A series of severe thunderstorms produced tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds across central Illinois on May 3rd. Preliminary information regarding the event can be found on the "Reports" tab below. The meteorological summary and event photos will be updated over the next few days.
Details regarding the tornadoes that occurred across central Illinois on May 3rd can be seen below. A list of all severe weather reports (including hail and damaging wind) is included after the damage survey information.
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NOUS43 KILX 211558
PNSILX
ILZ027>031-036>038-040>057-061>063-066>068-071>073-220358-
Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
1058 AM CDT Mon Sep 21 2026
...24-HOUR PRECIPITATION REPORTS...
Location Amount Time/Date Provider
...Illinois...
...Cass County...
3 SE Bluff Springs 0.10 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
...Champaign County...
3 NNE Villa Grove 1.36 in 1045 AM 09/21 AWS
Savoy 2.6 WSW 1.05 in 0800 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Willard Arpt 1.03 in 0953 AM 09/21 ASOS
Urbana 1.5 S 0.91 in 0715 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Urbana 2.2 SE 0.87 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Urbana 0.5 S 0.83 in 0800 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Champaign 1.3 SSW 0.82 in 0630 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Urbana 0.82 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
2 ESE Urbana 0.81 in 1045 AM 09/21 AWS
Sidney 0.9 N 0.80 in 0615 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Urbana 0.78 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Champaign 2.6 WNW 0.77 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Champaign 2.4 SSE 0.77 in 0800 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Champaign 2.5 S 0.76 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Fisher 0.75 in 0700 AM 09/21 COOP
Champaign 2.2 SSE 0.75 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Tolono 0.4 ESE 0.75 in 0600 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Savoy 0.5 SE 0.74 in 0800 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Urbana 0.73 in 1010 AM 09/21 CWOP
Savoy 0.6 SSE 0.72 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Champaign 2.2 S 0.71 in 0900 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Champaign 2.3 SSE 0.70 in 0800 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Homer 2.0 NW 0.68 in 0800 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
1 N Urbana 0.68 in 1050 AM 09/21 AWS
4 WNW Saint Joseph 0.64 in 0800 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Champaign 0.3 ESE 0.62 in 0830 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Homer 0.5 NNE 0.61 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Champaign 0.59 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Champaign 0.6 NNE 0.56 in 0600 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
UI BONDVILLE CHAMPAIGN 9 SW 0.53 in 0800 AM 09/21 HADS
Urbana 1.9 ENE 0.52 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Urbana 0.48 in 1045 AM 09/21 CWOP
Urbana 0.48 in 1045 AM 09/21 CWOP
Urbana 0.5 W 0.46 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Homer 2.1 NNE 0.46 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Homer 2.0 N 0.43 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Urbana 2.6 ENE 0.42 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
0.7 SE Champaign 0.40 in 1000 AM 09/21 HADS
3 WSW Homer 0.39 in 1045 AM 09/21 AWS
PHILO 0.39 in 1041 AM 09/21 CWOP
2.5 W Champaign 0.39 in 1015 AM 09/21 USGS
Ogden 0.38 in 0600 AM 09/21 COOP
St. Joseph 1.1 ENE 0.34 in 0600 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Foosland 5.0 ENE 0.31 in 0800 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Dewey 2.70 NW 0.26 in 0723 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Bondville 0.25 in 1040 AM 09/21 ISWS
Champaign 0.22 in 1035 AM 09/21 ISWS
Rantoul 1.1 NE 0.12 in 0501 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Mahomet 1.7 NNE 0.12 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
1 NE Rantoul 0.09 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
...Christian County...
Pana 6.2 NNE 1.20 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
PANA 0.78 in 1048 AM 09/21 CWOP
Taylorville 0.6 ENE 0.63 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Pana 0.59 in 0700 AM 09/21 COOP
Edinburg 3.0 W 0.52 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Morrisonville 0.5 SSE 0.40 in 0730 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Morrisonville 0.39 in 1047 AM 09/21 CWOP
...Clark County...
Marshall 1.36 in 0548 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Casey 1.30 in 0730 AM 09/21 COOP
Marshall 1.17 in 1050 AM 09/21 CWOP
Marshall 0.77 in 1038 AM 09/21 CWOP
...Clay County...
CLAY CITY 0.81 in 1047 AM 09/21 CWOP
Clay City 6 SSE 0.45 in 0600 AM 09/21 COOP
...Coles County...
