A slow-moving cold front interacting with an unseasonably warm and humid airmass triggered several rounds of thunderstorms across west-central Illinois during the afternoon and evening of October 14th. The strongest and most persistent storms impacted Knox County, producing scattered wind damage and dropping locally heavy rainfall of 2 to 3 inches.
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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 slow-moving cold front interacting with an unseasonably warm and humid airmass triggered several rounds of thunderstorms across west-central Illinois during the afternoon and evening of October 14th. The strongest and most persistent storms impacted Knox County, producing scattered wind damage and dropping locally heavy rainfall of 2 to 3 inches. Numerous streets in the city of Galesburg were flooded, with some cars stalling in the high water. The storms weakened as they shifted eastward, with a few cells producing additional wind damage south of Ashland in Morgan County and northwest of Lincoln in Logan 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 Oct 14, 2:13 PM CST, 2 hours 47 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 313 PM CDT Sat Oct 14 2017 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Sunday) ISSUED AT 310 PM CDT Sat Oct 14 2017 An outflow boundary from convection over northern IL has slipped toward toward a Bloomington to Rushville line at mid afternoon. Showers and thunderstorms were north of a Quincy to Bloomington line and tracking ene. Partly to mostly sunny skies over central and southern CWA has warmed temperatures into the mid 80s with Lincoln setting a record high of 86F and Springfield up to 87F, just a degree shy of the record high. Moist dewpoints in the mid to upper 60s across CWA. Precipitable water values ranged from 1.5-1.9 inches, highest over northern CWA, which is at the 99 percentile for mid October. This is supporting the heavy rains of 1-3 inches over northern IL. SPC day1 outlook has slight risk of severe storms along and north of I-72 late this afternoon and into this evening, while enhanced risk of severe over the IL river valley where 30% risk of damaging winds and 5% risk of tornadoes. A 1008 mb surface low pressure over central IA and a 1007 mb low pressure over sw KS will eject ne and pull the cold front se over central IL overnight, and thru southeast IL by mid Sunday morning. Lows tonight to range from around 50F nw of the IL river, to 60-65F along the Wabash river. Windy on Sunday with WNW winds 15-25 mph and gusts 25-35 mph ushering in much cooler air. Highs Sunday range from mid 50s from Peoria and Bloomington north to the mid 60s by the Wabash river. Clouds to decrease from west to east during Sunday afternoon. && .LONG TERM...(Sunday night through Saturday) ISSUED AT 310 PM CDT Sat Oct 14 2017 The coldest night of the season expected Sunday night as skies clear and winds lighten up with 1030 mb high pressure settling into OK by dawn Monday and ridging into central IL. Lows in the upper 30s and lower 40s. A few patches of frost possible late Sunday night and early Monday morning in low lying areas north of I-70. An upper level trof over IL on Monday along with surface ridge to keep it cool with highs Monday in the lower 60s. Another seasonably cool night Monday night with lows mostly in the lower 40s. A nice stretch of fall weather expected Tuesday through Saturday as upper level trof pulls away from IL as surface ridge shifts into the southeast states and getting a return southerly flow. Strong upper level ridge builds over the eastern US later in the week to keep it dry and bring in warmer weather. Highs Tue in the upper 60s, then in the lower 70s Wed and in the 70s Thu-Sat. An approaching cold front from the nw could bring next chance of convection next Saturday night. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Sunday afternoon) Issued at 1259 PM CDT Sat Oct 14 2017 Scattered showers and thunderstorms will affect PIA and BMI this afternoon with MVFR conditions possible with thunderstorms especially at PIA. This convection close to a warm front just south of I-80 in northern IL and ties to a 1008 mb in se CO. I-72 airports will see broken VFR ceilings around 5k ft at times this afternoon while convection drops southward toward them during this evening. Added LLWS to TAFs from 02Z-10Z with 2k ft sw winds of 45-55 kts while surface SSW winds of 10-15 kts and gusts of 18-24 kts. Cold front passes through overnight with SSW winds switching WNW and increase to 15-20 kts with gusts of 25-30 kts by Sunday morning. MVFR ceilings also expected behind the cold front later tonight into Sunday morning as showers end between 11-13Z. && .CLIMATE... Issued at 310 PM CDT Sat Oct 14 2017 Springfield's low of 67F at 8 am this morning matches the record warm low of 67F set on Oct 14, 1899. If temperature stays at or above 67F through 1 am cdt tonight, it will tie a new record warm low for Oct 14th. Lincoln rose to 86F at 2 pm and broke the record high of 85F set in 1908. Springfield rose to 88F at 212 pm and tied the record high set back in 1897. Here are the Record Highs for Today Oct 14th... Lincoln....... 86 in 2017 Havana........ 86 in 1989 Rantoul....... 86 in 1989 Galesburg..... 87 in 1947 Springfield... 88 in 1897 & 2017 Peoria........ 89 in 1897 Bloomington... 89 in 1899 Danville...... 89 in 1897 Rushville..... 89 in 1947 Effingham..... 90 in 1899 Minonk........ 90 in 1897 Champaign..... 91 in 1899 Sullivan...... 91 in 1899 Robinson...... 91 in 1899 Charleston.... 92 in 1899 Jacksonville.. 93 in 1897 Tuscola....... 93 in 1899 Decatur....... 94 in 1899 && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SHORT TERM...07 LONG TERM...07 AVIATION...07 CLIMATE...07
