A series of slow-moving lines and clusters of thunderstorms moved east-southeast across southern Illinois from the midday hours through the early evening hours. The storms produced flooding rains and isolated strong wind gusts.
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 PAH wrote it up.
A series of slow-moving lines and clusters of thunderstorms moved east-southeast across southern Illinois from the midday hours through the early evening hours. The storms produced flooding rains and isolated strong wind gusts. The storms intensified during peak afternoon heating within a region of unstable southwest flow ahead of a mid-level disturbance. The disturbance rotated eastward near St. Louis, Missouri just ahead of a cold front. The soil across southern Illinois was saturated from an early morning round of thunderstorms. Runoff from the afternoon storms caused very large rises on area creeks, mainly north of a line from Carbondale to Harrisburg. One fatality was associated with record flooding of Rayse Creek near Mount Vernon.
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 Paducah, KY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 16, 11:00 AM CST, 1 hour 10 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Paducah KY 1200 PM CDT Fri Jul 16 2021 .UPDATE... Updated aviation section for 18z taf issuance && .SHORT TERM...(Today through Sunday night) Issued at 355 AM CDT Fri Jul 16 2021 A slow moving surface front and upper level trof will be pushing slowly southeast into the mid Mississippi River Valley today, providing a focus for more shower and thunderstorm activity along and south of the surface boundary. Depending on the amount of solar heating and instability that can be generated this afternoon (with surface dew points from near 70 to the lower 70s), we could be looking at a few stronger storms to monitor, especially along and north of the Ohio River closer to the weak surface front. Overall shear values are also expected to remain a bit marginal for organized severe storms. SPC now has much of that region in a Marginal Risk for a few isolated severe storms this afternoon into early evening. The surface front is expected to stall somewhere close to the Ohio River on Saturday, but it now seems like much of the mid/upper level forcing will be shifting to the east. Therefore, highest shower/thunderstorm chances will lie over portions of wrn KY and sw IN. Once again, depending on the thermodynamic environment that can be generated, we could be looking at a few stronger storms during the afternoon into the early evening hours. Locally heavy rainfall will remain a possibility today through Saturday, as PWATs will be running up close to the 90th percentile for this time of year, close to 2SD above climatological norms. Yet another mid level short wave is expected to rotate south toward the OH Valley on Sunday. This could provide the support for more scattered showers and thunderstorms, especially along and south of the old stalled out surface boundary in western KY. Highest chances would once again come during the heat of the day, when instability should be maximized. Looks as though we will be stuck with uncomfortable humidity levels right through the weekend. However, limited sunshine should help to hold afternoon temperatures in the 80s at most locations. .LONG TERM...(Monday through Thursday) Issued at 429 AM CDT Fri Jul 16 2021 As a mid level trof continues to depart the PAH forecast area after the weekend, and high surface pressure filters in from the north, the likelihood of diurnally-driven shower and tstm development will be on the wane, confined mainly to the southern half of the region on Mon. Medium range model consensus suggested that deep moist convection will remain possible in the southern half of the region despite the drier regime, and dry elsewhere. There could be a resurgence of moisture by Thu from the southwest as the flow aloft goes more slack. Thus, in the afternoon heat, isolated shower and tstm development may occur mainly over western KY and adjacent parts of southeastern MO, but confidence in this is not high. Measurable pcpn may wait until just after the 7-day forecast period (Fri). In the drier regime, expect high and low temps to tick upward toward the end of the period, along with dewpoints (mainly Thu). All in all, low temps in the middle to upper 60s and high temps mostly in the middle to upper 80s isn't bad for mid-July. && .AVIATION... Issued at 1200 PM CDT Fri Jul 16 2021 Scattered thunderstorms will continue to increase in coverage and intensity this afternoon. The activity initially forming over sw Illinois and se Missouri at midday will move slowly east across the lower Ohio Valley through early this evening. The tafs will contain thunder, but amendments will be needed if radar indicates storms will produce ifr conditions or gusty winds. The storms will diminish with loss of daytime heating and instability later this evening. Mainly vfr conditions are expected much of the night. A weak frontal boundary will stall over the region early Saturday morning. The combination of light winds and plentiful low level moisture will result in ifr cigs in stratus in some areas. Conditions will improve to mvfr as daytime heating erodes cloud bases later Sat morning. && .PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...None. MO...None. IN...None. KY...None. && SHORT TERM...GM LONG TERM...DB AVIATION...MY
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Paducah KY 415 AM CDT Fri Jul 16 2021 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-171000- Jefferson-Wayne IL-Edwards-Wabash-Perry IL-Franklin-Hamilton- White-Jackson-Williamson-Saline-Gallatin-Union-Johnson-Pope- Hardin-Alexander-Pulaski-Massac-Gibson-Pike-Posey-Vanderburgh- Warrick-Spencer-Fulton-Hickman-Carlisle-Ballard-McCracken-Graves- Livingston-Marshall-Calloway-Crittenden-Lyon-Trigg-Caldwell- Union KY-Webster-Hopkins-Christian-Henderson-Daviess-McLean- Muhlenberg-Todd-Perry MO-Bollinger-Cape Girardeau-Wayne MO-Carter- Ripley-Butler-Stoddard-Scott-Mississippi-New Madrid- 415 AM CDT Fri Jul 16 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Scattered to numerous thunderstorms will be possible, especially this afternoon into early evening. A few isolated severe storms with gusty winds cannot be ruled out. However, the more common thunderstorm hazards will come with lightning and locally heavy rainfall. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday Scattered thunderstorms over the weekend will become much less numerous next week. Lightning and locally heavy rainfall are expected to be the primary thunderstorm hazards. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated at this time.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
856 AM CDT FRI JUL 16 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0741 AM FLOOD 3 N SAINT JOHNS 38.08N 89.24W
07/16/2021 PERRY IL PUBLIC
REPORT FROM MPING: RIVER/CREEK OVERFLOWING;
CROPLAND/YARD/BASEMENT FLOODING.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
858 AM CDT FRI JUL 16 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0820 AM HEAVY RAIN PINCKNEYVILLE 38.08N 89.38W
07/16/2021 E4.50 INCH PERRY IL PUBLIC
TWO WSIL-TV VIEWER REPORTS OF RAIN SO FAR IN
PINCKNEYVILLE.
