Severe thunderstorms developed along an advancing cold front during the late afternoon and evening of June 21st. Wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph brought numerous trees and power lines down across much of the area.
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.
Severe thunderstorms developed along an advancing cold front during the late afternoon and evening of June 21st. Wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph brought numerous trees and power lines down across much of the area. In addition, heavy rainfall created flash flooding across Tazewell County and Woodford County.
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 21, 1:50 PM CST, 1 hour 10 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL 250 PM CDT TUE JUN 21 2011 .DISCUSSION... ISSUED 250 PM CDT TUE JUN 21 2011 A WARM AND HUMID DAY HAS DEVELOPED ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS IN THE SOUTHERLY FLOW AHEAD OF A STRONG COLD FRONT. MAIN FORECAST CONCERN TODAY REVOLVES AROUND THE PASSAGE OF THIS COLD FRONT TONIGHT AND THE ASSOCIATED SHOWER/STORM/SEVERE WEATHER THREAT. BEHIND THE FRONT...THE MAIN CONCERNS REVOLVE AROUND PRECIPITATION CHANCES AND TEMPERATURES FOR THE REST OF THE WORK WEEK AS COOLER AIR SETTLES IN BEHIND THE FRONT. 12Z MODELS IN REASONABLE AGREEMENT WITH MOST OF THE FEATURES EXPECTED TO IMPACT FORECAST AREA OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. DO NOT HAVE A PREFERRED MODEL WHERE MINOR DIFFERENCES ARISE...SO GENERALLY WENT WITH A BLEND/ENSEMBLE MEAN SOLUTION. SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY...SHOWERS/STORMS BEGINNING TO FIRE AHEAD OF APPROACHING FRONT...BOTH OVER AND IN THE VICINITY OF THE FORECAST AREA. THESE STORMS ARE DEVELOPING IN A MODERATELY UNSTABLE ENVIRONMENT... WITH CAPE VALUES OF 2-3K J/KG. MODERATE SHEAR IS EVIDENT IN THE AREA AS WELL...WITH 0-6KM SHEAR VALUES AROUND 40 KTS. THE MOST FOCUSED FORCING LOCALLY IS ASSOCIATED WITH A MCV LIFTING TOWARD THE FORECAST AREA FROM JUST SOUTH OF THE ST LOUIS METRO AREA. EXPECT SHOWERS/STORMS TO CONTINUE TO IMPACT THE AREA UNTIL FROPA LATER TONIGHT...WITH THE MAIN SEVERE THREAT EXPECTED LATE THIS AFTERNOON/EARLY THIS EVENING IN ADVANCE OF THE MCV. AN UNSEASONABLY STRONG/COLD UPPER LEVEL LOW...CURRENTLY OVER THE NORTHERN PLAINS/UPPER MIDWEST...WILL SLOWLY DRIFT EAST ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES BY THE END OF THE WEEK. THIS FEATURE WILL BE SLOWLY WEAKENING AS IT MOVES EAST...BUT THE COLD AIR/CYCLONIC FLOW ASSOCIATED WITH IT SHOULD PROVIDE A FEW SHOWERS AND ABUNDANT CLOUD COVER AS IT MOVES BY. THE SHOWERS/CLOUDS WILL BE MOST NUMEROUS ACROSS NORTHERN SECTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA AND WILL HAVE A DECIDEDLY DIURNAL PEAK EACH DAY. THE COLD AIR WRAPPING AROUND THIS SYSTEM WILL KEEP POST FRONTAL TEMPERATURES BELOW NORMAL INTO THE WEEKEND. LONG TERM...SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...MOSTLY QUIET WEATHER IS ANTICIPATED THROUGH THE EXTENDED RANGE OF THE FORECAST...ALONG WITH SLOWLY MODERATING TEMPERATURES. THE UPPER LOW THAT WILL HAVE BEEN WITH US FOR MUCH OF THE WEEK WILL BE REPLACED BY FLAT RIDGING. THE BULK OF THE PRECIPITATION DURING THE PERIOD SHOULD BE SOUTH OF THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY ALONG A PRIMARY BAROCLINIC ZONE...THOUGH SOME PRECIPITATION CAN NOT BE RULED OUT FROM WEAK WAVES TOPPING THE FLAT RIDGE. HOWEVER...CONFIDENCE IN ANY RAINFALL OCCURRING IS TOO LOW TO GO ABOVE A SLIGHT CHANCE AT THIS TIME. BAK && .AVIATION... ISSUED 1211 PM CDT TUE JUN 21 2011 CONCERN IN THE SHORT TERM INVOLVES CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT. HAVE HAD SOME THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING RECENTLY AND ARE APPROACHING KPIA FROM THE SOUTHWEST. COVERAGE SHOULD INCREASE INTO THE AFTERNOON. REMAINING TAF SITES SHOULD SEE AT LEAST SOME VCTS BY 20-21Z. HAVE MADE LITTLE CHANGES TO THE EXISTING TEMPO PERIODS FOR MORE SUSTAINED THUNDERSTORMS...AND WILL REFINE THEM BETTER ONCE THE CONVECTION STARTS GOING. MUCH OF THE ACTIVITY SHOULD BE OUT OF THE TAF SITES BY ABOUT 03Z. PROBLEM IN THE LONGER TERM INVOLVES POTENTIAL MVFR CEILINGS WEDNESDAY MORNING...AS SURFACE AND UPPER LOW SLOWLY SPINS ACROSS NORTHERN IOWA. WILL LIKELY SEE A SURGE OF CEILINGS AROUND 2500 FEET OR SO DROPPING SOUTHEAST DURING THE MORNING. AREAS AROUND KPIA/KBMI MOST LIKELY TO SEE THIS ARRIVE BY LATE MORNING. FURTHER SOUTH PROGRESSION IS LESS CLEAR AT THIS TIME...SO WILL KEEP VFR CONDITIONS FROM KSPI-KCMI FOR NOW. GEELHART && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL 307 PM CDT TUE JUN 21 2011 ILZ027>031-036-037-040-041-047-049-050-221100- CASS-FULTON-KNOX-MARSHALL-MASON-MORGAN-PEORIA-SCHUYLER-SCOTT- STARK-TAZEWELL-WOODFORD- 307 PM CDT TUE JUN 21 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT SCATTERED STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT THE AREA THROUGH THE FIRST PART OF THE EVENING. DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL ARE THE PRIMARY THREATS...ALTHOUGH A FEW TORNADOES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY MUCH OF THE ILLINOIS RIVER...DOWNSTREAM OF PEORIA...WILL REMAIN IN FLOOD THROUGH THE WEEKEND. AREAS UPSTREAM OF PEORIA MAY SEE MINOR FLOODING DEVELOP BY FRIDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS LIKELY THROUGH THIS EVENING. ILZ038-042>046-048-051>057-061-221100- CHAMPAIGN-CHRISTIAN-COLES-DE WITT-DOUGLAS-EDGAR-LOGAN-MACON- MCLEAN-MENARD-MOULTRIE-PIATT-SANGAMON-SHELBY-VERMILION- 307 PM CDT TUE JUN 21 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS AND EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP AND MOVE ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS. DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL ARE THE PRIMARY THREATS...BUT A FEW TORNADOES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. THE STORMS MAY LINGER PAST MIDNIGHT NEAR THE INDIANA BORDER. