A stalled frontal boundary continued to bring scattered thunderstorms to portions of central Illinois on July 19th. A large complex of thunderstorms approached from the west during the afternoon, but remained largely west of the Illinois River.
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.
A stalled frontal boundary continued to bring scattered thunderstorms to portions of central Illinois on July 19th. A large complex of thunderstorms approached from the west during the afternoon, but remained largely west of the Illinois River. A few cells with gusty winds developed into Knox County and further southeast into Sangamon County during the early evening.
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 19, 1:58 PM CST, 2 hours 25 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 258 PM CDT TUE JUL 19 2016 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Wednesday) ISSUED AT 258 PM CDT Tue Jul 19 2016 Diffuse, nearly stationary front extended from just north of Quincy to about Taylorville and Effingham at 200 pm. Scattered, slow moving showers and isolated thunderstorms have developed along and just to the north of this front in parts of central IL. A larger complex of storms in southern Iowa - which the short range models do not have a good handle on - will be making a turn to the southeast along an instability axis from southeast IA into west central IL early this evening. What this all adds up to in the forecast is likely t-storms from Rushville to Jacksonville through 9 pm, with showers and thunderstorms of a more scattered nature in other parts of central IL. With a steering wind of only 20 knots from the NW, the storms will be fairly slow moving, so areas of heavy rain are possible early this evening. The aforementioned front is expected to move quite slowly to the northeast overnight and into Wednesday. This will keep the potential for period of showers and t-storms in the forecast for late tonight around the IL River Valley to the north of the front, and across much of the forecast area during the day Wednesday as the storms become more surface based. Overall, the heaviest rain Wednesday should be close to the I-74 corridor where 1.00 to 2.00 inches of rain are possible. && .LONG TERM...(Wednesday night through Tuesday) ISSUED AT 258 PM CDT Tue Jul 19 2016 Heat and humidity look on track to produce the hottest conditions we have seen in quite some time later this week. Dangerous heat conditions are likely at least Thursday and Friday, with Saturday not far behind. As a result, have decided to extend the Excessive Heat Watch to include Saturday. The ingredients are coming together for substantial heat and humidity later this week. A massive 598dm upper high is projected to shift east from the Plains on Thursday and continue to affect Illinois through Friday and most likely Saturday. Surface moisture is being boosted by evapo-transpiration from expansive corn and soybean fields. That, in combination with recent rains will support surface dewpoints in the mid to upper 70s, if not some lower 80s. Mixing of 22-24C 850 mb temps to the surface will push high temps into the 94 to 98 deg range Thur and Friday, with Saturday in the 92-95 range. Heat indices Thur and Fri should top out between 108-113, with 102-107 on Saturday. Northern areas on Saturday may see some increased cloud cover from storms approach from the north, but we will still include all counties in the excessive heat watch on Saturday for now. Prior to the heat wave setting in, we expect some lingering storms into Wednesday evening, as 'ridge-riding' storms remain close enough to our NE counties before the ridge axis gets closer to IL later Wed night. An active weather pattern is still expected to continue just to our northeast in the Great Lakes Thursday through Saturday, as storms develop along the periphery of the ridge. The ECMWF even retrogrades some storms into northern IL on Friday, progressing them from the northeast toward our northern counties. A capping inversion should help to keep our area free from storms on Friday. Saturday has increased convection indicated across most of IL in both the GFS and ECMWF, but we still expect very warm 700mb temps to suppress convection for most of the day. Sunday looks to be the start of an airmass change for at least northern IL, as a shortwave progresses along the Canadian border and drags a cold front southward into IL. At this point, it looks like the front will progress through our counties Sunday night, so Monday will be the first day with a noticeable improvement in the heat and humidity. Highs on Monday and Tuesday look to be much closer to normal, in the mid to upper 80s. However, surface dewpoints may only retreat back into the upper 60s, which is still on the muggy side. