A cold front triggered scattered strong to severe thunderstorms across southeast Illinois during the afternoon of April 26th. Some of the storms produced damaging wind gusts of 65-75mph, as well as hail as large as half dollars.
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 cold front triggered scattered strong to severe thunderstorms across southeast Illinois during the afternoon of April 26th. Some of the storms produced damaging wind gusts of 65-75mph, as well as hail as large as half dollars. The most heavily impacted areas were from near Ste. Marie in Jasper County northeastward to Oblong in Crawford 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 Apr 26, 2:16 PM CST, 43 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 316 PM CDT Wed Apr 26 2017 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Thursday) ISSUED AT 316 PM CDT Wed Apr 26 2017 A wet night is on tap across central and southeast Illinois as periods of showers and thunderstorms accompany a slow moving cold front and upper-level energy tracking along the boundary. The bulk of the heavier rainfall and thunderstorms should be east of the area by Midnight with the passage of the front and/or loss of diurnal instability. Aside from a low risk of showers in the morning, Thursday should end up a mostly dry day as weak high pressure builds across the area. Temperatures will be noticeably cooler in many areas than today, with peak readings mainly around 60 degrees. && .LONG TERM...(Thursday night through Wednesday) ISSUED AT 316 PM CDT Wed Apr 26 2017 The next stronger piece of upper-level energy will amplify the broad/shallow troffing across the lower 48 states to start the period. After a brief dry break, this will being a extended wet weather period across the region through the weekend. Initially, Thursday night into Friday night, the bulk of the heavier rainfall will occur over the southeast 1/2 of the forecast area, closer to a nearly stationary frontal boundary and associated richer moisture. A vigorous wave within the mean troffing will lift northeast from the southern/central Plains into the Great Lakes from Saturday into Sunday night. The passage of this system will likely be accompanied by significant rainfall across much of the forecast area, with the heaviest rainfall likely to fall Saturday night. Much of the forecast area is likely to see several inches of rainfall by the end of the weekend. This much rain will result in significant rises on area rivers, as well as non-river related flooding/flash flooding. However, it is still too soon to pin-point exact locations/amounts. So, do not plan to issue any flooding related watches at this time. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Thursday afternoon) Issued at 100 PM CDT Wed Apr 26 2017 A disturbance, and accompanying area of showers/storms, will spread across the central Illinois terminals late this afternoon into tonight. This precipitation will degrade conditions to at least MVFR, with IFR conditions likely later tonight. A slow improvement is expected Thursday morning. && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SHORT TERM...Bak LONG TERM...Bak AVIATION...Bak
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Lincoln IL 247 PM CDT Wed Apr 26 2017 ILZ036-040-041-047>050-271100- Cass-Fulton-Mason-Menard-Morgan-Schuyler-Scott- 247 PM CDT Wed Apr 26 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop during this afternoon, and then diminish during this evening after sunset. Heavy rainfall of 1 to 1.5 inches is expected through tonight with locally higher amounts possible east of the Illinois river. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... Flooding will continue along the Illinois River downstream of Peoria into next week. More showers and thunderstorms will be likely Friday night through Sunday as a series of weather systems move through the area. Rainfall amounts over this 3 day period could range from 3 to 4 inches, with the highest amounts falling Saturday night. The heavy rain falling on saturated soil from earlier storms will produce rapid runoff and a potential for localized flooding, as well as, river flooding across the region. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated through tonight. ILZ027>031-037-271100- Knox-Marshall-Peoria-Stark-Tazewell-Woodford- 247 PM CDT Wed Apr 26 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop during this afternoon, and diminish during this evening after sunset. Heavy rainfall of 1 to 1.5 inches is expected through tonight with locally higher amounts possible east of the Illinois river. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... More showers and thunderstorms will be likely Friday night through Sunday as a series of weather systems move through the area. Rainfall amounts over this 3 day period could range from 2.5 to 3.5 inches, with the highest amounts falling Saturday night. The heavy rain falling on saturated soil from earlier storms will produce rapid runoff and a potential for localized flooding, as well as, river flooding across the region. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated through tonight. ILZ038-042-043-051>053-271100- Christian-De Witt-Logan-Macon-McLean-Sangamon- 247 PM CDT Wed Apr 26 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Illinois. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... Scattered thunderstorms will develop across the area during this afternoon, and then diminish from the west after dark this evening. Some of these storms could be strong from I-55 east, with gusty winds and small hail being the primary threat. Heavy rainfall of 1.25 to 1.75 inches will occur through tonight, with locally higher amounts possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... More showers and thunderstorms will be likely Friday night through Sunday as a series of weather systems move through the area. Rainfall amounts over this 3 day period could range from 3.5 to 4.25 inches, with the highest amounts falling Saturday night. The heavy rain falling on saturated soil from earlier storms will produce rapid runoff and a potential for localized flooding, as well as, river flooding across the region. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed from I-55 east until 7 pm. ILZ044>046-054>057-061-271100- Champaign-Coles-Douglas-Edgar-Moultrie-Piatt-Shelby-Vermilion- 247 PM CDT Wed Apr 26 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Illinois and east central Illinois. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... Scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop and move into east central Illinois during the late afternoon hours, and diminish by early overnight. Some of these storms could be strong to severe, with damaging wind gusts and hail the primary threat. Heavy rainfall of 1 to 1.5 inches is expected, with locally higher amounts from I-57 west. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... More showers and thunderstorms will be likely Friday night through Sunday night as a series of weather systems move through the area. Rainfall amounts over this 3 day period could range from 3 to 4 inches, with the highest amounts falling Saturday night. The heavy rain falling on saturated soil from earlier storms will produce rapid runoff and a potential for localized flooding, as well as, river flooding across the region. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed from 4 to 9 pm today. ILZ062-063-066>068-071>073-271100- Clark-Clay-Crawford-Cumberland-Effingham-Jasper-Lawrence-Richland- 247 PM CDT Wed Apr 26 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of east central Illinois and southeast Illinois. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... Scattered thunderstorms will move northeast across southeast Illinois during the mid and late afternoon hours, and diminish by early overnight. There is a slight chance of severe storms, with damaging wind gusts and large hail the primary threat. Between a half and 1.5 inches of rain is expected through tonight with the heaviest amounts from I-57 west. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... More showers and thunderstorms will be likely Friday afternoon through Sunday night as a series of weather systems move through the area. Rainfall amounts over this 3 day period could range from 3.5 to 4.5 inches. The heavy rain falling on saturated soil from earlier storms will produce rapid runoff and a potential for localized flooding, as well as, river flooding across the region. In addition, there is a slight risk that some of the storms Friday night could become severe with damaging winds and large hail the main threat. Flooding along the Little Wabash river near Clay City is expected to develop overnight Friday night and continue into early next week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will likely be needed through 9 pm today. 07
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
341 PM CDT WED APR 26 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0337 PM TSTM WND GST 2 SW XENIA 38.62N 88.66W
04/26/2017 E65 MPH CLAY IL EMERGENCY MNGR
&&
SBAKERPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
352 PM CDT WED APR 26 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0351 PM TSTM WND GST S FLORA 38.67N 88.48W
04/26/2017 M50 MPH CLAY IL EMERGENCY MNGR
&&
SBAKERSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
353 PM CDT WED APR 26 2017
ILZ066-067-262145-
Jasper-Effingham-
353 PM CDT WED APR 26 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN JASPER AND EFFINGHAM
COUNTIES UNTIL 445 PM CDT...
At 353 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Watson, or 11 miles south of Effingham, moving northeast at 55 mph.
Half inch hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Effingham, Altamont, Teutopolis, Watson, Dieterich, Edgewood,
Shumway, Montrose, Wheeler, Hidalgo, Moccasin, Mason, Yale, Rose
Hill, Heartville, Lake Sara, Gila, Effingham County Airport,
Elliotstown and Altamont Reservoir.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 57 between mile markers 143 and 166.
Interstate 70 between mile markers 80 and 104.
A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 700 PM CDT for
south central and southeastern Illinois.
LAT...LON 3898 8881 3921 8872 3919 8847 3917 8847
3917 8825 3915 8797 3891 8835 3891 8881
TIME...MOT...LOC 2053Z 240DEG 49KT 3896 8856
07The Evansville,IN radar (KVWX), 99 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:00 UTC.
9 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Power lines were blown down at Route 45 North and Cheetah Lane.
A tree was blown down onto a trailer.
Three machine sheds were damaged south of Ste. Marie, including one that had its roof blown off. A power pole was broken and power lines were downed, causing a power outage.
A hog confinement building was destroyed near the Jasper-Crawford County line.
The roof of a business was damaged in Oblong.
Numerous trees were blown down on a property on the northeast side of Oblong.
Numerous trees were blown down.
Numerous trees were blown down.
Numerous trees were blown down.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, April 2017
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: 691545, 691547, 691559, 691561, 691544, 691549, 691550, 691551, 691553, 691554.