Extreme (D3) to Exceptional (D4) drought conditions that had been ongoing across central and southeast Illinois since June eased significantly during the month of September. Remnants of Hurricane Issac brought widespread rain totals of 2 to 4 inches from September 1st through 3rd.
Every event with a place to put it; 35 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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.
Extreme (D3) to Exceptional (D4) drought conditions that had been ongoing across central and southeast Illinois since June eased significantly during the month of September. Remnants of Hurricane Issac brought widespread rain totals of 2 to 4 inches from September 1st through 3rd. This was followed by additional rainfall throughout the month that resulted in much of the area being downgraded to the Moderate Drought category (D1) or better. Eight west-central Illinois counties along and northwest of a Marshall to Lincoln line remained in the Severe Drought category (D2) through the end of the month. Total crop losses from the extended drought across central and southeast Illinois was estimated to be $1.2 billion.
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 Aug 31, 11:15 PM CST, 45 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL 1215 AM CDT SAT SEP 1 2012 .DISCUSSION... ISSUED 856 PM CDT FRI AUG 31 2012 RAIN WILL CONTINUE ACROS THE AREA OVERNIGHT AS A BAND OF MODERATE RAIN MOVES NORTH AND SPREADS NORTHEAST OVER THE AREA. THUNDERSTORMS REMAIN VERY ISOALTED ALONG THE LINE BUT INTENSITY HAS DIMINISHED. THOUGH A LINE OF HEAVIER SHOWERS IS MOVING INTO THE AREA...THEY APPEAR TO BE DECREASING IN INTENSITY SO AM LOOKING AT CANCELLING THE WATCH FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE NIGHT. AFTER DISCUSSION WITH SPC...WILL BE CANCELLING WATCH EARLY...CONDITIONS HAVE DIMINISHED OVER OUR AREA. REMAINDER OF FORECAST APPEARS TO BE FINE. AUTEN && .AVIATION... ISSUED 1215 PM CDT SAT SEP 1 2012 CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE TO DECREASE OVERNIGHT AS LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN CONTINUES AND/OR INCREASES AT ALL TAF SITES. CONDITIONS ARE MVFR AT PIA AND SPI...AND AM EXPECTING THIS TO ARRIVE AT BMI/DEC/CMI OVERNIGHT. SO HAVE STARTED ALL SITES WITH MVFR VIS AND RA...CIGS STILL VFR. LOWER CIGS WILL ARRIVE IN THE MORNING AS THE RAIN CONTINUES. COULD BE SOME DRY AIR THAT FILTERS INTO THE REGION...ALLOWING FOR SOME HEATING AND A RETURN TO POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS TOMORROW AFTERNOON AND INTO THE EVENING. SINCE STORMS WILL BE ISOLATED...LIKE TODAY...WILL HAVE VCTS IN TAFS FOR THAT. THEN BY EVENING...MODERATE RAIN CONTINUES. AUTEN && .PREV DISCUSSION... ISSUED 258 PM CDT FRI AUG 31 2012 REMNANTS OF HURRICANE ISAAC CONTINUE TO SLOWLY LIFT NORTH TOWARD THE MIDWEST. THE SYSTEM HAS YET TO MAKE ITS EASTERLY TURN WHICH WILL DRASTICALLY INCREASE OUR RAIN CHANCES THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS AS IS SLOWLY MOVES THROUGH. NOT SURPRISINGLY...THE IMPACTS OF ISAAC ARE OUR PRIMARY FORECAST CONCERN TODAY. 