A weak cold front interacted with a highly unstable and weakly sheared environment to trigger scattered strong to severe thunderstorms across central Illinois during the late afternoon and early evening of July 16th. One cell produced golfball-sized hail near Sullivan in Moultrie County while another downed a few tree branches near Sigel in Shelby County.
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 weak cold front interacted with a highly unstable and weakly sheared environment to trigger scattered strong to severe thunderstorms across central Illinois during the late afternoon and early evening of July 16th. One cell produced golfball-sized hail near Sullivan in Moultrie County while another downed a few tree branches near Sigel in Shelby 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 Jul 16, 1:32 PM CST, 3 hours 31 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 232 PM CDT Sun Jul 16 2017 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Monday) ISSUED AT 232 PM CDT Sun Jul 16 2017 Cold front is dropping southward early this afternoon and has recently cleared Galesburg and Peoria. Clusters of thunderstorms are developing over southeast Iowa and central Illinois just ahead of the front, in an area where CAPE's have reached 3500-4000 J/kg. With freezing levels above 14kft, large hail may have a hard time making it to the surface, but some storms may pulse up enough for some brief hail/wind threats. The front should be near I-72 toward 6-7 pm and be south of I-70 after sunset, so the threat of storms will diminish from north to south following the passage of the front. High pressure will move across the Midwest on Monday, with a brief period of less humid air to enjoy, before the heat wave arrives. && .LONG TERM...(Monday night through Sunday) ISSUED AT 232 PM CDT Sun Jul 16 2017 Main concern remains with the extended period of heat beginning on Tuesday, followed by any potential ridge-rider MCS's late in the week. Not much change in the setup for this week, as the heat dome spreads eastward. No headlines planned yet as the more juicy air is a bit slower to arrive, with heat index values above 100 degrees appearing more likely beginning on Wednesday. Highs in the mid 90s most likely everywhere by Wednesday and likely over the southwest half of the CWA on Thursday. Core of the upper level high starts to shift into the southeast U.S. Thursday night, which would allow more of the MCS type activity along the periphery of the ridge to impact our area. With this concern, the northeast half of the CWA will be subject to more in the way of clouds and precipitation late week, which would keep temperatures down some. Both the GFS and ECMWF models favor that area being close to the MCS track Thursday night and Friday, although the GFS shifts it a bit further south by Friday night. The two models start getting well out of sync during the weekend, as the GFS is more aggressive in pushing a cold front through on Saturday. Meanwhile, the latest ECMWF MOS guidance keeps highs well into the 90s. Thus, confidence in the weekend forecast is lower than usual. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Monday afternoon) Issued at 1228 PM CDT Sun Jul 16 2017 Area of MVFR ceilings pushing south into central Illinois behind a cold front at midday, and has reached KPIA. Some modification in heights is taking place though, and will limit the MVFR conditions to KPIA/KBMI for the first few hours of the forecast. Scattered storms expected to start firing soon along the front, and have mentioned about a 3-hour VCTS period at all sites as the front passes. Behind the front, some clearing will try to take place. However, areas around KCMI will hold on to the lower level moisture longer, and there is some potential for ceilings to dip below 3,000 feet again toward sunrise. && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SHORT TERM...Geelhart LONG TERM...Geelhart AVIATION...Geelhart
