A cold front triggered a broken line of strong to severe thunderstorms across southeast Illinois during the late afternoon of August 5th. One of the cells produced a brief tornado touchdown in rural Jasper County about 3 miles northeast of Willow Hill.
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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 cold front triggered a broken line of strong to severe thunderstorms across southeast Illinois during the late afternoon of August 5th. One of the cells produced a brief tornado touchdown in rural Jasper County about 3 miles northeast of Willow Hill. No damage was reported.
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 5, 1:14 PM CST, 3 hours 16 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Lincoln IL 214 PM CDT Sat Aug 5 2023 .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 214 PM CDT Sat Aug 5 2023 Severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon in the vicinity of I-57 and east across central IL. Shower and thunderstorm activity will diminish this evening, but is expected to return on Sunday. The best chance for severe thunderstorms on Sunday appears to be from late afternoon in west-central IL to late evening across east-central IL. An active pattern is expected for the upcoming week, with temperatures a bit cooler than average. && .SHORT TERM... (Through Late Sunday Night) Issued at 214 PM CDT Sat Aug 5 2023 ---------- Key Messages ------------ 1. Severe thunderstorms are possible today along I-57 and east through 6 pm 2. Severe thunderstorms are possible Sunday late afternoon through the evening hours ------------------------------------ The MCV that entered west-central IL this morning has been slowly moving east across the area. We still have the possibility of some discrete supercells developing along and east of I-57 this afternoon. Some surface based activity is initiating now and may lead to some severe cells in the next hour or so. The last few runs of the HRRR model have less thunderstorm activity, however. Still, the latest mesoanalysis has 1000-2000 J/kg of MLCAPE with 20-30kts of effective shear, with the highest shear near the IL/IN border. The severe threat remains through 6 pm for this area with damaging winds and tornados being the primary threats day (5% for both). The significant tornado parameter is rather low today being 0.25 now, and decreasing according to the RAP. After 6 pm, most of the shower/thunderstorm activity will be off to the east and north of the forecast area. The next system to affect the area is an upper level low that will move southeast from SD on Sunday. Much of central IL is in a Slight Risk for severe weather on Sunday. There may be a few showers/weakening storms across west-central IL late Sunday morning. However, the threat for severe storms appears to be late Sunday afternoon when a line of storm is expected to develop in eastern IA/MO and move into central IL. This line could be severe with damaging winds being the primary threat (15%). Showers and storms will likely linger late Sunday night and Monday morning behind the main line as the upper low slowly drifts east. Knutsvig .LONG TERM... (Monday through Next Saturday) Issued at 214 PM CDT Sat Aug 5 2023 A few showers will likely linger into Monday across the area as the upper low drifts east. The area will stay under NW flow aloft into the weekend with an upper level wave moving SE in the flow from SD/NE through MO on Wednesday. Right now, the best chance for severe weather appears to be south of IL. But stay tuned. After that, another wave could affect the area on Friday, but the signal is lower for this system. All in all, expect an active week with cooler temps on Monday (mid to upper 70s) climbing a bit to the upper 70s to mid 80s for the rest of the week. Knutsvig && .AVIATION... (For the 18z TAFs through 18z Sunday Afternoon) Issued at 1157 AM CDT Sat Aug 5 2023 Expect IFR and MVFR cigs for the next 24 hrs across much of central IL due to low cigs, primarily. With the MCV moving east across the region this morning, much of the area has seen rain and low vis/cigs. Expect rain to linger from BMI to CMI this afternoon, with TS redevelopment this afternoon near CMI and south moving east. Of the central IL TAF sites, CMI and perhaps DEC have the best chance of strong TSs this afternoon. Despite recent HRRR model runs being a bit less favorable, storms are still expected to fire SSW of CMI around 19-20Z and drift east and into Indiana by 23Z. Also, cigs behind this line of storms are expected to remain low through the night...improving late tomorrow morning. Knutsvig && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Lincoln IL 354 PM CDT Sat Aug 5 2023 ILZ027>031-036>038-040>044-047>054-061-061100- Knox-Stark-Peoria-Marshall-Woodford-Fulton-Tazewell-McLean-Schuyler- Mason-Logan-De Witt-Piatt-Cass-Menard-Scott-Morgan-Sangamon- Christian-Macon-Moultrie-Shelby- 354 PM CDT Sat Aug 5 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Illinois, east central Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Another round of thunderstorms is expected Sunday afternoon and evening across all of central Illinois. These storms could be severe, with damaging winds, isolated large hail and isolated tornadoes possible. Additional storms are possible Monday and again Wednesday into Thursday. It is too early to determine the severe threat at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated tonight. ILZ045-046-055>057-062-063-066>068-071>073-061100- Champaign-Vermilion-Douglas-Coles-Edgar-Cumberland-Clark-Effingham- Jasper-Crawford-Clay-Richland-Lawrence- 354 PM CDT Sat Aug 5 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Illinois and southeast Illinois. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms will continue, but then diminish through the evening hours. Some could become severe late this afternoon through early this evening. Damaging wind gusts and an isolated tornado will be possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Another round of thunderstorms is expected Sunday afternoon and evening across all of central Illinois. These storms could be severe, with damaging winds and large hail possible. Additional storms are possible Monday and again Wednesday into Thursday. It is too early to determine the severe threat at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed from 4 pm to 7 pm. Expected storm motion is toward the northeast around 20 to 25 mph. Auten
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
316 PM CDT Sat Aug 5 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0306 PM Rain Peoria 40.72N 89.59W
08/05/2023 M3.10 inch Peoria IL Public
Public report of storm total rainfall of 3.1
inches in North Peoria forwarded from
Broadcast Media... picture of rain gauge
showing amount was received as well.
