Remnants of a large cluster of nocturnal thunderstorms over Iowa pushed into west-central Illinois during the early morning of August 20th. The leading edge of the storms intensified as they approached the I-55 corridor, then continued eastward to the Indiana border by around midday.
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.
Remnants of a large cluster of nocturnal thunderstorms over Iowa pushed into west-central Illinois during the early morning of August 20th. The leading edge of the storms intensified as they approached the I-55 corridor, then continued eastward to the Indiana border by around midday. Widespread wind damage accompanied the storms.
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 Aug 20, 5:18 AM CST, 2 hours 27 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 618 AM CDT Tue Aug 20 2019 .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 300 AM CDT Tue Aug 20 2019 Strong to severe thunderstorms will quickly move across central and southeast Illinois this morning and early afternoon, bringing the potential for damaging winds. As a cold front comes through the area on Wednesday, expect another round of showers and thunderstorms, although the severe weather threat will be much lower. This front will be slow to exit the area, so the rain will linger into Thursday in many areas. && .SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight) ISSUED AT 300 AM CDT Tue Aug 20 2019 Main focus for this forecast will be with the severe weather potential for later this morning. 2 am radar and satellite imagery showing rapid development of thunderstorms over the northwest quarter of Iowa, the start of an MCS which has been suggested for the last few model cycles. This seemed to be handled best by the 00Z runs of the HRRR and NMM-B models. Using their timing, the squall line is expected to move into the Galesburg area toward 8-9 am, reaching I-55 around 10-11 am, and southeast Illinois shortly after midday. Latest SPC Day1 outlook maintained the enhanced risk over most of the CWA except east of I-57, with the greatest threat of significant wind damage from about Havana northwest. A general weakening trend is expected as the storms get further through the middle of the state, as the cold pool pushes further ahead of the line. Question after the storms will be how much the air mass recovers this afternoon. Think it will probably be mid to late afternoon before any significant clearing takes place. Forecast highs in the mid 80s may be a bit optimistic, and will need to watch this closely for the late morning update. Next MCS expected to slide out of the central Plains late tonight. Have added some 20-30% PoP's over the southwest CWA for very late tonight, though a later arrival in our area appears more likely. .LONG TERM...(Wednesday through Monday) ISSUED AT 300 AM CDT Tue Aug 20 2019 Strong upper trough associated with the low over western Quebec will swing southward Wednesday night and Thursday. Tail end of Wednesday's front is expected to hang up in the general vicinity Wednesday night and Thursday, with the GFS being the most progressive of the longer range models. Went with more of a slower solution with the MCS, with healthy PoP's continuing near and south of I-72 into Thursday night. However, latest models are showing more of a southward push occurring by Friday evening. With high pressure dominating the Great Lakes region this weekend, the east/northeast flow is expected to keep our region dry. Think the primary rain chances will hold off until Monday, as a cold front swings across the northern Plains where the storm track will be focused. Longer range models would suggest a delay until Monday night, though this will be monitored for consistency in the next model run. Pleasant temperatures are expected behind Wednesday's front, with highs generally in the upper 70s to around 80 and lows upper 50s/lower 60s into the weekend. && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Wednesday morning) Issued at 618 AM CDT Tue Aug 20 2019 High cirrus will overspread the area ahead of a line of severe wind storms approaching from Iowa. MVFR to IFR vis and ceilings are likely during the thunderstorms. Winds will likely gust to 40 mph in a large portion of the area, with 50-60 mph winds in a few areas. Rough timing the arrival looks to be 14z at PIA, 15z at BMI & SPI, 16z at DEC, and 17z at CMI. VFR conditions will return once the precip moves out of the area. Winds will switch to southerly ahead of the storm system. Winds will veer southwest after system goes through and then become light and variable tonight. && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SYNOPSIS...Geelhart SHORT TERM...Geelhart LONG TERM...Geelhart AVIATION...Shimon
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Lincoln IL 612 AM CDT Tue Aug 20 2019 ILZ027>031-036>038-040>057-061>063-066>068-071>073-211115- Cass-Champaign-Christian-Clark-Clay-Coles-Crawford-Cumberland- De Witt-Douglas-Edgar-Effingham-Fulton-Jasper-Knox-Lawrence-Logan- Macon-Marshall-Mason-McLean-Menard-Morgan-Moultrie-Peoria-Piatt- Richland-Sangamon-Schuyler-Scott-Shelby-Stark-Tazewell-Vermilion- Woodford- 612 AM CDT Tue Aug 20 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Illinois, east central Illinois, southeast Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT... A cluster of strong to severe thunderstorms will accelerate across central and southeast Illinois this morning through mid afternoon. The primary hazard will be damaging wind gusts in excess of 60 mph. Hail to the size of quarters will be possible. While the threat is low, an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY... Storm chances will continue Wednesday and Thursday, especially south of I-74. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will be needed this morning through 3 pm. Shimon
The Quad Cities radar (KDVN), 76 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 13:48 UTC.
37 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Numerous trees and power lines were blown down in Galesburg.
Corn and sorghum fields were flattened about 3 miles west-northwest of Dahinda.
A young cedar tree was blown down.
Numerous tree limbs were blown down along US-24 from Rushville to Ray.
Several large tree limbs were blown down near 11th and Ash Streets in Canton.
A tree was blown onto a house in Peoria near Bradley University.
A tree was blown onto a house in Sunnyland.
A large tree fell onto a power line.
A one-foot diameter tree was blown down at Parkview and 11th Street.
A large tree was split down the middle.
Power lines were blown down in Germantown Hills.
A two-foot diameter tree was blown down in Deer Creek.
Power lines were blown down in two locations in Lincoln, leaving more than 500 customers without power.
A large tree was blown down.
A tree was blown down on Second Street between Kimble and St. Joseph streets.
Trees were blown onto power lines on Bel Aire Drive in southeast Springfield.
A large pine tree was blown onto a house near Jefferson Street and Churchill Road.
Numerous trees were blown down on the west side of Springfield.
Power lines and power poles were blown down in Latham.
A large tree was split in half on South Alexander Street in Clinton.
Several tree limbs were blown down.
Several large trees were snapped.
A tree was blown onto a power line in Bement.
Siding was blown off a building in Bondville.
A large tree was snapped at the base at the intersection of Kirby Avenue and Crescent Drive.
A semi was blown over on I-57 about 2 miles south of Thomasboro.
A tree was blown down in Villa Grove.
A tree was blown onto a power line.
Several large tree limbs were blown down.
Several trees were blown down in Oakwood.
Several trees were blown down in Potomac.
Several trees and power lines were blown down in Catlin. A metal sign at a gas station was blown down and minor roof damage occurred to a house as well.
A few trees were blown down near Bible Grove.
Several trees were blown down in Westville.
Several trees were blown down in Tilton.
Several trees were blown down in Bismarck.
Several trees and tree branches were blown down in Danville.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, August 2019
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: 854196, 854197, 854198, 854199, 854200, 854202, 854203, 854204, 854205, 854206, 854207, 854208, 854209, 854210, 854211, 854212, 854213, 854214, 854215, 854216, 854217, 854218, 854219, 854220, 854221, 854222, 854223, 854224, 854225, 854226, 854227, 854228, 854229, 854230, 854231, 854232, 854233.