An area of low pressure lifted from the Plains northeastward into central Illinois during the evening of February 27th.  The airmass in the vicinity of the low was only weakly unstable, but it was highly sheared.  The resulting thunderstorms produced large hail and gusty winds along and north of a Bearstown...to Bloomington-Normal line.  Further south, additional thunderstorms developed along an advancing cold front during the pre-dawn hours of February 28th, producing damaging wind gusts along and south of I-70.

Hail in SCHUYLER, ILLINOIS
From 27-FEB-11 19:11:00 to 27-FEB-11 19:12:00 (CST-6)
Location: RUSHVILLE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in TAZEWELL, ILLINOIS
From 27-FEB-11 20:16:00 to 27-FEB-11 20:17:00 (CST-6)
Location: ARMINGTON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in LOGAN, ILLINOIS
From 27-FEB-11 20:25:00 to 27-FEB-11 20:26:00 (CST-6)
Location: EMDEN
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in MCLEAN, ILLINOIS
From 27-FEB-11 20:48:00 to 27-FEB-11 20:49:00 (CST-6)
Location: SHIRLEY
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in MCLEAN, ILLINOIS
From 27-FEB-11 20:52:00 to 27-FEB-11 20:53:00 (CST-6)
Location: BLOOMINGTON
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in MCLEAN, ILLINOIS
From 27-FEB-11 20:56:00 to 27-FEB-11 20:57:00 (CST-6)
Location: NORMAL
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in MCLEAN, ILLINOIS
From 27-FEB-11 21:00:00 to 27-FEB-11 21:01:00 (CST-6)
Location: NORMAL
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Hail in COLES, ILLINOIS
From 27-FEB-11 21:50:00 to 27-FEB-11 21:51:00 (CST-6)
Location: CHARLESTON
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in MCLEAN, ILLINOIS
From 27-FEB-11 21:03:00 to 27-FEB-11 21:04:00 (CST-6)
Location: BLOOMINGTON
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Hail in LOGAN, ILLINOIS
From 27-FEB-11 20:25:00 to 27-FEB-11 20:26:00 (CST-6)
Location: EMDEN
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in COLES, ILLINOIS
From 27-FEB-11 21:22:00 to 27-FEB-11 21:23:00 (CST-6)
Location: MATTOON
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in CASS, ILLINOIS
From 27-FEB-11 20:40:00 to 27-FEB-11 20:41:00 (CST-6)
Location: BEARDSTOWN
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Golfball-sized hail damaged a vehicle.

Thunderstorm Wind in SCOTT, ILLINOIS
From 27-FEB-11 20:55:00 to 27-FEB-11 20:56:00 (CST-6)
Location: WINCHESTER
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A roof was blown off a utility shed and a 10-inch diameter tree was knocked down.

Thunderstorm Wind in MORGAN, ILLINOIS
From 27-FEB-11 21:07:00 to 27-FEB-11 21:08:00 (CST-6)
Location: MURRAYVILLE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Trees were blown down across U.S. 267 just north of Whitlock Road.

Thunderstorm Wind in SANGAMON, ILLINOIS
From 27-FEB-11 21:40:00 to 27-FEB-11 21:41:00 (CST-6)
Location: MECHANICSBURG
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A power pole was broken, resulting in a 6-hour power outage in Mechanicsburg.

Thunderstorm Wind in EFFINGHAM, ILLINOIS
From 28-FEB-11 00:33:00 to 28-FEB-11 00:34:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALTAMONT
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

Power poles were bent over and a pole barn suffered minor damage.

Thunderstorm Wind in EFFINGHAM, ILLINOIS
From 28-FEB-11 00:36:00 to 28-FEB-11 00:37:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALTAMONT
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A lean-to shed was destroyed and minor roof damage occurred to a house.

Thunderstorm Wind in EFFINGHAM, ILLINOIS
From 28-FEB-11 00:35:00 to 28-FEB-11 00:36:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALTAMONT
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Power poles were bent over and numerous tree limbs were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in EFFINGHAM, ILLINOIS
From 28-FEB-11 00:45:00 to 28-FEB-11 00:46:00 (CST-6)
Location: WATSON
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A small utility shed roof and porch roof were blown off.

Thunderstorm Wind in CLAY, ILLINOIS
From 28-FEB-11 00:55:00 to 28-FEB-11 00:56:00 (CST-6)
Location: FLORA
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Five power poles were snapped along U.S. 45 north of Flora.

Thunderstorm Wind in EFFINGHAM, ILLINOIS
From 28-FEB-11 00:55:00 to 28-FEB-11 00:56:00 (CST-6)
Location: DIETERICH
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 40.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Part of the roof was blown off a church north of Dieterich.

Thunderstorm Wind in JASPER, ILLINOIS
From 28-FEB-11 01:05:00 to 28-FEB-11 01:06:00 (CST-6)
Location: WHEELER
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Several trees were blown down.

Hail in SCHUYLER, ILLINOIS
From 27-FEB-11 19:15:00 to 27-FEB-11 19:16:00 (CST-6)
Location: RAY
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Golfball-sized hail broke windows at a home 2 miles north of Ray.

Thunderstorm Wind in SCHUYLER, ILLINOIS
From 27-FEB-11 20:35:00 to 27-FEB-11 20:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: FREDERICK
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Numerous large tree limbs were blown down from Frederick to Browning.