A powerful storm system tracking from Iowa into the Upper Midwest pulled a strong cold front through central Illinois during the evening of January 22nd. A few of the storms produced wind gusts from 50 to 60 mph, particularly along and east of the I-57 corridor.
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 powerful storm system tracking from Iowa into the Upper Midwest pulled a strong cold front through central Illinois during the evening of January 22nd. A few of the storms produced wind gusts from 50 to 60 mph, particularly along and east of the I-57 corridor.
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 Jan 22, 8:36 PM CST, 1 hour 44 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL 836 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012 .DISCUSSION... ISSUED 830 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012 CONVECTION CONTINUES TO EVOLVE PRETTY MUCH AS EXPECTED WITH THE MAIN BAND OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ALIGNED ALONG THE I-55 CORRIDOR. ILX 00Z SOUNDING CONTINUES TO SHOW A RATHER STEEP INVERSION IN PLACE WITH 50-70 KTS AT OR JUST ABOVE THE INVERSION. GOING TO TAKE A RATHER STRONG STORM TO BE ABLE TO BRING SOME OF THOSE STRONGER WINDS DOWN TO THE SURFACE. SOUTH OF I-72 LAPS SOUNDINGS INDICATING THE INVERSION NOT QUITE AS STEEP AND EVEN LESS AS YOU HEAD INTO SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS WHERE EARLY EVENING TEMPERATURES AND DEW POINTS HAVE RISEN INTO THE LOWER TO MID 50S. IT APPEARS THE HIGHER THREAT FOR HIGH WINDS AND POSSIBLY A FEW TORNADOES ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE I-70 CORRIDOR...WHILE FURTHER NORTH...STILL SOME THREAT FOR PRIMARILY STRONG WINDS IF STORMS CAN ORGANIZE THAT FAR NORTH. SPC JUST SENT A MESOSCALE UPDATE OUT TARGETING PARTS OF CENTRAL AND EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS FOR A POTENTIAL WATCH IN THE NEXT HOUR OR SO. NO ZONE UPDATE WILL BE NEEDED EARLY THIS EVENING. IF A WATCH IS ISSUED...AN UPDATED ZONE GROUP WILL BE SENT OUT. SMITH && .AVIATION... ISSUED 500 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012 MAIN FORECAST CONCERN WILL BE WITH THE LIFR CIGS/VSBYS AND CONVECTION CHANCES...ESP ALONG AND EAST OF I-55 AFTR 01Z. SURFACE LOW PRESSURE IS EXPECTED TO PASS TO OUR NORTHWEST LATE TONIGHT BRINGING IN AN ABUANDANT SUPPLY OF MOISTURE ALONG WITH WARMING TEMPS. THIS COMBINATION WILL CONTINUE THE LOW CIGS AND VSBYS INTO MONDAY MORNING. THE COLD FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH THE STRONG LOW WILL SHIFT ACROSS THE AREA BTWN 03Z AND 06Z WITH SFC WINDS AHEAD OF THE FRONT OUT OF THE SE...WITH WINDS VEERING MORE TO A SSW DIRECTION LATER THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT AFTR FROPA. IN FACT...AS THE WINDS VEER MORE INTO A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION LATER THIS EVENING AND SHOWER COVERAGE INCREASE...WE SHOULD SEE SOME BETTER MIXING OCCUR WHICH SHOULD HELP TO IMPROVE THE CURRET LOW VSBYS. TIMING OF CONVECTION STILL APPEARS RIGHT ON WITH THE MAIN BAND OF SHOWERS AND TSRA COMING THRU BTWN 02Z AND 06Z WITH CMI THE LAST TO SEE THE CONVECTION MOVE OUT LATE TONIGHT. FORECAST SOUNDINGS CONTINUE TO SHOW VERY STRONG WINDS JUST OFF THE SURFACE AND ANY STORM THAT HAS SOME ORGANIZATION TO IT HAS THE CAPABILITY OF PRODUCING WINDS OF UP TO 50 KTS. HOWEVER...DUE TO TIMING AND COVERAGE CONCERNS WILL HOLD OFF INCLUDING THAT IN ANY OF THE TAFS UNTIL WE SEE THE STORMS ORGANIZE THIS EVENING. ONCE THE FRONT SHIFTS OFF TO OUR EAST...GUSTY SOUTHWEST TO WEST WINDS ALONG