A tightening pressure gradient between a high pressure center anchored over the East Coast and a cold front draped across the Plains created strong southerly winds across central Illinois during the evening of June 28th into the early morning of June 29th. Scattered showers brought 50-60 mph wind gusts to the surface in some areas, producing isolated wind damage.
Every event with a place to put it; 6 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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 tightening pressure gradient between a high pressure center anchored over the East Coast and a cold front draped across the Plains created strong southerly winds across central Illinois during the evening of June 28th into the early morning of June 29th. Scattered showers brought 50-60 mph wind gusts to the surface in some areas, producing isolated wind damage.
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 Jun 28, 7:54 PM CST, 2 hours 36 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 854 PM CDT Wed Jun 28 2017 .UPDATE... Issued at 854 PM CDT Wed Jun 28 2017 Thunderstorms, several of them severe and tornadic continue from northern MO to northern IL and southern WI this evening. A fairly pronounced break has developed between activity in northern MO and northern IL where analyses suggest instability has diminished, while activity to the north continues in the vicinity of a surface warm front and upper shortwave. In northern MO, stronger instability characterized by CAPE around 2000 J/KG continues to fuel a slow moving cluster of strong to severe thunderstorms. This latter cluster should be the primary concern for west central IL as it shifts eastward. HRRR model suggests thunderstorm activity will generally be weakening is it shifts eastward into central IL. Primary threat should be strong wind gusts by the time it reaches west central IL. Timing of scattered showers/thunderstorms looks to be reaching Galesburg by 10 p.m., Illinois River 11p.m.-midnight, I-55 2 a.m. according to latest HRRR and have made adjustments to forecast to slow down onset of precipitation accordingly. Otherwise, warm and somewhat humid conditions on track tonight with lows reaching about 70 degrees following mid-evening temperatures in the mid 70s to low 80s. Breezy south winds 10 to 15 mph with higher gusts expected through the night. && .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Thursday) ISSUED AT 300 PM CDT Wed Jun 28 2017 Not too many changes with the forecast through tonight over CWA. Mid afternoon surface map has 998 mb low pressure over west central MN with its cold front extending through eastern NE and western KS. This front to push se over IA through Thu, getting closer to central IL and increasing chances of convection with time. Continued increasing chances of showers and thunderstorms along and north of I-72 during tonight with best chances (likely pops) along and nw of the IL river. Currently have scattered showers and thunderstorms over NW IL moving ENE toward Macomb, Galesburg and Peru. SPC day1 outlook continues slight risk of severe storms tonight nw of the IL river while enhanced risk just nw of Knox county. A marginal risk remains as far se as I-55 for tonight. This convection enhanced by strong sw low level jet tonight and developing into an MCS will weaken later Thu morning. Then more scattered convection to develop during Thu afternoon and get further south into central IL to about I-70. Breezy SSW winds have brought in higher dewpoints in the low to mid 60s and will rise into the upper 60s/lower 70s for Thu. Milder lows tonight in the upper 60s to around 70F. A very warm and humid day Thu with highs in the upper 80s (mid 80s by Knox and Stark counties). .LONG TERM...(Thursday night through Wednesday) ISSUED AT 300 PM CDT Wed Jun 28 2017 SPC day2 outlook with slight risk of severe storms north of I-70 Thu night for next MCS system, while marginal risk expected about a county se of I-70. Far southeast CWA will likely stay dry through Thu night with highest pops shifting into east central and southeast IL on Friday. SPC day3 outlook has marginal risk of severe storms across CWA for Fri afternoon/evening and believe highest risk will be se of I-55 in warm sector. Front appears to push through southeast CWA during Fri evening and toward the Ohio river overnight Fri night. This could linger small chances of convection in southeast IL on Sat, mainly southeast of Charleston/Mattoon. Humid still on Friday with highs in the mid 80s, except lower 80s along and nw of the IL river. Highs in the lower 80s on Sat over central IL and mid 80s in southeast IL and starting to get less humid behind the front as dewpoints slip into the low to mid 60s Sat afternoon. A brief period of quiet wx expected across CWA Sat night and Sunday as weak high pressure settles into area and frontal boundary moves into the TN river valley. Seasonable highs on Sunday in the mid 80s, with dewpoints in the lower 60s. The 12Z GFS and ECWMF models differ with handling wx system early next work week going into the 4th of July period. Weak surface high pressure will shift east of IL Sunday night and Monday allowing more humid tropical air to return to area. The frontal boundary lifting ne over MO valley on Monday to likely develop more convection. But models differ on how quickly this convection gets into central/se IL. Northern IL and possibly northern CWA could see chances of convection as early as Sunday night especially after midnight, while rest of CWA to see convection chances return on Monday and continue through Wed as upper level trof moves into IA/MO on Tue and into the Ohio river valley next Wed. Seasonable highs in the low to mid 80s Mon-Wed and humid conditions expected to prevail. