A nearly stationary frontal boundary draped across central Illinois triggered scattered showers and thunderstorms during the night of March 31st into the pre-dawn hours of April 1st. One of the cells produced a lightning strike that damaged a building near the Metamora Golf Course in Metamora in Woodford County.
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 nearly stationary frontal boundary draped across central Illinois triggered scattered showers and thunderstorms during the night of March 31st into the pre-dawn hours of April 1st. One of the cells produced a lightning strike that damaged a building near the Metamora Golf Course in Metamora in Woodford County.
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 31, 10:54 PM CST, 2 hours 36 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion...Updated Aviation National Weather Service Lincoln IL 1154 PM CDT Sun Mar 31 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Several rounds of thunderstorms will pose a threat of severe weather and flooding through Tuesday. Large hail is the primary concern with most of these storms. The greatest severe threat is Monday/Monday night south of I-70 (level 3 of 5 risk). - Total rainfall exceeding 1" is expected area-wide (70-80% chance) through Tuesday, and there is a chance (40-60%) of exceeding 2" of rain in areas between the IL River and the I-70 corridor. - Conditions turn cooler and breezy by mid-week, with potential for below freezing temperatures Tuesday through Thursday nights. Rain/snow showers are possible (40-50% chance) on Wednesday. - Wednesday is expected to be the windiest day of the week, with northwest winds sustained around 20-25 mph and gusts approaching 45 mph. && .UPDATE... Issued at 852 PM CDT Sun Mar 31 2024 A long tracked supercell continues to push southeast across portions of east central Illinois this evening and will likely continue across the Indiana border by around 10pm. This storm is riding the warm front and instability gradient southeast within a strongly sheared environment supporting its continued maintenance. This storm has a history of large hail with frequent reports of golf ball sized hail and a few larger reports. Meanwhile, as the low level jet continues to strengthen to our west, expect an increase in storm coverage across northern MO/eastern IA with storms tracking across portions of central Illinois overnight, though the severe threat does not appear as high with this next batch of elevated storms. Deubelbeiss && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 314 PM CDT Sun Mar 31 2024 A dynamic weather system will bring impactful weather to the region through mid-week. Several rounds of thunderstorms will pose a threat of severe hazards and flooding through Tuesday, then conditions turn cooler and breezy with potential for snow and below freezing low temperatures. ** THROUGH TONIGHT ** In response to a deep trough over the western US, lee cyclogenesis continues east of the Rockies, where a 998-mb sfc low was developing and the latest mesoanalysis showed a 2-mb drop in sfc pressure in the last two hours (as of 2pm/19z). We continue to monitor a frontal boundary extending well east of this sfc low. The frontal boundary, evident as a sharp northern edge in the cumulus field on visible satellite just N of I-70 in MO and near the US-50 corridor in IL, has been slower to lift than initially anticipated. Mostly clear skies still allowed temps to climb warmer than forecast, with 2pm/19z sfc obs into the low 60s as far north as Galesburg/Pontiac. There is a large dewpoint gradient across the CWA, with upper 30s dewpoints near I-74 and upper 50s/low 60s south of the front. Storms have been slower to arrive this afternoon than initially forecast. Regional radar shows storms (non-severe as of this writing) progressing east near the IA/MO border area. The latest RAP-based mesoanalysis shows relatively low MUCAPE values across the CWA, but these values are expected to increase to 500-1500 J/kg as steeper lapse rates advect into the region this evening. Precip coverage should increase into the late evening (mainly north of I-72) as WAA and LLJ forcing become more prevalent. With the front positioned a bit farther south than anticipated, think the threat of sfc-based storms capable of all hazards is low, and that hail will be the main threat with any stronger elevated storms through 12z Mon. ** MONDAY ** The continued challenge for Monday's forecast is how far south the multiple rounds of storms will push the warm front. Most guidance continues to suggest it will be near/south of the I-70 corridor, but outliers have the front as far north as I-72. A volatile environment will be present near the warm front and into the warm sector, with surfaced-based CAPEs forecast to exceed 2000 J/kg and ample deep layer shear (50+ knots). CAM depictions vary in where or when storms develop Monday afternoon. Scattered storms north of the front will continue to pose a hail threat, while any storms that form near the front during the day Monday would be capable of all hazards. Confidence is higher that as we go into Monday night, storms that form across MO Monday evening grow upscale and trek across the southern half of the ILX CWA. The wind fields are progged to strengthen into Monday night, resulting in very strong deep layer shear over 70 knots. While sfc-based instability fields become less impressive into Mon night, MUCAPEs are still expected to be over 1000 J/kg. Despite lackluster surface-based instability, 0-3 km CAPEs of 75-100 J/kg could aid stretching of mesovorticies in the potential line of storms (i.e., support tornado potential). However, forecast hodographs show 0-3 km shear vectors (~30 knots) roughly parallel to the expected orientation of the line of storms (less conducive for tornadoes). Typically, the QLCS tornado threat increases when there is 30+ knots of line-normal shear in the 0-3 km layer. Given the uncertainty around storm development/placement during the day Monday, would say that Monday night south of I-70 is the time frame of greatest concern for severe thunderstorms in our CWA. Flooding is also a concern given the multiple rounds of convection and unseasonably high PWAT values (1.25-1.75"). Much of the area is expected to see at least 1" of rainfall from this system (70-80% chance per the latest HREF), while a corridor from the IL River to the I-70 corridor could see over 2" (40-60% chance). Localized amounts exceeding 3" aren't out of