A powerful low pressure system tracked from the central Rockies toward the southern Great Lakes on November 17th. S.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 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.
A powerful low pressure system tracked from the central Rockies toward the southern Great Lakes on November 17th. A tightening pressure gradient between this low and a large high centered over the southeast U.S. created strong and gusty winds. Winds increased as the low tracked by to the north pulling a cold front through the area. Gradient winds gusted to between 50 and 60 mph at times, creating isolated wind damage across the area.
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 Nov 17, 11:35 AM CST, 1 hour 18 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 1135 AM CST Sun Nov 17 2013 .DISCUSSION... ISSUED 1019 AM CST Sun Nov 17 2013 Have tweeked grids, but see little need to alter bulk of current package. Winds have reached a gust to 52 MPH during past hour at IJX and BMI to 43 MPH. Strong winds will become more widespread as morning continues. 16z KILX sounding should be available. Barker && .AVIATION... ISSUED 1130 AM CST Sun Nov 17 2013 Cold front now pushing east through western Illinois. Severe storms with a few strong tornadoes are preceding the front. Very strong south winds will continue out ahead of the storms. Winds will shift from S/SW to W as front passes this afternoon. Winds should die down by late afternoon. Clearing will occur behind the front. Barker && .PREV DISCUSSION... ISSUED 230 AM CST Sun Nov 17 2013 SHORT TERM...Today and tonight: Ingredients still coming together for potential significant severe weather and wind event today. Latest surface map showing a pair of lows, one in northern Minnesota and the other in north central Kansas. Temperatures have gone nowhere overnight and were about 10 degrees above the normal highs for the date. Southerly winds have settled down a tad but still gusted to 20-25 mph in some areas as of 2 am. Abundant moisture in place with 60 degree dew points as far north as Pontiac. Strong low level jet of around 50 knots at 925 mb has been feeding some persistent convection along the Ohio River, with scattered convection further north. Powerful upper level jet of 110+ knots has been streaming southeast from the Pacific Northwest, with a secondary jet in the southern stream of 90-100 knots coming into the Ohio Valley. Latest model runs slowing the system down a tad, but still sweeping the front through the CWA between noon and 4 pm. Main convective activity expected to initiate late morning between I-55 and the Mississippi River, then rapidly sweep eastward through mid afternoon, ending across the southeast tip of the CWA toward sunset. Bulk shear of 65-75 knots from 0-6km and SBCAPE values around 1000 J/kg will help feed the severe storms, with a significant tornado threat. Latest Day1 outlook from SPC includes areas along and east of I-57 in a high risk for severe weather today, with a moderate risk most other areas in the CWA, and tornado probabilities of 15-30%. Significant threat of damaging winds with the storms as well. Outside of the storms, the winds will be a problem as well. Wind gusts of 35-45 mph will be likely from late morning through the afternoon. Behind the front, strong isallobaric rises are progged, with 3-hour pressure changes of 8 to 10 mb pushing through central and northern Illinois late this afternoon. RAP model guidance suggesting an hour or two of gusts 50-60 mph preceding the core of the highest pressure changes. Have elected to upgrade about the northern half of the wind advisory to a high wind warning as a result, generally along and north of a Havana to Danville line. Have left the expiration time as 6 pm. Will still see some gusts of 30-35 mph early in the evening across the northeast, but this will diminish as the pressure couplet moves into the Chicago area. LONG TERM...Monday through Saturday: Aside from some breezy weather on Monday in the wake of the storm system, a quiet period is on tap through Tuesday. Next shortwave should swing through mid week, with some showers mainly Wednesday night and Thursday. Upper pattern later in the week continues to shift toward a split flow, with Illinois caught in the middle. More agreement now noted between the GFS and ECMWF with a large cutoff low southwest of California late in the week, as faster shortwaves swing through the northern stream across the Great Lakes. The ECMWF is a bit on the wetter side with this pattern, with the earlier wave getting hung up and loitering over the Ohio Valley until Friday night, whereas the GFS focuses more on the phasing of the two streams on Friday. Have gone with 50 percent PoP's for Friday, then decreased them Friday night before keeping Saturday mainly dry. This particular pattern indicates a pretty good shot of cold air coming into the Great Lakes during the weekend. How far it gets south into our area remains to be seen. Geelhart && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WIND ADVISORY until 6 PM CST this evening FOR ILZ040-047>057- 061>063-066>068-071>073. HIGH WIND WARNING until 6 PM CST this evening FOR ILZ027>031- 036>038-041>046. