A weak cold front triggered isolated severe thunderstorms in northwest Illinois during the afternoon on July 26, 2012. Winds were estimated at 60 mph.
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 DVN wrote it up.
A weak cold front triggered isolated severe thunderstorms in northwest Illinois during the afternoon on July 26, 2012. Winds were estimated at 60 mph. A trained spotter reported tree limbs and power lines down in Princeton, Illinois in Bureau county. Two 5 inch diameter pine trees were also blown over. Another trained spotter reported several 3 to 4 inch tree limbs down along with a 6 inch diameter tree in Cambridge, Illinois in Henry 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 Quad Cities, IA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 26, 2:33 PM CST, 1 hour 8 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL 333 PM CDT THU JUL 26 2012 .SYNOPSIS... 12Z UA ANALYSIS HAS AN 850MB COLD FRONT FROM NORTHERN WISCONSIN SOUTHWEST INTO THE OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE. SEVERAL TROFS WERE ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS BEHIND THE 850MB COLD FRONT. RADAR/SATELLITE TRENDS THROUGH MID AFTERNOON SHOW DIURNAL CONVECTION HAS DEVELOPED FROM SOUTHERN WISCONSIN INTO SOUTHEAST IOWA. 18Z SFC ANALYSIS HAS A FRONT/BOUNDARY FROM KVOK BACK TO KRSL. THIS BOUNDARY MAY BE A VERY DIFFUSE COLD FRONT AS DEW POINTS QUICKLY DROP INTO THE UPPER 50S AND LOWER 60S BEHIND THE BOUNDARY. AHEAD OF THE FRONT/BOUNDARY DEW POINTS WERE IN THE LOW 70S. && .SHORT TERM...TONIGHT AND FRIDAY AN AREA OF DIFFERENTIAL HEATING ALONG THE FRONT/BOUNDARY HAS ALLOWED CONVECTIVE TEMPERATURE TO BE ACHIEVED. RAP TRENDS INDICATE THE CURRENT CONVECTION WILL REMAIN ISOLATED OVER SOUTHEAST IOWA AND MORE SCATTERED FROM THE QUAD CITIES TO THE NORTH AND EAST. RAP TRENDS INDICATE THIS CONVECTION WILL PERSIST INTO THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING IN THE FAR EASTERN AND SOUTHERN SECTIONS OF THE CWFA. THE APPROACHING SHORTWAVE ACROSS MINNESOTA IS ALLOWING CU TO DEVELOP FROM SOUTHERN MINNESOTA INTO NORTHERN IOWA. RADAR SHOWS NO CONVECTION AS YET BUT WITH PEAK HEATING OCCURRING CONVECTION MAY DEVELOP IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS. IF THIS OCCURS...THEN IT MAY GET INTO THE HWY 20 CORRIDOR THIS EVENING. NEARLY ALL CONVECTION SHOULD DISSIPATE WITHIN A FEW HOURS AFTER SUNSET. HOWEVER... CONVECTION DID PERSIST OVERNIGHT CLOSE TO THE SFC LOW AND UPPER LOW. THUS IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOME ISOLATED SHRA/TSRA MAY PERSIST PAST MIDNIGHT THAT CATCHES THE NORTHEAST PART OF THE CWFA. FRIDAY IS LOOKING TO BE QUITE NICE WITH TEMPERATURES NEAR NORMAL. HUMIDITY LEVELS WILL ALSO BE LOW. ..08.. .LONG TERM...FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH NEXT THURSDAY HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO THE REGION FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY TO KEEP THINGS QUIET BOTH PERIODS. HOWEVER...SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY A NICE WARM AIR ADVECTION SURGE WITH A WEAK SHORTWAVE MOVES ACROSS THE AREA TO BRING SOME PRECIPITATION CHANCES TO THE AREA. TEMPERATURES WILL BE COOLER THAN WHAT WE HAVE HAD RECENTLY...WITH HIGHS IN THE 80S TO AROUND 90 BOTH DAYS. SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT A STRONGER SHORTWAVE COMES ALONG TO INTERACT WITH A WEAK 850MB BAROCLINIC ZONE TO BRING SOME PRECIPITATION CHANCES TO THE AREA. THERE IS ROUGH AGREEMENT WITH THE MODELS...BUT WITH TIMING DIFFERENCES TO ADD SOME CONFUSION. HIGHS MONDAY TO BEGIN CREEPING UP...RISING INTO THE MID 80S TO LOW 90S. TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY MODELS ARE IN GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT A SURFACE RIDGE WILL BUILD ACROSS THE REGION...WHICH IS NOT ESPECIALLY FAVORABLE FOR PRECIPITATION CHANCES...SO HAVE KEPT THOSE DRY OR AT MOST SLIGHT CHANCE. HIGHS REMAIN IN THE 80S TO LOW 90S WITH THE CONTINUING NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT AND ENOUGH MOISTURE AT MID LEVELS TO PRODUCE SOME MID CLOUDS. THURSDAY WE HAVE A WEAK COLD FRONT AND HINTS AT AN UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE TO MOVE THROUGH THE AREA...THOUGH MODELS HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENCES AND CONFIDENCE IS NOT VERY HIGH. HOWEVER...IT WAS ENOUGH TO PUT IN TO CARRY SOME LOW END CHANCE POPS. LE && .AVIATION... CONVECTION HAS INITIATED ON A FRONT/BOUNDARY FROM NORTHWEST ILLINOIS INTO SOUTHEAST IOWA. RAP MODEL TRENDS SUGGEST TRSA MAY AFFECT KMLI/KBRL THROUGH 00Z/27. POST FRONTAL CONVECTION WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH 03Z/27 THAT MIGHT AFFECT KCID/KDBQ. AFT 03Z/27 GENERALLY VFR WX IS EXPECTED. THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME MVFR VSBYS DVLPG ARND SUNRISE FRIDAY BUT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE 18Z TAFS. ..08.. && .DVN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IA...NONE. IL...NONE. MO...