A strong cold front triggered a squall line across western Iowa into eastern Kansas during the afternoon of March 6th. These storms raced eastward and reached west-central Illinois by the late evening, then pushed across the remainder of central Illinois during the early morning hours of March 7th.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 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 strong cold front triggered a squall line across western Iowa into eastern Kansas during the afternoon of March 6th. These storms raced eastward and reached west-central Illinois by the late evening, then pushed across the remainder of central Illinois during the early morning hours of March 7th. The storms produced widespread wind gusts of 50-70 mph and 3 tornadoes. One tornado touched down near Easton in Mason County, while two tornadoes occurred further east in Tazewell County. The most significant tornado caused EF-2 damage in rural Tazewell County just northeast of Delavan.
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 Mar 6, 8:29 PM CST, 1 hour 31 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 829 PM CST Mon Mar 6 2017 .UPDATE... Issued at 829 PM CST Mon Mar 6 2017 Updated the forecast to increase wind speeds tonight with gusts of 35-45 mph and locally higher gusts especially with thunderstorms by overnight. Bloomington already gusting to 46 mph at 8 pm. Southerly sustained winds range from 20-35 mph over central IL at mid evening and have been gradually increasing during the evening. KILX 00Z sounding had 2k ft wind of 55 kts and some of this higher wind is mixing down toward the surface. Will continue to monitor to see if a wind advisory is needed, but for now have issued a special weather statement addressing these higher winds. A strong and deepening 980 mb surface low pressure was over south central Manitoba, with its cold front extending southward through eastern MN, central IA and nw MO. A line of strong to severe thunderstorms was along the cold front and quickly moving east. HRRR model has the squall line reaching areas nw of the IL river between 05-06Z (11 pm- midnight), nearing I-55 by 07Z/2 am, just east of I-57 by 09Z/3 am and to the IN border around 10Z (4 am). This line is still projected to weaken as it moves east across IL overnight, with slight risk west of I-57 and enhanced risk west of Peoria and Springfield. Main severe wx threat is damaging wind gusts with 15-30% risk, with 5-15% risk of large hail in western CWA and 2-5% risk of tornadoes over western half of CWA. Lows overnight to range from lower 40s over the IL river valley where skies clear late tonight, to the lower 50s over southeast IL. && .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Tuesday) ISSUED AT 243 PM CST Mon Mar 6 2017 Main concern in the short term is with the convection expected this evening. Pre-frontal line of showers and embedded storms is edging eastward across central western Illinois early this afternoon. Further west, radar imagery and GOES-16 1-minute visible imagery is showing a line of storms beginning to fire from northwest Iowa into south central Nebraska, along a dry line. High-resolution model guidance continues to show this filling in and marching eastward this evening, with decent agreement in the line reaching the Illinois River toward midnight and marching through the CWA through about 4-5 am. Latest SPC Day1 outlook has brought the enhanced risk as far east as a Peoria-Springfield line, focused on the wind potential as the line focuses into a QLCS, though in a weakening state as it pushes east across Illinois. A very sharp cutoff on the back edge of the rain shield will occur, but the rain will linger over the far southeast CWA into early Tuesday. Secondary concern will be the winds through Tuesday. Gusts of 25-35 mph are occurring this afternoon, but are expected to increase a bit this evening ahead of the line, with some 40-45 mph gusts likely. Conditions are a bit borderline for a wind advisory, but will need to monitor this closely over the next few hours. After the convection passes, there will be a short window when winds subside, but they should become gusty again by late morning as deep mixing takes place on Tuesday. Gusts of 30-35 mph appear more likely at this time for Tuesday afternoon. .LONG TERM...(Tuesday night through Monday) ISSUED AT 243 PM CST Mon Mar 6 2017 Central and southeast Illinois can expect an active weather period through the extended range of the forecast, with a system passing through or near the area about every other day. Model guidance continues to struggle with the details within this fast flow regime, which has required notable forecast adjustments from day-to-day. Despite the model variation/disagreement, the most consistent trend has been a further south/colder track to the weather systems. The first wave to impact the area is the weakest, and is currently forecast to brush by the area later Thursday into Thursday night. Initially, conditions would be warm enough for rain across the entire area. However, It will likely cool enough in the north Thursday night for a change over to snow, although no accumulation is anticipated. If the models continue to trend south with this wave, there is still the potential that it will miss us entirely. The second wave is the most significant, and is forecast to impact the area late Friday night into Saturday evening. This timing has been pretty consistent of late, but again this system has been trending more southerly in its track. If these trends hold, at least some light snow accumulation appears possible across the northern half of the forecast area into midday Saturday. A final wave arrives around Monday, but model agreement with respect to its timing is not as good as with the first two waves. This system also seems poised to produce snow and/or rain across the forecast area, with the snow more likely in the north and early in the day before temperatures warm. Above normal temperatures to start the period will trend below normal by the end of the week. The passage of each disturbance will deepen the upper-level troffing over eastern North America and advect cold low-level air into the area. I guess winter wasn't quite done with us yet. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Tuesday evening) Issued at 555 PM CST Mon Mar 6 2017 MVFR ceilings (as low as 1k ft at BMI and CMI) could lift to VFR next few hours as SPI recently did. Continued VCSH in central IL TAFs this evening in warm sector. Strong southerly winds around 20 kts with gusts of 23-33 kts early this evening will increase during this evening as cold front in nw IA and eastern KS approaches IL/MS river by late evening. KILX 00Z sounding showed 2k ft southerly winds of 55 kts and supports these stronger winds. Latest HRRR model shows squall line pushing quickly east from western IA toward the IL river by PIA around 06Z, to I-55 by 07Z and to DEC and CMI by 08 or 09Z. Carried 2 hour period of TS with MVFR ceilings and vsbys along with SW wind gusts of 35-40 kts. Clearing to occur a few hours behind cold front with fair amount of sunshine expected Tue. Winds veer westerly behind cold front Tue and gust to 25-30 kts during day Tue, then diminish to 10-15 kts by 22 or 23Z Tue. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 243 PM CST Mon Mar 6 2017 Some concerns for Tuesday with borderline red flag conditions in parts of the area. Deep mixing to take place from around 5000 feet, as forecast soundings show 50 knot winds mixing down to the surface. Very dry in the lower levels, and there is some concern that dew points could get lower than the low-mid 20s already in the grids for afternoon. Minimum humidity levels forecast to reach the upper 20s over the southwest CWA. That area currently has 10-hour dead fuel levels of 11-15%, but could dry out quickly despite the rain tonight as 30-35 mph wind gusts occur. No fire headlines planned at the present time due to the uncertainty. && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && UPDATE...07 SHORT TERM...Geelhart LONG TERM...Bak AVIATION...07 FIRE WEATHER...Geelhart
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Lincoln IL 316 PM CST Mon Mar 6 2017 ILZ027>029-036-037-040>042-047>052-071200- Cass-Christian-Fulton-Knox-Logan-Mason-Menard-Morgan-Peoria- Sangamon-Schuyler-Scott-Stark-Tazewell- 316 PM CST Mon Mar 6 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... Strong southerly winds will gust from 35 to 40 mph much of the night, until a cold front passes. This will cause difficulty for high profile vehicles, traveling on west east oriented highways. There is an enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms late this evening, until a couple hours after midnight, as a squall line pushes east across the state. Current indications suggest the time frame for the threat of severe weather would be centered around midnight, with the primary threat being from damaging wind gusts of 60 to 65 mph. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY... As the storm moves away from the region on Tuesday, strong westerly winds will gust from 30 to 40 mph at times during the afternoon. Similar winds are expected on Wednesday as well. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will likely be needed overnight, mainly in the 11 pm to 3 am time frame. ILZ030-031-038-043-044-053-054-061-071200- De Witt-Macon-Marshall-McLean-Moultrie-Piatt-Shelby-Woodford- 316 PM CST Mon Mar 6 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Illinois. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... Strong southerly winds will gust from 35 to 40 mph much of the night, until a cold front passes. This will cause difficulty for high profile vehicles, traveling on west east oriented highways. A line of strong to severe thunderstorms will be pushing east across the state overnight, with the main threat in the highway 51 corridor between 1 am and 4 am. Although the thunderstorms are expected to be in a weakening state, some of the stronger storms will be capable of producing wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY... As the storm moves away from the region on Tuesday, strong westerly winds will gust up to 40 mph at times during the afternoon. Similar winds are expected on Wednesday as well. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be required after midnight. ILZ045-046-055>057-071200- Champaign-Coles-Douglas-Edgar-Vermilion- 316 PM CST Mon Mar 6 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of east central Illinois. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... Strong southerly winds will gust from 35 to 40 mph much of the night, until a cold front passes. This will cause difficulty for high profile vehicles, traveling on west east oriented highways. Scattered thunderstorms are expected after midnight, as a cold front moves across the area. Although the thunderstorms are expected to be in a weakening state late tonight, some of the stronger storms will be capable of producing wind gusts to around 50 mph. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY... As the storm moves away from the region on Tuesday, strong westerly winds will gust up to 40 mph at times during the afternoon. Similar winds may occur on Wednesday as well. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated through tonight. However, spotters are encouraged to report any strong winds that may accompany the storms tonight. ILZ062-063-066>068-071>073-071200- Clark-Clay-Crawford-Cumberland-Effingham-Jasper-Lawrence-Richland- 316 PM CST Mon Mar 6 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Illinois. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... Strong southerly winds will gust from 35 to 40 mph much of the night, until a cold front passes. This will cause difficulty for high profile vehicles, traveling on west east oriented highways. Scattered thunderstorms are expected to move into the area after midnight, and continue until shortly after sunrise. Although the thunderstorms are expected to be in a weakening state, some of the stronger storms will be capable of producing wind gusts to around 50 mph and locally heavy rainfall. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY... No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated through tonight. However, spotters are encouraged to report any strong winds that may accompany the storms late tonight. Geelhart
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Lincoln IL 610 PM CST Mon Mar 6 2017 ILZ027>031-036>038-040>057-061>063-066>068-071>073-070600- Knox-Stark-Peoria-Marshall-Woodford-Fulton-Tazewell-McLean- Schuyler-Mason-Logan-De Witt-Piatt-Champaign-Vermilion-Cass- Menard-Scott-Morgan-Sangamon-Christian-Macon-Moultrie-Douglas- Coles-Edgar-Shelby-Cumberland-Clark-Effingham-Jasper-Crawford- Clay-Richland-Lawrence- 610 PM CST Mon Mar 6 2017 ...Strong southerly winds expected this evening...then strong to potentially severe thunderstorms to race east across central IL late this evening and overnight... South winds of 20 to 30 MPH with wind gusts increasing to 35 to 45 MPH during this evening over central Illinois as a cold front approaches Illinois late this evening. The front will race east across central Illinois between 11 pm and 5 am, and be associated with a strong to potentially severe line of thunderstorms with even stronger winds possible west of I-57. Individuals should ensure all loose items are secured outside. Motorists, especially in high profile vehicles like semi-trucks on east-west highways, should drive defensively and expect winds to impact vehicles. 07
The Lincoln radar (KILX), 56 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:57 UTC.
