Hail and Damaging Wind in Illinois, April 28, 2014

Name: Hail and Damaging Wind in Illinois, April 28, 2014
Start: 2014-04-28T13:30
End: 2014-04-28T16:37
Location: Illinois

April 28, 2014 · NWS LSX · 9 events in 6 counties and zones

A strong cold front moved through the region triggering thunderstorms. Some of the storms produced large hail and damaging winds.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 9

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS LSX wrote it up.

A strong cold front moved through the region triggering thunderstorms. Some of the storms produced large hail and damaging winds.

What forecasters said that day

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 St. Louis, MO wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 28, 10:36 AM CST, 2 hours 54 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 28, 10:36 AM CST, 2 hours 54 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
1136 AM CDT Mon Apr 28 2014

.UPDATE:
Issued at 1135 AM CDT Mon Apr 28 2014

Large cumulus field has recently developed across central Missouri
in convergence zone just ahead of surface cold front/dryline.
Environment is becoming increasing unstable with latest 16Z SPC
MLCAPES showing 500-1000 J/kg over central and eastern Missouri
with little CINH right ahead of the front. Current thinking is
that thunderstorms will develop in the next hour or two right
ahead of the the front and move east and northeast across eastern
Missouri into Illinois during the afternoon hours. Severe threat
including hail and damaging winds continues given the increasing
instability and impressive deep layer shear. Also, 0-1km SRH
values are currently between 100 and 250 across eastern Missouri
and Illinois support an isolated tornado risk.

Britt

&&

.SHORT TERM:  (Through Late This Afternoon)
Issued at 152 AM CDT Mon Apr 28 2014

Latest HRRR weakens most of the convection currently across our
forecast area, or shifts it southeast of the region by 12z Monday.
There may be a brief lull in the convection early this morning, then
new convection should break out late this morning and early this
afternoon from Edina to Quincy and south through the St Louis metro
area to the FAM area, then shift eastward through our IL counties
later this afternoon.  This will occur as a shortwave ejects out of
the southern Plains into southeast MO and a cold front/dry line
surges eastward into eastern MO by 00z Tue.  Should have CAPEs up to
2000-2500 J/Kg ahead of the cold front around 18z Monday with
surface LI values down to around -10.  Strongest low-mid level wind
shear should be across southeast MO and southwest IL with strong
500 mb wind max moving through AR into portions of southeast MO,
southern IL, and western portions of TN and KY.  The severe weather
threat should be over the eastern portion of our area, in portions
of west central and southwest IL with the primary threat being large
hail and damaging winds.  This will occur from the late morning,
through the afternoon and into the early evening hours.

GKS

.LONG TERM:  (Tonight through Sunday)
Issued at 341 AM CDT Mon Apr 28 2014

The showers and thunderstorms should be confined to areas east of
the Mississippi River this evening and should be weakening by late
evening as the higher surface dewpoints and instability shifts east
of our forecast area.  Little if any precipitation should be left
late tonight.  Temperatures will be cooler tonight due to low level
cold air advection in our area south of the upper level and
associated surface low.  More showers and a few thunderstorms on
Tuesday as the moisture wraps around the slow moving upper/surface
low north of our area.  The best chance for rain will be across the
northwest half of our forecast area.  The models keep the showers
going Tuesday night as shortwaves rotate around the mid-upper level
low.  The gradual cooling trend will continue with well below normal
temperatures for Wednesday and Wednesday night.  The GFS and ECMWF
models drop the zero degree C 850 mb isotherm southeastward into our
forecast area Tuesday night or Wednesday, the cooler NAM even
earlier.  Although there will likely be rain across our area again
on Wednesday it should be on the light side.  The rain should be
mainly diurnal on Thursday and Friday and favor the northern portion
of our forecast area as the upper level low weakens and moves into
the Great Lakes region.  Will see warmer high temperatures for the
weekend as the upper level heights begin to rise and southerly
surface/low level flow returns Saturday night.  Low-mid level warm
air advection ahead of a weak shortwave and associated surface low
may bring showers to the extreme northern portion of our forecast
area late Saturday night and Sunday.

GKS

&&

.AVIATION:  (For the 12z TAFs through 12z Tuesday Morning)
Issued at 633 AM CDT Mon Apr 28 2014

VFR conditions outside of TSRA will prevail at the TAF sites thru
the valid period. Another round of TSRA is expected to develop
mainly east of the MS river around midday, leaving UIN and the STL
Metro sites on the backedge of what does form. Due to these TAF
sites being on the backedge, have elected to keep VCTS mention
versus TEMPO until we get closer to initiation time. What does
develop should shove off to the northeast by late afternoon. Gusty
southerly winds are expected, diminishing tonight.

Specifics for KSTL: VFR outside of TSRA thru the valid period.
Another round of TSRA is expected to develop over the STL Metro
area around midday with what does form shoving off to the
northeast by mid-afternoon. Due to the terminal anticipated to
being on the backedge, have elected to keep VCTS mention versus
TEMPO until we get closer to initiation time. Gusty southerly
winds are expected, diminishing tonight.

