A vigorous upper-level disturbance in conjunction with an approaching cold front triggered periods of showers and thunderstorms across central Illinois on August 16th.  A few storms produced marginally severe hail during the morning across north-central Illinois.  As the atmosphere destabilized further, severe thunderstorms developed along the cold front during the afternoon...mainly impacting locations along and east of a Champaign-Urbana to Taylorville line.  Wind gusts of 70 to 90 mph produced widespread damage across portions of Christian...Shelby...Moultrie...and Coles counties. The town of Windsor in Shelby County was hardest hit, with more than $3 Million in damage.

Thunderstorm Wind in CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS
From 16-AUG-12 12:50:00 to 16-AUG-12 12:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: ST JOSEPH
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Several 5 to 6-inch diameter tree branches were blown down at the high school.

Thunderstorm Wind in SANGAMON, ILLINOIS
From 16-AUG-12 13:45:00 to 16-AUG-12 13:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: PAWNEE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 4.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Two power poles were snapped along 4th Street in Pawnee.

Thunderstorm Wind in CHRISTIAN, ILLINOIS
From 16-AUG-12 14:32:00 to 16-AUG-12 14:37:00 (CST-6)
Location: PANA
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Numerous 12 to 18-inch diameter trees were blown down.  Power lines were knocked down as well.

Thunderstorm Wind in SHELBY, ILLINOIS
From 16-AUG-12 14:36:00 to 16-AUG-12 14:41:00 (CST-6)
Location: WINDSOR
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 8.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A 2-foot diameter tree was blown down.  Numerous tree branches were knocked down as well, many of which blocked roads.

Thunderstorm Wind in SHELBY, ILLINOIS
From 16-AUG-12 14:40:00 to 16-AUG-12 14:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: WINDSOR
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Several power poles and power lines were blown down.  The siding was torn off a trailer.

Thunderstorm Wind in MOULTRIE, ILLINOIS
From 16-AUG-12 14:45:00 to 16-AUG-12 14:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: GAYS
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 24.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Several trees were blown down about 1 mile east of Gays.

Thunderstorm Wind in MOULTRIE, ILLINOIS
From 16-AUG-12 14:45:00 to 16-AUG-12 14:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: GAYS
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A gabled roof of a church was torn off.  Numerous trees and tree branches were blown down across town.

Thunderstorm Wind in COLES, ILLINOIS
From 16-AUG-12 15:00:00 to 16-AUG-12 15:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: CHARLESTON
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Several tree limbs were blown down across Charleston.  A power pole was knocked down as well.

Thunderstorm Wind in COLES, ILLINOIS
From 16-AUG-12 14:50:00 to 16-AUG-12 14:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: MATTOON
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 65.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Numerous trees and power poles were blown down across Mattoon.  Electricity was knocked out to many residents for about 2 hours.  Power lines were blown down and blocked Lake Mattoon Road.

Thunderstorm Wind in COLES, ILLINOIS
From 16-AUG-12 15:00:00 to 16-AUG-12 15:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: LERNA
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 35.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Numerous trees and power lines were blown down in Lerna.

Thunderstorm Wind in CUMBERLAND, ILLINOIS
From 16-AUG-12 15:05:00 to 16-AUG-12 15:16:00 (CST-6)
Location: NEOGA
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Numerous trees and tree branches were blown down across Cumberland County.  Large branches were knocked down onto 3 houses in Janesville.  Power lines were blown down, resulting in a power outage in Greenup.

Thunderstorm Wind in CLARK, ILLINOIS
From 16-AUG-12 15:20:00 to 16-AUG-12 15:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: MARTINSVILLE
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 40.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Numerous trees were blown down, including a 20-inch diameter tree that fell onto power lines.  Power was knocked out throughout Martinsville.

Thunderstorm Wind in CLAY, ILLINOIS
From 16-AUG-12 15:30:00 to 16-AUG-12 15:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: OSKALOOSA
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A tree was blown down about 1 mile northwest of Oskaloosa near the Clay and Marion County line.

Thunderstorm Wind in JASPER, ILLINOIS
From 16-AUG-12 15:35:00 to 16-AUG-12 15:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: NEWTON
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Numerous tree branches and power lines were blown down in Newton.

Thunderstorm Wind in CLAY, ILLINOIS
From 16-AUG-12 15:50:00 to 16-AUG-12 15:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: LOUISVILLE
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A tree was blown down about 1 mile west of Louisville.

Thunderstorm Wind in CLAY, ILLINOIS
From 16-AUG-12 15:55:00 to 16-AUG-12 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: FLORA
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 3.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A tree was blown down in Flora, and another was knocked down about 1 mile northwest of town.

Hail in WOODFORD, ILLINOIS
From 16-AUG-12 07:16:00 to 16-AUG-12 07:17:00 (CST-6)
Location: METAMORA
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in CHRISTIAN, ILLINOIS
From 16-AUG-12 14:00:00 to 16-AUG-12 14:01:00 (CST-6)
Location: TAYLORVILLE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Thunderstorm Wind in SHELBY, ILLINOIS
From 16-AUG-12 14:20:00 to 16-AUG-12 14:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: TOWER HILL
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A 3-foot diameter tree was uprooted.

Thunderstorm Wind in CRAWFORD, ILLINOIS
From 16-AUG-12 15:45:00 to 16-AUG-12 15:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROBINSON
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Several trees were blown down in Robinson.

Hail in FULTON, ILLINOIS
From 16-AUG-12 09:55:00 to 16-AUG-12 09:56:00 (CST-6)
Location: FARMINGTON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Thunderstorm Wind in SHELBY, ILLINOIS
From 16-AUG-12 14:36:00 to 16-AUG-12 14:41:00 (CST-6)
Location: WINDSOR
Magnitude: 80.00 EG
Property damage: 3.20M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hundreds of trees were uprooted in the town of Windsor. Several trees and large branches damaged about 200 house roofs in town. The strong wind also blew shingles off of many houses. One house on the west side of town was pushed several inches off of its foundation. Power poles snapped, power lines were knocked down and a few flag poles were bent.

Hail in JASPER, ILLINOIS
From 16-AUG-12 15:35:00 to 16-AUG-12 15:36:00 (CST-6)
Location: LATONA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in JASPER, ILLINOIS
From 16-AUG-12 15:35:00 to 16-AUG-12 15:36:00 (CST-6)
Location: WHEELER
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Thunderstorm Wind in COLES, ILLINOIS
From 16-AUG-12 14:55:00 to 16-AUG-12 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: MATTOON
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 40.00K
Crop damage: 100.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Numerous trees were blown down and a few power poles were snapped along Route 16 west of Mattoon.  Two people were injured when they were hit by falling tree branches as they were trying to take shelter from the storm.  A semi and trailer were blown over on Route 16 2 miles west of Mattoon.  Many corn fields sustained wind damage as well.

Thunderstorm Wind in EFFINGHAM, ILLINOIS
From 16-AUG-12 15:08:00 to 16-AUG-12 15:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: BEECHER CITY
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Several trees were blown down in various locations across Effingham County.