Illinois, 2024

Damaging Winds in Illinois, July 11, 2024

July 11, 2024 · NWS PAH · 4 events in 2 counties and zones

Thunderstorms developed during the late-afternoon to evening hours in Southern Illinois. These storms were generally sub-severe but one particularly strong storm produced widespread tree and powerline damage in Sesser and Benton in Franklin County.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

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  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$141,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
4

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS PAH wrote it up.

Thunderstorms developed during the late-afternoon to evening hours in Southern Illinois. These storms were generally sub-severe but one particularly strong storm produced widespread tree and powerline damage in Sesser and Benton in Franklin County. MLCAPE was 1000-1500 J/kg while effective bulk shear was low.

What forecasters said that day

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 11, 5:45 PM CST, 5 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 11, 5:45 PM CST, 5 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 11, 2:12 PM CST, 3 hours 38 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 11, 5:50 PM CST, 0 minutes before
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The radar

The Evansville,IN radar (KVWX), 117 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:49 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 thunderstorm wind, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.

Funnel Cloud, Franklin

When
July 11, 5:50 PM CST
Where
Franklin County, 0.83 mi NNW of Sesser
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
38.111, -89.055

A funnel cloud was reported nearly to the ground around Hwy 148 and Crocker Rd.

Thunderstorm Wind, Franklin

When
July 11, 5:58 PM CST to 6:01 PM CST
Where
Franklin County, 0.6 mi WSW of Sesser to 1.07 mi SSE of Sesser
Measured
65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$75,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
38.097, -89.060

According to several public reports on social media including pictures, widespread wind damage occurred with several trees and power lines downed in Sesser as a thunderstorm moved southeastward through the town. One tree fell onto a car.

Thunderstorm Wind, Franklin

When
July 11, 6:13 PM CST to 6:23 PM CST
Where
Franklin County, 1 mi NW of Benton Muni Arpt to 1.11 mi E of Groat
Measured
65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$65,000
Reported by
Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates
38.012, -88.941

Thunderstorm downdraft winds downed several trees and power lines in Benton including at E Bond St between N McLeansboro St and 9th St. A power pole was damaged at N Madison St. Further southeast towards Hanaford, a tree was blown down on Pickle City Rd.

Thunderstorm Wind, Edwards

When
July 11, 8:22 PM CST
Where
Edwards County, 8.3 mi S of Browns
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
38.261, -88.000

An mPING report was submitted for a tree uprooted in Grayville.

What these are

Funnel Cloud
A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.
Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Illinois in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, July 2024

Sources

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1203040, 1203041, 1203042, 1203039.