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Thursday evening) Issued at 700 PM CDT Wed Jun 28 2017 Thunderstorms ahead of a cold front in Iowa expected to push eastward overnight into the central IL area. Weakening of thunderstorms is expected as it approaches I-55 corridor and certainty of TSRA/SHRA diminishes with approach to a KDEC-KCMI line. As eastward movement of developing thunderstorm complex has yet to become established, timing still remains uncertain but following model guidance brought VCTS into KPIA, KSPI, and KBMI in 04-06Z timeframe. In addition, a southwesterly low level jet of around 45 kts will bring low level wind shear from around 04Z-10Z. Surface winds to remain breezy, SSW 14-18 kts with higher gusts much of the night, potentially diminishing somewhat Thursday as the surface frontal zone approaches from the NW. && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && UPDATE...37 SHORT TERM...07 LONG TERM...07 AVIATION...37
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Lincoln IL 313 PM CDT Wed Jun 28 2017 ILZ027>031-036-037-040-041-291100- Fulton-Knox-Marshall-Mason-Peoria-Schuyler-Stark-Tazewell- Woodford- 313 PM CDT Wed Jun 28 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... Scattered thunderstorms are expected through early evening, and will become more numerous late evening as a large area of storms moves out of Iowa. Some of these storms may be severe, beginning around late evening. Damaging wind gusts are the primary threat, although some storms may also contain hail. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... Periods of thunderstorms are expected through Friday evening, with potential for around 2 inches of total accumulation. Severe storms will be possible as well, mainly Thursday night. Chances of storms will return early next week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be required tonight, with the most likely time frame between 9 pm and 3 am. ILZ038-042>057-061-291100- Cass-Champaign-Christian-Coles-De Witt-Douglas-Edgar-Logan-Macon- McLean-Menard-Morgan-Moultrie-Piatt-Sangamon-Scott-Shelby- Vermilion- 313 PM CDT Wed Jun 28 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Illinois, east central Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... Scattered thunderstorms are possible beginning around midnight from around Rushville to Bloomington, with the threat increasing toward Springfield and Decatur after 2 am. While widespread severe weather is not expected, a few of the storms may contain strong wind gusts. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... Periods of thunderstorms are expected through Friday evening, with potential for 1 to 2 inches of total accumulation. Severe storms will be possible as well, mainly Thursday night. Chances of storms will return early next week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Limited spotter activation is possible after midnight. ILZ062-063-066>068-071>073-291100- Clark-Clay-Crawford-Cumberland-Effingham-Jasper-Lawrence-Richland- 313 PM CDT Wed Jun 28 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Illinois. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... Isolated thunderstorms are possible near the I-70 corridor Thursday into Thursday night. More substantial chances of storms are on tap Friday into early Saturday. Widespread severe weather is not expected, however a few strong storms will be possible Friday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated through tonight. Geelhart
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Lincoln IL 1118 PM CDT Wed Jun 28 2017 ILZ027-290600- Knox- Including the city of Galesburg 1118 PM CDT Wed Jun 28 2017 Strong gusty south winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts 40 to 50 mph are expected late this evening into early morning as rain and isolated thunderstorms spread into the area. Drive with caution on east west oriented roadways, especially in high profile vehicles as winds this strong will make driving difficult. 37
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Several large tree limbs were blown down one mile north of Abingdon.
Several large, rotten trees were blown down in Toulon.
Several large tree limbs were blown down in Henry.
Several large tree limbs were blown down in Lacon.
Several large tree limbs were blown down in Varna.
Several large tree limbs were blown down in Toluca.
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, June 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: 700313, 700315, 700316, 700317, 700318, 700319.