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Wednesday afternoon) Issued at 1253 PM CDT Tue Jul 19 2016 All of the central IL TAF sites are north of a weak synoptic stationary front, which extended from about UIN-Effingham-LWV at 17z. Could see a stray shower develop north of boundary toward SPI or DEC early this afternoon, but not enough to put in the TAF at this point. Toward evening the remnants of the convection in Iowa could hold together or reform on its associated boundaries. The short range models have varying solutions for this, so not enough confidence to even include VCTS at this point...but will monitor the next several hours for updates. After dark, the next round of convection may impact PIA well after midnight, closer to the 08-11z timeframe - and the other TAF sites tomorrow morning. Will hold on including mention of thunder for everyone except PIA, but will include MVFR vsbys as the front moves back north into central IL with a maximum axis of humidity and light fog. && .ILX Watches/Warnings/Advisories... Excessive Heat Watch from Thursday afternoon through Saturday evening for ILZ027>031-036>038-040>057-061>063-066>068-071>073. && SHORT TERM...Miller LONG TERM...Shimon AVIATION...Miller
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL 341 PM CDT TUE JUL 19 2016 ILZ036-040-041-047>052-201100- CASS-CHRISTIAN-FULTON-MASON-MENARD-MORGAN-SANGAMON-SCHUYLER-SCOTT- 341 PM CDT TUE JUL 19 2016 ...EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS AND WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING AND DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GUSTY WINDS...TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS...AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS ON WEDNESDAY AS A WARM FRONT LIFTS SLOWLY NORTHWARD THROUGH THE AREA. WHILE WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED...A FEW OF THE STORMS COULD BE STRONG. VERY HOT AND HUMID WEATHER WILL PREVAIL THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...WITH AFTERNOON HEAT INDICES OF 105 TO 113 DEGREES. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED BETWEEN 5 PM AND 9 PM THIS EVENING...WEST OF AN AREA FROM HAVANA TO TAYLORVILLE. ILZ027>031-037-201100- KNOX-MARSHALL-PEORIA-STARK-TAZEWELL-WOODFORD- 341 PM CDT TUE JUL 19 2016 ...EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS...NORTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS AND WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE THIS EVENING...AND AGAIN AFTER MIDNIGHT ALONG AND WEST OF THE ILLINOIS RIVER. THE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GUSTY WINDS...TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS...AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS ON WEDNESDAY AS A WARM FRONT LIFTS SLOWLY NORTHWARD THROUGH THE AREA. WHILE WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED...A FEW OF THE STORMS COULD BE STRONG. VERY HOT AND HUMID WEATHER WILL PREVAIL THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...WITH AFTERNOON HEAT INDICES OF 105 TO 113 DEGREES. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED THROUGH TONIGHT. ILZ038-042>046-053>057-061>063-066>068-071>073-201100- CHAMPAIGN-CLARK-CLAY-COLES-CRAWFORD-CUMBERLAND-DE WITT-DOUGLAS- EDGAR-EFFINGHAM-JASPER-LAWRENCE-LOGAN-MACON-MCLEAN-MOULTRIE-PIATT- RICHLAND-SHELBY-VERMILION- 341 PM CDT TUE JUL 19 2016 ...EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS...EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS...SOUTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS AND SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE FROM BLOOMINGTON THROUGH LINCOLN TO SHELBYVILLE AND EAST TOWARD I-57 EARLY THIS EVENING. ANY STORMS THAT OCCUR THROUGH THIS EVENING WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GUSTY WINDS...TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS...AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS ON WEDNESDAY AS A WARM FRONT LIFTS SLOWLY NORTHWARD THROUGH THE AREA. WHILE WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED...A FEW OF THE STORMS COULD BE STRONG. VERY HOT AND HUMID WEATHER WILL PREVAIL THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...WITH AFTERNOON HEAT INDICES OF 105 TO 113 DEGREES. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED THROUGH TONIGHT. MILLER
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
343 PM CDT TUE JUL 19 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0310 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 3 SW CHANDLERVILLE 40.02N 90.19W
07/19/2016 CASS IL EMERGENCY MNGR
FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED SOUTHWEST OF CHANDLERVILLE OFF
ROUTE 78.
