The active June weather pattern continued through July, bringing fronts that moved in and near the regional river basins. After having the wettest June on record, the state of Illinois experienced a very wet July.
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 PAH wrote it up.
The active June weather pattern continued through July, bringing fronts that moved in and near the regional river basins. After having the wettest June on record, the state of Illinois experienced a very wet July. Flooding continued or started again on many rivers in the Mississippi, Wabash, and Ohio Valleys.
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 Paducah, KY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 30, 11:17 PM CST, 43 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 1217 AM CDT WED JUL 1 2015 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 1217 AM CDT WED JUL 1 2015 UPDATED AVIATION DISCUSSION ONLY. && .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 151 PM CDT TUE JUN 30 2015 LARGE AREA OF SMOKE ESTIMATED TO BE 10-15K/FT THICK ACROSS THE REGION SLOWING CU DEVELOPMENT. TEMPS STILL CLIMBING SO NOT ENOUGH TO AFFECT THAT ELEMENT. CU SEEN BECOMING MORE PREVALENT IN WEST KY. COULD BE CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT HERE. MEANWHILE ENERGY MOVING SE MAY BRING CONVECTION AS WELL TO THE KEVV TRI-STATE REGION LATE TODAY AND THIS EVENING WITH LOWER POPS WEST. AFTER MIDNIGHT...SLIM POPS INCREASING TOWARD DAYBREAK FROM SW IL INTO SEMO. STILL HAVE A SLIGHT RISK AREA FROM SPC FOR OUR NE COUNTIES. MID AND UPPER LEVEL WIND SPEEDS DECENT FOR LATE JUNE. QUESTION WILL BE INSTABILITY AS BEST CAPES ARE CURRENTLY ACROSS WEST KY AND TO OUR NORTH. WEDNESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT...DECIDED TO HOLD OFF ON A FAA (FLOOD/FLASH FLOOD WATCH) PRODUCT. MODELS STILL HAVING DIFFICULTY PIN POINTING MCS DEVELOPMENT/PROPAGATION AND WHERE BEST QPF AXIS WILL ACTUALLY END UP. SUCH LOW CONFIDENCE PRECLUDES A WATCH AT THIS TIME. THAT...AND WE THINK PROBLEMS WOULD REALLY NOT DEVELOP UNTIL WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THEREFORE WE CAN STILL ACHIEVE SOME LEAD TIME IF WE NEED ONE. NOT TOO CONCERNED ABOUT SEVERE GIVEN MARGINAL LAPSE RATES...SUPPRESSED CAPE/INSTABILITY GIVEN PERIODIC CLOUDS AND CONVECTION. CHANCE IS NOT ZERO...BUT NOT TOO HIGH. BEST POPS WILL TRANSLATE SE THUR/THURSDAY NIGHT. .LONG TERM...(FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY) ISSUED AT 246 PM CDT TUE JUN 30 2015 MODEL CONSISTENCY REMAINS VERY GOOD DURING THE LONG TERM. THE 500 MB LONGWAVE TROUGH WILL VERY SLOWLY WEAKEN AND LIFT NORTHEAST THROUGH THE PERIOD. THIS WILL RESULT IN A SLOW DOWNWARD TICK IN PRECIP COVERAGE AND AN UPWARD TICK IN TEMPERATURES. HOWEVER...THE SMALL CHANGES WILL BE MAINLY AFTER THE IMPORTANT FOURTH OF JULY HOLIDAY. ON FRIDAY...A WEAK LOW PRESSURE CENTER WILL BE OVER CENTRAL KENTUCKY. OUR REGION WILL BE UNDER BROAD CYCLONIC FLOW THROUGH A DEEP LAYER OF THE ATMOSPHERE. THIS WILL YIELD PLENTY OF CLOUD COVER AND PROBABLY SOME INSTABILITY SHOWERS OR STORMS. IN ADDITION...THE NEXT 500 MB SHORTWAVE WILL BE MOVING SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE MISSOURI VALLEY. THIS SYSTEM WILL KEEP ACTIVITY GOING THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. INSTABILITY SHOULD BE RATHER MEAGER WITH THE CLOUDS AND NORTHERLY COMPONENT TO THE FLOW. THUNDERSTORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BE WIDESPREAD OR STRONG. ON THE FOURTH OF JULY...THE SURFACE FRONT IS EXPECTED TO DRIFT NORTHWARD ACROSS THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY...THEN MOVE NORTHEAST OF OUR REGION ON SUNDAY. WEAK TROUGHING ALOFT WILL