A strong cold front moved through the region, triggering showers and thunderstorms.  Some of the storms were severe with large hail, damaging winds and flash flooding.  There were also two brief tornado touchdowns in Marion county Illinois.

Thunderstorm Wind in MARION, ILLINOIS
From 05-FEB-08 18:20:00 to 05-FEB-08 18:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: KINMUNDY
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Numerous large tree limbs were blown down in Kinmundy.

Hail in JERSEY, ILLINOIS
From 05-FEB-08 16:05:00 to 05-FEB-08 16:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: GRAFTON
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Flash Flood in MACOUPIN, ILLINOIS
From 05-FEB-08 16:41:00 to 06-FEB-08 01:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: NILWOOD
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Two to four inches of rain fell over portions of Macoupin county during the evening hours of February 5th.  The viaduct on Illinois Route 16 in Shipman was flooded and viaducts on the north and south sides of Carlinville on Illinois Route 4 were flooded. Also, water was reported over several roads including Enslow Road just northeast of Standard City.  Briar Creek on the east side of Carlinville overflowed its banks, causing minor flooding on several streets in the area.

Flash Flood in MONTGOMERY, ILLINOIS
From 05-FEB-08 17:45:00 to 05-FEB-08 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: RAYMOND
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Two to three inches of rain fell over portions of Montgomery county during the afternoon and evening hours on February 5th.  Six to eight inches of water was over Illinois Route 127 just west of Raymond.

Thunderstorm Wind in WASHINGTON, ILLINOIS
From 05-FEB-08 17:45:00 to 05-FEB-08 17:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: ASHLEY
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Thunderstorm winds blew in two large barn doors on a farm 5 miles west of Ashley. Further north the winds blew down several power lines in the Hoyleton area.

Tornado in MARION, ILLINOIS
From 05-FEB-08 18:12:00 to 05-FEB-08 18:13:00 (CST-6)
Location: SEDAN
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A second tornado briefly touched down at the same time about a mile south of Illinois Route 161 on Medlin Road.  A machine shed sustained major damage with the north, west and south faces of the shed buckled and collapsed.  An attached awning was completely upturned and thrown to the southeast.  Also, the entire roof was lifted and thrown 100 yards to the southeast.

Thunderstorm Wind in MARION, ILLINOIS
From 05-FEB-08 18:10:00 to 05-FEB-08 18:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: CENTRALIA
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Thunderstorm winds caused a wide swath of damage from Centralia to Salem.  In Centralia, numerous trees and power lines were blown down. One tree fell onto a mobile home causing moderate damage and one fell onto an unoccupied car destroying it.  Five miles south of Salem on Interstate 57 near mile marker 111, a semi tractor trailer was blown over.  The driver sustained minor injuries.  In Salem, a few trees and power lines were blown down. One tree fell onto a house damaging the front porch.

Thunderstorm Wind in MARION, ILLINOIS
From 05-FEB-08 18:15:00 to 05-FEB-08 18:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: SEDAN
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Several sturdy pine trees were snapped off across the grounds of the Mount Moriah Church one mile north of Illinois Route 161.  The damage pattern of the fallen pine trees and surrounding long grass indicated a localized microburst which produced winds of 60 to 70 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in MARION, ILLINOIS
From 05-FEB-08 18:30:00 to 05-FEB-08 18:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: KINMUNDY
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The damaging winds persisted into northeastern Marion county.  About one and a half miles southeast of Farina, another machine shed was completely destroyed by the winds with debris tossed approximately 100 yards.  There was also widespread tree damage in this area as well. On Interstate 57, 3 semi tractor trailers were blown over around mile marker 133. One of the drivers sustained minor injuries and was taken to Salem Township Hospital for treatment of the injuries.

Thunderstorm Wind in FAYETTE, ILLINOIS
From 05-FEB-08 18:15:00 to 05-FEB-08 18:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: ST PETER
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A large swath of damaging downburst winds extended from St. Peter through Farina then to the Fayette, Marion county line.  Surface winds were estimated between 65 and 80 MPH.  Two large machine sheds one and a half miles east of St. Peter sustained varying degrees of damage with debris extending around 100 yards to the east southeast.  Approximately half a mile northwest of Farina, an expansion roof over the gymnasium and library at South Central High School was damaged by the wind storm.  Much of the roof sheathing buckled in the high winds.  A basketball game was being played in the gym at the time the high winds struck, but fortunately no injuries were reported.  Part of the roof of another machine shed was uplifted and tossed over Illinois Route 37 on the south side of Farina.  Along the east side of Farina, parts of a large grain bin were also damaged by the high winds.  The swath of damaging winds continued to the southeast into northeastern Marion County. Also, 5 semi tractor trailers were blown over on Interstate 57 between mile markers 137 and 139.  No injuries were reported.

Tornado in MARION, ILLINOIS
From 05-FEB-08 18:12:00 to 05-FEB-08 18:13:00 (CST-6)
Location: SEDAN
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A tornado briefly touched down along Medlin Road half a mile south of Illinois Route 161.  It caused moderate damage to a machine shed with significant pieces of roof strewn up to a quarter of a mile southeast of the shed.  An adjacent abandoned house had two uprooted trees laid to the east across its roof.  No other damage was found.