WITH IFR TO MVFR CIGS WILL PREVAIL ON MONDAY. THERE IS A CHANCE FOR SOME WRAP AROUND MOISTURE TO BRING IN SCATTERED SNOW SHOWERS TOMORROW BUT COVERAGE EXPECTED TO BE TOO LIMITED TO INCLUDE THIS FAR OUT IN ANY OF THE TAF SITES. SMITH && .PREV DISCUSSION... ISSUED 300 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012 SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY... WIDESPREAD FOG AND LOW CLOUDS CONTINUE TO BLANKET THE AREA...AND WILL LIKELY CONTINUE TO DO SO FOR MUCH OF THE EVENING. SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK STILL ON TAP FOR AREAS JUST TO THE SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST OF THE FORECAST AREA...WITH COUNTIES ALONG/SOUTHEAST OF INTERSTATE 70 IN A CATEGORICAL MODERATE RISK. MORE ISOLATED BUT POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE FOR MUCH OF THE AREA ALONG AND EAST OF INTERSTATE 55. INSTABILITY ALMOST NIL AT THIS TIME...BUT WILL IMPROVE RAPIDLY AS 50S SURFACE DEWPOINTS AS FAR NORTH AS MEMPHIS ADVECT NORTHWARD AHEAD OF A SQUALL LINE THAT WILL BE DEVELOPING BY 00Z-01Z OVER AR/SOUTHEASTERN MO. UPPER TROUGH NOW MOVING THROUGH OK/NORTH TX IS BEGINNING TO TAKE ON A NEGATIVE TILT WHICH WILL MAXIMIZE DIFFERENTIAL PVA/LARGE SCALE FORCING FOR STRONG DEEP ASCENT. SURFACE OBSERVATIONS OVER THE TX PANHANDLE INDICATE WESTERLY WINDS GUSTING ABOVE 50KT AND VISIBILITIES LESS THAN A MILE IN BLOWING DUST WEST OF THE UPPER TROUGH. THE DUST CLOUD IS EASILY SEEN IN VISIBLE SATELLITE IMAGERY MOVING NORTHEAST THROUGH CENTRAL OK AND ATTESTS TO THE STRONG DYNAMICS ASSOCIATED WITH THE UPPER TROUGH AND RAPID DEEPENING OF THE SURFACE LOW NOW OVER KS. THE LOWER TO MIDDLE LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE ARE HIGHLY SHEARED DOWNSTREAM OF THE TROUGH AND LOW... WHICH COMBINED WITH THE INSTABILITY WILL CREATE A SYNOPTIC PATTERN FAVORING QLCS STRUCTURES ALONG THE SQUALL LINE AS IT MOVES/DEVELOPS NORTHEAST INTO CENTRAL/EASTERN IL AROUND 9PM. TORNADOES AND WIND DAMAGE WILL BE THE PRIMARY SEVERE WEATHER THREAT...WITH HIGHER CONCENTRATIONS IN THE MODERATE RISK AREA. IN ADDITION...SOME LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AMOUNTS MAY PRODUCE ISOLATED FLOODING OVER THE SATURATED SOIL. THE SQUALL LINE IS EXPECTED TO PASS INTO INDIANA AROUND 1AM-2AM MONDAY MORNING. AFTER THE COLD FRONT CLEARS THE AREA...SOME WRAP-AROUND RAIN AND/OR SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE AREA. BY DAWN... THE CONTINUED COLD ADVECTION WILL CHANGE ANY REMAINING RAIN TO LIGHT SNOW WHICH WILL THEN CLEAR THE AREA FROM SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST BY 00Z TUE. AS THE LOW DEEPENS FURTHER TO THE NORTHEAST OF IL ON MONDAY...THE INCREASING SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL RESULT IN STRONG WEST WINDS WHICH WILL GUST ABOVE 30 MPH IN MOST AREAS. WIND ADVISORIES MAY BE REQUIRED FOR AT LEAST THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE AREA DEPENDING ON THE EVOLUTION OF THE SURFACE LOW AS IT PASSES OVER OR TO THE NORTH OF CENTRAL IL. AFTER A COOL AND DRY TUESDAY...AN UPPER LOW WILL BE MOVING ACROSS TEXAS AND INTO THE GULF STATES. IN RESPONSE...A SURFACE LOW WILL DEEPEN OVER THE LOWER MS VALLEY WITH A STATIONARY FRONT EXTENDING NORTHEAST THROUGH THE TN VALLEY. THE NORTHERN FRINGE OF THE ASSOCIATED PRECIPITATION SHIELD MAY AFFECT THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...WITH A POSSIBLE RAIN/SNOW MIX AS THE LOW LEVEL AIRMASS HOVERS AROUND THE FREEZING MARK. LONG TERM...THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY... ANOTHER COLD