An approaching cold front interacted with a very warm and humid airmass to trigger a line of strong to severe thunderstorms across central and southeast Illinois during the afternoon and early evening of July 13th. The line of storms produced wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph and numerous reports of wind damage from the Illinois River Valley eastward to the Illinois-Indiana border.
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 approaching cold front interacted with a very warm and humid airmass to trigger a line of strong to severe thunderstorms across central and southeast Illinois during the afternoon and early evening of July 13th. The line of storms produced wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph and numerous reports of wind damage from the Illinois River Valley eastward to the Illinois-Indiana border. The most significant damage occurred when a downburst with winds of up to 90 mph flipped over a mobile home just north of Sailor Springs in Clay County. One person was injured.
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 Jul 13, 2:06 PM CST, 3 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 306 PM CDT WED JUL 13 2016 .SHORT TERM...(Tonight) ISSUED AT 305 PM CDT Wed Jul 13 2016 SPC issued a severe thunderstorm watch until 9 pm across our CWA. A cluster of strong to severe thunderstorms was over eastern parts of Vermilion, Edgar and Clark counties pushing ENE around 30 mph into IN. A large MCS with a line of strong to severe thunderstorms was pushing into far western IL near MS river valley from IA/MO. CAPES have risen to 3-4k J/kg across CWA ahead of the storms and 0-6 km bulk shear was increasing between 30-45 kts over western IL at mid afternoon near the storms. Dewpoints in the low to mid 70s and temps in the mid 80s to lower 90s was supporting these higher CAPES. Heat indices were 100-105F in southeast IL where more sunshine today and in the 90s over central IL. MCS is moving eastward around 30 mph and HRRR brings these thunderstorms east toward the IL/IN border by 00Z and then diminishing from west to east during mid/late evening. Pops were lowered overnight behind this MCS with lingering 30-50% chance pops over southeast IL while slight chances in central IL. Muggy lows overnight mostly in the lower 70s with some upper 60s nw of IL river. && .LONG TERM...(Thursday through Wednesday) ISSUED AT 305 PM CDT Wed Jul 13 2016 SPC day2 outlook has expanded the marginal risk of severe thunderstorms Thu afternoon to as far north as I-72. A frontal boundary over the upper MS river valley over nw parts of WI/IA is progged to track southeast across central IL Thu morning and thru southeast IL during Thu afternoon. Still some instability along and ahead of the front supporting marginal risk of severe storms south of I-72 Thu afternoon though coverage will be much lower than today. High Thu in the mid to upper 80s while dewpoints in the mid 60s nw over IL river valley, and lower 70s in southeast IL. Afternoon heat index values peak in mid 90s in southeast IL south of I-70. Lingered slight chance of showers/thunderstorms over southeast IL Thu night into Fri night closer to frontal boundary and some weak instability over southern IL. Cooler highs around 80F from I-74 north on Friday with mid 80s southeast of I-70. Saturday still looks dry across CWA with highs of 80-85F and dewpoints in the low to mid 60s. Have slight chance of showers/thunderstorms far nw CWA overnight Sat night ahead of approaching weather system moving into the upper Midwest. Most of our CWA should still be dry on Sat night though. Have 20-40% pops arriving on Sunday with the higher pops west of I-57. Seasonable highs Sunday in the mid to upper 80s while dewpoints rising into the lower 70s by Sunday afternoon so getting more humid again. Have chances of showers and thunderstorms continuing Sunday night through Monday night across CWA with slight pops on Tuesday especially in eastern IL. A strong 600 dm 500 mb high builds over the central plains early next week and have disturbances riding over top of it across central and southeast IL. Models expand this subtropical ridge eastward into IL by middle of next week as 500 mb heights rise above 594 dm by Wed, with heat and humidity increasing and having dry conditions Tue night and Wed. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Thursday afternoon) Issued at 1217 PM CDT Wed Jul 13 2016 Area of thunderstorms currently pushing east across Missouri, and is projected to move into west central Illinois toward mid- afternoon. Added in a TEMPO period at all TAF sites for the heavier storms, which may produce brief IFR conditions as they move through. Cold front is expected to arrive late Thursday morning, with a gradual wind shift toward the west-northwest. && .ILX Watches/Warnings/Advisories... NONE. && SHORT TERM...07 LONG TERM...07 AVIATION...Geelhart
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL 1145 AM CDT WED JUL 13 2016 ILZ027>031-036>038-040>043-047>053-141100- CASS-CHRISTIAN-DE WITT-FULTON-KNOX-LOGAN-MACON-MARSHALL-MASON- MCLEAN-MENARD-MORGAN-PEORIA-SANGAMON-SCHUYLER-SCOTT-STARK- TAZEWELL-WOODFORD- 1145 AM CDT WED JUL 13 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...MOVING EAST OUT OF MISSOURI. THE PRIMARY THREAT IS WITH DAMAGING WINDS. HOWEVER...A FEW STORMS MAY PRODUCE HAIL OR AN ISOLATED TORNADO. HEAT INDEX VALUES THIS AFTERNOON WILL APPROACH 100 DEGREES IN SOME AREAS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THUNDERSTORM CHANCES RETURN TO THE AREA TO START NEXT WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS LIKELY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE MOST LIKELY TIME FRAME IS BETWEEN 3 PM AND 8 PM. ILZ044>046-054>057-061-141100- CHAMPAIGN-COLES-DOUGLAS-EDGAR-MOULTRIE-PIATT-SHELBY-VERMILION- 1145 AM CDT WED JUL 13 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE...PRIMARILY DURING VERY LATE AFTERNOON INTO EVENING. DAMAGING WIND GUSTS ARE THE PRIMARY THREAT...ALTHOUGH A FEW STORMS MAY PRODUCE HAIL OR AN ISOLATED TORNADO. HEAT INDEX VALUES THIS AFTERNOON WILL APPROACH 100 DEGREES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL LINGER INTO EARLY THURSDAY. AFTER A COUPLE DAYS OF QUIET WEATHER... THUNDERSTORM CHANCES RETURN FOR EARLY NEXT WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS LIKELY LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE MOST LIKELY TIME FRAME IS BETWEEN 4 PM AND 9 PM. ILZ062-063-066>068-071>073-141100- CLARK-CLAY-CRAWFORD-CUMBERLAND-EFFINGHAM-JASPER-LAWRENCE-RICHLAND- 1145 AM CDT WED JUL 13 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE VERY LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND MORE LIKELY THIS EVENING. SOME OF THE STORMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE SEVERE...MAINLY THIS EVENING...WITH DAMAGING WIND GUSTS THE PRIMARY THREAT. HOWEVER...A FEW STORMS MAY PRODUCE HAIL OR AN ISOLATED TORNADO. HEAT INDEX VALUES THIS AFTERNOON WILL APPROACH 100 DEGREES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL LINGER INTO FRIDAY. AFTER A BRIEF LULL ON SATURDAY...THUNDERSTORM CHANCES RETURN FOR EARLY NEXT WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED THIS EVENING...MAINLY BETWEEN 5 PM AND 10 PM. GEELHART
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
919 AM CDT WED JUL 13 2016
ILZ043-053-131445-
MACON-DE WITT-
919 AM CDT WED JUL 13 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN MACON AND SOUTHWESTERN
DE WITT COUNTIES UNTIL 945 AM CDT...
AT 919 AM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
KENNEY...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.
DIME SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
CLINTON...MAROA...ARGENTA...WELDON...KENNEY...DE WITT...LANE...
MIDLAND CITY...ROWELL...HALLSVILLE...
CLINTON LAKE DAM AND WELDON SPRINGS STATE PARK.
THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 72 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 153 AND 156.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
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 3997 8914 4018 8914 4023 8875 4001 8874
3999 8874
TIME...MOT...LOC 1419Z 267DEG 38KT 4010 8907
GEELHARTSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
932 AM CDT WED JUL 13 2016
ILZ044>046-131515-
PIATT-CHAMPAIGN-VERMILION-
932 AM CDT WED JUL 13 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN PIATT...NORTHERN
VERMILION AND NORTHERN CHAMPAIGN COUNTIES UNTIL 1015 AM CDT...
AT 932 AM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
FISHER...OR NEAR RANTOUL...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.
NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
RANTOUL...MAHOMET...HOOPESTON...FISHER...ROSSVILLE...THOMASBORO...
GIFFORD...MANSFIELD...RANKIN...LAKE OF THE WOODS...LUDLOW...
PENFIELD...GALESVILLE...DEWEY...FLATVILLE AND ARMSTRONG.
THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS...
INTERSTATE 57 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 241 AND 257.
INTERSTATE 72 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 172 AND 174.
INTERSTATE 74 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 165 AND 177.
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 4009 8854 4017 8860 4040 8829 4040 8794
4049 8793 4049 8757 4044 8752 4040 8753
TIME...MOT...LOC 1432Z 237DEG 43KT 4030 8828
07PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
937 AM CDT WED JUL 13 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0934 AM HEAVY RAIN 1 E PARIS 39.62N 87.67W
07/13/2016 M1.08 INCH EDGAR IL CO-OP OBSERVER
24 HOUR TOTAL.
0840 AM HAIL 1 W JACKSONVILLE 39.73N 90.26W
07/13/2016 E0.75 INCH MORGAN IL PUBLIC
BRIEF PERIOD OF HALF TO THREE-QUARTER INCH
HAIL .
&&
NWS LINCOLN IL
IRIS SYSTEMSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
943 AM CDT WED JUL 13 2016
ILZ038-043>045-131530-
PIATT-DE WITT-CHAMPAIGN-MCLEAN-
943 AM CDT WED JUL 13 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN PIATT...SOUTHEASTERN
MCLEAN...NORTHWESTERN CHAMPAIGN AND EASTERN DE WITT COUNTIES UNTIL
1030 AM CDT...
AT 941 AM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7
MILES NORTHWEST OF WELDON...OR 9 MILES NORTHEAST OF CLINTON...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.
DIME SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM. A WEATHER OBSERVER IN CLINTON ESTIMATED A 50 MPH WIND
GUST AT 927 AM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
FARMER CITY...FISHER...SAYBROOK...BELLFLOWER...DE WITT...FOOSLAND...
LANE AND CLINTON LAKE DAM.
THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 74 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 151 AND 164.
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 4040 8813 4007 8890 4022 8895 4047 8846
4040 8846
TIME...MOT...LOC 1441Z 237DEG 43KT 4022 8881
07SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL 129 PM CDT WED JUL 13 2016 ILZ045-046-055-057-131900- EDGAR-CHAMPAIGN-DOUGLAS-VERMILION- 129 PM CDT WED JUL 13 2016 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN VERMILION... NORTHWESTERN EDGAR...SOUTHEASTERN CHAMPAIGN AND NORTHEASTERN DOUGLAS COUNTIES UNTIL 200 PM CDT... AT 128 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM HOMER TO NEAR HINDSBORO. MOVEMENT WAS EAST AT 15 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... DANVILLE...ST. JOSEPH...TILTON...VILLA GROVE...CATLIN...OAKWOOD... SIDNEY...HOMER...NEWMAN...OGDEN...FAIRMOUNT...SIDELL...FITHIAN... CAMARGO...HUME...BROADLANDS...BROCTON...ALLERTON... MUNCIE AND INDIANOLA. THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 74 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 194 AND 213. LAT...LON 4016 8762 3971 8786 3972 8825 4017 8799 TIME...MOT...LOC 1828Z 248DEG 13KT 4004 8794 3973 8817 GEELHART
The St Louis radar (KLSX), 111 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:09 UTC.
53 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Several trees were blown down across Illinois Route 100 just south of Bluffs.