0309 PM Rain Normal 40.51N 88.98W
08/05/2023 M3.50 inch McLean IL Public
Public report of storm total rainfall of 3.5
inches in north Normal forwarded from
Broadcast Media... picture of rain gauge
showing amount was received as well.
0309 PM Rain Washington 40.70N 89.41W
08/05/2023 M2.70 inch Tazewell IL Public
Public report of storm total rainfall of 2.7
inches forwarded from Broadcast Media...
picture of rain gauge showing amount was
received as well.
0312 PM Rain 2 S Peoria Intl Airport 40.63N 89.70W
08/05/2023 M3.90 inch Peoria IL Public
Public report of storm total rainfall of 3.9
inches just south of KPIA forwarded from
Broadcast Media... picture of rain gauge
showing amount was received as well.
0313 PM Rain Lewistown 40.40N 90.16W
08/05/2023 M4.00 inch Fulton IL Public
Public report of storm total rainfall of 3.1
inches in Lewistown forwarded from Broadcast
Media... picture of rain gauge showing
amount was received as well.
0314 PM Rain 2 W Morton 40.61N 89.50W
08/05/2023 M2.20 inch Tazewell IL Emergency Mngr
Report of rainfall since 0300AM today.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
321 PM CDT Sat Aug 5 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0320 PM Rain 2 NNW Central Illinois 40.50N 88.93W
08/05/2023 M3.75 inch McLean IL NWS Employee
NWS employee reporting 3.75 inches for a
storm total rainfall amount.
&&
RDPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
345 PM CDT Sat Aug 5 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0330 PM Rain 1 E Heyworth 40.31N 88.97W
08/05/2023 M2.77 inch McLean IL Cocorahs
total rainfall since 0500AM today.
&&
RDPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
358 PM CDT Sat Aug 5 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0355 PM Rain 3 NNW Danville 40.18N 87.64W
08/05/2023 M1.90 inch Vermilion IL Public
REPORTED NEAR LAKE VERMILION... 1.13 inches
in last 10 minutes, 1.90 inches in last 3.5
hours.
&&
RDPreliminary Local Storm Report...Summary
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
404 PM CDT Sat Aug 5 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0115 PM Rain Knoxville 40.91N 90.29W
08/05/2023 M3.44 inch Knox IL Mesonet
0200 PM Rain 3 NW Peoria 40.77N 89.67W
08/05/2023 M1.99 inch Peoria IL NWS Employee
24 hour rainfall total.
0230 PM Rain Washington 40.70N 89.41W
08/05/2023 M2.33 inch Tazewell IL Mesonet
0300 PM Rain 2 N Towanda 40.59N 88.90W
08/05/2023 M3.74 inch McLean IL Mesonet
0300 PM Rain 2 SE Dunlap 40.83N 89.61W
08/05/2023 M2.72 inch Peoria IL Mesonet
0300 PM Rain 1 SSW Eureka 40.71N 89.28W
08/05/2023 M2.28 inch Woodford IL Mesonet
0306 PM Rain Peoria 40.72N 89.59W
08/05/2023 M3.10 inch Peoria IL Public
Public report of storm total rainfall of 3.1
inches in North Peoria forwarded from
Broadcast Media... picture of rain gauge
showing amount was received as well.
0309 PM Rain Washington 40.70N 89.41W
08/05/2023 M2.70 inch Tazewell IL Public
Public report of storm total rainfall of 2.7
inches forwarded from Broadcast Media...
picture of rain gauge showing amount was
received as well.
0309 PM Rain Normal 40.51N 88.98W
08/05/2023 M3.50 inch McLean IL Public
Public report of storm total rainfall of 3.5
inches in north Normal forwarded from
Broadcast Media... picture of rain gauge
showing amount was received as well.
0312 PM Rain 2 S Peoria Intl Airport 40.63N 89.70W
08/05/2023 M3.90 inch Peoria IL Public
Public report of storm total rainfall of 3.9
inches just south of KPIA forwarded from
Broadcast Media... picture of rain gauge
showing amount was received as well.
0313 PM Rain Lewistown 40.40N 90.16W
08/05/2023 M4.00 inch Fulton IL Public
Public report of storm total rainfall of 3.1
inches in Lewistown forwarded from Broadcast
Media... picture of rain gauge showing
amount was received as well.
0314 PM Rain 2 W Morton 40.61N 89.50W
08/05/2023 M2.20 inch Tazewell IL Emergency Mngr
Report of rainfall since 0300AM today.
0320 PM Rain 2 NNW Central Illinois 40.50N 88.93W
08/05/2023 M3.75 inch McLean IL NWS Employee
NWS employee reporting 3.75 inches for a
storm total rainfall amount.
0330 PM Rain 1 E Heyworth 40.31N 88.97W
08/05/2023 M2.77 inch McLean IL Cocorahs
total rainfall since 0500AM today.
0355 PM Rain 3 NNW Danville 40.18N 87.64W
08/05/2023 M1.90 inch Vermilion IL Public
REPORTED NEAR LAKE VERMILION... 1.13 inches
in last 10 minutes, 1.90 inches in last 3.5
hours.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
433 PM CDT Sat Aug 5 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0415 PM Rain Hoopeston 40.47N 87.67W
08/05/2023 M3.23 inch Vermilion IL Trained Spotter
Storm total.
&&
GeelhartThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
A tornado briefly touched down in an open field just south of Mound Church about 3 miles northeast of Willow Hill at 5:30 PM CDT. It quickly dissipated about 1 minute later, with no damage being reported.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Illinois, 2023Warnings in Illinois, August 2023
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: 1147720.