FRONT WILL BE MOVING THROUGH THE MIDWEST AROUND FRIDAY...WITH A SLIGHT CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW BEHIND THE FRONT FRIDAY NIGHT. LONGER RANGE MODELS ARE STILL OFFERING DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS WITH THIS SYSTEM SO WILL KEEP POPS BELOW MENTION. AFTER THE WED/THU UPPER LOW MOVES INTO THE ATLANTIC COAST STATES NEXT WEEKEND...THE OVERALL FLOW PATTERN WILL REMAIN SPLIT OVER THE WEST...BUT A MEAN SYNOPTIC UPPER TROUGH WILL PREVAIL OVER THE EASTERN HALF OF THE COUNTRY. THIS PATTERN SUGGESTS COLDER WEATHER FOR EARLY NEXT WEEK. && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL 326 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012 ILZ027>031-036-037-040-041-047-049-050-231200- CASS-FULTON-KNOX-MARSHALL-MASON-MORGAN-PEORIA-SCHUYLER-SCOTT- STARK-TAZEWELL-WOODFORD- 326 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY VERY WINDY CONDITIONS WILL DEVELOP BEHIND A DEPARTING STORM SYSTEM ON MONDAY. WESTERLY WINDS GUSTING TO BETWEEN 35 AND 40 MPH WILL MAKE TRAVEL ON NORTH-SOUTH ROADS DIFFICULT...PARTICULARLY FOR HIGH-PROFILE VEHICLES. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED THROUGH TONIGHT. ILZ038-042>046-048-051>057-061-231200- CHAMPAIGN-CHRISTIAN-COLES-DE WITT-DOUGLAS-EDGAR-LOGAN-MACON- MCLEAN-MENARD-MOULTRIE-PIATT-SANGAMON-SHELBY-VERMILION- 326 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS AND EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT A VIGOROUS STORM SYSTEM AND ITS ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT WILL TRIGGER THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE AREA THIS EVENING. A FEW OF THE STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE...WITH DAMAGING WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH POSSIBLE. ANY STORMS THAT DEVELOP WILL SWEEP INTO INDIANA SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY VERY WINDY CONDITIONS WILL DEVELOP BEHIND THE DEPARTING STORM SYSTEM ON MONDAY. WESTERLY WINDS GUSTING TO BETWEEN 35 AND 40 MPH WILL MAKE TRAVEL ON NORTH-SOUTH ROADS DIFFICULT...PARTICULARLY FOR HIGH-PROFILE VEHICLES. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED BETWEEN 8 PM AND 2 AM. ILZ062-063-066>068-071>073-231200- CLARK-CLAY-CRAWFORD-CUMBERLAND-EFFINGHAM-JASPER-LAWRENCE-RICHLAND- 326 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS AND SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT A VIGOROUS STORM SYSTEM AND ITS ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT WILL TRIGGER THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE AREA THIS EVENING. THERE IS A MODERATE RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER...INCLUDING DAMAGING WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH...LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL...AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. ANY STORMS THAT DEVELOP WILL SWEEP INTO INDIANA SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY VERY WINDY CONDITIONS WILL DEVELOP BEHIND THE DEPARTING STORM SYSTEM ON MONDAY. WESTERLY WINDS GUSTING TO BETWEEN 35 AND 40 MPH WILL MAKE TRAVEL ON NORTH-SOUTH ROADS DIFFICULT...PARTICULARLY FOR HIGH-PROFILE VEHICLES. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED BETWEEN 8 PM AND 2 AM. BARNES
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
925 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012
ILZ054-056-061-062-066-067-230400-
COLES-CUMBERLAND-EFFINGHAM-JASPER-MOULTRIE-SHELBY-
925 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN SHELBY...EFFINGHAM...
