A cold front pushing across Iowa and Missouri interacted with a warm and moist environment to trigger a line of strong to severe thunderstorms during the late afternoon of March 5th. The storms advanced eastward into central Illinois during the evening, producing wind gusts of 50-60mph and sporadic damage.
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.
A cold front pushing across Iowa and Missouri interacted with a warm and moist environment to trigger a line of strong to severe thunderstorms during the late afternoon of March 5th. The storms advanced eastward into central Illinois during the evening, producing wind gusts of 50-60mph and sporadic damage. An EF-0 tornado touched down northeast of Kilbourne in Mason County causing damage to farm irrigation systems, power poles, and a few trees.
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 Mar 5, 8:51 PM CST, 39 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 851 PM CST Sat Mar 5 2022 .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 157 PM CST Sat Mar 5 2022 A pair of frontal systems will bring adverse weather conditions to central Illinois tonight through Monday. Then, after a quiet mid- week period, another frontal system will lift across the region late Thursday into Friday, bringing accumulating snow and much colder temperatures. && .UPDATE... Issued at 851 PM CST Sat Mar 5 2022 Needed to make some adjustments to the forecast pops/wx to account for the severe thunderstorm watch that just came out and the timing of precip across the CWA. HiRes HRRR seems to be doing the best job with the pregression of the line of storms so followed that closely. Update to the grids and the forecast have been sent, along with the watch notification message. && .SHORT TERM...(Tonight) ISSUED AT 157 PM CST Sat Mar 5 2022 Wind Advisory: We've expanded the Wind Advisory southward to I-70, with the following support plucked from the latest suite of 12z guidance: (1) pressure falls occurring this evening in the vicinity of a deepening surface low, (2) scattered convection out ahead of the main front helping to tap into a robust LLJ, (3) steep low-level lapse rates and sufficient mixing in the immediate wake of the cold front, (4) latest HREF 10m mean gusts suggest 45+ mph across much of the region, and (5) over 50% of GFS ensemble guidance is meeting or exceeding Wind Advisory criteria as far south as I-70. Convective Trends: Clouds continue to break for sunshine this afternoon across a broad warm sector. Despite this, mesoscale soundings continue to maintain a stubborn capping inversion ahead of the cold front. This should keep any pre-frontal convective activity "elevated" until the cold front helps parcels become surface-based later tonight. Short-term, hi-res guidance continues to struggle in resolving convection for this evening, with some solutions suggesting 2 distinct lines pushing across central Illinois. This seems unlikely, as we will likely need more theta-e juiced into this air mass to support 2 organized lines of successive convection. At this point, we are putting more weight toward convection tied to the cold front, where forcing, kinematics, and low-level CAPE will be most favorable to support organized convection. A few pockets of damaging straight-line winds will be possible late tonight, especially wherever the system cold pool becomes balanced or slightly shear dominant. The orientation and strength of the 0-3 km shear vectors will be key in assessing where these pockets of enhanced thunderstorm winds may develop. It's important to note that the tornado threat, while low, is non- zero. As an educated guess, locations along and north of I-70 stand the best chance at severe weather tonight, with all aggregate hazards becoming less likely the further south you get from the better upper dynamics. If elevated, pre-frontal convection develops this evening on the nose of the LLJ, it would likely stabilize the environment enough to limit storm development along the cold front. In this scenario, there could be some isolated downburst signatures that exceed severe limits. Small hail could also accompany the taller updrafts of any elevated storms. Bottom line, it's not clear yet which of the convection will become more dominant-- pre-frontal or frontal. Regardless, severe thunderstorm wind damage has the highest potential this evening across central Illinois for locations north of I-70, mainly between 01z/7pm and 06z/Midnight. .LONG TERM...(Next Week) ISSUED AT 157 PM CST Sat Mar 5 2022 Winds will quickly diminish Sunday morning in response to the departing mid-level shortwave and surface low. Most locations across central Illinois will see some sun during the morning hours as a ridge of high pressure quickly builds across the region. Yet, temperatures will be markedly cooler in the wake of frontal passage. Afternoon highs will be 10-20 degrees cooler than the previous 24 hrs, with temperatures warming into the low-to-mid 50s. Clouds will be on the increase Sunday evening as a mid-level shortwave trough and its attendant surface low pivot across the southern Plains and lift toward the Ohio River Valley. A moisture-laden air mass will surge northward ahead of this disturbance with mid 50s surface dewpoints pooling along a sharpening baroclinic zone that stalls just south of the I-70 corridor. Overrunning/isentropic processes north of the front, and deep moist ascent along the front should allow moderate- to- heavy rain to develop across much of central and southern Illinois. To give further perspective as to how saturated this air mass will be, PWAT values are expected to exceed the 99th percentile of climatology. Latest QPF from WPC supports between 0.5" -1.00" north of I-72 through Monday morning, and between 1-2" south of I-72. This is in good agreement with the latest 12z HREF, but its LPMM methodology suggests a narrow corridor of 2-3" somewhere along the I-70 corridor where frontogenesis becomes enhanced within the baroclinic zone. The heavy rainfall episode that develops Sunday night into Monday will renew flood