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Lincoln IL 406 PM CDT Sun Jul 16 2017 ILZ027>031-037-038-171100- Knox-Marshall-McLean-Peoria-Stark-Tazewell-Woodford- 406 PM CDT Sun Jul 16 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Illinois. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY... Hot and humid conditions will develop beginning on Tuesday, and lasting much of the week. Heat index values of 100 to 105 degrees are likely Wednesday through Friday. A few thunderstorms will be possible as early as Thursday, but better chances of storms are expected on Friday into the weekend. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated through tonight. ILZ036-040>057-061>063-066>068-071>073-171100- Cass-Champaign-Christian-Clark-Clay-Coles-Crawford-Cumberland- De Witt-Douglas-Edgar-Effingham-Fulton-Jasper-Lawrence-Logan- Macon-Mason-Menard-Morgan-Moultrie-Piatt-Richland-Sangamon- Schuyler-Scott-Shelby-Vermilion- 406 PM CDT Sun Jul 16 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Illinois, east central Illinois, and southeast Illinois. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... Scattered thunderstorms are expected across the area into the evening hours, diminishing north of I-72 before early evening and near I-70 by mid to late evening. Some storms may become strong to severe, producing locally damaging wind gusts and hail, with the main threat before sunset. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY... Hot and humid conditions are expected to develop Tuesday, and continue into the weekend. Heat index values of 100 to 110 degrees are likely Wednesday and Thursday, and may be that high south of I-72 into the weekend. Scattered thunderstorms are possible this weekend, but it is still too early to determine the threat for severe weather. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Limited spotter activation may be needed through early evening. Geelhart
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
319 PM CDT SUN JUL 16 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0313 PM FUNNEL CLOUD NEW HOLLAND 40.18N 89.58W
07/16/2017 LOGAN IL PUBLIC
&&
SBAKERSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
324 PM CDT SUN JUL 16 2017
ILZ036-037-040>042-047-048-051-162315-
Logan-Tazewell-Sangamon-Mason-Menard-Schuyler-Cass-Fulton-
324 PM CDT SUN JUL 16 2017
...FUNNEL CLOUDS SIGHTED OVER WEST CENTRAL AND CENTRAL ILLINOIS...
A funnel cloud was reported near New Holland this afternoon. A weak
frontal boundary was located over west central Illinois, which will
be the focus for possible other storms.
Atmospheric conditions exist across the area today that favor the
possible formation of weak circulations, along an existing boundary.
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 touch down. Stay alert,
and be prepared to move to a safe shelter, if a funnel cloud
approaches the ground.
LAT...LON 4028 9078 4028 9045 4060 9044 4048 9012
4033 8931 3992 8934 4002 9034 4027 9079
GoetschPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
439 PM CDT SUN JUL 16 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0432 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 2 N CHATHAM 39.70N 89.70W
07/16/2017 SANGAMON IL TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
SBAKERSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
523 PM CDT SUN JUL 16 2017
ILZ051-162315-
Sangamon-
523 PM CDT SUN JUL 16 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN SANGAMON COUNTY
UNTIL 615 PM CDT...
At 523 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Springfield, moving east at 30 mph.
Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Springfield, Sherman, Rochester, Riverton, Illiopolis, Mechanicsburg,
Jerome, Southern View, Leland Grove, Grandview, Spaulding, Dawson,
Buffalo, Berry, Clear Lake and Capital Airport.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 55 between mile markers 89 and 104.
Interstate 72 between mile markers 95 and 124.
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 3993 8944 3993 8941 3992 8940 3992 8922
3982 8922 3982 8925 3977 8931 3977 8936
3974 8939 3975 8942 3971 8942 3969 8970
3987 8974
TIME...MOT...LOC 2223Z 259DEG 26KT 3980 8962
BakPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
541 PM CDT SUN JUL 16 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0530 PM HAIL SPRINGFIELD 39.78N 89.64W
07/16/2017 M0.25 INCH SANGAMON IL TRAINED SPOTTER
SOUTH PART OF SPRINGFIELD, CORNER OF MCARTHER AND
INTERSTATE 72.
0530 PM TSTM WND GST SPRINGFIELD 39.78N 89.64W
07/16/2017 M40 MPH SANGAMON IL TRAINED SPOTTER
WESTERN PART OF CITY, JEFFERSON AND VETERANS.
&&
GOETSCHThe Lincoln radar (KILX), 124 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:04 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Numerous 4 to 6-inch diameter tree branches 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, July 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: 708427, 708426.