NORTHWESTERN JASPER...SOUTHERN MOULTRIE...WESTERN COLES AND WESTERN
CUMBERLAND COUNTIES UNTIL 1000 PM CST...
AT 921 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM SHELBYVILLE TO ST.
ELMO...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 70 MPH.
PENNY SIZE HAIL...AND WINDS AROUND 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE
STORMS.
PEOPLE IN COLES...CUMBERLAND...EFFINGHAM...JASPER...MOULTRIE AND
SHELBY COUNTIES...INCLUDING THE CITIES OF BEECHER CITY...
SHELBYVILLE...ALTAMONT...WATSON...EFFINGHAM...SHUMWAY...SULLIVAN...
DIETERICH...WINDSOR AND TEUTOPOLIS...SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER
SITUATION CLOSELY. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS...AND BE PREPARED TO
TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION SHOULD SEVERE WEATHER THREATEN.
LAT...LON 3891 8881 3921 8881 3922 8886 3966 8881
3965 8833 3891 8836
TIME...MOT...LOC 0325Z 212DEG 62KT 3941 8872 3901 8881
GEELHARTSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
946 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012
ILZ067-071-072-230415-
CLAY-JASPER-RICHLAND-
946 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CLAY...JASPER AND RICHLAND
COUNTIES UNTIL 1015 PM CST...
AT 944 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM EDGEWOOD TO
LOUISVILLE TO XENIA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 70 MPH.
NICKEL SIZE HAIL...AND WINDS AROUND 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE
STORMS.
PEOPLE IN CLAY...JASPER AND RICHLAND COUNTIES...INCLUDING THE CITIES
OF XENIA...IOLA...LOUISVILLE...BIBLE GROVE...FLORA...INGAHAM...SAILOR
SPRINGS...CLAY CITY...SCHNELL AND WHEELER...SHOULD MONITOR THE
WEATHER SITUATION CLOSELY. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS...AND BE
PREPARED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION SHOULD SEVERE WEATHER THREATEN.
LAT...LON 3859 8816 3861 8871 3872 8869 3891 8870
3891 8836 3917 8836 3917 8795 3885 8794
3885 8791 3882 8791 3857 8791 3856 8815
TIME...MOT...LOC 0346Z 244DEG 67KT 3893 8860 3877 8853
3864 8860
GEELHARTSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
1017 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012
ILZ045-046-230445-
CHAMPAIGN-VERMILION-
1017 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CHAMPAIGN AND NORTHWESTERN
VERMILION COUNTIES UNTIL 1045 PM CST...
AT 1012 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR WILLARD AIRPORT...OR NEAR SAVOY...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 75 MPH.
SMALL HAIL...AND WINDS AROUND 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
PEOPLE IN CHAMPAIGN AND VERMILION COUNTIES...INCLUDING THE CITIES OF
URBANA...THOMASBORO...RANTOUL...GIFFORD AND RANKIN...SHOULD MONITOR
THE WEATHER SITUATION CLOSELY. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS...AND BE
PREPARED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION SHOULD SEVERE WEATHER THREATEN.
LAT...LON 3991 8809 4004 8839 4041 8818 4040 8796
4041 8794 4049 8794 4049 8776 4048 8775
TIME...MOT...LOC 0417Z 208DEG 64KT 4014 8816
GEELHARTThe Lincoln radar (KILX), 108 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:21 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was blown down onto Route 130 west of Hugo blocking one lane of traffic.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, January 2012
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: 356165.