A warm front slowly lifted northward across portions of central Illinois during the afternoon of May 6th. Severe thunderstorms developed along this boundary with slow storm motions leading to flooding.  Additional thunderstorms developed late in the evening and overnight leading to additional flooding.

Flood in KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS
From 07-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 07-MAY-12 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: REDDICK
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Several roads had water covering them across the area.  Almost all creeks were out of their banks with a majority of fields flooded.  Illinois Highway 17 had water across one lane of the road in multiple locations.

Flash Flood in FORD, ILLINOIS
From 07-MAY-12 00:30:00 to 07-MAY-12 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: CABERY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Illinois Highway 115 had mud and field debris signatures indicating that water had come up quickly and encompassed the road.  Almost all fields in the area were flooded and at least one creek was out of its banks over a roadway just to the east of Cabery.

Flash Flood in FORD, ILLINOIS
From 06-MAY-12 14:30:00 to 06-MAY-12 20:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: CABERY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Illinois Highway 115 was covered quickly with water based on field debris and mud signatures over the road.

Hail in BOONE, ILLINOIS
From 06-MAY-12 09:25:00 to 06-MAY-12 09:26:00 (CST-6)
Location: BELVIDERE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Hail in BOONE, ILLINOIS
From 06-MAY-12 09:40:00 to 06-MAY-12 09:41:00 (CST-6)
Location: BELVIDERE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in KENDALL, ILLINOIS
From 06-MAY-12 10:04:00 to 06-MAY-12 10:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: LISBON CENTER
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Hail in COOK, ILLINOIS
From 06-MAY-12 12:00:00 to 06-MAY-12 12:01:00 (CST-6)
Location: PARK FOREST
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Thunderstorm Wind in IROQUOIS, ILLINOIS
From 06-MAY-12 15:37:00 to 06-MAY-12 15:38:00 (CST-6)
Location: CRESCENT CITY
Magnitude: 87.00 EG
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A National Weather Service storm survey team determined that approximately 100 mph straight-line winds toppled around fifty 70-foot high wooden utility poles on the north side of Highway 24.  Several of these poles were snapped.  In addition, a few large trees were also blown down.

Flash Flood in IROQUOIS, ILLINOIS
From 06-MAY-12 16:30:00 to 06-MAY-12 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: COALER STATION
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A portion of the road buckled and was washed away at the intersection of 1730 North Road and Route 1.  An observer 5 miles west of Watseka measure 1.37 inches of rainfall in 30 minutes.

Flash Flood in GRUNDY, ILLINOIS
From 06-MAY-12 23:30:00 to 07-MAY-12 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: PAYTONVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

West Southmor Road was impassable and closed due to high water.

Flash Flood in WILL, ILLINOIS
From 07-MAY-12 13:00:00 to 07-MAY-12 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: BALLOU
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Waters from Forked Creek came up quickly on Kahler Road stranding a motorist who tried to drive through the flood waters.  The motorist had to be rescued by boat.  The road was closed by the city thereafter.  Rainfall totaling 3.57 inches fell previous day in Wilmington.

Flash Flood in WILL, ILLINOIS
From 07-MAY-12 11:00:00 to 07-MAY-12 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: RITCHIE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Water quickly rose out of the banks of Forked Creek across Route 102 near Elevator Road stranding motorists and causing road closures.  Three motorists from two vehicles had to be rescued by boat.  Several inches of rain had fallen the previous day, including a report of 3.57 inches of rain in Wilmington.

Hail in COOK, ILLINOIS
From 06-MAY-12 13:52:00 to 06-MAY-12 13:53:00 (CST-6)
Location: KEDZIE
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Dime and nickel size hail was reported in Humboldt Park.

Hail in LA SALLE, ILLINOIS
From 06-MAY-12 14:31:00 to 06-MAY-12 14:33:00 (CST-6)
Location: STREATOR
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in IROQUOIS, ILLINOIS
From 06-MAY-12 14:33:00 to 06-MAY-12 14:36:00 (CST-6)
Location: CHEBANSE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in IROQUOIS, ILLINOIS
From 06-MAY-12 14:35:00 to 06-MAY-12 14:39:00 (CST-6)
Location: CLIFTON
Magnitude: 2.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Thunderstorm Wind in LIVINGSTON, ILLINOIS
From 06-MAY-12 14:50:00 to 06-MAY-12 14:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: MUNSTER
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Tornado in IROQUOIS, ILLINOIS
From 06-MAY-12 15:48:00 to 06-MAY-12 15:51:00 (CST-6)
Location: WATSEKA
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

An EF1 tornado touched down east-southeast of Watseka with maximum winds of 85 to 95 mph.  Two farmsteads experienced damage.  A small barn was destroyed with its cinder block walls toppled and roof thrown one half mile.  Multiple outbuildings had mainly minor damage.  One utility pole was blown down.  At one farmstead, there were several impaled objects, including pieces of wood into a camper and the ground, as well as a stop sign into the soil of an uprooted tree base.

Hail in LA SALLE, ILLINOIS
From 06-MAY-12 22:04:00 to 06-MAY-12 22:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: STREATOR
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Flash Flood in LA SALLE, ILLINOIS
From 06-MAY-12 21:57:00 to 07-MAY-12 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: MARSEILLES
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Ryall Street was impassable and closed due to flooding.  Approximately two feet of water was covering the road at the time of the report with runoff continuing to run downhill into the flooded area.

Flood in LA SALLE, ILLINOIS
From 06-MAY-12 15:15:00 to 06-MAY-12 20:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: GARFIELD
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Two feet of water was reported over Illinois Highway 17 near the La Salle and Livingston county borders.

Flood in IROQUOIS, ILLINOIS
From 07-MAY-12 02:30:00 to 07-MAY-12 13:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: DANFORTH
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Old US Highway 45 was covered with water and remained as such at least into the afternoon.  Numerous fields in the area were also flooded.

Thunderstorm Wind in IROQUOIS, ILLINOIS
From 06-MAY-12 15:44:00 to 06-MAY-12 15:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: WATSEKA
Magnitude: 60.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Numerous large trees were blown down throughout the town of Watseka.  Density was the highest on the north side of town, where three utility poles were also blown down.  There was minor roof damage to a few buildings.

Hail in LIVINGSTON, ILLINOIS
From 06-MAY-12 15:55:00 to 06-MAY-12 15:56:00 (CST-6)
Location: CHATSWORTH
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in IROQUOIS, ILLINOIS
From 06-MAY-12 14:20:00 to 06-MAY-12 14:28:00 (CST-6)
Location: CHEBANSE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Quarter to golf ball size hail was reported on County Road 400 East between 3300 North and 3200 North.