12Z MODELS IN DECENT AGREEMENT WITH RESPECT TO HANDLING OF THE REMNANTS TODAY...ALTHOUGH THERE ARE STILL CONSIDERABLE DISAGREEMENTS WITH MAXIMUM RAINFALL LOCATION AND AMOUNTS. HAVE KEPT THE FORECAST MOST IN LINE WITH THE MORE CONSISTENT ECMWF...WHICH IS ALSO FAIRLY CLOSE TO A PERSISTENCE FORECAST FOR US. HOWEVER...WILL NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE SPEED OF THE SYSTEM...AS MOST MODELS ARE STARTING TO SHOW A SLOWING TREND WITH RESPECT TO ISAAC/S DEPARTURE. SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY...EXPECT THE STORM SYSTEM TO SLOWLY MAKE A TURN TO THE RIGHT LATER TONIGHT...WITH A TRACK RELATIVELY CLOSE TO THE I-70 CORRIDOR INTO MONDAY. RAIN CHANCES WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE TONIGHT AS THE SYSTEM DRAWS CLOSER...WITH PERIODS OF RAIN EXPECTED THROUGH AT LEAST SUNDAY. THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL SHOULD STILL FALL SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT. BY THE TIME THE SYSTEM DEPARTS...EXPECT AN AVERAGE OF 3-5 INCHES OF RAINFALL...WITH SOME LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS. DO NOT EXPECT FLOODING TO BE MUCH OF A CONCERN AS THE RAIN WILL BE FALLING OVER A NEARLY TWO DAY PERIOD AND FLASH FLOOD GUIDANCE IS VERY HIGH...GENERALLY NEEDING 3-5 INCHES IN A 6 HOUR PERIOD FOR FLASH FLOODING. RIVER FORECASTS TO THIS POINT ALSO KEEP MOST IF NOT ALL OF THE FORECAST POINTS BELOW FLOOD STAGE GIVEN THEIR CURRENT LOW FLOW LEVELS. THUNDERSTORM COVERAGE AND INTENSITY IS NOT EXPECTED TO BE SIGNIFICANT OVERALL WITH HE PASSAGE OF ISAAC. HOWEVER...THIS THREAT WILL NEED TO BE MONITORED. SOME CONVECTION HAS DEVELOPED UPSTREAM IN THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY...MOSTLY IN A DIFFERENTIAL HEATING BOUNDARY IN A QUASI CLEAR SLOT TO THE EAST OF ISAAC. INSTABILITY IN THIS CLEAR SLOT AND ENHANCED SHEAR COULD PRODUCE SOME SEVERE STORMS...BUT AT THIS POINT DO NOT EXPECT THEM TO MAKE MUCH PROGRESS TOWARD THE FORECAST AREA BEFORE WEAKENING. ASIDE FROM EARLY TONIGHT...WILL NEED TO KEEP AN EYE FOR STORM DEVELOPMENT DURING THE DAY IN ANY CLEAR SLOTS AROUND THE STORM. THESE ARE MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR TO THE SOUTH OF THE STORM TRACK. ISAAC SHOULD BE DEPARTING BY MONDAY...BUT A WEAK FRONT SLIPPING INTO THE AREA FROM THE NORTHWEST MAY BRIEFLY ENHANCE RAIN CHANCE ONCE AGAIN. LONG TERM...TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...THE UPPER WAVE CURRENTLY DIGGING INTO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST WILL SHEAR TO THE EAST ACROSS SOUTHERN CANADA AND PRODUCE A SHALLOW TROF ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH AMERICA FOR MUCH OF THE WEEK. WEAK IMPULSES MOVING THROUGH THE TROF COULD PROVIDE A CHANCE OF SHOWERS/STORM AS THEY PASS THE AREA. HOWEVER...MODEL AGREEMENT IN THE TIMING/TRACK OF THESE WEAKER WAVES IS RATHER POOR AT THIS TIME. HAVE KEPT MENTION OF PRECIPITATION IN THE SLIGHT CHANCE CATEGORY UNTIL THINGS BECOME MORE CLEAR. BAK && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL 310 PM CDT FRI AUG 31 2012 ILZ036-040>042-047>053-061-066-071-011100- CASS-CHRISTIAN-CLAY-EFFINGHAM-FULTON-LOGAN-MACON-MASON-MENARD- MORGAN-SANGAMON-SCHUYLER-SCOTT-SHELBY- 310 PM CDT FRI AUG 31 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS AND SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REMNANTS OF HURRICANE ISAAC WILL SPREAD INTO THE AREA THIS EVENING. WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT ANTICIPATED...HOWEVER ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH SOME OF THE STRONGER CELLS ALONG AND SOUTHWEST OF A CANTON...TO LINCOLN...TO FLORA LINE. THE THUNDERSTORM THREAT WILL DIMINISH OVERNIGHT...AS RAIN BECOMES MORE WIDESPREAD ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY OCCASIONAL SHOWERS WILL PERSIST ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS INTO SATURDAY AND SUNDAY...BEFORE GRADUALLY TAPERING OFF AND COMING TO AN END ON MONDAY. TOTAL RAINFALL FROM THIS SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO RANGE FROM 3 TO 5 INCHES...