May 16th Recap: Wind, hail, dust storm

Overview

Thunderstorms developed over parts of central IL during the mid afternoon hours on Friday, May 16th, and persisted into the early evening hours over southeast IL.
Due to a dry sub-cloud layer, momentum from aloft was mixed to the surface in thunderstorm downdrafts, then translated north well in advance of the storms. Wind gusts of 50-70 mph occurred where no storms were present. With most of the cells remaining along and south of I-72, the high momentum air to the north began to pick up dry soil from open farm fields and created an impressive dust storm as the afternoon progressed. The dust initially developed along an line form just southeast of Lincoln to south of Champaign. It then lifted north-northeast and spread all the way to Chicago. Visibilities were reduced to near zero at times within the dust plume, prompting the closure of numerous roads.
Meanwhile farther south, scattered supercells created clusters of wind damage, most notably in the Decatur and Effingham areas. In addition, the highly unstable airmass to the south created vigorous storm updrafts which supported very large hail. Upon initial storm development, a few stones as large as golf balls occurred on the southeast side of Springfield. An even stronger storm later in the afternoon dropped 3" diameter hail (larger than a baseball) in Robinson in Crawford County.
There were a few reports of funnel clouds as well, and NWS Lincoln will be surveying a couple areas of damage this weekend in order to assess whether any tornadoes may have occurred. We'll have more information about that in the coming days.

High resolution visible satellite image of dust storm, courtesy of CIRA.
Click here to see a satellite loop of the evolution of the dust storm
as it heads north from central IL to Chicago.

Map of severe weather and dust storm reports
(gray icons = dust storm, yellow icons = wind gust and
wind damage, black icons = hail, red icons = funnel cloud)

Picture of incoming dust storm from the northeast side of
Normal, courtesy NWS.

Preliminary Local Storm Report...Summary
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
844 PM CDT Fri May 16 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0314 PM     Hail             1 NE Curran             39.75N 89.75W
05/16/2025  M0.88 Inch       Sangamon           IL   Trained Spotter  

            Near the Wabash Ave exit on I-72. 

0316 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 NNE Southern View     39.77N 89.64W
05/16/2025                   Sangamon           IL   Utility Company  

            Power poles were broken and power lines were 
            blown down in the Harvard Park neighborhood. 

0317 PM     Hail             2 ENE Southern View     39.76N 89.62W
05/16/2025  M1.75 Inch       Sangamon           IL   Trained Spotter  

             

0320 PM     Hail             1 SW Riverton           39.83N 89.56W
05/16/2025  M1.50 Inch       Sangamon           IL   Trained Spotter  

            Near Camp Butler National Cemetery. 

0349 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Shelbyville             39.41N 88.81W
05/16/2025                   Shelby             IL   Broadcast Media  

            Several large tree limbs were blown down. 

0354 PM     Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg Mattoon                 39.48N 88.37W
05/16/2025                   Coles              IL   Emergency Mngr   

            Multiple power lines were blown down across 
            Mattoon. 

0400 PM     Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg Arcola                  39.68N 88.31W
05/16/2025                   Douglas            IL   Public           

            A few trees were blown down. 

0402 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Boody                   39.77N 89.05W
05/16/2025                   Macon              IL   Emergency Mngr   

            A car lot roof was partially blown off and 
            multiple trees were blown down. 

0404 PM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst Willard Airport         40.04N 88.27W
05/16/2025  M69 MPH          Champaign          IL   ASOS             

             

0411 PM     Dust Storm       2 WSW Urbana            40.10N 88.24W
05/16/2025                   Champaign          IL   Broadcast Media  

            Shared camera footage from on top of 
            Memorial Stadium in Champaign looking due 
            West of a dense, large wall of dust outside 
            of town. Reports of zero visibility from 
            this dust cloud. 

0414 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 W Decatur Airport     39.84N 88.90W
05/16/2025                   Macon              IL   Emergency Mngr   

            *** 1 INJ *** 
            A tree fell onto a house on Bayview Drive. 
            One person sustained a head injury. 

0415 PM     Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg Urbana                  40.11N 88.21W
05/16/2025                   Champaign          IL   Broadcast Media  

            A tree was blown down. 

0415 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Mount Zion              39.78N 88.87W
05/16/2025                   Macon              IL   Public           

            A flag pole was snapped. 

0415 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 SSE Decatur           39.81N 88.94W
05/16/2025                   Macon              IL   Public           

            Multiple trees were blown down near Lake 
            Decatur. 

0415 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 NE Decatur            39.85N 88.95W
05/16/2025                   Macon              IL   Emergency Mngr   

            Numerous tree branches and power lines were 
            blown down across Decatur. 

0418 PM     Dust Storm       2 SW White Heath        40.06N 88.55W
05/16/2025                   Piatt              IL   Broadcast Media  

            Reported a video of dense blowing dust along 
            I-72 east of Monticello. Visibility near 
            zero within the cloud. 

0420 PM     Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg Mahomet                 40.20N 88.41W
05/16/2025                   Champaign          IL   Trained Spotter  

            A few trees were damaged. 

0425 PM     Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 NE Ogden              40.12N 87.95W
05/16/2025                   Champaign          IL   Emergency Mngr   

            Several semis were blown over on I-74 near 
            Ogden. 

0443 PM     Dust Storm       Kenney                  40.10N 89.09W
05/16/2025                   De Witt            IL   Emergency Mngr   

            Emergency manager reports little to no 
            visibility around Kenney due to blowing 
            dust. 

0443 PM     Dust Storm       Wapella                 40.22N 88.96W
05/16/2025                   De Witt            IL   Emergency Mngr   

            Emergency manager reports little to no 
            visibility around Wapella due to blowing 
            dust. 

