An upper-level disturbance interacting with a stalled frontal boundary along the I-70 corridor triggered scattered strong to severe thunderstorms across portions of central and southeast Illinois during the afternoon of August 26th. Some of the storms produced damaging wind gusts of around 60 mph and hail as large as quarters, particularly across Moultrie, Coles, and Edgar counties.
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 ILX wrote it up.
An upper-level disturbance interacting with a stalled frontal boundary along the I-70 corridor triggered scattered strong to severe thunderstorms across portions of central and southeast Illinois during the afternoon of August 26th. Some of the storms produced damaging wind gusts of around 60 mph and hail as large as quarters, particularly across Moultrie, Coles, and Edgar counties. In addition, heavy downpours led to localized flash flooding of several rural roads in northeast Coles 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 Lincoln, IL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 26, 11:49 AM CST, 1 hour 56 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 1249 PM CDT FRI AUG 26 2016 .UPDATE... Issued at 1022 AM CDT Fri Aug 26 2016 15z/10am surface analysis shows stationary frontal boundary extending from southern Indiana W/SW into the Ozarks. A couple clusters of showers and thunderstorms are currently ongoing well north of the boundary...one between Peoria and Bloomington and another near Quincy. These storms are tracking E/NE and will mainly impact locations along/north of a Jacksonville to Bloomington line over the next few hours. Additional showers are developing upstream across central/southwest Missouri, and am expecting those to arrive by mid to late afternoon. Based on radar trends and 12z NAM/HRRR forecast, have gone with scattered showers and thunderstorms along/north of a Jacksonville to Bloomington line...with only isolated storms further east and south. Have updated sky cover as well to go with more sunshine along/east of I-57 through at least early afternoon. High temperatures will range from the upper 70s to around 80 degrees across the Illinois River Valley where clouds and showers will be most prevalent...to around 90 degrees south of I-70 where sunshine will persist the longest. && .SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight) ISSUED AT 304 AM CDT Fri Aug 26 2016 A stationary frontal boundary appears oriented roughly along I-70 early this morning, with scattered showers and storms north of the front between I-70 and Peoria. The storms are progressing into a more stable airmass, per SPC mesoanalysis graphics, however shear values of 35kts will be present ahead of the storms. We still expect coverage and intensity of the storms to gradually diminish as we head into the daylight hours. The better instability will continue south of the stationary front, where little convection is occurring at the moment. Patchy fog is expected around sunrise across the area, with widespread dewpoint depressions 2F or less. The front is projected to make a slow shift northward later today and tonight, with more favorable instability and shear parameters expanding as far north as I-74 by 00z/7pm. The high res models point toward storms expanding in coverage from SW to NE this afternoon, which seems reasonable based on the projected frontal progression. The GFS/NAM/GEM/ECMWF all point toward an MCS impacting NW Illinois, including our northwest counties later tonight as well, so ramped up PoPs to likely after midnight NW of the IL river. There should be enough of a break in the rain today that periods of sun will push high temps into the upper 80s S of I-70, with around 80 toward Galesburg. Dewpoints are expected to climb into the upper 60s to low 70s by tonight, which will set the stage for muggy low temps in the same range. .LONG TERM...(Saturday through Thursday) ISSUED AT 304 AM CDT Fri Aug 26 2016 Upper trough currently digging over Montana/Idaho to eject eastward this weekend. Convective complex that is progged to form over Iowa and northern Missouri this evening will push eastward overnight and Saturday morning. High-resolution model guidance shows some breaks in the rain during the afternoon, with another round of convection forming over west central Illinois by late afternoon and lifting northeast as the wave passes through. The upper level pattern will undergo some transition this weekend, as the persistent high over the southeast U.S. forms more of an east- west axis which will push the main storm track closer to the Canadian border early next week. The longer range models show some amplification of the high east of the Rockies by Tuesday, edging eastward as the week progresses. This will keep the trend of warm and humid weather much of the upcoming week. The main question will be how far south any shortwaves in the storm track can penetrate the high. The ECMWF solution is generally on the drier side and trends toward some diurnal, scattered activity, while the GFS remains quite wet through the period. Leaned more toward the drier solution with PoP's generally around the 30-35% range early in the week, before transitioning toward slight chances midweek with a surface high trying to build southward into the Mississippi Valley. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Saturday afternoon) Issued at 1249 PM CDT Fri Aug 26 2016 Widespread mid-level cloud cover will continue to blanket the area through the afternoon. Latest satellite/radar trends suggest most of the convection will develop closer to the stationary frontal boundary across southeast Illinois...with only isolated showers further north at the central Illinois terminals. Will only carry VCSH accordingly. Main aviation question will be timing/extent of convection later tonight into Saturday morning, as front begins to return northward. Model solutions vary, with the Rapid Refresh showing widespread showers/thunder developing along/west of I-55 as early as this evening, while the NAM/GFS tend to keep the majority of the precip further west across Iowa/Missouri until after midnight. Based on current radar trends, have sided with the NAM/GFS consensus here. As a result, have introduced predominant rain showers with VCTS at KPIA by 07z...then further east to KCMI by 09z. At this time, will maintain low VFR ceilings during the precip, but have reduced visbys down to around 4 miles. && .ILX Watches/Warnings/Advisories... NONE. && UPDATE...Barnes SHORT TERM...Shimon LONG TERM...Geelhart AVIATION...Barnes
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL 1137 AM CDT FRI AUG 26 2016 ILZ027>031-036>038-040>043-047>051-271100- CASS-DE WITT-FULTON-KNOX-LOGAN-MARSHALL-MASON-MCLEAN-MENARD- MORGAN-PEORIA-SANGAMON-SCHUYLER-SCOTT-STARK-TAZEWELL-WOODFORD- 1137 AM CDT FRI AUG 26 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS...NORTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS AND WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT WIDELY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR THIS AFTERNOON, WITH STORMS INCREASING IN COVERAGE AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE STORMS IS LOW...BUT HEAVY RAINFALL AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING WILL BE POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE LIKELY SATURDAY MORNING. PERIODS OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR THE REST OF THE WEEKEND INTO THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK AS WELL. THE PROBABILITY OF WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED THROUGH TONIGHT. ILZ044>046-052>057-061>063-066>068-071>073-271100- CHAMPAIGN-CHRISTIAN-CLARK-CLAY-COLES-CRAWFORD-CUMBERLAND-DOUGLAS- EDGAR-EFFINGHAM-JASPER-LAWRENCE-MACON-MOULTRIE-PIATT-RICHLAND- SHELBY-VERMILION- 1137 AM CDT FRI AUG 26 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS...EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS...SOUTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS AND SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR THIS AFTERNOON, WITH STORMS INCREASING IN COVERAGE AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE LIKELY SATURDAY MORNING. PERIODS OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR THE REST OF THE WEEKEND INTO THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK AS WELL. THE PROBABILITY OF WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED THROUGH TONIGHT. BARNES
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
1100 AM CDT FRI AUG 26 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN ESE NEW HOLLAND 40.18N 89.58W
08/26/2016 M1.17 INCH LOGAN IL COCORAHS
&&
JRPSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL 152 PM CDT FRI AUG 26 2016 ILZ066-067-071-072-261930- CLAY-EFFINGHAM-JASPER-RICHLAND- 152 PM CDT FRI AUG 26 2016 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN JASPER... NORTHWESTERN RICHLAND...CENTRAL CLAY AND SOUTHEASTERN EFFINGHAM COUNTIES UNTIL 230 PM CDT... AT 152 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER LOUISVILLE...OR 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF FLORA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH. WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... LOUISVILLE...BIBLE GROVE...WHEELER...SAILOR SPRINGS...INGRAHAM... BOGOTA...HORD...WAKEFIELD...NEWTON LAKE...LATONA AND WENDELIN. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE. && LAT...LON 3867 8857 3879 8866 3906 8833 3883 8810 TIME...MOT...LOC 1852Z 240DEG 14KT 3877 8854 BARNES
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
155 PM CDT FRI AUG 26 2016
ILZ057-261945-
EDGAR-
155 PM CDT FRI AUG 26 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EDGAR COUNTY UNTIL 245 PM CDT...
AT 154 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
REDMON...OR 13 MILES WEST OF PARIS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
PARIS...CHRISMAN...KANSAS...HUME...BROCTON...REDMON...EDGAR...
ISABEL...METCALF...EDGAR COUNTY AIRPORT...SCOTTLAND AND BORTON.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD
TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
&&
LAT...LON 3952 8796 3974 8797 3988 8773 3988 8762
3987 8761 3987 8757 3988 8757 3988 8754
3984 8753 3963 8753
TIME...MOT...LOC 1854Z 240DEG 13KT 3965 8793
BARNESThe Indianapolis radar (KIND), 120 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:43 UTC.
4 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Multiple 2 to 3-inch diameter tree branches were blown down.
Several tree limbs were blown onto houses and nine power lines were reported down on the east side of Paris.
Heavy downpours flooded several roads in northeast Coles County, including the main county highway between Oakland and Ashmore which was impassable due to flowing water. A small part of Illinois Route 133 east of Oakland was also flooded. Several small creeks and streams feeding into the Little Embarras River also flooded very quickly.
A tree was blown onto power lines on Harrison Street in Charleston.
A tree was blown down at Route 10 and West Street in Weldon. A tree was also blown down onto Lynn Street.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, August 2016
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: 656863, 656861, 656864, 658369, 656862, 656865, 656866.