concerns across central and southern Illinois, and this is highlighted in WPC's latest Excessive Rainfall Outlook. A brief changeover to snow is possible Monday morning mainly north of a Beardstown to Bloomington line where thermal profiles turn colder. Up to an inch of snowfall is possible from the Quad Cities into north central Illinois. Lesser amounts are expected south of there across central Illinois. Little or no winter- weather impact is expected. Dry and calm conditions will return Tuesday into Thursday as temperatures exhibit a warming trend ahead of the next frontal system. By Thursday night, the Polar Jet Stream looks to buckle over the Rockies as a mid-level shortwave trough begins to dig hard across the Northern Plains. This will drive an arctic front into the Midwest, bringing accumulating snow and a return to very cold temperatures to central Illinois by Friday. Overnight temperatures next weekend could bottom out in the single digits, per the latest NBM guidance. Zoinks. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Sunday evening) Issued at 556 PM CST Sat Mar 5 2022 Lower clouds around 5-6kft are increasing across the area this evening ahead of two lines of precipitation. The first line will start soon, but just be light rain or rain showers, so just have VCSH at all sites. Then the line of storms is expected this evening, starting at 03-05z and ending 2hrs later. Vis will be low around 3sm due to the blowing of the rain, but believe cigs will remain above 3kft. Some cigs around 3.5kft will continue for a several hours after the precip ends, and the scatter out overnight. Expecting more scattered clouds at PIA and BMI since they will be closer to the track of the wrap around clouds with the low, with just cirrus at SPI, DEC, and CMI. This will be the rule through tomorrow. Winds will be gusty out of the south, then southwest, then turning west once the front goes through in the early morning hours. Gusts of 40-45kts will be common through the night and into overnight, but then decrease late tonight through tomorrow. && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory until 6 AM CST Sunday for ILZ027>031-036>038- 040>057-061. && UPDATE...Auten SYNOPSIS...MJA SHORT TERM...MJA LONG TERM...MJA AVIATION...Auten
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Lincoln IL 821 PM CST Sat Mar 5 2022 ILZ038-042>057-061-061200- Cass-Champaign-Christian-Coles-De Witt-Douglas-Edgar-Logan-Macon- McLean-Menard-Morgan-Moultrie-Piatt-Sangamon-Scott-Shelby- Vermilion- 821 PM CST Sat Mar 5 2022 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST SUNDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Illinois, east central Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... Thunderstorms will be possible tonight. Some storms could be severe. Locally damaging wind gusts are the primary hazard expected. An isolated tornado is also possible mainly northwest of I-55. Strong south winds gusting up to 50 mph are expected this evening, shifting to westerly late tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY... Westerly winds gusting up to 40-45 mph will gradually decrease into the early morning hours on Sunday. Minor snow accumulations are possible Monday, and again Thursday night and Friday. Amounts are uncertain at this time. Minor flooding will continue along portions of the Illinois River from Havana downstream. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is possible from 9 pm through 2 am. ILZ062-063-066>068-071>073-061200- Clark-Clay-Crawford-Cumberland-Effingham-Jasper-Lawrence-Richland- 821 PM CST Sat Mar 5 2022 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of east central Illinois and southeast Illinois. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... Thunderstorms will be possible this evening. A few storms may be strong with gusty winds to 50 mph possible. Strong south winds gusting up to 40 mph are expected this evening, shifting to westerly late tonight. Minor flooding will continue along the Wabash River. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY... Locally heavy rain is anticipated from Sunday night into Monday morning, with flash flooding possible. Renewed rises on area rivers and streams may be expected. Thunderstorms will be possible, and could be strong to severe late in the night. Locally damaging wind gusts are the primary hazard expected. An isolated tornado or two is also possible. Minor snow accumulations are possible Thursday night and Friday. Amounts are uncertain at this time. Minor flooding will continue on portions of the Wabash River. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated through tonight. ILZ027>031-036-037-040-041-061200- Fulton-Knox-Marshall-Mason-Peoria-Schuyler-Stark-Tazewell- Woodford- 821 PM CST Sat Mar 5 2022 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST SUNDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... Minor flooding will continue along portions of the Illinois River from Havana downstream. Thunderstorms will be possible tonight. Some storms could be severe. Locally damaging wind gusts are the primary hazard expected. However, an isolated tornado or two is possible mainly northwest of the Illinois river. Strong south winds gusting up to 50 mph are expected this evening, shifting to westerly late tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY... Westerly winds gusting up to 40-45 mph will gradually decrease into the early morning hours on Sunday. Minor snow accumulations are possible Monday, and again Thursday night and Friday. Amounts are uncertain at this time. Minor flooding will continue along portions of the Illinois River from Havana downstream. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is possible from 9 pm to midnight. Auten
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
642 PM CST SAT MAR 5 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0439 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 NNW CAPITAL AIRPORT 39.85N 89.68W
03/05/2022 M51 MPH SANGAMON IL ASOS
ASOS STATION KSPI SPRINGFIELD CAPITAL AP.