Charleston 4.7 SSW 0.94 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Mattoon 2.1 W 0.71 in 0635 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Charleston 0.8 NW 0.67 in 0716 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Mattoon 0.66 in 0800 AM 09/21 COOP
Coles Co. Mem AP 0.55 in 1004 AM 09/21 ASOS
Charleston 0.20 in 1035 AM 09/21 ISWS
...Cumberland County...
Neoga 0.74 in 0615 AM 09/21 COOP
Greenup 0.2 W 0.70 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
...De Witt County...
Lane 0.38 in 1045 AM 09/21 CWOP
3 SW Farmer City 0.10 in 0800 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Farmer City 1.5 SSW 0.05 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
...Douglas County...
Tuscola 0.6 NNE 1.26 in 0830 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Camargo 4.5 ESE 1.01 in 0900 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Newman 0.97 in 0600 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Tuscola 0.5 WSW 0.86 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Tuscola 0.86 in 0700 AM 09/21 COOP
Hindsboro 0.82 in 1035 AM 09/21 CWOP
Arcola 0.54 in 1045 AM 09/21 CWOP
Camargo 0.23 in 1045 AM 09/21 AWS
...Edgar County...
Paris 6.7 S 1.20 in 0730 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Paris 1.10 in 0700 AM 09/21 COOP
Edgar Co. Arpt 0.73 in 1035 AM 09/21 AWOS
...Effingham County...
Altamont 1.45 in 1049 AM 09/21 AWS
Watson 1.42 in 0500 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Watson 1.25 in 1050 AM 09/21 CWOP
Teutopolis 3.4 SE 1.25 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Effingham 4.2 WNW 1.04 in 0719 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Effingham 1SE 0.99 in 0700 AM 09/21 COOP
Effingham 1.0 NNE 0.76 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Baraboo 0.72 in 1045 AM 09/21 CWOP
Teutopolis 0.63 in 1045 AM 09/21 CWOP
Effingham Arpt 0.25 in 1035 AM 09/21 AWOS
...Jasper County...
Yale 0.1 SSW 1.00 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Newton 0.98 in 1045 AM 09/21 CWOP
Newton 0.70 in 1045 AM 09/21 CWOP
1.1 W Newton 0.30 in 1200 AM 09/21 COOP
...Knox County...
Yates City 0.14 in 0700 AM 09/21 COOP
Galesburg 2.5 N 0.10 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Galesburg 5.7 E 0.10 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Wataga 3.0 SW 0.10 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Galesburg 0.07 in 0700 AM 09/21 COOP
Williamsfield 1.7 NNE 0.07 in 0630 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Knoxville 0.7 NW 0.07 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Knoxville 0.06 in 0800 AM 09/21 COOP
...Lawrence County...
1 W Lawrenceville 0.41 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Sumner 1.0 SW 0.41 in 0732 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Lawrenceville AP 0.35 in 1001 AM 09/21 ASOS
Mt Carmel Arpt 0.18 in 1035 AM 09/21 AWOS
...Logan County...
Mount Pulaski 0.46 in 0600 AM 09/21 COOP
Lincoln 0.6 NNW 0.07 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Lincoln 0.07 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
New Holland 0.06 in 1046 AM 09/21 CWOP
Chestnut 1.9 W 0.06 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
...Macon County...
Decatur 3.2 SW 1.25 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Decatur 3.0 W 0.84 in 0626 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Mount Zion 0.7 ENE 0.76 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Illiopolis 4.4 NNE 0.61 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Decatur Arpt 0.59 in 0954 AM 09/21 ASOS
Oreana 1.3 S 0.52 in 0800 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Warrensburg 0.6 E 0.44 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
...Marshall County...
Henry 0.17 in 1046 AM 09/21 CWOP
Sparland 3.4 NNW 0.10 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Henry 1.4 SW 0.10 in 0645 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
...Mason County...
4 SE Manito 0.36 in 1045 AM 09/21 AWS
Snicarte 0.12 in 1035 AM 09/21 ISWS
0.7 W Havana 0.05 in 1045 AM 09/21 HADS
...McLean County...