30 thunderstorm wind, 7 hail, 3 tornado, 1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Gradient winds gusting to 45-50mph ahead of an approaching line of thunderstorms caused a tree to fall along the 1200 block of West College Avenue in Bloomington.
The roof of a house was damaged in Huntsville.
A car was crushed by a falling tree near Knox College in Galesburg.
Sheet metal was blown off a building.
A power pole was blown down near the intersection of 1200E and 650N.
Ten power poles were snapped at the base near the Correctional Center.
A large object was blown onto a house.
A tree was blown onto a house in Matanzas Beach.
A tree was snapped several feet off the ground.
A semi was blown over on I-155 at the Main Street exit.
A 12-inch diameter tree limb was blown down.
A tornado touched down 2.2 miles north-northwest of Easton at 11:52 PM CST. The tornado tracked northeastward, hitting a homestead 2.5 miles north of Easton where a machine shed was severely damaged, with most of its roof removed and part of the north wall bowed out. From here to the end of the track, most of the damage was to power poles or overturned irrigation rigs: however, a farm along County Road 2930E received damage as well. A grain silo had half its peaked roof cave in, and part of a machine shed had a couple smaller wall pieces blown out. The tornado dissipated 5.5 miles southeast of Forest City at 11:57 PM CST.
A 7-foot privacy fence was blown down, snapping 5 of its poles at the base.
A tornado touched down along Wagonseller Road about 5 miles southwest of Green Valley at 12:00 AM CST March 7th. The tornado quickly tracked northeastward and widened to around 150 yards and increased in intensity to EF-1 as it destroyed an outbuilding and an historic single room schoolhouse about 4 miles southwest of Green Valley. It then continued moving northeastward through mainly open fields, but did produce damage to 2 grain bins, a barn, and several trees along Towerline Rd. The tornado dissipated about 3 miles east-northeast of Green Valley at 12:06 AM CST.
Several power poles were blown down along Krause Road between Cloverdale and Spillman Roads.
A 2-story barn was destroyed, a cob shed was blown down, and a 4-foot diameter tree was snapped. Several power poles and power lines were blown down as well.
Two cars from a 108-car train were blown off the tracks between Chillicothe and Wilbern.
A tornado touched down in an open field 1.4 miles north-northeast of Delavan at 12:09 CST. The tornado quickly tracked northeastward and widened to 200 yards, causing EF-2 damage to one outbuilding and EF-1 damage to several other outbuildings and trees. It continued northeastward before dissipating 4.1 miles northeast of Delavan at 12:13 AM CST.
A wall was blown down at the Washington Township shed.
Several tree branches were broken in Wenona.
A storm siren was blown over on Pulaski Street on the southeast side of Lincoln.
A small trailer was overturned.
Shingle damage occurred to 4 homes. Two fence sections were toppled and a stop sign was blown down.
A portion of the Wilkins Hall roof was torn off and thrown onto an apartment on the campus of Illinois State University.
A fence was blown over and a mailbox was torn off its post.
A few small trees were blown down in Heyworth.
A small shed was destroyed in Oconee.
A grain bin was blown off its foundation.
A small boat was overturned.
A roof was partially blown off a building and a sign and fence were damaged.
A semi was blown over at mile marker 187 on I-57.
A shed was damaged in Allerton.
A tree was blown down across Route 119.
A large tree limb was 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 historyThe tornado archive for Illinois, 2017Warnings in Illinois, March 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: 686821, 686779, 686780, 686781, 686771, 686810, 686772, 686782, 686783, 686784, 686785, 686786, 686773, 686787, 686765, 686793, 686766, 686774, 686796, 686808, 686775, 686803, 686767, 686809, 686804, 686776, 686802, 686806, 686807, 686801, 686797, 686792, 686805, 686799, 686794, 686800, 686777, 686788, 686791, 686789, and more.