During the early morning hours of 7/21/08, thunderstorms quickly began to develop across Iowa in response to a 30 to 35kt low-level jet and an upper-level disturbance tracking eastward out of the Plains.  The storms materialized and tracked along a subtle low-level moisture boundary that stretched from central Iowa into central Illinois.  As they rolled eastward, they began to pick up momentum and soon began producing widespread damaging winds. The storms headed east-southeast into Knox, Fulton, and Peoria counties, where winds between 60 and 70 mph downed numerous trees and powerlines.  Widespread wind damage continued further east in a large swath across Marshall, Woodford, Tazewell, and northern McLean counties where severe winds of 60 to 81 mph were reported. A lightning strike also did damage to a school roof in Bloomington.

Thunderstorm Wind in PEORIA, ILLINOIS
From 21-JUL-08 05:55:00 to 21-JUL-08 05:56:00 (CST-6)
Location: CHILLICOTHE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A tree was blown over onto a house and two cars.  Numerous tree limbs down throughout town.

Thunderstorm Wind in MARSHALL, ILLINOIS
From 21-JUL-08 06:00:00 to 21-JUL-08 06:01:00 (CST-6)
Location: HENRY
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A large tree was blown down onto IL Route 29.

Thunderstorm Wind in MARSHALL, ILLINOIS
From 21-JUL-08 06:00:00 to 21-JUL-08 06:01:00 (CST-6)
Location: LACON
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Numerous power lines were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in PEORIA, ILLINOIS
From 21-JUL-08 05:50:00 to 21-JUL-08 05:51:00 (CST-6)
Location: WEST PEORIA
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Several trees and tree limbs were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in PEORIA, ILLINOIS
From 21-JUL-08 05:49:00 to 21-JUL-08 05:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: DUNLAP
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A tree was blown down across a road.

Thunderstorm Wind in MARSHALL, ILLINOIS
From 21-JUL-08 06:00:00 to 21-JUL-08 06:01:00 (CST-6)
Location: HENRY
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Numerous 7 to 8-inch diameter trees were blown down across the city of Henry.

Thunderstorm Wind in PEORIA, ILLINOIS
From 21-JUL-08 05:55:00 to 21-JUL-08 05:56:00 (CST-6)
Location: PEORIA HGTS
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Numerous trees and tree branches down.

Thunderstorm Wind in PEORIA, ILLINOIS
From 21-JUL-08 04:30:00 to 21-JUL-08 04:31:00 (CST-6)
Location: NORWOOD
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Strong winds caused damage to roofs 1 mile south of Wildlife Prairie Park on Taylor Street.

Thunderstorm Wind in PEORIA, ILLINOIS
From 21-JUL-08 04:30:00 to 21-JUL-08 04:31:00 (CST-6)
Location: PEORIA
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

An 18-inch diameter tree limb was blown down at Bradley University.

Thunderstorm Wind in KNOX, ILLINOIS
From 21-JUL-08 05:15:00 to 21-JUL-08 05:16:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALTONA
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

An 8-inch diameter branch was blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in MCLEAN, ILLINOIS
From 21-JUL-08 06:25:00 to 21-JUL-08 06:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: BLOOMINGTON
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Numerous tree limbs and power lines were blown down from Bloomington to Lexington.

Thunderstorm Wind in WOODFORD, ILLINOIS
From 21-JUL-08 06:14:00 to 21-JUL-08 06:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROANOKE
Magnitude: 70.00 MG
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Numerous trees were blown down in Roanoke. A wind gust of 81 mph was reported at the county EOC on the south side of Roanoke.

Thunderstorm Wind in FULTON, ILLINOIS
From 21-JUL-08 03:50:00 to 21-JUL-08 03:51:00 (CST-6)
Location: FIATT
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Numerous trees were blown down.  A wall was blown out on a metal sided wood framed garage.

Thunderstorm Wind in FULTON, ILLINOIS
From 21-JUL-08 04:10:00 to 21-JUL-08 04:11:00 (CST-6)
Location: CANTON
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 175.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Widespread wind damage was reported in the town of Canton.  Extensive tree damage was noted in the Sycamore Terrace neighborhood, where several 2 to 10 foot diameter trees were broken and/or uprooted. Numerous trees and powerlines were blown down throughout Canton as well. The wind also caused the transmission tower at WBYS radio to fall to the ground.

Thunderstorm Wind in MARSHALL, ILLINOIS
From 21-JUL-08 06:03:00 to 21-JUL-08 06:04:00 (CST-6)
Location: LACON
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A large tree was blown down onto IL Route 26.

Thunderstorm Wind in MARSHALL, ILLINOIS
From 21-JUL-08 06:03:00 to 21-JUL-08 06:04:00 (CST-6)
Location: LACON
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A large tree was blown down that blocked IL Route 17.

Thunderstorm Wind in MARSHALL, ILLINOIS
From 21-JUL-08 06:15:00 to 21-JUL-08 06:16:00 (CST-6)
Location: VARNA
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Two-foot diameter limbs were blown down across IL Route 89.

Thunderstorm Wind in KNOX, ILLINOIS
From 21-JUL-08 05:20:00 to 21-JUL-08 05:21:00 (CST-6)
Location: ABINGDON
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

A large tree limb fell near the old Pottery in Abingdon.

Thunderstorm Wind in WOODFORD, ILLINOIS
From 21-JUL-08 06:15:00 to 21-JUL-08 06:16:00 (CST-6)
Location: MINONK
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Numerous trees and tree limbs down across the town of Minonk.

Thunderstorm Wind in CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS
From 21-JUL-08 07:00:00 to 21-JUL-08 07:01:00 (CST-6)
Location: FISHER
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Numerous trees and tree limbs down across Fisher.

Lightning in MCLEAN, ILLINOIS
From 21-JUL-08 06:30:00 to 21-JUL-08 06:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: BLOOMINGTON
Property damage: 200.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Lightning struck the roof of Bent Elementary School in Bloomington causing extensive damage to the roof and chimney. There were no injuries.