Bloomington 2.7 NE 0.62 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Normal 1.7 SE 0.59 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Bloomington 0.58 in 0800 AM 09/21 COOP
4 NE Normal 0.47 in 0500 AM 09/21 COOP
Bloomington 2.0 WSW 0.44 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Bloomington 1.6 WSW 0.37 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Bloomington Arpt 0.36 in 0956 AM 09/21 AWOS
Saybrook 4.3 SSE 0.35 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Cooksville 0.33 in 1050 AM 09/21 CWOP
Bloomington 1.5 ESE 0.33 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Carlock 0.1 ESE 0.33 in 0800 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Bloomington 0.9 SSE 0.29 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Arrowsmith 1.7 NNE 0.27 in 0800 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Bloomington 2.0 SW 0.24 in 0800 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
3 W Ellsworth 0.22 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Bloomington 3.9 ESE 0.21 in 0600 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Le Roy 1.8 WSW 0.20 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Bloomington 3.8 SW 0.19 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Carlock 2.1 NNE 0.18 in 0600 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Bloomington 0.17 in 1049 AM 09/21 CWOP
Bloomington 4.1 SW 0.13 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
...Menard County...
Tallula 0.28 in 1045 AM 09/21 CWOP
Petersburg 0.2 W 0.17 in 0630 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Athens 4 WSW 0.13 in 0600 AM 09/21 COOP
Petersburg 6.5 SSE 0.13 in 0600 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
...Morgan County...
Jacksonville Arpt 0.54 in 1035 AM 09/21 AWOS
0.8 SW Meredosia 0.33 in 0400 AM 09/21 HADS
0.8 SW Meredosia 0.33 in 1030 AM 09/21 HADS
Jacksonville 1.3 NW 0.16 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
1 NNE Jacksonville Airport 0.13 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Jacksonville 2.6 SE 0.08 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
...Moultrie County...
Arthur 0.8 NNW 0.75 in 0705 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Lovington 4.1 NNW 0.66 in 0649 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Lovington 0.55 in 0700 AM 09/21 COOP
2.0 NW Lovington 0.28 in 1030 AM 09/21 USGS
...Peoria County...
Peoria 3.4 WNW 0.24 in 0600 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
2.4 NW East Peoria 0.20 in 1045 AM 09/21 USGS
Dunlap 2.6 S 0.19 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Peoria 5 NW 0.18 in 0800 AM 09/21 COOP
Peoria Intl Arpt 0.13 in 0954 AM 09/21 ASOS
Dunlap 2.6 NE 0.11 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
PEORIA 0.06 in 1049 AM 09/21 CWOP
...Piatt County...
White Heath 3.7 NNE 1.33 in 0800 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
2 S De Land 0.89 in 0800 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Bement 1.5 SE 0.88 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
De Land 3.3 NE 0.87 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Monticello 0.4 ENE 0.80 in 0800 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
4 N Cerro Gordo 0.69 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
3 SE Mansfield 0.62 in 0600 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Cisco 2.1 NNE 0.52 in 0730 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
4 NNE Monticello 0.50 in 0800 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
...Richland County...
Olney Noble AP 0.84 in 1030 AM 09/21 AWOS
Olney 0.3 ESE 0.72 in 0600 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Olney 1.5 NE 0.69 in 0800 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Olney 0.33 in 1045 AM 09/21 CWOP
Olney 0.27 in 1035 AM 09/21 ISWS
...Sangamon County...
Buffalo 0.79 in 0700 AM 09/21 COOP
1 SSE Grandview 0.63 in 1048 AM 09/21 AWS
Sherman 0.55 in 0700 AM 09/21 COOP
5.5 W Springfield 0.53 in 1045 AM 09/21 CWOP
1 ESE Chatham 0.43 in 0800 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Springfield 6.3 S 0.41 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Chatham 1.5 E 0.37 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Chatham 0.32 in 1045 AM 09/21 CWOP
Springfield 4.4 W 0.30 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Springfield 2.0 N 0.23 in 0800 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Springfield 0.19 in 1035 AM 09/21 ISWS
Spfld Capital AP 0.18 in 1052 AM 09/21 ASOS
5 WSW Springfield 0.17 in 1050 AM 09/21 CWOP
Lake Springfield 0.14 in 0800 AM 09/21 COOP
Springfield 0.13 in 1035 AM 09/21 CWOP
Springfield 2.2 SE 0.10 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
...Schuyler County...
Browning 0.07 in 1045 AM 09/21 CWOP
Rushville 4.1 NE 0.07 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
...Scott County...
Winchester 0.35 in 1050 AM 09/21 CWOP
Manchester 0.1 S 0.29 in 0708 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Florence 0.14 in 1030 AM 09/21 HADS
Valley City 0.05 in 1030 AM 09/21 HADS
...Shelby County...
