A stationary frontal boundary extending from southern Michigan across north-central Illinois served as the focus for severe thunderstorm development during the late afternoon and evening of June 5th. A vigorous upper-level disturbance tracking across the Upper Midwest added extra wind energy to the atmosphere, allowing supercell thunderstorms to develop along the front.
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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 stationary frontal boundary extending from southern Michigan across north-central Illinois served as the focus for severe thunderstorm development during the late afternoon and evening of June 5th. A vigorous upper-level disturbance tracking across the Upper Midwest added extra wind energy to the atmosphere, allowing supercell thunderstorms to develop along the front. Eight tornadoes were spawned by the storms, mainly along a Galesburg to Eureka line. An isolated tornado formed further south across eastern Logan and western DeWitt counties as well. No injuries were reported.
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 5, 5:38 PM CST, 56 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL 638 PM CDT SAT JUN 5 2010 .DISCUSSION... ISSUED 300 PM CDT SAT JUN 5 2010 SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY... CONVECTION IS BEGINNING TO INITIATE OVER NORTHERN IOWA INTO NORTHWESTERN ILLINOIS THIS AFTERNOON. THIS ACTIVITY SHOULD BUILD WITH TIME AS IT MOVES EAST AND SOUTHEAST INTO CENTRAL ILLINOIS BY 23Z-01Z. AIRMASS DOWNSTREAM OVER ILLINOIS HAS BEEN EXTENSIVELY OVERTURNED BY REMNANTS OF PREVIOUS THUNDERSTORMS THIS MORNING...AND LIGHT SHOWERS ARE CONTINUING TO MOVE FROM NORTHEAST MISSOURI INTO WESTERN AND CENTRAL ILLINOIS. THIS IS SERVING TO HINDER AIRMASS RECOVERY. SHORT RANGE MODELS CONTINUE TO INDICATE SEVERE POTENTIAL...BUT THE BIGGEST QUESTION WILL BE WHETHER THE AIRMASS WILL RECOVER BY THE TIME CONVECTION ARRIVES. IRREGARDLESS...POPS WILL BE HIGHEST OVER THE NORTHWEST HALF BEFORE 06Z AND OVER THE SOUTHEAST AFTERWARD. ALL OF THE ACTIVITY SHOULD BE PAST THE AREA BY 12Z SUN...WITH DECREASING CLOUDS FOLLOWING. SOME AREAS OVER THE NORTH PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA HAVE ALREADY SEEN MORE THAN INCH OF RAIN FROM THE THUNDERSTORMS LAST NIGHT AND THIS MORNING...SO WITH ADDITIONAL CONVECTION ON THE WAY TONIGHT...WE HAVE EXTENDED THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH TO CONTINUE UNTIL 06Z TONIGHT. THE WESTERN END OF TONIGHTS COLD FRONT WILL STALL OUT OVER THE PLAINS AND BEGIN COMING NORTHWARD AGAIN MONDAY INTO TUESDAY. THIS WILL BRING THE NEXT CHANCE OF RAIN WHICH SHOULD MOVE INTO CENTRAL ILLINOIS LATE MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY. THE GFS IS SHOWING SOME GRIDSCALE CONVECTIVE FEEDBACK IN ITS QPF FIELDS...BUT THE NAM ALSO INDICATES THE POTENTIAL FOR AN MCS WITH THE ASSOCIATED THREAT FOR HEAVY RAINFALL ALONG AND NORTH OF THE WARM FRONT AS IT MOVES THROUGH. WILL PUT IN SOME CHANCE POPS FOR LATE MONDAY NIGHT...THEN 40-60 PCT POPS TUESDAY WITH THIS SYSTEM. LONG TERM...WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY... THE CHANCES FOR RAIN/CONVECTION WILL CONTINUE INTO WEDNESDAY AS MOST OF THE MODEL OUTPUT SUGGESTS A SHORTWAVE AND ASSOCIATED SURFACE WAVE MOVING THROUGH ILLINOIS ALONG THE FRONT. THE FRONT WILL THEN MOVE TEMPORARILY SOUTH OF THE AREA BRINGING A LULL IN THE PRECIPITATION THURSDAY BEFORE MOVING NORTH AGAIN FRIDAY. BY SATURDAY...VERY WARM TEMPERATURES ARE LIKELY AS THE WARM FRONT MOVES UP INTO THE GREAT LAKES AND THE NEXT STORM SYSTEM DEEPENS OVER THE WESTERN PLAINS. && .AVIATION... ISSUED 640 PM CDT SAT JUN 5 2010 CONVECTION TIMING AND COVERAGE THE MAIN CHALLENGE THIS FORECAST PERIOD. MAIN BAND OF STRONG CONVECTION ACRS EAST CENTRAL IOWA WILL SHIFT EAST AND SOUTHEAST ACRS THE TAF SITES BETWEEN 00Z-04Z WITH DAMAGING WINDS THE PRIMARY THREAT. WE WILL ALSO SEE A PERIOD OF MVFR CIGS IN THE HEAVY RAIN...AND MODELS SUGGEST A BAND OF STRATOCU/MVFR CIGS BEHIND THE ACTUAL COLD FRONT. ALL THE RAIN SHOULD BE EAST OF THE TAF SITES BY 04Z WITH SFC WINDS SWITCHING FROM SOUTHWEST THIS EVENING TO THE NORTHWEST JUST AFTR FROPA AFTR 05Z. VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED ON SUNDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE MOVES IN FROM THE WEST. SOUNDINGS ON SUNDAY INDICATE SOME WIND GUSTS BTWN 20-25 KTS BY AFTERNOON OUT OF THE NW...WHICH WILL QUICKLY DIMINISH BY SUNSET. SMITH && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 1 AM CDT SUNDAY FOR ILZ027>031-036>038. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL 303 PM CDT SAT JUN 5 2010 ILZ027>031-036>038-062015- FULTON-KNOX-MARSHALL-MCLEAN-PEORIA-STARK-TAZEWELL-WOODFORD- 303 PM CDT SAT JUN 5 2010 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM CDT SUNDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT THERE IS A MODERATE RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...AS A COLD FRONT MOVES SOUTHEAST INTO THE ILLINOIS RIVER VALLEY THIS EVENING. THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL... WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING ALSO EXPECTED. A FEW TORNADOES WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE. RAINFALL AMOUNTS MAY REACH UP TO 1 TO 2 INCHES OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME...CAUSING PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS AND POSSIBLE FLASH FLOODING. THE ILLINOIS RIVER IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN OR GET INTO FLOOD FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. THE SPOON RIVER IS EXPECTED TO CLIMB BACK ABOVE FLOOD STAGE TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY THERE IS ANOTHER CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS LATER MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY AND AGAIN THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY. HEAVY RAINS WILL AGAIN BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED BETWEEN 4 PM AND 11 PM. ILZ040-041-047-062015- CASS-MASON-SCHUYLER- 303 PM CDT SAT JUN 5 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT THERE IS A MODERATE RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...AS A COLD FRONT MOVES SOUTHEAST INTO CENTRAL ILLINOIS THIS EVENING. THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL...WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING ALSO EXPECTED. A FEW TORNADOES WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE. RAINFALL AMOUNTS MAY REACH UP TO ONE INCH OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME...CAUSING PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS. THE ILLINOIS RIVER IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN OR GET INTO FLOOD FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. THE SPOON RIVER IS EXPECTED TO CLIMB ABOVE FLOOD STAGE AGAIN TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY THERE IS ANOTHER CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS LATER MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY AND AGAIN THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY. HEAVY RAINS WILL AGAIN BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED BETWEEN 5 PM AND MIDNIGHT. ILZ042>046-048>057-061-062015- CHAMPAIGN-CHRISTIAN-COLES-DE WITT-DOUGLAS-EDGAR-LOGAN-MACON- MENARD-MORGAN-MOULTRIE-PIATT-SANGAMON-SCOTT-SHELBY-VERMILION- 303 PM CDT SAT JUN 5 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS AND EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT THERE IS A MODERATE RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING... AS A COLD FRONT MOVES SOUTHEAST ACROSS CENTRAL ILLINOIS LATER THIS EVENING. THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL...WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING ALSO EXPECTED. A FEW TORNADOES WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE. RAINFALL AMOUNTS MAY REACH UP TO 1 INCH OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME...CAUSING PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY THERE IS ANOTHER CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS LATER MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY AND AGAIN THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY. HEAVY RAINS WILL AGAIN BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED BETWEEN 6 PM AND 1 AM. ILZ062-063-066>068-073-062015- CLARK-CRAWFORD-CUMBERLAND-EFFINGHAM-JASPER-LAWRENCE- 303 PM CDT SAT JUN 5 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS AND SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT... AS A COLD FRONT MOVES INTO SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS OVERNIGHT. THE MAIN THREATS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. AN ISOLATED TORNADO WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE. RAINFALL AMOUNTS AROUND 1 INCH WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME...CAUSING PONDING OF WATER ON AREA ROADS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY THERE IS ANOTHER CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY AND AGAIN THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED BETWEEN 9 PM AND 3 AM TONIGHT. ILZ071-072-062015- CLAY-RICHLAND- 303 PM CDT SAT JUN 5 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT...AS A COLD FRONT FRONT MOVES INTO SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS OVERNIGHT. THE MAIN THREATS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. AN ISOLATED TORNADO WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE. RAINFALL AMOUNTS AROUND 1 INCH WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME...CAUSING PONDING OF WATER ON AREA ROADS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY THERE IS ANOTHER CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY AND AGAIN THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED BETWEEN 9 PM AND 3 AM TONIGHT. HUETTL
The Quad Cities radar (KDVN), 88 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:32 UTC.