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE. WHILE WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED...ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH A FEW OF THE CELLS SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED THROUGH TONIGHT. ILZ027>031-037-038-043>046-054>057-062-063-067-068-072-073-011100- CHAMPAIGN-CLARK-COLES-CRAWFORD-CUMBERLAND-DE WITT-DOUGLAS-EDGAR- JASPER-KNOX-LAWRENCE-MARSHALL-MCLEAN-MOULTRIE-PEORIA-PIATT- RICHLAND-STARK-TAZEWELL-VERMILION-WOODFORD- 310 PM CDT FRI AUG 31 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS...EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS AND SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REMNANTS OF HURRICANE ISAAC WILL SPREAD INTO THE AREA THIS EVENING. SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT ANTICIPATED. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY OCCASIONAL SHOWERS WILL PERSIST ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS INTO SATURDAY AND SUNDAY...BEFORE GRADUALLY TAPERING OFF AND COMING TO AN END ON MONDAY. TOTAL RAINFALL FROM THIS SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO RANGE FROM 3 TO 5 INCHES...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE. WHILE WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED...ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH A FEW OF THE CELLS SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED THROUGH TONIGHT. BARNES
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
1040 PM CDT FRI AUG 31 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1027 PM HEAVY RAIN 1 SW WOODSON 39.62N 90.24W
08/31/2012 M3.10 INCH MORGAN IL MESONET
FROM SWOP...TOTAL RAINFALL SO FAR...STILL RAINING
&&
LAUFENBERGPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
1152 PM CDT FRI AUG 31 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1145 PM HEAVY RAIN PANA 39.39N 89.08W
08/31/2012 M1.35 INCH CHRISTIAN IL MESONET
FROM SWOP...TOTAL RAINFALL SO FAR...STILL RAINING
1145 PM HEAVY RAIN 1 SW JEROME 39.76N 89.69W
08/31/2012 M1.95 INCH SANGAMON IL COCORAHS
TOTAL RAINFALL SO FAR...STILL RAINING
&&
LAUFENBERGPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
1202 AM CDT SAT SEP 01 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0513 PM TSTM WND DMG FRANKLIN 39.62N 90.05W
08/31/2012 MORGAN IL EMERGENCY MNGR
*** 1 INJ *** ONE HOUSE AND ONE METAL BUILDING DAMAGED.
POWER LINES ALSO DOWN. ONE MINOR INJURY.
0532 PM TORNADO 3 NW FRANKLIN 39.65N 90.09W
08/31/2012 MORGAN IL EMERGENCY MNGR
BRIEF TOUCHDOWN IN A CORNFIELD
0600 PM HEAVY RAIN JACKSONVILLE 39.73N 90.23W
08/31/2012 M1.71 INCH MORGAN IL CO-OP OBSERVER
TOTAL RAINFALL SINCE 1230PM. STILL RAINING.
1027 PM HEAVY RAIN 1 SW WOODSON 39.62N 90.24W
08/31/2012 M3.10 INCH MORGAN IL MESONET
FROM SWOP...TOTAL RAINFALL SO FAR...STILL RAINING
1145 PM HEAVY RAIN PANA 39.39N 89.08W
08/31/2012 M1.35 INCH CHRISTIAN IL MESONET
FROM SWOP...TOTAL RAINFALL SO FAR...STILL RAINING
1145 PM HEAVY RAIN 1 SW JEROME 39.76N 89.69W
08/31/2012 M1.95 INCH SANGAMON IL COCORAHS
TOTAL RAINFALL SO FAR...STILL RAINING
&&
LAUFENBERGThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
35 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
Thanks to beneficial rainfall of 2 to 4 inches from the remnants of Hurricane Issac, Cass County was downgraded to the Moderate Drought category (D1) on September 6th. Total damage to the corn crop was estimated at $28.6 million.