0156 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 E DECATUR AIRPORT 39.83N 88.85W
03/05/2022 M47 MPH MACON IL ASOS
ASOS STATION KDEC DECATUR AP.
0555 PM NON-TSTM WND GST EDGAR COUNTY AIRPORT 39.70N 87.67W
03/05/2022 M47 MPH EDGAR IL AWOS
AWOS STATION KPRG EDGAR COUNTY AP.
0211 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 SE WILLARD AIRPORT 40.03N 88.27W
03/05/2022 M46 MPH CHAMPAIGN IL ASOS
ASOS STATION KCMI WILLARD AIRPORT.
0329 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 NE PEORIA INTL AIRPOR 40.67N 89.68W
03/05/2022 M44 MPH PEORIA IL ASOS
ASOS STATION KPIA PEORIA INTL AIRPORT.
0523 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 SSW CENTRAL ILLINOIS 40.47N 88.92W
03/05/2022 M44 MPH MCLEAN IL AWOS
AWOS STATION KBMI CENTRAL ILLINOIS AIRPORT.
0530 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 SE COLES COUNTY AIRPO 39.47N 88.27W
03/05/2022 M44 MPH COLES IL ASOS
ASOS STATION KMTO COLES COUNTY MEM AP.
0635 PM NON-TSTM WND GST VERMILION REGIONAL AIRP 40.20N 87.60W
03/05/2022 M43 MPH VERMILION IL AWOS
AWOS STATION KDNV DANVILLE AIRPORT.
0415 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 NNE LOGAN COUNTY AIRP 40.17N 89.33W
03/05/2022 M41 MPH LOGAN IL AWOS
AWOS STATION KAAA LINCOLN - LOGAN COUNTY AP.
&&The Quad Cities radar (KDVN), 76 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:31 UTC.
28 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Structural damage occurred to a downtown building and numerous tree branches were blown down.
A pine tree was snapped.
A few trees were damaged.
A tornado touched down 4.4 miles northeast of Kilbourne at 10:11pm CST. It tracked northeastward, knocking over 6 irrigation systems and damaging several trees before dissipating 1 mile east of Easton at 10:19pm CST.
A power pole was damaged.
The fascia was damaged on a house.
A fence was blown down.
A tree branch was blown onto a fence.
An anchored swing set was picked up and toppled.
Power transformers were blown down.
Several power poles were snapped.
A tree was blown onto a car traveling on a road.
Several trees and power poles were blown over.
Power poles were blown down.
Four large power poles were blown down near the intersection of 1800 North and 1500 East.
A large tree was blown over.
An 80 by 40-foot machine shed was destroyed.
An anchored swing set was blown about 50ft.
A few trees were blown down.
Several small tree branches were blown down.
A large tree was blown down and a 12 by 6-foot trailer was pushed approximately 100 feet.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Illinois, 2022Warnings in Illinois, March 2022
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: 1015389, 1015385, 1015382, 1015350, 1015352, 1015383, 1015386, 1015393, 1015364, 1015367, 1015384, 1015363, 1015390, 1015362, 1015366, 1015358, 1015361, 1015355, 1015392, 1015375, 1015378, 1015380, 1015381, 1015391, 1015388, 1015353, 1015395, 1015359, 1015357, 1015372, 1015360.