A large oak tree was blown over onto Summit Avenue North between Main and William streets in Virginia.
A tree was snapped at the base just west of Rio.
A 3-foot diameter tree was blown down in Lacon, causing a power outage to approximately 1000 customers.
An 8-inch diameter tree was snapped at the base.
A one stall garage was destroyed. A 50 by 70-foot storage building was thrown on top of another small storage building.
Several large tree branches were blown down northwest of Laura.
Two 3-foot diameter trees were blown down at Route 78 and Lorance Road.
Numerous small tree branches were blown down.
Numerous large tree branches were blown down in Edinburg.
A 1.5-foot diameter tree was snapped.
Numerous tree limbs were blown down in Peoria.
Several large tree limbs were blown down.
Numerous trees were blown down on the west side of Lincoln.
Power lines were blown down in Mt. Pulaski.
Twenty five trees and hundreds of large tree branches were blown down across the city of Decatur.
A large tree was blown over on Summit Avenue in Decatur.
A large tree was blown over onto a house in Metamora.
Several large tree branches were blown down in Waynesville.
Several large tree limbs were blown down in Mt. Zion.
Numerous trees, tree branches, and power lines were blown down in Iola and Xenia.
Numerous large tree branches were blown down in Altamont. Some of the branches fell onto homes, causing minor damage.
Several trees were blown into power lines and one house was damaged in Shumway.
The roof was torn off a building in downtown Shelbyville. Numerous trees and tree branches were blown down, and two homes were damaged by falling branches.
Several trees were blown down and a few buildings were damaged at Lake Sara.
Several houses sustained wind damage to their roofs near the high school in Louisville.
Several trees were blown down in Flora.
Several large tree branches were blown down.
A mobile home was blown over and destroyed, injuring one person inside. A grain bin was blown 200 feet.
A large pole barn had half its roof blown off.
A tree fell onto a house in Windsor.
Two farm buildings were destroyed, a house was damaged, and a silo was blown over near Dietrich. A large tree was blown down as well.
Numerous trees, tree branches, and power lines were blown down in Clay City.
A large tree branch was blown down in Bloomington.
Large tree limbs were blown onto a truck in Neoga.
A tree was blown onto a garage on 22nd Street and several trees and tree branches were blown down along Western Avenue.
Numerous trees were blown down in Newton.
Numerous trees were blown down in Olney.
Several large tree branches were blown down in Mattoon.
Numerous trees were blown onto power lines near East County Road 1000N and Dole Road.
The metal roof was peeled off the grandstand at the Richland County Fairgrounds.
Several large tree branches were blown down in Olney City Park.
Numerous trees and power lines were blown down in Colfax.
Several trees and power lines were blown down in Tolono. One tree fell onto a house.
Several trees and power lines were blown down on 1000N between Homer and Sidney. Power lines were blown down on the 100 block of West St. in Homer.
A shed was damaged at 600N and 2200E. The roof was torn off a shed and gutters were blown off a house near 600N and 2300E.
A house sustained roof damage near 600N and 2245E.
A large tree was snapped.
Several trees and tree branches were blown down in West Union.
A TV antenna tower was blown down. Roof shingles were stripped off a building and several tree branches were blown down.
A large tree limb was blown down at Philo Road and Old Church Road just south of Urbana.
A 50-foot tall poplar tree approximately 12 to 15 feet in diameter was blown over onto Heritage Drive at Heritage Lake. Numerous trees were snapped around Mackinaw.
Power poles and power lines were blown down on South Henning Road just south of US Highway 150.
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, July 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: 646800, 646802, 646818, 646900, 646803, 646831, 646805, 646814, 646804, 646806, 646815, 646825, 646833, 646807, 646808, 646890, 646816, 646834, 646835, 646874, 646885, 646896, 646898, 646845, 646849, 646844, 646822, 646824, 646856, 646860, 646847, 646848, 646887, 646837, 646838, 646850, 646879, 646839, 646840, 646821, and more.