the question, but will depend on whether or not multiple rounds of convection train over the same areas or not, and confidence is low in that regard. At any rate, hydrological issues may arise from these rains, particularly towards the end of the event (Mon night into Tues). The 3-hr (6-hr) flash flood guidance is around 2" (2.5"). ** MID-WEEK ** On Tues, the main sfc low is expected to track through the region. There are concerns that severe weather potential could linger across far eastern IL (east of I-57) into late Tues morning/early afternoon. A cold front will trail behind the low, and the warm sector ahead of it will remain unstable/strongly sheared. Whether or not a severe threat develops in the ILX CWA will depend on the specific track and timing of the sfc low, though. A slower, further west track would translate to greater severe potential. Additional precip is possible on Tues northwest side of the low in the deformation zone. Previously, there had been a decent signal for FGEN-driven banded precip in this deformation zone, leading to some concern that dynamic cooling from the strong ascent would result in a changeover to snow (similar to Mar 3 2023, but with less accumulation potential). However, more recent guidance has backed off on the FGEN signal, and the latest soundings suggest just rain on Tues. By late Tues, an upper wave digging from Canada will result in a deep upper low over the Midwest with the sfc low also deepening as it lifts towards the upper Great Lakes. This will result in continued cyclonic flow/cold air advection across central IL. The pressure gradient will be quite tight, resulting in breezy northwest winds Tues PM through Thurs. The strongest winds are expected on Wed. Ensemble members and forecast soundings suggest sustained winds of 20-30 mph and gusts approaching 45 mph. With cold air aloft resulting in steep lapse rates and ascent from the upper low, showery precip will linger on Wed. This could be in the form of rain or snow, with the better chance of snow being during the morning when sfc temps are in the 30s. Freezing temperatures continue to appear possible Tues-Thurs nights. There is a 30-50% chance of sub- freezing temps north of I-72 Tues night, then a 60-90% area-wide on Wed and Thurs nights. Erwin && .AVIATION... (For the 06z TAFs through 06z Monday Night) Issued at 1154 PM CDT Sun Mar 31 2024 A warm front will remain over central Illinois through most of the period wobbling a bit north and south at times and producing occasional showers and storms. Confidence in specific timing of precip is low, but there appears to be a better chance at PIA/BMI overnight with ongoing activity over Iowa and northern Illinois, and additionally area-wide Monday afternoon and evening. Meanwhile, MVFR ceilings are expected to overspread the terminals over the next couple hours then deteriorate to IFR overnight. Some improvement from the south is possible Monday afternoon but confidence is low in reaching the terminals. Deubelbeiss && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Lincoln IL 309 PM CDT Sun Mar 31 2024 ILZ027>031-036>038-011100- Knox-Stark-Peoria-Marshall-Woodford-Fulton-Tazewell-McLean- 309 PM CDT Sun Mar 31 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Illinois. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Scattered thunderstorms are expected through this evening, diminishing after midnight. A few of the storms will be capable of producing some hail to near quarter size. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Scattered thunderstorms are expected Monday and Monday night. A few of the storms will be capable of producing some hail to near quarter size. Low temperatures near freezing Thursday and Friday mornings may cause some damage to early emerging vegetation. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed between 5 pm and 10 pm this evening. Expected storm motion is toward the east northeast around 40 mph. ILZ040>057-061>063-011100- Schuyler-Mason-Logan-De Witt-Piatt-Champaign-Vermilion-Cass-Menard- Scott-Morgan-Sangamon-Christian-Macon-Moultrie-Douglas-Coles-Edgar- Shelby-Cumberland-Clark- 309 PM CDT Sun Mar 31 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Illinois, east central Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop early this evening, and may linger past midnight in east central Illinois. Some of the storms may be severe, with large hail the main concern. However, localized damaging wind gusts cannot be ruled out. The tornado probability is low, but is more likely near I-72 if it were to occur. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Scattered thunderstorms are expected Monday through Tuesday. Severe weather is possible during the afternoon and evening, with large hail and damaging wind gusts the primary risks. However, rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches Monday afternoon and evening may lead to minor urban flooding or ponding in low spots. Low temperatures near freezing Thursday and Friday mornings may cause some damage to early emerging vegetation. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed this evening. Expected storm motion is toward the east northeast around 40 mph. ILZ066>068-071>073-011100- Effingham-Jasper-Crawford-Clay-Richland-Lawrence- 309 PM CDT Sun Mar 31 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Illinois. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop this evening, and linger past midnight. A few of the storms will be capable of producing some hail to near quarter size. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Scattered thunderstorms are expected Monday and Monday night. Severe weather is possible during the afternoon and evening, with large hail and damaging wind gusts, and a few tornadoes possible. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed this evening. Expected storm motion is toward the east northeast around 40 mph. Geelhart
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
904 PM CDT Sun Mar 31 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0648 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 E Greenview 40.08N 89.70W
03/31/2024 Menard IL Mesonet
Tree and structural damage near home east of
Greenview along with 1 inch hail.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
908 PM CDT Sun Mar 31 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0750 PM Hail 2 SSW Forsyth 39.90N 88.97W
03/31/2024 E2.00 Inch Macon IL Public
Picture via social media; Wolf Road.
