Supercell thunderstorms developed in the vicinity of a warm front draped along the I-74 corridor during the afternoon and early evening of May 26th. where powerful cells produced a tornado, damaging winds, and extremely large hail.
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.
Supercell thunderstorms developed in the vicinity of a warm front draped along the I-74 corridor during the afternoon and early evening of May 26th. The hardest hit area was northern Vermilion County...where powerful cells produced a tornado, damaging winds, and extremely large hail. An EF-1 tornado touched down northwest of Alvin, damaging trees, the roof and siding of a house, and a garage. Meanwhile, 80-90mph winds produced nearly $3 million worth of tree and property damage in Rossville. Very large hail up to the size of tennis balls were reported in Rankin. In addition, extreme rainfall rates caused flash flooding in Hoopeston.
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 May 26, 11:53 AM CST, 1 hour 22 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 1253 PM CDT Fri May 26 2017 .UPDATE... Issued at 1054 AM CDT Fri May 26 2017 MCV noted on latest satellite/radar imagery over eastern Iowa will continue to track eastward across north-central Illinois this afternoon. A cluster of convection is ongoing with this system and will brush the far northern KILX CWA around Galesburg and Lacon over the next 2-4 hours. Based on radar timing tools, it appears the bulk of the storms will remain just north of the CWA, but additional scattered development south of the main system appears likely. Both the NAM and HRRR show convection associated with the MCV becoming widespread as it tracks along/just south of the I-80 corridor this afternoon...with widely scattered thunderstorms developing as far south as I-72. With 12z KILX upper air sounding already showing a strong mid-level cap and upstream 700mb temps rising to 12C at KSGF, think capping will greatly limit the southern extent of the convection today. As a result, will maintain just slight chance PoPs across the southern two-thirds of the area...with high chance PoPs confined to locations along/north of I-74. && .SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight) ISSUED AT 322 AM CDT Fri May 26 2017 Early this morning, a weak ridge stretched from the western Gulf Coast up through the Upper Midwest. However, the weak ridge is losing ground to clouds filtering in ahead of the next system moving into the region. For today, generally the cooler temps associated with clouds between the clouds streaming in from the west and the cu that will develop in any clear spots. A couple of weak waves on sat imagery moving through the forecast area this morning along with a very weak boundary...bringing some showers to the region, with increasing chances later this afternoon/evening. Models still differ with how far north the stronger wave will move later this afternoon. Models have trended north...but wave on sat imagery is a little further south in the water vapor. Either way...chance for showers and later thunderstorms today will linger into the evening and overnight hours. Thunderstorms are contingent on breaking a relatively weak cap with weak warm air advection into the region...as well as whether or not the region will get an assist from outflow from convection upstream this morning. Overnight lows are limited to the upper 50s to mid 60s. .LONG TERM...(Saturday through Thursday) ISSUED AT 322 AM CDT Fri May 26 2017 Next wave moves into the region with a sfc low from the SW as the upper trough moves through the Midwest. Last couple synoptic runs of the models tracking significantly further south with the low itself...keeping much of the warm frontal feature out of Central IL. Significant MUCAPE across the region invof and behind the lifting warm front throughout the day...but once again, further south...leaving the uncertainty of the track a concern for Central IL. Either way, SPC has kept Central IL in a slight risk, partially due to some uncertainty...but also as the storms may be focused further to the south, but more than enough instability will be in place to warrant the threat. Easterly flow for much of Saturday is actually keeping the temperatures mainly in the 70s and lower 80s. The storm system moves through the Midwest through the remainder of the weekend slowing as the front moves east of ILX...lingering the pops in the southeastern portions of the state. Sunday evening will dry out...but pops return into the forecast Monday, though weak and in the northern portions of the state under cyclonic flow. Pops through the end of the week are relatively low and sporadic until Thursday as another frontal boundary stretches across the Midwest, providing a focus for showers and thunderstorms. Mild and seasonal temperatures are expected in the extended. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Saturday afternoon) Issued at 1253 PM CDT Fri May 26 2017 A cluster of thunderstorms has developed across west-central Illinois early this afternoon and will continue tracking eastward over the next several hours. Based on radar trends, have included TEMPO thunder at KPIA between 18z and 20z. Further east, have only gone with VCTS at KBMI and KCMI until convective certainty and timing become better established. Once this wave passes, it will push a weak cold front southward into the area this evening. Isolated convection may develop along the boundary, so have included VCTS at both KSPI and KDEC between 21z and 01z. After that, winds will become light/variable and fog development will become an issue. HRRR suggests fog will first develop along the I-74 corridor where rain will be most prevalent this afternoon by around 06z...then will develop/spread southward toward dawn. Have therefore reduced visbys around midnight, with widespread IFR ceilings and visbys down to around 2 miles between 09z and 13z. && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && UPDATE...Barnes SHORT TERM...HJS LONG TERM...HJS AVIATION...Barnes
