Widely scattered strong thunderstorms developed in the vicinity of a warm front during the late afternoon and evening of May 8th. A few of the cells produced damaging wind gusts and one storm caused a lightning strike that damaged a utility pole near El Paso.
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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.
Widely scattered strong thunderstorms developed in the vicinity of a warm front during the late afternoon and evening of May 8th. A few of the cells produced damaging wind gusts and one storm caused a lightning strike that damaged a utility pole near El Paso.
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 8, 7:47 PM CST, 8 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 847 PM CDT Wed May 8 2019 .UPDATE... Issued at 847 PM CDT Wed May 8 2019 Narrow line of convection formed earlier this evening and is now across northeast Illinois and southeast Wisconsin. Still seeing some isolated storms here and there over central Illinois though. Radar mosaics showing narrow convection also developing over Iowa ahead of the cold front, and showers/isolated storms lifting out of southeast Missouri. Short range models in good agreement with an expansion in rain coverage by late evening, and PoP's were adjusted accordingly. Also updated the rain chances into Thursday, dropping them off quicker west of I-55 as the front should be clearing that area in the 6-9 am time frame. && .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Thursday) ISSUED AT 305 PM CDT Wed May 8 2019 SPC mesoanalysis shows warm front has moved into north central portion of IL with winds gradually shifting to south southeast. MUCAPE values with and south of warm front around 2000, but upper ridge aloft aiding in suppressing of development without the presence of any low level convergent forcing. Expect development possible on trough seen over northeast MO closer to the IA low center this evening with better shear in that area in the area of the warm front. Satellite imagery shows upper low center in west central KS and slow to move out. Overnight the surface low and upper system will move to the northeast, and drag trailing trough into the state. Scattered convection possible on the boundary overnight, but best dynamics aloft and lift will be in area of the low and so only small chance of significant convection over region. main cold front to move into region by morning Thursday, and bring cooler air and a few showers with it. Southeast CWa and southern IL however, will have best chance for some significant pcpn, as a secondary short wave moves out of the southern plains trough and develops a minor low on the front moving into the OH valley area. Therefore, best pcpn for CWA in the southeast, continuing into Thursday in that area. .LONG TERM...(Thursday night through Wednesday) ISSUED AT 305 PM CDT Wed May 8 2019 For the long range, a different pattern will set up with mainly northwest flow aloft and dry conditions. There will be some minor chances for some rain at times. but the main trend will be cooler and dry. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Thursday evening) Issued at 631 PM CDT Wed May 8 2019 Line of showers/storms has been recently developing across central Illinois, and will very soon be within 5NM of KPIA. Have included some TEMPO periods of MVFR visibility there for the next couple hours, as this line passes. Any impacts at KBMI are probably still a couple hours off, and more toward mid/late evening further south. However, similar TEMPO periods were included at the other sites. Ceilings will gradually deteriorate as the rain becomes more widespread overnight, and a short period of IFR conditions appears likely early Thursday morning immediately ahead of a cold front. This front will result in a shift to west winds as early as 12-13Z at KPIA, and 16-17Z at KCMI. && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && UPDATE...Geelhart SHORT TERM...Goetsch LONG TERM...Goetsch AVIATION...Geelhart
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Lincoln IL 303 PM CDT Wed May 8 2019 ILZ027>031-037-091100- Knox-Marshall-Peoria-Stark-Tazewell-Woodford- 303 PM CDT Wed May 8 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... Strong thunderstorms will be possible this afternoon and evening...with the main threats from the storms being strong wind gusts and small hail. An isolated tornado may still be possible from the strongest storm. In addition, locally heavy rainfall may create flash flooding. Moderate flooding will continue along the Illinois River from Henry to Peoria for the next several days. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... Thunderstorms will continue into Thursday: however, severe weather is not expected. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may still be required later today...mainly between 4pm and 11pm. ILZ036-040-041-047-049-050-091100- Cass-Fulton-Mason-Morgan-Schuyler-Scott- 303 PM CDT Wed May 8 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... Strong thunderstorms will be possible this afternoon and evening...with the main threats from the storms being strong wind gusts and small hail. An isolated tornado may still be possible from the strongest storm. In addition, locally heavy rainfall may create flash flooding. Major flooding will continue along the Illinois River from Havana downstream for the next several days. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... Thunderstorms will continue into Thursday: however, severe weather is not expected. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may still required later today...mainly between 4pm and 11pm. ILZ038-042>046-048-051>057-061-091100- Champaign-Christian-Coles-De Witt-Douglas-Edgar-Logan-Macon- McLean-Menard-Moultrie-Piatt-Sangamon-Shelby-Vermilion- 303 PM CDT Wed May 8 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Illinois and east central Illinois. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... Scattered thunderstorms will develop late this afternoon, then will continue through tonight. While widespread severe weather is not anticipated, a few of the storms could produce gusty winds, small hail, and heavy rainfall leading to localized flash flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... Thunderstorms will continue into Thursday. A few of the cells could produce gusty winds and heavy rainfall. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated through tonight. ILZ062-063-066>068-071>073-091100- Clark-Clay-Crawford-Cumberland-Effingham-Jasper-Lawrence-Richland- 303 PM CDT Wed May 8 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of east central Illinois and southeast Illinois. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... Thunderstorms will develop tonight. While widespread severe weather is not anticipated, a few of the storms could produce gusty winds, small hail, and heavy rainfall leading to localized flash flooding. Minor flooding will continue along the Wabash River for the next several days. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... Thunderstorms will continue into Thursday. A few of the cells could produce gusty winds and heavy rainfall. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated through tonight. HJS
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
652 PM CDT WED MAY 8 2019
ILZ029>031-090030-
Marshall-Peoria-Woodford-
652 PM CDT WED MAY 8 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN MARSHALL...NORTHWESTERN
WOODFORD...AND CENTRAL PEORIA COUNTIES UNTIL 730 PM CDT...
At 651 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Spring Bay, moving northeast at 55 mph. This was part of a line of
storms that extended south to near Manito.
Half inch hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with
this storm. The storm produced a 44 mph wind gust at the Peoria
airport at 643 PM.
Locations impacted include...
Peoria, Lacon, East Peoria, Bartonville, Chillicothe, Creve Coeur,
West Peoria, Henry, Bellevue, Rome, Dunlap, Hanna City, Spring Bay,
Sparland, Bay View Gardens, Camp Grove, Kickapoo, Peoria Heights,
Norwood and Hopewell.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 474 between mile markers 0 and 9.
Interstate 74 between mile markers 80 and 93.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
office in Lincoln.
&&
LAT...LON 4115 8933 4112 8933 4111 8936 4110 8935
4110 8924 4074 8952 4074 8955 4071 8955
4066 8962 4065 8961 4058 8966 4065 8987
4097 8969 4098 8964 4107 8964 4114 8960
TIME...MOT...LOC 2351Z 218DEG 47KT 4082 8961
GeelhartPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
733 PM CDT WED MAY 8 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0650 PM TSTM WND GST PEORIA INTERNATIONAL AI 40.67N 89.68W
05/08/2019 M49 MPH PEORIA IL ASOS
0658 PM TSTM WND GST 1 WNW CHILLICOTHE 40.92N 89.52W
05/08/2019 E50 MPH PEORIA IL TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
25The Lincoln radar (KILX), 69 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:55 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Lightning struck a utility pole and caused power lines to fall on I-39 near El Paso. No other damage was reported.
A tree was blown down near the intersection of US-51 and Emery Road north of Forsyth.
An empty semi trailer was blown over on Emery Road.
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, May 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: 819465, 819466, 819467.