDING ANOTHER SHOT AT PRECIPITATION BEGINNING PERHAPS MONDAY NIGHT BUT MORE LIKELY TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THIS WILL PROVIDE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR HEAVY RAINFALL DEPENDING ON THE ORIENTATION OF THE SURFACE FRONT AND HOW FAR NORTH IT GETS. AFTER THAT...THE 12Z ECMWF AND GFS ARE NOW IN AGREEMENT THAT UPPER TROUGHING WILL INCREASE OVER THE NORTHEAST... WHICH SUGGESTS A DECENT HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM WITH DRIER AIR FOR THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. 04 && .AVIATION... ISSUED 1245 PM CDT FRI JUN 4 2010 ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE FROM MID AFTERNOON UNTIL SUNSET ACROSS THE CENTRAL IL AIRPORT TERMINALS WITH CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES LOWERING TO MVFR CATEGORY IF THEY OCCUR. MCS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVER EASTERN NEBRASKA INTO IA OVERNIGHT TO SPREAD SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ESE ACROSS CENTRAL IL LATE TONIGHT AND SAT MORNING MAINLY AFTER 08Z/3 AM. HAVE LOWEST IFR CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES WITH HEAVIEST RAINS OVER NORTHERN TAF SITES OF PIA AND BMI. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD DIMINISH BY MIDDAY SAT ACROSS CENTRAL IL WITH IMPROVING CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES PROBABLY BACK TO VFR CONDITIONS. SW WINDS 10 TO 15 KTS WITH GUSTS NEAR 20 KTS THIS AFTERNOON BECOME LIGHT SSW TONIGHT AND SW NEAR 10 KTS SAT MORNING. HUETTL && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FLASH FLOOD WATCH FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING FOR ILZ027>031-036>038. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL 250 PM CDT FRI JUN 4 2010 ILZ027>031-036-037-040-041-047-051200- CASS-FULTON-KNOX-MARSHALL-MASON-PEORIA-SCHUYLER-STARK-TAZEWELL- WOODFORD- 250 PM CDT FRI JUN 4 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH SUNSET... AS A COLD FRONT MOVES TOWARD CENTRAL ILLINOIS FROM THE NORTHWEST. THE MAIN THREATS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. RAINFALL AMOUNTS AROUND ONE INCH WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE ILLINOIS RIVER DOWNSTREAM OF PEORIA IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN OR GET INTO FLOOD FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. THE SPOON RIVER AT LONDON MILLS IS EXPECTED TO FALL BELOW FLOOD STAGE BY EARLY THIS EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY THE FRONT WILL STALL OUT ACROSS THE AREA ON SATURDAY...SETTING THE STAGE FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS... ESPECIALLY SATURDAY MORNING...WITH THE HEAVIEST RAINS OVER 1 INCH FROM I-74 NORTH. THE MAIN THREATS WILL CONTINUE TO BE DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN. THERE IS ANOTHER CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THROUGH 9 PM...AND THEN AGAIN TOWARD SUNRISE SATURDAY. ILZ038-042>046-048>057-061>063-066>068-073-051200- CHAMPAIGN-CHRISTIAN-CLARK-COLES-CRAWFORD-CUMBERLAND-DE WITT- DOUGLAS-EDGAR-EFFINGHAM-JASPER-LAWRENCE-LOGAN-MACON-MCLEAN-MENARD- MORGAN-MOULTRIE-PIATT-SANGAMON-SCOTT-SHELBY-VERMILION- 250 PM CDT FRI JUN 4 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS...EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS AND SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING...AS A COLD FRONT MOVES TOWARD CENTRAL ILLINOIS FROM THE NORTHWEST. THE MAIN THREATS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. RAINFALL AMOUNTS AROUND ONE INCH WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY THE FRONT WILL STALL OUT ACROSS THE AREA ON SATURDAY...SETTING THE STAGE FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS... ESPECIALLY SATURDAY MORNING...WITH THE HEAVIEST RAINS OVER 1 INCH FROM I-74 NORTH. THE MAIN THREATS WILL CONTINUE TO BE DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN. THERE IS ANOTHER CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED BETWEEN 4 PM AND 11 PM. ILZ071-072-051200- CLAY-RICHLAND- 250 PM CDT FRI JUN 4 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING...AS A COLD FRONT MOVES TOWARD CENTRAL ILLINOIS FROM THE NORTHWEST. THE MAIN THREATS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. RAINFALL AMOUNTS AROUND ONE INCH WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE LITTLE WABASH RIVER AT CLAY CITY IS EXPECTED TO BE IN FLOOD THROUGH SUNDAY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY THE FRONT WILL STALL OUT ACROSS THE AREA ON SATURDAY...SETTING THE STAGE FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS... ESPECIALLY SATURDAY MORNING. THE MAIN THREATS WILL CONTINUE TO BE DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN. THERE IS ANOTHER CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED BETWEEN 4 PM AND 11 PM. KH
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL 458 PM CDT FRI JUN 4 2010 ILZ027-042245- KNOX- 458 PM CDT FRI JUN 4 2010 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR SOUTHERN KNOX COUNTY UNTIL 545 PM CDT... AT 453 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES WEST OF ABINGDON...OR 11 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MONMOUTH...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. PENNY SIZE HAIL...AND WINDS AROUND 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... KNOXVILLE... MAQUON... GILSON... YATES CITY... WILLIAMSFIELD... OTHER LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE...ST. AUGUSTINE AND DELONG. PEOPLE NEAR THESE LOCATIONS SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER SITUATION CLOSELY. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS...AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION SHOULD SEVERE WEATHER THREATEN. LAT...LON 4097 8999 4072 8999 4071 9046 4093 9045 TIME...MOT...LOC 2157Z 262DEG 30KT 4079 9045 BAK
The Lincoln radar (KILX), 99 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:30 UTC.
5 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Several two to three-inch diameter tree limbs were blown down. A sign was damaged near a church.
Two telephone poles leaned over due to high winds.
Several tree limbs were blown down. Shingles were stripped off a few homes.
Large tree limbs were snapped.
A carport was severely damaged.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, June 2010
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: 236539, 236540, 236542, 236532, 236534, 236544, 236536, 236548.