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Lincoln IL 1152 AM CDT Fri May 26 2017 ILZ027-028-030-271700- Knox-Marshall-Stark- 1152 AM CDT Fri May 26 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... There is a chance of thunderstorms this afternoon, mainly between 1 pm and 4 pm. There is a Slight Risk of severe storms during that time, with hail and damaging wind gusts possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY... A series of disturbances will bring periodic thunderstorm chances from late Saturday afternoon through Sunday. At this time it appears that a few strong to severe storms will be possible Saturday evening, with large hail and damaging winds possible. Isolated thunderstorms are possible on Monday afternoon. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed between 1 pm and 4 pm this afternoon. ILZ029-031-036>038-041>046-053-055-057-271700- Champaign-De Witt-Douglas-Edgar-Fulton-Logan-Macon-Mason-McLean- Peoria-Piatt-Tazewell-Vermilion-Woodford- 1152 AM CDT Fri May 26 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Illinois, east central Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... There is a chance of thunderstorms this afternoon into early evening. There is a Slight Risk of severe storms, with hail and damaging winds possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY... A series of disturbances will bring periodic thunderstorm chances from late Saturday afternoon through Sunday. At this time it appears that strong to severe storms will be possible mainly Saturday evening, with large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes possible. Isolated thunderstorms will be possible north of Lincoln on Monday afternoon. Flooding will subside along the Illinois River at Peoria tonight, but will continue downstream through the entire period. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed between 3 pm and 7 pm. ILZ040-047>052-054-056-061-062-066-271700- Cass-Christian-Coles-Cumberland-Effingham-Menard-Morgan-Moultrie- Sangamon-Schuyler-Scott-Shelby- 1152 AM CDT Fri May 26 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Illinois, east central Illinois, southeast Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... There is a chance of thunderstorms this afternoon into early evening. There is a marginal risk of severe storms, with hail and damaging winds possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY... A series of disturbances will bring periodic thunderstorm chances from late Saturday afternoon through Sunday. At this time it appears that strong to severe storms will be possible mainly Saturday evening, with large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes possible. Isolated thunderstorms will be possible north of Lincoln on Monday afternoon. Flooding will subside along the Illinois River at Peoria tonight, but will continue downstream through the entire period. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed between 3 pm and 7 pm. ILZ063-067-068-071>073-271700- Clark-Clay-Crawford-Jasper-Lawrence-Richland- 1152 AM CDT Fri May 26 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of east central Illinois and southeast Illinois. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... There is a chance of thunderstorms later this afternoon and tonight. There is a marginal risk of severe storms with damaging winds and hail possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.... A series of disturbances will bring periodic thunderstorm chances from late Saturday afternoon through Sunday. At this time it appears that strong to severe storms will be possible, during late Saturday afternoon into Saturday night and again on Sunday. Flooding will continue along the Wabash River for several more days. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed between 4 pm and 7 pm. Shimon
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Lincoln IL 152 PM CDT FRI MAY 26 2017 ILZ027-036-261930- Knox-Fulton- 152 PM CDT FRI MAY 26 2017 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN FULTON AND SOUTHERN KNOX COUNTIES UNTIL 230 PM CDT... At 150 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Avon, or 17 miles southeast of Monmouth, moving east at 50 mph. Dime size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Abingdon, Farmington, Avon, Yates City, Fairview, London Mills, Maquon, Norris, St. Augustine, Ellisville, Delong and Middle Grove. LAT...LON 4063 8999 4059 9044 4082 9044 4087 8999 TIME...MOT...LOC 1850Z 262DEG 41KT 4070 9048 Barker
The Lincoln radar (KILX), 84 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:12 UTC.
13 hail, 7 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning, 1 tornado, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A thunderstorm triggered a lightning strike at an outdoor music festival near Chillicothe in northeast Peoria County. Two people were injured.
Numerous trees and power lines were blown down on the north side of Morton north of I-74 from Lakeland Road eastward to Tennessee Avenue.
Hail lasted for 4 minutes and broke windshields.
Wind-driven hail did extensive damage to the siding and roof of a house.
Trees were snapped near Illinois Route 1 south of 3200 N Road.
A tornado touched down at 5:53PM CDT 2.2 miles northwest of Alvin. It tracked southeastward and quickly dissipated by 5:54PM CDT. The tornado snapped a tree, did minor damage to the roof and siding of a house, broke an attic window, and blew the siding off a garage.
Extensive tree damage occurred across Rossville due to wind gusts of 80-90mph. Many homes and cars were damaged due to falling trees and tree branches. Numerous power poles and power lines were blown down and a few street lights were broken.
A pole barn was destroyed, with its roof and walls being blown about 300 yards to the southwest into a field. A tree was snapped in half.
Hail drifts of 1.5 to 3 feet deep due to flooding were reported west of Hoopeston.
A farmstead had an outbuilding destroyed and several trees damaged.
A farmstead had an outbuilding destroyed and several trees damaged.
Numerous trees, power poles, and power lines were blown down.
Intense rainfall of 2.00 to 3.00 inches in 30 to 60 minutes produced rapid flash flooding in northern Vermilion County. The flooding on roads from East Lynn to Hoopeston was intensified by hail drifts 1.5 to 3 feet deep. Severe street flooding was reported in Hoopeston with water up to 3 feet deep. Illinois Route 1 was impassable from near the Iroquois County line to 3 miles southwest of Hoopeston. The combination of additional rainfall during the late evening hours and slowly melting hail drifts kept flash flood conditions in place until the early morning hours of May 27th.
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, May 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: 695660, 695632, 695633, 695634, 695635, 695647, 695636, 695637, 695638, 695640, 695639, 695645, 695651, 695630, 695649, 695654, 695642, 695644, 695657, 695658, 695656, 695641, 704718.