MAINTAIN RESIDENCE OVER OUR AREA. POPS WILL REMAIN ABOUT 50 PERCENT THROUGH THE WEEKEND. EARLY NEXT WEEK...THE MODELS REMAIN CONSISTENT WITH THE TREND TOWARD HIGHER 500 MB HEIGHTS AND INCREASING SOUTHWEST LOW LEVEL FLOW. DESPITE THE RISING HEIGHTS...SCATTERED STORMS ARE EXPECTED AS SHORTWAVE ENERGY MOVING EAST/SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST AND GREAT LAKES REGION WILL BRUSH PAST OUR REGION. TEMPS AND DEW POINTS WILL CLIMB EVER SO SLOWLY DURING THE PERIOD...FROM AROUND 80 FRIDAY TO THE UPPER 80S TUESDAY. OVERNIGHT LOWS WILL RISE FROM THE UPPER 60S TO LOWER 70S. && .AVIATION... ISSUED AT 1217 AM CDT WED JUL 1 2015 SMOKE IN A LAYER BETWEEN 5K AND 20K FT WILL CONTINUE TO RESTRICT SLANT VSBYS OVERNIGHT. MEANWHILE...WINDS WILL BE LIGHT...WITH VFR VSBYS EXPECTED OVERNIGHT. BY MIDDAY WED...AN APPROACHING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL GENERATE MORE SHOWERS AND A FEW TSTMS ACROSS PARTS OF THE REGION. THROUGH 06 THU...VSBYS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BE REDUCED DRAMATICALLY IN A WIDESPREAD FASHION IN SHOWER/TSTM ACTIVITY. OUTSIDE OF TSTMS...WINDS WILL BE QUITE VARIABLE AND BELOW 10 KTS. && .PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...NONE. MO...NONE. IN...NONE. KY...NONE. && SHORT TERM...CN LONG TERM...MY AVIATION...DB
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 159 PM CDT TUE JUN 30 2015 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-011000- JEFFERSON-WAYNE IL-EDWARDS-WABASH-PERRY IL-FRANKLIN-HAMILTON- WHITE-JACKSON-WILLIAMSON-SALINE-GALLATIN-UNION IL-JOHNSON-POPE- HARDIN-ALEXANDER-PULASKI-MASSAC-GIBSON-PIKE-POSEY-VANDERBURGH- WARRICK-SPENCER-FULTON-HICKMAN-CARLISLE-BALLARD-MCCRACKEN-GRAVES- LIVINGSTON-MARSHALL-CALLOWAY-CRITTENDEN-LYON-TRIGG-CALDWELL- UNION KY-WEBSTER-HOPKINS-CHRISTIAN-HENDERSON-DAVIESS-MCLEAN- MUHLENBERG-TODD-PERRY MO-BOLLINGER-CAPE GIRARDEAU-WAYNE MO-CARTER- RIPLEY-BUTLER-STODDARD-SCOTT-MISSISSIPPI-NEW MADRID- 159 PM CDT TUE JUN 30 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...SOUTHWEST INDIANA...WESTERN KENTUCKY AND SOUTHEAST MISSOURI. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE FORECAST THROUGH TONIGHT. A FEW STRONG OR BRIEFLY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CANNOT BE RULED OUT MAINLY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE PRIMARY HAZARDS WILL BE LOCALLY STRONG WINDS...HAIL AND VERY HEAVY RAIN. THE BEST CHANCE WILL BE EAST OF A LINE FROM MOUNT VERNON ILLINOIS TO HOPKINSVILLE KENTUCKY FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY. FLOODING CONTINUES ON SEVERAL AREA RIVERS. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST FLOOD STATEMENTS FOR DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE FORECAST TO INCREASE WEDNESDAY AND BECOME WIDESPREAD BY WEDNESDAY NIGHT...HEADING SOUTHEAST THURSDAY. VERY HEAVY RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE WHICH MAY LEAD TO SOME FLOODING. THE TRACK OF HIGHEST RAINFALL IS STILL UNCERTAIN. A FEW STRONG OR ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS CANNOT BE RULED OUT...WITH WIND AND HAIL THE PRIMARY HAZARDS. THE DAILY CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE INTO THE WEEKEND AND EARLY NEXT WEEK AS WELL. RIVER FLOODING WILL CONTINUE. REFER TO THE FLOOD STATEMENTS FOR DETAILS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS SHOULD MAINTAIN A BASIC WEATHER WATCH IN CASE THEIR ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
11 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Minor flooding continued along the Ohio River from late June through most of July. The flooding inundated mainly agricultural bottomland and surrounding low-lying areas.