&&
KESPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
957 AM CDT FRI JUL 16 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0950 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 N BENTON 38.02N 88.92W
07/15/2021 FRANKLIN IL PUBLIC
ONE TREE DOWN AND SEVERAL TREE LIMBS DOWN AT
A FARM NORTH OF BENTON. ROOF TINE BENT BACK
ON BARN. A 65 MPH WIND GUST WAS RECORDED ON
THE HOME WEATHER STATION AT 950 PM CDT.
REPORT RELAYED BY WSIL-TV. LATE REPORT.
&&
KESSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Paducah KY
1214 PM CDT Fri Jul 16 2021
ILZ075-080-081-161800-
Perry IL-Franklin IL-Jefferson IL-
1214 PM CDT Fri Jul 16 2021
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN PERRY...SOUTHWESTERN
JEFFERSON AND NORTHERN FRANKLIN COUNTIES UNTIL 100 PM CDT...
At 1213 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Du Quoin, moving northeast at 25 mph.
Penny size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Areas between Mount Vernon and Benton, Christopher, Rend Lake Area,
Sesser, Ina, and Bonnie.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3832 8892 3810 8871 3789 8915 3795 8915
3795 8928 3801 8934
TIME...MOT...LOC 1713Z 233DEG 22KT 3799 8919
YorkSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Paducah KY
1258 PM CDT Fri Jul 16 2021
ILZ075-076-081-082-161845-
Franklin IL-Hamilton IL-Jefferson IL-Wayne IL-
1258 PM CDT Fri Jul 16 2021
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN WAYNE...SOUTHEASTERN
JEFFERSON...NORTHEASTERN FRANKLIN AND NORTHERN HAMILTON COUNTIES
UNTIL 145 PM CDT...
At 1256 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Ina in the Rend Lake Area, moving northeast at 35 mph.
Nickel size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Wayne City, Dahlgren, Bonnie, Belle Rive.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3826 8833 3825 8837 3817 8837 3799 8891
3815 8901 3844 8845
TIME...MOT...LOC 1756Z 242DEG 28KT 3811 8888
YorkSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Paducah KY
107 PM CDT Fri Jul 16 2021
MOZ108-109-161845-
Butler MO-Ripley MO-
107 PM CDT Fri Jul 16 2021
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR RIPLEY AND NORTHWESTERN BUTLER
COUNTIES UNTIL 145 PM CDT...
At 107 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Gatewood, or 11 miles west of Doniphan, moving northeast at 40 mph.
Nickel size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Poplar Bluff, Doniphan, Harviell, Budapest, Hendrickson, Gatewood,
Milltown, Oxly, Fairdealing and Briar.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3666 9112 3681 9074 3681 9066 3685 9066
3693 9046 3692 9045 3668 9032 3650 9096
3650 9107 3661 9113
TIME...MOT...LOC 1807Z 247DEG 37KT 3660 9102
YorkThe Paducah radar (KPAH), 105 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:08 UTC.
4 flash flood, 3 flood, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was downed just east of Benton. The tree fell onto a trailer.
Water was over the road on both the on and off ramps on Illinois Highway 14 near Interstate 57, extending into the town of Benton.
Flash flooding was reported, with water over a lot of roadways in and around Mount Carmel. 1.38 inches of rainfall was measured in the first round of storms, followed by another round of storms later in the afternoon.
Several streets on the south side of Mt. Vernon had standing water over them. Record flooding occurred on Rayse Creek in southwest Jefferson County. A motorist drowned after driving into the creek flooding on a county road south of Woodlawn. The incident occurred during the early morning hours of the 17th following the heavy rain on the 16th. The vehicle and driver were swept away in the creek. Both were recovered a couple days later. The storm total rainfall southwest of Mount Vernon was 6.0 inches, both at Scheller and Marcoe.
Several streets in Du Quoin and elsewhere around the county were flooded. Emergency management reported several parts of U.S. Highway 51 in and north of Du Quoin were flooded with one to two feet of water, and cars were stalled out. Portions of Route 51 remained closed in and around Du Quoin into the early evening hours. Homes and businesses were surrounded by water. The 24-hour storm total rainfall at Tamaroa was reported to be 7.0 inches by a local television weather observer.
Law enforcement rescued a woman whose suv was stranded in high water on Highway 14.
Street flooding occurred in Murphysboro, with about three inches of water flowing across streets in places. Rainfall of 2.25 inches was measured during the day.
Minor flooding occurred on the Big Muddy River. Some low-lying woods and fields near the river were flooded.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flood, Jefferson | 2021-07-17 | 25 | Female | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, July 2021
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: 968118, 968127, 968153, 968181, 968165, 968130, 968142, 968341.