11 tornado, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A tornado briefly touched down in a field 3 miles northeast of Abingdon. Minor crop damage occurred: however, no structures were impacted.
A tornado touched down 4.5 miles west-northwest of Yates City in eastern Knox County then tracked southeastward to the Knox-Peoria County line. Large tree limbs were snapped and crops were scoured in numerous places along this path. A house had the roof torn off and much of the upper level of the structure severely damaged. The attached garage was also destroyed. In addition, a large garage was destroyed, and seven outbuildings were severely damaged. The tornado continued southeastward into Peoria County.
A tornado crossed the Knox-Peoria County line 1.1 miles west of Elmwood, then continued southeastward through the town of Elmwood. Considerable structural damage occurred to 10 homes, 30 businesses and nearly two dozen vehicles in downtown Elmwood, amounting to approximately $85 million in damages. There was a total of about 80 people, some that were attending an outdoor festival in the downtown and some that were at a theater, that took shelter in the basement of the movie theater. As a result, there were no injuries. The tornado dissipated 1 mile east of Elmwood.
A tornado touched down 2.6 miles east of Elmwood, then continued eastward across southern Peoria County. Numerous trees and tree limbs were blown down along the path of the tornado. In addition, shingles were stripped off a home, a small shed was destroyed, and a grain bin was blown one quarter of a mile into a field. The tornado lifted 4.1 miles west-southwest of Kickapoo.
A tornado touched down 4 miles west-southwest of Kickapoo, then continued eastward across southern Peoria County, eventually lifting 0.7 miles north of Edwards. Numerous trees and tree branches were blown down along the path of the tornado. A large barn was destroyed and the siding was stripped off the east side of another barn. In addition, large trees were blown down onto two homes, causing considerable roof damage.
A tornado touched down 6.5 miles northwest of Peoria then continued northeastward through the Bridalwood Drive neighborhood just east of Route 6. Numerous trees were snapped and several homes experienced shingle damage.
A tornado touched down 3.8 miles north-northwest of Wenona in Marshall County, just west of County Road 2900E. Several trees and powerlines were blown down before the tornado crossed into LaSalle County, which is part of National Weather Service Chicago's county warning area.
A tornado touched down 2.9 miles north of Washington in northern Tazewell County, then continued eastward to the Tazewell-Woodford County line. Numerous trees and power poles were snapped along the path of the tornado. Three large outbuildings and two hog sheds were destroyed. In addition, the roof of a farm house was lifted off, the roof of another house was severely damaged, a garage was destroyed, and a grain bin was blown one quarter of a mile into a field. The tornado then continued eastward into Woodford County.
A tornado crossed into Woodford County from Tazewell County approximately 3.2 miles south-southwest of Metamora. Several trees were snapped, five power poles were damaged, the metal roof of a barn was lifted off and windows were broken on a house. The tornado lifted 2.6 miles south-southeast of Metamora.
Several power poles and antennas were blown down in Hartsburg. In addition, numerous homes experienced roof damage.
A tornado touched down 3.2 miles west-southwest of Beason in eastern Logan County, then tracked southeastward to the Logan-DeWitt County line. Several trees and tree branches were blown down along the path of the tornado. A shed was blown over and the roof was torn off a barn. In addition, corn crops were flattened in a few locations. The tornado continued southeastward into DeWitt County.
A tornado crossed into DeWitt County from Logan County 3.2 miles west-southwest of Kenney. A barn was blown down and two machine sheds were damaged. In addition, a trailer was rolled over. The tornado lifted 3.5 miles southeast of Kenney.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Illinois, 2010Warnings 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: 243551, 243555, 243563, 243567, 243569, 243576, 243577, 243580, 243583, 243611, 243609, 243610.