&&
BMDPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
924 PM CDT Sun Mar 31 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0750 PM Hail 1 SW Decatur 39.83N 88.97W
03/31/2024 M0.75 Inch Macon IL Mesonet
Dime size hail reported 1 mile SW of
Millikin University.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report...Summary
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
943 PM CDT Sun Mar 31 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0705 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 W Elkhart 40.02N 89.50W
03/31/2024 E60 MPH Logan IL Emergency Mngr
Pea to marble size hail with 60 mph wind
gust.
0752 PM Hail 2 NE Decatur 39.82N 88.97W
03/31/2024 M2.50 Inch Macon IL Broadcast Media
Photo from public of tennis ball size hail.
0750 PM Hail 2 SSW Forsyth 39.90N 88.97W
03/31/2024 E2.00 Inch Macon IL Public
Picture via social media; Wolf Road.
0639 PM Hail Mason City 40.20N 89.70W
03/31/2024 M1.75 Inch Mason IL Mesonet
Golf ball size hail 3 miles SW of Mason
City.
0656 PM Hail Middletown 40.10N 89.59W
03/31/2024 M1.75 Inch Logan IL Emergency Mngr
Golf ball size hail in Middletown.
0722 PM Hail Latham 39.97N 89.16W
03/31/2024 M1.75 Inch Logan IL Emergency Mngr
0730 PM Hail Latham 39.97N 89.16W
03/31/2024 M1.75 Inch Logan IL Emergency Mngr
0740 PM Hail 2 W Warrensburg 39.94N 89.09W
03/31/2024 E1.75 Inch Macon IL Public
Report from mPING: Golf Ball (1.75 in.).
0746 PM Hail Forsyth 39.92N 88.96W
03/31/2024 E1.75 Inch Macon IL Public
Picture via social media.
0755 PM Hail Forsyth 39.93N 88.95W
03/31/2024 E1.75 Inch Macon IL Public
Report from mPING: Golf Ball (1.75 in.).
0757 PM Hail Oreana 39.93N 88.95W
03/31/2024 M1.75 Inch Macon IL Emergency Mngr
0758 PM Hail 1 NW Mount Zion 39.79N 88.88W
03/31/2024 E1.75 Inch Macon IL Public
Picture via social media.
0800 PM Hail Mount Zion 39.78N 88.87W
03/31/2024 M1.75 Inch Macon IL Mesonet
SWOP report of golf ball size hail with
photo.
0800 PM Hail Forsyth 39.93N 88.95W
03/31/2024 M1.75 Inch Macon IL Broadcast Media
Golf ball size hail for 10 minutes.
0805 PM Hail Oakley 39.82N 88.97W
03/31/2024 M1.75 Inch Macon IL Broadcast Media
0825 PM Hail 4 SW Hammond 39.77N 88.65W
03/31/2024 E1.75 Inch Moultrie IL Public
Report from mPING: Golf Ball (1.75 in.).
0722 PM Hail Mount Pulaski 40.01N 89.28W
03/31/2024 M1.50 Inch Logan IL CO-OP Observer
0750 PM Hail 1 W Decatur 39.82N 88.97W
03/31/2024 M1.50 Inch Macon IL Emergency Mngr
Ping pong size hail on west side of Decatur.
0755 PM Hail Forsyth 39.93N 88.95W
03/31/2024 M1.50 Inch Macon IL Trained Spotter
0800 PM Hail 2 ESE Decatur 39.84N 88.92W
03/31/2024 M1.50 Inch Macon IL Broadcast Media
Ping pong size hail at Decatur Zoo with
photo.