0445 PM     Dust Storm       1 ESE East Lynn         40.46N 87.78W
05/16/2025                   Vermilion          IL   Public           

            Emergency manager reports one half to one 
            quarter mile of visibility on Route 9 
            between Rankin and Hoopeston. 

0446 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 SW Altamont           39.05N 88.77W
05/16/2025                   Effingham          IL   Emergency Mngr   

            Tree branches were blown across Route 40 
            southwest of Altamont. 

0448 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 E Altamont            39.07N 88.71W
05/16/2025                   Effingham          IL   Emergency Mngr   

            A power line was blown down at Route 40 and 
            500th Street. 

0451 PM     Dust Storm       2 SE Le Roy             40.32N 88.74W
05/16/2025                   McLean             IL   Public           

            Reports that Interstate 74 is closed from 
            Downs to Mansfield due to no visibility in 
            dense, blowing dust. 

0451 PM     Dust Storm       Mclean                  40.32N 89.17W
05/16/2025                   McLean             IL   Emergency Mngr   

            Reporting multiple 911 calls regarding low 
            to zero visibility in McLean. 

0452 PM     Dust Storm       Downs                   40.40N 88.87W
05/16/2025                   McLean             IL   Broadcast Media  

            Relayed a video of a very large and very 
            dense wall of dust moving into the town. 
            Visibility appears to be non-existent. 

0452 PM     Dust Storm       Heyworth                40.31N 88.98W
05/16/2025                   McLean             IL   Broadcast Media  

            Relayed a video of a very large and very 
            dense wall of dust moving into the town. 
            Visibility appears to be non-existent. 

0453 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     4 SE Shumway            39.14N 88.61W
05/16/2025                   Effingham          IL   Public           

            Power lines were blown down across Lake Sara 
            Road. 

0453 PM     Dust Storm       Central Illinois Airpor 40.48N 88.91W
05/16/2025                   McLean             IL   ASOS             

            KBMI reported one quarter mile visibility 
            and blowing dust at 2153 UTC with a 51 knot 
            wind gust. This limited visibility was 
            reported until 2205 UTC. 

0455 PM     Dust Storm       1 N Farmer City         40.26N 88.64W
05/16/2025                   De Witt            IL   Public           

            Emergency manager reported a multiple 
            vehicle accident on I-74 just outside of 
            Farmer City, with zero visibility still 
            being reported. 

0456 PM     Dust Storm       3 SSW Towanda           40.52N 88.92W
05/16/2025                   McLean             IL   NWS Employee     

            Relayed photos of a very large and very 
            dense wall of dust moving into the town. 
            Visibility appears to be non-existent. 

0457 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     5 WSW Effingham         39.09N 88.63W
05/16/2025                   Effingham          IL   Emergency Mngr   

            Power lines were blown down at Route 40 and 
            900th Street. 

0457 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 NNW Effingham         39.15N 88.57W
05/16/2025                   Effingham          IL   Emergency Mngr   

            A power line was blown down at Lakewood 
            Manor. 

0459 PM     Dust Storm       Rankin                  40.46N 87.90W
05/16/2025                   Vermilion          IL   Emergency Mngr   

            Stop sign was snapped off post at the 
            intersection of Routes 9 and 49. 

0459 PM     Dust Storm       Rankin                  40.46N 87.90W
05/16/2025                   Vermilion          IL   Emergency Mngr   

            Power outages reported. 

0500 PM     Hail             Robinson                39.01N 87.74W
05/16/2025  E3.00 Inch       Crawford           IL   Emergency Mngr   

             

0500 PM     Hail             Robinson                39.01N 87.74W
05/16/2025  E2.75 Inch       Crawford           IL   Public           

             

0500 PM     Hail             1 NNE Robinson          39.02N 87.73W
05/16/2025  M2.00 Inch       Crawford           IL   Mesonet          

             

0503 PM     Dust Storm       Saybrook                40.43N 88.53W
05/16/2025                   McLean             IL   Emergency Mngr   

            Reports of power outages due to multiple 
            lines down. 

0505 PM     Funnel Cloud     Robinson                39.01N 87.74W
05/16/2025                   Crawford           IL   Emergency Mngr   

             

0505 PM     Hail             2 W Robinson Municipal  39.01N 87.68W
05/16/2025  E2.75 Inch       Crawford           IL   Storm Chaser     

             

0509 PM     Hail             Robinson                39.00N 87.74W
05/16/2025  M1.00 Inch       Crawford           IL   Law Enforcement  

             

0516 PM     Funnel Cloud     Palestine               39.01N 87.61W
05/16/2025                   Crawford           IL   Trained Spotter  

             

0520 PM     Dust Storm       1 NW Fisher             40.33N 88.36W
05/16/2025                   Champaign          IL   Public           

            Video of blowing dust outside of Fisher with 
            less than half mile visibility. 

0533 PM     Hail             1 N Coles County Airpor 39.49N 88.28W
05/16/2025  E1.25 Inch       Coles              IL   Public           

             

0549 PM     Hail             Sigel                   39.23N 88.50W
05/16/2025  E1.00 Inch       Shelby             IL   Public           

            Broadcast media relayed viewer report of 
            quarter sized hail in Sigel. 

0549 PM     Hail             Effingham               39.12N 88.54W
05/16/2025  E1.75 Inch       Effingham          IL   Public           

            Broadcast media relayed viewer report of 
            golf ball sized hail in Effingham. 

0610 PM     Hail             3 SSW Jewett            39.17N 88.26W
05/16/2025  E1.75 Inch       Cumberland         IL   Public           

             

0616 PM     Hail             3 S Greenup             39.20N 88.15W
05/16/2025  E1.50 Inch       Cumberland         IL   Public           

             


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