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Lincoln IL 306 PM CDT Sat Oct 14 2017 ILZ027>031-036>038-040-041-151100- Fulton-Knox-Marshall-Mason-McLean-Peoria-Schuyler-Stark-Tazewell- Woodford- 306 PM CDT Sat Oct 14 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... Thunderstorms will move through the area this evening as a frontal system approaches the area, and continue into tonight. There is an enhanced risk that some of these storms could be severe, with damaging winds, hail, and an isolated tornado possible. Locally heavy rainfall will also be possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY... No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be required after 5 pm. ILZ042>045-047>051-053-151100- Cass-Champaign-De Witt-Logan-Macon-Menard-Morgan-Piatt-Sangamon- Scott- 306 PM CDT Sat Oct 14 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Illinois, east central Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... Thunderstorms will move into the area this evening as a frontal system approaches the area, and continue through tonight. There is a slight risk that some of these storms could be severe, with damaging winds, hail, and an isolated tornado possible. Locally heavy rainfall will also be possible. The best chances for hazardous weather will be after 6 pm. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY... No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be required tonight after 7 pm. ILZ046-052-054>057-061>063-066-067-071-151100- Christian-Clark-Clay-Coles-Cumberland-Douglas-Edgar-Effingham- Jasper-Moultrie-Shelby-Vermilion- 306 PM CDT Sat Oct 14 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Illinois, east central Illinois and southeast Illinois. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... Thunderstorms will move into the area this evening as a frontal system approaches the area, and continue through tonight. Some of these storms could be strong, with gusty winds and small hail. The strongest storms will likely be after 8 pm. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY... Some lingering thunderstorms will be possible Sunday morning. Severe weather is not expected. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated through tonight. ILZ068-072-073-151100- Crawford-Lawrence-Richland- 306 PM CDT Sat Oct 14 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southeast Illinois. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... Thunderstorms are possible late tonight as a cold front moves through the area. These storms are not expected to become severe. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY... Some lingering thunderstorms will be possible Sunday morning. Severe weather is not expected. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated through tonight. Barker
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
403 PM CDT SAT OCT 14 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0315 PM HEAVY RAIN GALESBURG 40.95N 90.38W
10/14/2017 M1.60 INCH KNOX IL TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL SO FAR
&&
EJLPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
418 PM CDT SAT OCT 14 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0400 PM HEAVY RAIN GALESBURG 40.95N 90.38W
10/14/2017 E1.50 INCH KNOX IL PUBLIC
STORM TOTAL SO FAR
&&
EJLThe Quad Cities radar (KDVN), 90 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:58 UTC.
8 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Several large tree branches were blown down about a mile north of Abingdon.
Numerous trees and large tree branches were blown down across Galesburg.
Thunderstorms producing excessive rainfall rates dropped 2 to 3 inches of rain across the city of Galesburg in a short period of time. As a result, several streets were impassable due to as much as 2 feet of water flowing across them. A few cars stalled in the high water.
Several 8 to 12-inch diameter tree branches were snapped.
A 12-inch diameter tree branch was blown down.
Numerous trees were blown on Highway 26 about 5 miles southeast of Chillicothe.
A power line was blown down, closing Highway 26 near Spring Bay.
Six power poles were blown down on Old Route 121 northwest of Lincoln.
Several trees as large as 3 to 4 feet in diameter were blown down along Hog Barn Road about 2 miles east of Prentice and 2 miles south of Ashland. Numerous branches were downed and a few tree tops were snapped as well.
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, October 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: 724184, 724182, 724183, 724194, 724187, 724188, 724190, 724191, 724185, 724186.