0645 PM Hail Mason City 40.20N 89.70W
03/31/2024 M1.25 Inch Mason IL Trained Spotter
Quarter to half dollar size hail 1 mile
south of Mason City.
0715 PM Hail 4 NNW Mount Pulaski 40.01N 89.28W
03/31/2024 M1.25 Inch Logan IL Public
Ping report of half dollar size hail.
0725 PM Hail 4 NW Mount Pulaski 40.06N 89.32W
03/31/2024 E1.25 Inch Logan IL Public
Report from mPING: Half Dollar (1.25 in.).
0752 PM Hail 2 W Decatur 39.84N 88.98W
03/31/2024 M1.25 Inch Macon IL Public
0803 PM Hail 1 SW Decatur Airport 39.82N 88.88W
03/31/2024 E1.25 Inch Macon IL Public
Report from mPING: Half Dollar (1.25 in.).
0812 PM Hail 2 NW Mount Zion 39.79N 88.89W
03/31/2024 E1.25 Inch Macon IL Public
Report from mPING: Half Dollar (1.25 in.).
0831 PM Hail Arthur 39.72N 88.47W
03/31/2024 M1.25 Inch Douglas IL Public
0550 PM Hail Ipava 40.35N 90.32W
03/31/2024 M1.00 Inch Fulton IL Emergency Mngr
0550 PM Hail Table Grove 40.36N 90.43W
03/31/2024 M1.00 Inch Fulton IL Broadcast Media
Lots of quarter size hail reported 2.5 miles
west of Table Grove IL.
0619 PM Hail Havana 40.30N 90.06W
03/31/2024 M1.00 Inch Mason IL Emergency Mngr
Pea to quarter size hail in Havana.
0634 PM Hail Easton 40.23N 89.84W
03/31/2024 M1.00 Inch Mason IL Emergency Mngr
0648 PM Hail 2 E Greenview 40.11N 89.71W
03/31/2024 M1.00 Inch Menard IL Mesonet
Quarter size hail with wind damage near
Greenview.
0715 PM Hail Lincoln 40.15N 89.36W
03/31/2024 M1.00 Inch Logan IL Broadcast Media
Quarter size hail on west side of Lincoln.
0720 PM Hail Mount Pulaski 40.01N 89.28W
03/31/2024 M1.00 Inch Logan IL CO-OP Observer
Quarter size hail in Mt Pulaski.
0738 PM Hail Warrensburg 39.93N 89.07W
03/31/2024 M1.00 Inch Macon IL Emergency Mngr
0750 PM Hail 2 N Decatur 39.88N 88.97W
03/31/2024 E1.00 Inch Macon IL Public
Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
0801 PM Hail 1 NW Mount Zion 39.79N 88.88W
03/31/2024 E1.00 Inch Macon IL Public
Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
0729 PM Hail 2 N Latham 39.99N 89.16W
03/31/2024 E0.75 Inch Logan IL Public
Report from mPING: Dime (0.75 in.).
0750 PM Hail 1 SW Decatur 39.83N 88.97W
03/31/2024 M0.75 Inch Macon IL Mesonet
Dime size hail reported 1 mile SW of
Millikin University.
0645 PM Hail Lincoln 40.15N 89.36W
03/31/2024 M0.70 Inch Logan IL Mesonet
Pea to dime size hail 2 miles west of
Lincoln.
0710 PM Hail 1 NW Lincoln 40.15N 89.37W
03/31/2024 E0.70 Inch Logan IL NWS Employee
Pea to dime size hail in Lincoln.
0718 PM Hail NWS Lincoln 40.15N 89.34W
03/31/2024 M0.70 Inch Logan IL Official NWS Obs
Pea to dime size hail since 713 pm.
0648 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 E Greenview 40.08N 89.70W
03/31/2024 Menard IL Mesonet
Tree and structural damage near home east of
Greenview along with 1 inch hail.
0654 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Middletown 40.10N 89.59W
03/31/2024 Logan IL Mesonet
Tree blown down 1 mile SW of Middletown.
Social media report.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
947 PM CDT Sun Mar 31 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0817 PM Hail 4 SW Hammond 39.77N 88.65W
03/31/2024 E1.50 Inch Moultrie IL Public
Report from mPING: Ping Pong Ball (1.50
in.).
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
951 PM CDT Sun Mar 31 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0710 PM Hail 1 NNW Lincoln 40.16N 89.38W
03/31/2024 M0.88 Inch Logan IL NWS Employee
&&
07The Lincoln radar (KILX), 72 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:31 UTC.
1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Lightning struck and damaged a building near Metamora Fields Golf Club in Metamora in Woodford County. A power outage also occurred due to the lightning strike.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, April 2024
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: 1163688.