Illinois farmers faced a tumultuous end to June and start to July as severe weather wreaked havoc across the state. The National Weather Service (NWS) reported tornadoes, high winds, and large hail hitting central and southeast Illinois, just in time for the July 4th holiday.
Tornadoes, classified as EF1, touched down in several counties, including Christian, Logan, DeWitt, and Sangamon. Peak wind gusts of up to 120 mph were recorded in Sangamon County, causing significant damage to homes and infrastructure. Christian County experienced peak wind gusts of 100 mph, resulting in damage to a farmstead. A 14-mile tornado path in DeWitt County led to the collapse of a farm building.
The NWS also reported widespread, substantial straight-line wind damage across the state. Wind speeds exceeding 70 mph caused extensive tree and crop damage, as well as widespread power outages. The severe winds extended into southern Indiana, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.
In addition to tornadoes and high winds, supercell thunderstorms brought large hail to eight Illinois counties. Hail sizes ranged from golf ball to quarter-sized, causing further property and crop damage.
Despite the recent heavy rainfall, drought conditions persist across much of Illinois. The latest Drought Monitor maps reveal that over 84% of the state is experiencing drought stress, with 45% classified under severe drought (D2) and another 39% facing moderate drought (D1).
Illinois farmers now face the challenging task of recovering from the severe weather while contending with ongoing drought conditions.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-rasica
Categories: Illinois, Weather