Thanks to beneficial rainfall of 2 to 4 inches from the remnants of Hurricane Issac, Champaign County was downgraded to the Moderate Drought category (D1) on September 6th. Total damage to the corn crop was estimated at $72.6 million.
Thanks to beneficial rainfall of 2 to 4 inches from the remnants of Hurricane Issac, Christian County was downgraded to the Moderate Drought category (D1) on September 6th. Total damage to the corn crop was estimated at $53.8 million.
Thanks to beneficial rainfall of 2 to 4 inches from the remnants of Hurricane Issac, Clark County was downgraded to the Moderate Drought category (D1) on September 13th. Total damage to the corn crop was estimated at $34.4 million.
Thanks to beneficial rainfall of 2 to 4 inches from the remnants of Hurricane Issac, Clay County was downgraded to the Moderate Drought category (D1) on September 6th. Total damage to the corn crop was estimated at $32.2 million.
Thanks to beneficial rainfall of 2 to 4 inches from the remnants of Hurricane Issac, Coles County was downgraded to the Moderate Drought category (D1) on September 13th. Total damage to the corn crop was estimated at $34.8 million.
Thanks to beneficial rainfall of 2 to 4 inches from the remnants of Hurricane Issac, Crawford County was downgraded to the Moderate Drought category (D1) on September 13th. Total damage to the corn crop was estimated at $30.4 million.
Thanks to beneficial rainfall of 2 to 4 inches from the remnants of Hurricane Issac, Cumberland County was downgraded to the Moderate Drought category (D1) on September 13th. Total damage to the corn crop was estimated at $23.7 million.
Thanks to beneficial rainfall of 2 to 4 inches from the remnants of Hurricane Issac, DeWitt County was downgraded to the Moderate Drought category (D1) on September 20th. Total damage to the corn crop was estimated at $22.0 million.
Thanks to beneficial rainfall of 2 to 4 inches from the remnants of Hurricane Issac, Douglas County was downgraded to the Moderate Drought category (D1) on September 6th. Total damage to the corn crop was estimated at $28.6 million.
Thanks to beneficial rainfall of 2 to 4 inches from the remnants of Hurricane Issac, Edgar County was downgraded to the Moderate Drought category (D1) on September 6th. Total damage to the corn crop was estimated at $42.8 million.
Thanks to beneficial rainfall of 2 to 4 inches from the remnants of Hurricane Issac, Effingham County was downgraded to the Moderate Drought category (D1) on September 6th. Total damage to the corn crop was estimated at $32.8 million.
Thanks to beneficial rainfall of 2 to 4 inches from the remnants of Hurricane Issac, Fulton County was downgraded to the Severe Drought category (D2) on September 6th.
Thanks to beneficial rainfall of 2 to 4 inches from the remnants of Hurricane Issac, Jasper County was downgraded to the Moderate Drought category (D1) on September 13th. Total damage to the corn crop was estimated at $33.9 million.
Thanks to beneficial rainfall of 2 to 4 inches from the remnants of Hurricane Issac, Lawrence County was downgraded to the Moderate Drought category (D1) on September 13th. Total damage to the corn crop was estimated at $25.5 million.
Thanks to beneficial rainfall of 2 to 4 inches from the remnants of Hurricane Issac, Macon County was downgraded to the Moderate Drought category (D1) on September 20th. Total damage to the corn crop was estimated at $46.3 million.
Thanks to beneficial rainfall of 2 to 4 inches from the remnants of Hurricane Issac, McLean County was downgraded to the Moderate Drought category (D1) on September 6th. Total damage to the corn crop was estimated at $65.5 million.