Windsor 1.05 in 0630 AM 09/21 COOP
3.6 E Tower Hill 0.99 in 1030 AM 09/21 USGS
Moweaqua 1.1 ESE 0.97 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Shelbyville 0.5 NE 0.86 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Moweaqua 2 S 0.86 in 0600 AM 09/21 COOP
1.6 SE Cowden 0.77 in 1030 AM 09/21 USGS
1.5 E Shelbyville 0.69 in 1030 AM 09/21 HADS
2 W Findlay 0.53 in 1045 AM 09/21 AWS
Pana 4.7 SSE 0.37 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
...Stark County...
Toulon 0.5 ESE, IL 0.43 in 0600 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
...Tazewell County...
Washington 0.30 in 1041 AM 09/21 CWOP
East Peoria 0.29 in 1048 AM 09/21 CWOP
Washington 2.1 NW 0.28 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
East Peoria 0.25 in 1031 AM 09/21 CWOP
Washington 0.24 in 1041 AM 09/21 CWOP
Morton 5.1 E 0.24 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Morton 1.0 S 0.23 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Morton 0.23 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Washington 0.22 in 1045 AM 09/21 CWOP
Morton 0.22 in 0700 AM 09/21 COOP
Washington 2.3 W 0.21 in 0800 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
1 NNW Morton 0.15 in 1050 AM 09/21 AWS
Goodfield 0.13 in 1045 AM 09/21 CWOP
Pekin 0.08 in 1045 AM 09/21 CWOP
...Vermilion County...
Georgetown 0.1 NNW 0.83 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Danville 0.54 in 1046 AM 09/21 CWOP
Collison 1.9 SE 0.50 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Hoopeston 0.6 E 0.47 in 0600 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Danville 3.1 NNW 0.44 in 0730 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Danville 4.2 NW 0.43 in 0640 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Fithian 6.4 N 0.36 in 0730 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Hope 0.34 in 1045 AM 09/21 CWOP
Danville 1.1 WNW 0.34 in 0715 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Danville 2.5 E 0.31 in 0730 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Danville 0.30 in 0550 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Henning 3.4 SE 0.29 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Oakwood 0.5 SSE 0.27 in 0600 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Fithian 0.6 NNW 0.25 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Fithian 2.6 ESE 0.25 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
...Woodford County...
Roanoke 0.43 in 0700 AM 09/21 COOP
Carlock 5.5 N 0.34 in 0800 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
1 NW Metamora 0.33 in 1050 AM 09/21 CWOP
El Paso 5.2 NNW 0.33 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Congerville 0.6 WSW 0.31 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Metamora 1.1 WNW 0.31 in 0700 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Metamora 6.4 W 0.26 in 0800 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
2 N Panola 0.23 in 1045 AM 09/21 AWS
GERMANTOWN HILLS 0.20 in 1045 AM 09/21 CWOP
Germantown Hills 1.0 W 0.20 in 0741 AM 09/21 COCORAHS
Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying
equipment and exposures. We thank all volunteer weather observers
for their dedication. Not all data listed are considered official.
$$
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
1122 PM CDT MON MAY 3 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0455 PM HAIL 3 SSE BLUFF SPRINGS 39.95N 90.33W
05/03/2021 E1.50 INCH CASS IL COCORAHS
0504 PM HAIL VIRGINIA 39.95N 90.21W
05/03/2021 E1.50 INCH CASS IL PUBLIC
RELAYED BY BROADCAST MEDIA. DAMAGE TO CARS.
0505 PM TORNADO 3 S VIRGINIA 39.91N 90.21W
05/03/2021 CASS IL TRAINED SPOTTER
ON GROUND IN OPEN FIELD. DIME SIZED HAIL.
0515 PM HAIL 4 WSW NEWMANSVILLE 39.98N 90.08W
05/03/2021 E1.00 INCH CASS IL FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
RELAYED BY ASHLAND FIRE.
0527 PM TORNADO 2 WNW PLEASANT PLAINS 39.88N 89.95W
05/03/2021 SANGAMON IL STORM CHASER
CORRECTION TO PREVIOUS REPORT OF TORNADO 3 N
ASHLAND.
0532 PM HAIL 3 S PETERSBURG 39.97N 89.85W
05/03/2021 E1.00 INCH MENARD IL AMATEUR RADIO
0532 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 S PETERSBURG 39.97N 89.85W
05/03/2021 MENARD IL AMATEUR RADIO
POWER POLES BLOWN DOWN INTO FIELD.