Moderate flooding occurred on the Ohio River. The flooding continued from June and increased to moderate intensity. At the Cairo river gage, the river crested at 48.71 feet on the 7th. Flood stage there is 40 feet. The flooding inundated mainly agricultural bottomland and surrounding low-lying areas. Parts of Fort Defiance State Park at the confluence of the Mississippi River were flooded.
Flooding on the Mississippi River continued from June into July and increased to major levels. At the Thebes river gage, the river crested at 42.02 feet on the 3rd. Flood stage is 33 feet. Extensive flooding of lowland fields occurred, including many acres of cropland. Residents of small communities such as Thebes and Gale were forced to evacuate or use boats to access their homes. Most roads leading to riverfront property were cut off by floodwaters. Some basements were flooded. Backwater flooding along tributary creeks affected many areas, including the inland community of McClure. Flooded streets in McClure impacted several families, who needed a boat to safely reach their homes.
Moderate flooding of the Mississippi River continued from June into mid-July. Parts of Devil's Backbone Park in Grand Tower were underwater.
Moderate flooding continued on the Mississippi River from June through much of July. Extensive flooding of lowland fields occurred, including many acres of cropland. Most roads leading to riverfront property were cut off by floodwaters. Backwater flooding along tributary creeks such as Clear Creek affected some residents south and west of Jonesboro and Cobden. Several residents were forced to evacuate or use boats to access their homes.
Moderate flooding continued along the Big Muddy River from June into much of July. At the Murphysboro river gage, the river crested in late June at 31.22 feet. Flood stage is 22 feet. There was considerable flooding of low-lying areas, including a riverside park and some fields. A few streets near the river were flooded. This was similar to the flood of June, 2013.
Moderate flooding continued along the Little Wabash River from June into mid-July. At the Carmi river gage, the river crested at 34.52 feet in late June. Flood stage is 27 feet. Areas near Routes 1 and 14 in Carmi flooded. County roads were inundated.
Minor flooding continued along the Wabash River from June through most of July. Some low-lying fields and woodlands were inundated.
Moderate flooding continued on the Wabash River from June through most of July. At the Mount Carmel river gage, the river crested at 25.8 feet in late June. Flood stage is 19 feet. Extensive lowland flooding occurred. Numerous local river roads were flooded. Some mobile homes were moved out of the flood plain. Installation of flood gate A at Mount Carmel was necessary. Access to local camp sites and river cabins was blocked, but there was minimal impact to commercial activities because of the gate closure. County Road 1280 E was flooded. Some nearby oil fields were inaccessible. A couple of streets in the city were flooded.
Minor flooding occurred along the Ohio River. The flooding affected mainly bottomland woods, including parts of Fort Massac State Park.
Minor flooding occurred along the Ohio River. The flooding affected mainly bottomland fields and surrounding low lying areas. The boat ramp and parking lot at Old Shawneetown were under water.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, July 2015
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: 589165, 589168, 589179, 589181, 589182, 589190, 589192, 589193, 589195, 589162, 589160.