Thanks to beneficial rainfall of 2 to 4 inches from the remnants of Hurricane Issac, Menard County was downgraded to the Moderate Drought category (D1) on September 6th. Total damage to the corn crop was estimated at $17.4 million.
Thanks to beneficial rainfall of 2 to 4 inches from the remnants of Hurricane Issac, Morgan County was downgraded to the Moderate Drought category (D1) on September 6th. Total damage to the corn crop was estimated at $43.2 million.
Thanks to beneficial rainfall of 2 to 4 inches from the remnants of Hurricane Issac, Piatt County was downgraded to the Moderate Drought category (D1) on September 20th. Total damage to the corn crop was estimated at $32.0 million.
Thanks to beneficial rainfall of 2 to 4 inches from the remnants of Hurricane Issac, Richland County was downgraded to the Moderate Drought category (D1) on September 13th. Total damage to the corn crop was estimated at $24.7 million.
Thanks to beneficial rainfall of 2 to 4 inches from the remnants of Hurricane Issac, Sangamon County was downgraded to the Moderate Drought category (D1) on September 6th. Total damage to the corn crop was estimated at $65.9 million.
Thanks to beneficial rainfall of 2 to 4 inches from the remnants of Hurricane Issac, Schuyler County was downgraded to the Moderate Drought category (D1) on September 6th. Total damage to the corn crop was estimated at $1.6 million.
Thanks to beneficial rainfall of 2 to 4 inches from the remnants of Hurricane Issac, Scott County was downgraded to the Moderate Drought category (D1) on September 6th. Total damage to the corn crop was estimated at $19.1 million.
Thanks to beneficial rainfall of 2 to 4 inches from the remnants of Hurricane Issac, Shelby County was downgraded to the Moderate Drought category (D1) on September 6th. Total damage to the corn crop was estimated at $52.1 million.
Thanks to beneficial rainfall of 2 to 4 inches from the remnants of Hurricane Issac, Vermilion County was downgraded to the Moderate Drought category (D1) on September 6th. Total damage to the corn crop was estimated at $65.4 million.
Thanks to beneficial rainfall of 2 to 4 inches from the remnants of Hurricane Issac, Woodford County was downgraded to the Moderate Drought category (D1) on September 6th. Total damage to the corn crop was estimated at $29.2 million.
Thanks to beneficial rainfall of 2 to 4 inches from the remnants of Hurricane Issac, Logan County was downgraded to the Severe Drought category (D2) on September 6th.
Thanks to beneficial rainfall of 2 to 4 inches from the remnants of Hurricane Issac, Mason County was downgraded to the Severe Drought category (D2) on September 6th.
Thanks to beneficial rainfall of 2 to 4 inches from the remnants of Hurricane Issac, Marshall County was downgraded to the Severe Drought category (D2) on September 6th.
Thanks to beneficial rainfall of 2 to 4 inches from the remnants of Hurricane Issac, Peoria County was downgraded to the Severe Drought category (D2) on September 6th.
Thanks to beneficial rainfall of 2 to 4 inches from the remnants of Hurricane Issac, Stark County was downgraded to the Severe Drought category (D2) on September 6th.
Thanks to beneficial rainfall of 2 to 4 inches from the remnants of Hurricane Issac, Tazewell County was downgraded to the Severe Drought category (D2) on September 6th.
Thanks to beneficial rainfall of 2 to 4 inches from the remnants of Hurricane Issac, Knox County was downgraded to the Severe Drought category (D2) on September 6th.
Thanks to beneficial rainfall of 2 to 4 inches from the remnants of Hurricane Issac, Moultrie County was downgraded to the Moderate Drought category (D1) on September 20th. Total damage to the corn crop was estimated at $23.0 million.
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, September 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: 413896, 413897, 413898, 413899, 413901, 413902, 413903, 413904, 413906, 413907, 413908, 413909, 413910, 413911, 413912, 413913, 413914, 413915, 413916, 413917, 413918, 413920, 413921, 413922, 413923, 413924, 413925, 413926, 413927, 413928, 413929, 413930, 413931, 413932, 413933.