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL 1121 AM CST SUN NOV 17 2013 ILZ027>031-036-037-041-042-181200- FULTON-KNOX-LOGAN-MARSHALL-MASON-PEORIA-STARK-TAZEWELL-WOODFORD- 1121 AM CST SUN NOV 17 2013 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A COLD FRONT WILL SWEEP THROUGH THE REGION TODAY...TRIGGERING SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH POTENTIAL STRONG TORNADOES POSSIBLE. THE LATEST INDICATIONS SUGGEST STORMS WILL PUSH EAST OF I-55 AFTER 1 PM. DAMAGING WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH AND TORNADOES WILL BE THE PRIMARY THREATS. IN ADDITION TO THE STORMS...SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS WILL BE SUSTAINED AROUND 40 MPH WITH GUSTS AS HIGH AS 60 MPH POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED BETWEEN 9 AM AND 2 PM TODAY. ILZ040-047>051-181200- CASS-MENARD-MORGAN-SANGAMON-SCHUYLER-SCOTT- 1121 AM CST SUN NOV 17 2013 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A COLD FRONT WILL SWEEP THROUGH THE REGION TODAY...TRIGGERING SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH POTENTIAL STRONG TORNADOES POSSIBLE. THE LATEST INDICATIONS SUGGEST STORMS WILL PUSH EAST OF I-55 AFTER 1 PM. DAMAGING WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH AND TORNADOES WILL BE THE PRIMARY THREATS. IN ADDITION TO THE STORMS...STRONG SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS WILL GUST TO BETWEEN 40 AND 45 MPH AT TIMES TODAY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED BETWEEN 9 AM AND 2 PM TODAY. ILZ052>057-061>063-066>068-071>073-181200- CHRISTIAN-CLARK-CLAY-COLES-CRAWFORD-CUMBERLAND-DOUGLAS-EDGAR- EFFINGHAM-JASPER-LAWRENCE-MACON-MOULTRIE-RICHLAND-SHELBY- 1121 AM CST SUN NOV 17 2013 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS...EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS AND SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A COLD FRONT WILL SWEEP THROUGH THE REGION TODAY...TRIGGERING SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. THE LATEST INDICATIONS SUGGEST STORMS WILL PUSH EAST OF U.S.51 AFTER 1 PM...THEN WILL REACH THE ILLINOIS INDIANA BORDER BETWEEN 4 AND 5 PM. DAMAGING WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH AND ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL BE THE PRIMARY THREATS. A FEW ISOLATED CELLS MAY DEVELOP AHEAD OF THE MAIN LINE...PROVIDING AN ENHANCED RISK FOR TORNADOES. IN ADDITION TO THE STORMS...STRONG SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS WILL GUST TO BETWEEN 40 AND 45 MPH AT TIMES TODAY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED BETWEEN NOON AND 6 PM TODAY. ILZ038-043>046-181200- CHAMPAIGN-DE WITT-MCLEAN-PIATT-VERMILION- 1121 AM CST SUN NOV 17 2013 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS AND EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A COLD FRONT WILL SWEEP THROUGH THE REGION TODAY...TRIGGERING SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. THE LATEST INDICATIONS SUGGEST STORMS WILL PUSH EAST OF U.S.51 AFTER 1 PM...THEN WILL REACH THE ILLINOIS INDIANA BORDER BETWEEN 4 AND 5 PM. DAMAGING WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH AND ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL BE THE PRIMARY THREATS. A FEW ISOLATED CELLS MAY DEVELOP AHEAD OF THE MAIN LINE...PROVIDING AN ENHANCED RISK FOR TORNADOES. IN ADDITION TO THE STORMS...SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS WILL BE SUSTAINED AROUND 40 MPH... WITH GUSTS AS HIGH AS 60 MPH POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED BETWEEN NOON AND 5 PM TODAY. BARKER
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
1213 PM CST SUN NOV 17 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1122 AM TSTM WND DMG PETERSBURG 40.01N 89.85W
11/17/2013 MENARD IL EMERGENCY MNGR
TREE LIMBS DOWN
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
1217 PM CST SUN NOV 17 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1214 PM HAIL ASSUMPTION 39.52N 89.05W
11/17/2013 M2.75 INCH CHRISTIAN IL EMERGENCY MNGR
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
1220 PM CST SUN NOV 17 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1117 AM TSTM WND DMG HARTSBURG 40.25N 89.44W
11/17/2013 LOGAN IL EMERGENCY MNGR
SEMI BLOWN OVER ON I-155. TIME ESTIMATED.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
1237 PM CST SUN NOV 17 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1234 PM TORNADO 1 N ALTAMONT 39.07N 88.75W
11/17/2013 EFFINGHAM IL LAW ENFORCEMENT
ESTIMATED HALF MILE WIDE
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
1241 PM CST SUN NOV 17 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1240 PM TSTM WND GST SEYMOUR 40.10N 88.42W
11/17/2013 E70 MPH CHAMPAIGN IL EMERGENCY MNGR
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
1244 PM CST SUN NOV 17 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1228 PM TSTM WND DMG SAYBROOK 40.43N 88.53W
11/17/2013 MCLEAN IL TRAINED SPOTTER
SEVERAL TREES UPROOTED. NUMEROUS HOMES WITH SHINGLE
DAMAGE. TIME ESTIMATED.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Power lines were blown down near Jerome.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, November 2013
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: 484835.