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL 350 AM CDT THU JUL 26 2012 IAZ040>042-051>054-063>068-076>078-087>089-098-099-ILZ001-002-007- 009-015>018-024>026-034-035-MOZ009-010-270900- BUCHANAN-DELAWARE-DUBUQUE-BENTON-LINN-JONES-JACKSON-IOWA-JOHNSON- CEDAR-CLINTON-MUSCATINE-SCOTT-KEOKUK-WASHINGTON-LOUISA-JEFFERSON- HENRY IA-DES MOINES-VAN BUREN-LEE-JO DAVIESS-STEPHENSON-CARROLL- WHITESIDE-ROCK ISLAND-HENRY IL-BUREAU-PUTNAM-MERCER-HENDERSON- WARREN-HANCOCK-MCDONOUGH-SCOTLAND-CLARK- 350 AM CDT THU JUL 26 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS...NORTHWEST ILLINOIS...WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS...EAST CENTRAL IOWA...NORTHEAST IOWA...SOUTHEAST IOWA AND NORTHEAST MISSOURI. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE AREA EARLY THIS MORNING AND AGAIN FROM LATE AFTERNOON INTO EARLY EVENING. ANY STORMS THAT DEVELOP ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BE SEVERE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY. IT IS TOO SOON TO DETERMINE THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER IN THESE PERIODS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY OR TONIGHT. SHEETS
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
345 PM CDT THU JUL 26 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0339 PM HAIL STERLING 41.80N 89.69W
07/26/2012 M0.25 INCH WHITESIDE IL PUBLIC
HAIL BEGAN AT 324 PM CDT. WINDS APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 40
MPH.
&&
DCSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
346 PM CDT THU JUL 26 2012
IAZ068-ILZ015>017-262145-
BUREAU-HENRY-ROCK ISLAND-SCOTT-
346 PM CDT THU JUL 26 2012
...THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG WINDS...
AT 345 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR COLONA...OR NEAR EAST MOLINE...MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH.
* THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
OSBORN AROUND 355 PM CDT...
GENESEO AROUND 410 PM CDT...
GENESEO AROUND 415 PM CDT...
ATKINSON AROUND 430 PM CDT...
ANNAWAN AROUND 440 PM CDT...
6 MILES NORTH OF KEWANEE AROUND 445 PM CDT...
WINDS UP TO 55 MPH...BRIEF HEAVY RAIN...CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS
STORM.
SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THIS STORM HAS PASSED.
LAT...LON 4123 8980 4123 8986 4116 8986 4116 8987
4143 9050 4159 9044 4139 8970
TIME...MOT...LOC 2046Z 294DEG 22KT 4147 9038
08SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
354 PM CDT THU JUL 26 2012
ILZ009-016>018-262200-
BUREAU-HENRY-PUTNAM-WHITESIDE-
354 PM CDT THU JUL 26 2012
...LINE OF STORMS WITH STRONG WINDS...
AT 349 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 13 MILES NORTH OF
DEER GROVE TO TAMPICO...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.
* THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
DEER GROVE AROUND 400 PM CDT...
WALNUT AROUND 415 PM CDT...
LA MOILLE AROUND 450 PM CDT...
6 MILES NORTHWEST OF LADD AND 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF DALZELL AROUND
500 PM CDT...
WINDS UP TO 55 MPH...BRIEF HEAVY RAIN...CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE
STORMS.
SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THIS STORM HAS PASSED.
LAT...LON 4158 8988 4181 8963 4159 8962 4158 8916
4130 8916
TIME...MOT...LOC 2053Z 289DEG 22KT 4178 8961 4158 8980
08PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
358 PM CDT THU JUL 26 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0345 PM TSTM WND GST TAMPICO 41.63N 89.79W
07/26/2012 E50 MPH WHITESIDE IL TRAINED SPOTTER
REPORT WAS RELAYED BY WFO LOT.
&&
DCPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
402 PM CDT THU JUL 26 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0342 PM TSTM WND GST 4 SSW BETTENDORF 41.52N 90.51W
07/26/2012 M56 MPH ROCK ISLAND IL DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
IOWA DOT RWIS ON I-74 BRIDGE.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
415 PM CDT THU JUL 26 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0354 PM HAIL 5 SSW BETTENDORF 41.50N 90.51W
07/26/2012 M0.25 INCH ROCK ISLAND IL TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
DCThe Quad Cities radar (KDVN), 97 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:41 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A trained spotter reported tree limbs and power lines down in Princeton. Two 5 inch diameter pine trees were also blown over.
A trained spotter reported several 3 to 4 inch tree limbs down along with a 6 inch diameter tree in Cambridge.
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, July 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: 390952, 390953.