0610 PM TORNADO 1 ESE DAWSON 39.85N 89.45W
05/03/2021 SANGAMON IL PUBLIC
BRIEF TOUCHDOWN NEAR I-72.
0612 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 N DAWSON 39.90N 89.46W
05/03/2021 SANGAMON IL TRAINED SPOTTER
POWER POLES DOWNED.
0614 PM TORNADO 1 NW MECHANICSBURG 39.82N 89.41W
05/03/2021 UF1 SANGAMON IL TRAINED SPOTTER
CORRECTS PREVIOUS TORNADO REPORT FROM 1 NW
MECHANICSBURG.
0718 PM HAIL 1 S MACON 39.70N 89.00W
05/03/2021 E1.00 INCH MACON IL PUBLIC
0728 PM HAIL 5 WSW ROSAMOND 39.35N 89.25W
05/03/2021 E2.00 INCH CHRISTIAN IL TRAINED SPOTTER
0824 PM TSTM WND DMG CHARLESTON 39.48N 88.18W
05/03/2021 COLES IL EMERGENCY MNGR
TREE BLOWN DOWN.
&&
$$
The following is a technical overview of the meteorological conditions that occurred during the May 3rd severe weather event across central Illinois.
On Monday, May 3rd, thunderstorms developed along a cold front in north central Missouri and progressed into west central Illinois by mid-afternoon. Widespread cloud cover was in place across central Illinois through much of the morning and afternoon, but clouds diminished ahead of the cold front. In areas where the sun came out ahead of the front, temperatures climbed into the upper 70s. Dew point temperatures were in the mid-60s, resulting in a moderately unstable environment with around 1500 J/kg of mixed-layer convective available potential energy (MLCAPE). This instability combined with 35-45 knots of deep layer wind shear was supportive of severe weather. The angle between the shear vectors and the cold front was greater than 45 degrees, allowing for the development of supercells. The first image below shows the surface observations as of 22z/5pm, with the cold front pushing into west central Illinois. The second image shows the MLCAPE as of 22z/5pm. Note the lack of blue shading across central Illinois indicating the atmosphere is unstable and ready for thunderstorm development in the presence of a forcing mechanism (in this case, the forcing mechanism was the cold front). The second image shows the shear vectors at the same time.
The tornado threat was enhanced by a mesoscale convective vortex (MCV), an area of spin in the atmosphere that formed as a result of thunderstorms the previous day across Kansas/Nebraska, which tracked across north-central Missouri then northeastward across the Illinois River Valley. This MCV contributed to a surface wind shift, from southwesterly to southeasterly, ahead of the cold front. This localized wind shift increased the low-level wind shear, which increased the tornado potential.
Several severe thunderstorms developed along the cold front and moved through central Illinois. The strongest storm tracked from Cass County east-southeastward towards Coles County. That storm produced at least four tornadoes and up to 2" hail (hen egg sized). (See the "Reports" tab for complete details regarding the location of tornadoes). All four tornadoes occurred primarily in open fields, and a tornado rating could not be assigned due to the lack of damage. The other severe thunderstorms produced large hail, but did not produce tornadoes. Overall, damage reports from the event were fairly limited. Power poles were blown down in Sangamon County, however, it is believed this damage was caused by straight line winds. Ping pong ball sized hail caused damage to vehicles in Virginia, IL. An observer five miles north of Buffalo, IL, reported that enough half-inch sized hail stones fell to cover the ground in hail.
Satellite Loop
Visible and IR satellite loop showing storm initiation in north-central Missouri during the late morning hours of May 3rd. As it moves eastward, a line of thunderstorms quickly develops and strengthens upon reaching the Illinois border with cold cloud tops (orange colors) indicating persistent updrafts. Additional cells develop southward into the favorable storm environment while the line progresses across the state. After sunset, storms begin to lose energy and weaken as they approach the Indiana border.
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Closer Look at Tornadic Storm
The loop below is a base reflectivity animation focusing on the supercell that went on to produce 5 tornados in central Illinois. This radar loop shows the early stages of this storm and spans 16 minutes from 4:41-4:57 PM local time. In this loop, red boxes indicate a severe thunderstorm warning and the purple box indicates a tornado warning.
Photos of the thunderstorms across central Illinois. This section will be updated. If you have photos of the storms that you would like for us to include in the event summary, send us a tweet at @NWSLincolnIL with your picture, location, and permission to use your photo.
.jpg/Diego Garcia, 8S Virginia (2)__360x480.jpg)
.jpg/Diego Garcia, 8S Virginia (3)__360x480.jpg)
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