&&
EJLSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL 348 PM CDT TUE JUL 19 2016 ILZ036-040-041-047-048-050-051-192300- FULTON-SCHUYLER-MASON-CASS-MENARD-MORGAN-SANGAMON- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CANTON...RUSHVILLE...HAVANA... BEARDSTOWN...PETERSBURG...JACKSONVILLE...SPRINGFIELD 348 PM CDT TUE JUL 19 2016 ...FUNNEL CLOUDS SIGHTED NEAR CASS AND MASON COUNTY ILLINOIS... EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED FUNNEL CLOUDS IN THE VICINITY OF CHANDLERVILLE NEAR THE CASS AND MASON COUNTY LINE. ADDITIONAL FUNNELS MAY FORM LATE THIS AFTERNOON NEAR FRONT THAT EXTENDS FROM RUSHVILLE TOWARD SPRINGFIELD. SOME OF THESE CIRCULATIONS ARE OCCURRING UNDERNEATH DEVELOPING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...WHERE A FUNNEL CLOUD MAY DEVELOP. ONCE THE RAIN BEGINS...THE FUNNEL CLOUD DISSIPATES. LOW HANGING CLOUDS CAN ALSO APPEAR TO DIP UP AND DOWN AT TIMES...BUT THEY WILL NOT SHOW SIGNS OF ANY RAPID ROTATION. AN ACTUAL FUNNEL CLOUD WILL EXHIBIT SPINNING IN A COUNTER-CLOCKWISE DIRECTION. IN RARE INSTANCES THESE FUNNELS MAY BRIEFLY TOUCHDOWN. STAY ALERT AND BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO A SAFE SHELTER IF A FUNNEL CLOUD APPROACHES THE GROUND. MILLER
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL 354 PM CDT TUE JUL 19 2016 ILZ036-040-041-047-048-050-051-192300- FULTON-SCHUYLER-MASON-CASS-MENARD-MORGAN-SANGAMON- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CANTON...RUSHVILLE...HAVANA... BEARDSTOWN...PETERSBURG...JACKSONVILLE...SPRINGFIELD 354 PM CDT TUE JUL 19 2016 ...FUNNEL CLOUDS SIGHTED NEAR CASS AND MASON COUNTY ILLINOIS... EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED FUNNEL CLOUDS IN THE VICINITY OF CHANDLERVILLE NEAR THE CASS AND MASON COUNTY LINE. ADDITIONAL FUNNELS MAY FORM LATE THIS AFTERNOON NEAR A FRONT THAT EXTENDS FROM RUSHVILLE TOWARD SPRINGFIELD. SOME OF THESE CIRCULATIONS ARE OCCURRING UNDERNEATH DEVELOPING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...WHERE A FUNNEL CLOUD MAY DEVELOP. ONCE THE RAIN BEGINS...THE FUNNEL CLOUD DISSIPATES. LOW HANGING CLOUDS CAN ALSO APPEAR TO DIP UP AND DOWN AT TIMES...BUT THEY WILL NOT SHOW SIGNS OF ANY RAPID ROTATION. AN ACTUAL FUNNEL CLOUD WILL EXHIBIT SPINNING IN A COUNTER-CLOCKWISE DIRECTION. IN RARE INSTANCES THESE FUNNELS MAY BRIEFLY TOUCHDOWN. STAY ALERT AND BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO A SAFE SHELTER IF A FUNNEL CLOUD APPROACHES THE GROUND. MILLER
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
438 PM CDT TUE JUL 19 2016
ILZ036-041-192230-
MASON-FULTON-
438 PM CDT TUE JUL 19 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR MASON AND FULTON COUNTIES UNTIL
530 PM CDT...
AT 438 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG
A LINE EXTENDING FROM VERMONT TO NEAR KILBOURNE. MOVEMENT WAS NORTH
AT 15 MPH.
DIME SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
HAVANA...LEWISTOWN...MANITO...CUBA...ASTORIA...VERMONT...ST. DAVID...
IPAVA...BATH...EASTON...KILBOURNE...TABLE GROVE...DUNFERMLINE...
BERNADOTTE...FOREST CITY...SMITHFIELD...BRYANT...LIVERPOOL...
MARIETTA AND TOPEKA.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS...AND MAY
LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH
FLOODED ROADWAYS.
&&
LAT...LON 4062 9045 4049 8989 4047 8989 4044 8991
4044 8972 4032 8971 4031 8969 4013 8984
4014 8987 4013 8990 4014 8997 4011 9000
4016 9020 4018 9021 4019 9030 4022 9045
TIME...MOT...LOC 2138Z 201DEG 15KT 4030 9044 4017 8994
BARKERSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
514 PM CDT TUE JUL 19 2016
ILZ027-192300-
KNOX-
514 PM CDT TUE JUL 19 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN KNOX COUNTY UNTIL
600 PM CDT...
AT 514 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
GALESBURG...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.
HALF INCH HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
GALESBURG...KNOXVILLE...WATAGA...ONEIDA...ALTONA...RIO...
EAST GALESBURG...HENDERSON AND GALESBURG AIRPORT.
THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 74 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 34 AND 52.
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.
&&
LAT...LON 4115 9018 4113 9011 4088 9030 4092 9044
4115 9044
TIME...MOT...LOC 2214Z 226DEG 17KT 4098 9038
BARKERThe Quad Cities radar (KDVN), 76 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:24 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A few trees and power lines were blown down in Galesburg.
Two 2-foot diameter trees were blown onto power lines in Pawnee.
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: 646939, 646937.