A slow-moving cold front interacted with a hot and humid airmass that was in place across central Illinois, resulting in clusters of strong thunderstorms developing during the afternoon of June 30th, 2025. Most of these storms were below severe limits, but one produced isolated wind damage in southwestern McLean County.
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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 slow-moving cold front interacted with a hot and humid airmass that was in place across central Illinois, resulting in clusters of strong thunderstorms developing during the afternoon of June 30th, 2025. Most of these storms were below severe limits, but one produced isolated wind damage in southwestern McLean 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 Jun 30, 1:39 PM CST, 3 hours earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 239 PM CDT Mon Jun 30 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Look for scattered thunderstorms from late this afternoon into this evening, with isolated damaging winds being the main concern. Locally heavy rainfall is also possible. - Somewhat drier air is anticipated from Tuesday through Thursday, with minimal precipitation chances. Hot and humid conditions return late in the week, with afternoon heat indices of 95 to 105 degrees each day Friday (July 4th) through Sunday. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 239 PM CDT Mon Jun 30 2025 The main concern for this afternoon and evening is scattered thunderstorms developing ahead of a cold front. A zone of lift is currently observed on satellite from northeastern MO through about Peoria to the south side of the Chicago metro area. Minimal capping is in place per the SPC mesoanalysis, however the sluggish speed of storm development demonstrates that at least some MLCIN still exists. Anticipate storm coverage and intensity to gradually increase through early this evening, becoming scattered along the boundary. DCAPE increases with eastward extent, and so does the likelihood for isolated strong to severe wind gusts occurring. Isolated severe wind gusts are most probable from 5-8 pm near and east of I-55. In addition, PWAT values from around 1.5 inches north of I-74 to near 2 inches south of I-70 may promote moderate to heavy rain rates with the storms that develop. Once the front makes its way through central Illinois this evening, look for somewhat drier air from Tuesday through Thursday along with high temperatures dropping into the mid-upper 80s, with little chance for precipitation. Late in the week (by Friday), anticipate heat and humidity to return as a mid-level ridge axis traverses the Midwest. Heat index values in excess of 100 F are anticipated for at least portions of the area, at least through Saturday, with perhaps some slight decrease in heat index values from Sunday into early next week. The pattern at that point places central Illinois north of a mid-level ridge over the southern Plains, with any small-scale disturbances moving through the flow perhaps able to touch off thunderstorms and rain. AAT && .AVIATION... (For the 18z TAFs through 18z Tuesday Afternoon) Issued at 1238 PM CDT Mon Jun 30 2025 The main aviation concern through 18z Tuesday will be scattered thunderstorms late this afternoon through this evening. Primary forcing will be a cold front now from southeastern IA into far northwestern IL, combined with daytime heating. Isolated storms ahead of the front this afternoon cannot be ruled out, though they are fairly low probability. In addition to lightning and lowered visibility from heavy rain, isolated wind gusts in excess of 40 kt could occur with this evening's storm activity. Outside of storms, low VFR to brief MVFR ceilings are a possibility this afternoon. AAT && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Lincoln IL 303 PM CDT Mon Jun 30 2025 ILZ027>031-036>038-040>057-061>063-066>068-071>073-011015- Knox-Stark-Peoria-Marshall-Woodford-Fulton-Tazewell-McLean-Schuyler- Mason-Logan-De Witt-Piatt-Champaign-Vermilion-Cass-Menard-Scott- Morgan-Sangamon-Christian-Macon-Moultrie-Douglas-Coles-Edgar-Shelby- Cumberland-Clark-Effingham-Jasper-Crawford-Clay-Richland-Lawrence- 303 PM CDT Mon Jun 30 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Illinois, east central Illinois, southeast Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Heat indices will peak in the middle 90s this afternoon. Scattered thunderstorms are expected late this afternoon and evening, with a few storms potentially becoming strong to severe. Isolated damaging wind gusts are a risk, along with frequent lightning and locally heavy rainfall. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Heat will build back into the area late this week. Heat indices are forecast to reach near 100 degrees Friday and Saturday. Thunderstorm chances will return on Saturday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed between 4 pm and 10 pm. Expected storm motion is toward the east around 30 mph. 25/AAT
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
347 PM CDT Mon Jun 30 2025
ILZ036-040-302115-
Schuyler-Fulton-
347 PM CDT Mon Jun 30 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN FULTON...
NORTHEASTERN SCHUYLER AND WESTERN MASON COUNTIES THROUGH 415 PM
CDT...
At 346 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Vermont, or 13 miles northeast of Rushville, moving east at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Astoria, Vermont, Ipava, Table Grove, Bluff City, and Duncan Mills.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional
information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 4028 9053 4028 9045 4040 9044 4034 9005
4031 9007 4015 9025 4015 9027 4023 9055
TIME...MOT...LOC 2046Z 284DEG 23KT 4028 9044
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
GeelhartThe Lincoln radar (KILX), 25 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:38 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Crop damage was observed near the intersection of county roads 500E and 350N. Additional crop damage was also evident in this area via Sentinel satellite data.
Crop damage was observed near the intersection of US-136 and county road 700E. This damage was confirmed via Sentinel satellite data, which also showed damage south of 300N and 675E.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, June 2025
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: 1261523, 1261524.