TES

&&

.LSX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES:
MO...NONE.
IL...NONE.
&&

WFO LSX

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 28, 11:05 AM CST, 2 hours 25 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
1205 PM CDT MON APR 28 2014

ILZ058>060-064-065-069-070-074-079-095>102-MOZ018-019-026-027-
034>036-041-042-047>052-059>065-072>075-084-085-099-291200-
GREENE IL-MACOUPIN IL-MONTGOMERY IL-BOND IL-FAYETTE IL-CLINTON IL-
MARION IL-WASHINGTON IL-RANDOLPH IL-ADAMS IL-BROWN IL-PIKE IL-
CALHOUN IL-JERSEY IL-MADISON IL-ST. CLAIR IL-MONROE IL-KNOX MO-
LEWIS MO-SHELBY MO-MARION MO-MONROE MO-RALLS MO-PIKE MO-BOONE MO-
AUDRAIN MO-MONITEAU MO-COLE MO-OSAGE MO-CALLAWAY MO-MONTGOMERY MO-
LINCOLN MO-GASCONADE MO-WARREN MO-ST. CHARLES MO-FRANKLIN MO-
ST. LOUIS MO-ST. LOUIS CITY MO-JEFFERSON MO-CRAWFORD MO-
WASHINGTON MO-ST. FRANCOIS MO-STE. GENEVIEVE MO-IRON MO-
MADISON MO-REYNOLDS MO-
1205 PM CDT MON APR 28 2014

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN AND
CENTRAL MISSOURI AS WELL AS WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP EARLY THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS
PORTIONS OF CENTRAL MISSOURI WITH THE THREAT FOR THUNDERSTORMS
SPREADING EASTWARD ACROSS EASTERN MISSOURI AND INTO WEST CENTRAL
AND SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS. SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE
THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING...CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY SEVERE WEATHER TO THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

TILLY

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 28, 1:01 PM CST, 29 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
201 PM CDT MON APR 28 2014

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0200 PM     HAIL             JONESBURG               38.85N  91.31W
04/28/2014  M1.75 INCH       MONTGOMERY         MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

CVKING

Local storm report, Apr 28, 1:05 PM CST, 25 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
205 PM CDT MON APR 28 2014

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0200 PM     HAIL             MONTGOMERY CITY         38.98N  91.51W
04/28/2014  M1.00 INCH       MONTGOMERY         MO   AMATEUR RADIO

            HAIL UP TO AN INCH IN DIAMETER COVERING THE GROUND.

&&

FUCHS

Local storm report, Apr 28, 1:12 PM CST, 18 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
212 PM CDT MON APR 28 2014

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0210 PM     TSTM WND GST     WARRENTON               38.82N  91.14W
04/28/2014  E40 MPH          WARREN             MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MODERATE RAIN WITH NO HAIL.

&&

FUCHS

Local storm report, Apr 28, 1:13 PM CST, 17 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
213 PM CDT MON APR 28 2014

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0211 PM     HAIL             BOWLING GREEN           39.34N  91.20W
04/28/2014  E1.00 INCH       PIKE               MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAIL RANGING FROM PEA-SIZED UP TO AN INCH IN DIAMETER.

&&

FUCHS

Local storm report, Apr 28, 1:19 PM CST, 11 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
219 PM CDT MON APR 28 2014

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0216 PM     HAIL             QUINCY                  39.93N  91.39W
04/28/2014  E0.70 INCH       ADAMS              IL   AMATEUR RADIO

            DIME SIZED HAIL NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAYS 96
            AND 172.

&&

FUCHS

Local storm report, Apr 28, 1:27 PM CST, 3 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
227 PM CDT MON APR 28 2014

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0226 PM     HAIL             WASHINGTON              38.55N  91.01W
04/28/2014  M0.25 INCH       FRANKLIN           MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

CVKING

The radar

The St Louis radar (KLSX), 154 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:28 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Adams

When: April 28, 1:30 PM CST
Where: Adams County, 0.25 mi NNE of Paloma
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.023, -91.199

Hail, Adams

When: April 28, 1:38 PM CST
Where: Adams County, 0.7 mi NW of Liberty
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.878, -91.108

Thunderstorm Wind, Jersey

When: April 28, 2:40 PM CST
Where: Jersey County, 0.42 mi SSE of Dow
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.014, -90.328

Thunderstorm winds blew down a large tree and numerous large tree limbs just east of Dow.

Hail, Madison

When: April 28, 3:10 PM CST
Where: Madison County, Granite City
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.720, -90.130

Hail, Madison

When: April 28, 3:12 PM CST to 3:20 PM CST
Where: Madison County, 1.29 mi WSW of East Alton to 0.31 mi ENE of (Aln)stl Rgnl Arpt A
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 38.861, -90.101

Hail, Macoupin

When: April 28, 3:40 PM CST to 3:50 PM CST
Where: Macoupin County, Mt Olive
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.070, -89.730

Hail, Montgomery

When: April 28, 4:15 PM CST to 4:20 PM CST
Where: Montgomery County, Hillsboro to 1 mi N of Irving
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.150, -89.480

Hail, St. Clair

When: April 28, 4:29 PM CST
Where: St. Clair County, 0.7 mi NE of State Park Place
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 38.657, -90.041

Hail, Madison

When: April 28, 4:37 PM CST
Where: Madison County, 0.81 mi E of Collinsville
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 38.671, -89.985

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Illinois in 2014 Every state in 2014 This day in weather history Warnings in Illinois, April 2014

Sources

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: 516583, 516585, 516616, 516612, 516613, 516615, 516617, 516618, 516619.