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS LIKELY THROUGH THIS EVENING. ILZ062-063-066>068-071>073-221100- CLARK-CLAY-CRAWFORD-CUMBERLAND-EFFINGHAM-JASPER-LAWRENCE-RICHLAND- 307 PM CDT TUE JUN 21 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP AND MOVE ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS. DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL ARE THE PRIMARY THREATS...BUT A FEW TORNADOES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. THE STORMS MAY LINGER PAST MIDNIGHT NEAR THE INDIANA BORDER. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY MINOR FLOODING ALONG THE WABASH AND LITTLE WABASH RIVERS WILL CONTINUE MUCH OF THE WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS LIKELY THROUGH THIS EVENING. GEELHART
The Evansville,IN radar (KVWX), 85 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:59 UTC.
36 thunderstorm wind, 3 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A power pole was blown down 4 miles west of Flora.
Several trees were blown down onto Sunnybrook Road southwest of Olney.
Trees were blown down onto Meridian Road southeast of Olney.
Several trees were blown down onto Holly Road just southeast of Olney.
Trees were blown down in Oblong.
A tree was blown down and a metal roof was stripped off a shed.
A large tree limb was blown down onto power lines in Palestine.
The roof was blown off the firehouse in Yale.
Numerours tree limbs and power lines were blown down in Robinson.
A 7-inch diameter tree branch was blown down in Watson.
A large tree was uprooted in Martinsville.
A large tree was blown onto a house, causing significant damage to the roof.
Several large tree limbs were blown down in Neoga.
Several tree limbs were blown down in Mattoon.
A large glass window was blown out in the phone company office building at 17th and Charleston in Mattoon.
Power lines were blown down about 2 miles west of Chrisman.
Power lines were blown down in Latham.
Several 3-inch diameter tree branches were blown down in Tuscola.
A large tree limb was blown down onto power lines in Mt. Pulaski.
A large tree was blown onto a trailer, causing significant damage to the trailer. Two small outbuildings were also destroyed.
Numerous tree limbs and power lines were blown down in Lerna.
Several trees were blown down in Indianola.
Several trees were blown down in Georgetown.
Numerous tree limbs and power lines were blown down in Jewett.
Tree limbs and power lines were blown down near the mall in Tuscola.
Numerous tree limbs and power lines were blown down in Garrett.
Several trees were blown down in Danville. In addition, a power pole was knocked down at the intersection of 3rd St. and Highland Blvd.
Power lines were blown down in St. Joseph.
Several 6-inch diameter tree branches were blown down in Urbana.
Numerous trees and tree branches were blown down in Varna.
Several trees and tree limbs were blown down on the south side of Lacon.
Numerous trees were blown down in Farmer City. A tree limb fell onto a car, shattering the windshield.
A 10-inch diameter tree was blown down at Alexander Rd. and Six Points Rd. in Bloomington.
A large tree was blown down onto a van, severely damaging it. Another large tree fell onto a fence.
A large tree limb was blown down across a road just south of Colfax.
A 12-inch diameter tree was snapped in Morton.
A band of severe thunderstorms with very heavy rain produced 1.50 of rain in less than one hour in rural parts of extreme northeast Tazewell County. Several rural roads were impassable during the late evening due to the accumulated water.
A band of thunderstorms with very heavy rain produced 1.50 of rain in less than one hour in central Woodford County. Significant street flooding was reported in Eureka and Roanoke, parts of State Routes 116 & 117 and U.S. Highway 24 were inundated, and several rural roads were impassable during the late evening due to the accumulated water.
A second band of thunderstorms with very heavy rain produced 1.50 of rain in less than one hour in rural parts of northeast Woodford County. Nearly all rural roads were impassable, and parts of I-39 between Minonk and El Paso had standing water during the late evening due to the accumulated water.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, June 2011
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: 319488, 319489, 319490, 319491, 319493, 319494, 319496, 319497, 319498, 319499, 319500, 319754, 319501, 319502, 319753, 319503, 319504, 319505, 319506, 319507, 319508, 319509, 319510, 319511, 319512, 319513, 319514, 319515, 319516, 319517, 319755, 319518, 319519, 319520, 319521, 319522, 329042, 329045, 329047.