A prolonged period of rainfall occurred from the early morning hours of December 26th to the evening of December 28th.  The heaviest rainfall occurred in a 50 to 75 mile wide swath from southwest Missouri through the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area and into central Illinois.  Three day rainfall totals within this swath ranged from 6 to 12 inches, with lighter amounts extending both northwest and southeast to the state border.  Some of the precipitation fell as a wintry mix of freezing rain, sleet and snow across northwest portions of the state.  All of this rain caused historic river flooding for the many rivers throughout the region. This resulted in floods of record on the Bourbeuse River at Union, the Meramec River at Pacific, Eureka, Valley Park, and Arnold, and major flooding on the Missouri River (at Gasconade and Hermann), the Mississippi River at Winfield Lock and Dam and points downstream, the Cuivre River at Old Monroe, Dardenne Creek, the Gasconade River, the Moreau River, the Illinois River, and the Kaskaskia River at Vandalia.  The only location not reporting flooding after this event was the Salt River near New London, where the Clarence Cannon Dam regulates the flow.  All other forecast points reported at least minor flooding. Seven flooding deaths were reported in our area due to the heavy rains. Approximately 1500 structures were either damaged or destroyed by the flood waters in the forecast area. At this time dollar amount damages are expected to top $1 billion dollars.

Flood in RANDOLPH, ILLINOIS
From 28-DEC-15 18:00:00 to 31-DEC-15 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: GRIGGS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Between 4 and 6 inches of rain fell across the Kaskaskia River basin during a 2 day period. All of this rain caused the river to rise to major flood. About a dozen homes and businesses in Evansville were either damaged or destroyed by the flood waters.

Flash Flood in MADISON, ILLINOIS
From 26-DEC-15 17:00:00 to 27-DEC-15 03:24:00 (CST-6)
Location: SEBASTOPOL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Between 2 and 5 inches of rain fell causing flash flooding.  Numerous roads were flooded including Marine Road near the town of Marine. A car was swept off the road in this location. The motorist was rescued but did not sustain any injuries.

Flash Flood in JERSEY, ILLINOIS
From 26-DEC-15 21:00:00 to 27-DEC-15 03:24:00 (CST-6)
Location: GRAFTON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Up to four inches of rain fell causing flash flooding. Numerous roads were flooded. In Grafton, a 42 year old woman was walking home, possibly intoxicated. She was last seen on North Cedar Street at about 11 pm on December 26th, 2015. Authorities suspected she tried to cross a flooded roadway near a creek and was swept out to the Mississippi River and drowned. Her body was finally located March 10th, 2016 about 6 miles downstream. Cause of death was accidental drowning.

Flash Flood in FAYETTE, ILLINOIS
From 28-DEC-15 08:30:00 to 28-DEC-15 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: BINGHAM
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

First round of rain brought about 2 inches to Fayette County. Then the second round of rain from December 27th through December 28th, another 2 to 4 inches of rain fell across the county causing flash flooding.  Numerous roads and creeks were flooded.

Flash Flood in MACOUPIN, ILLINOIS
From 26-DEC-15 20:00:00 to 27-DEC-15 03:24:00 (CST-6)
Location: STAUNTON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Between 3 and 4 inches of rain fell causing flash flooding.  Numerous roads were flooded especially across the southern half of the county. Some of the flooded roads were Bayless Road/Three Mile Road near Gillespie, Sunset Street on west side of Mt. Olive, Spanish Needle Road near Gillespie Lake, Brushy Mound Road just south of Carlinville, and Moore Cemetery Road east of bridge that goes over Richardson Branch Creek.

Flash Flood in BOND, ILLINOIS
From 28-DEC-15 07:00:00 to 28-DEC-15 13:16:00 (CST-6)
Location: PIERRON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Another round of heavy rain fell over Bond County, between 4 and 5 inches. Storm total rains were between 5 and 9 inches for the approximately 60 hour period. Numerous roads were flooded including Interstate 70, which was shut down around 7 am on December 28th. Several feet of flowing water was over both east and west bound lanes of Interstate 70, just east of exit 36. The highway remained closed until 2 pm on December 29th.

Flood in ST. CLAIR, ILLINOIS
From 28-DEC-15 14:00:00 to 30-DEC-15 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: WHITE OAK
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Between 4 and 6 inches of rain fell from December 26th through December 28th causing flooding.  Numerous creeks and ponds were well out of their banks flooding roads nearby. Illinois Route 161 had water over the roadway near intersection with North County Road. The water was flowing over the road from a pond south of Route 161 to the lower ditches on the north side of the road. A school bus carrying a basketball team from Mount Vernon to Mascoutah for a game was carried off the road by the water. At the time it happened, approximately 545 pm on December 28th, there was about 6 inches of water of the road. A semi truck was also carried off the roadway in this area. In total, 18 people were rescued with no injuries reported.

Flash Flood in MONTGOMERY, ILLINOIS
From 28-DEC-15 08:30:00 to 28-DEC-15 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: BARNETT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Another round of heavy rain, between 2 to 4 inches, fell from late in the day on December 27th through December 28th causing flash flooding.  Numerous roads were flooded including some county highways.

Flash Flood in MONTGOMERY, ILLINOIS
From 27-DEC-15 01:30:00 to 27-DEC-15 03:24:00 (CST-6)
Location: BARNETT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Up to 5 inches of rain fell causing flash flooding.  Numerous roads were flooded including some county highways.

Flash Flood in MADISON, ILLINOIS
From 28-DEC-15 08:30:00 to 28-DEC-15 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: SEBASTOPOL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Another round of heavy rain, between 3 and 5 inches, fell across Madison County from late on December 27th through December 28th, causing more flash flooding.  Numerous roads were flooded. Roads closed include Illinois Route 143 between Hwy 255 and Illinois Route 111, Illinois Route 143 at Silver Creek, US Highway 40 between Triad and Schaeffer Roads, and Illinois Route 159 just north of intersection with Illinois Route 143.

Flash Flood in ST. CLAIR, ILLINOIS
From 28-DEC-15 08:30:00 to 28-DEC-15 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: WHITE OAK
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

First round of rain brought about 2 inches to St. Clair County. Then the second round of rain from December 27th through December 28th, another 3 to 4 inches of rain fell across the county causing flash flooding. Numerous roads were flooded including Old State Route 158 between Illinois Routes 177 and 161 near Scott Air Force Base. In Cahokia, a large car lot on Camp Jackson Road was flooded. Water was over the hood of most of the vehicles.

Flash Flood in MARION, ILLINOIS
From 26-DEC-15 19:00:00 to 26-DEC-15 22:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: VERNON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Automated gauges in the area only measured about an inch of rain between 3 pm and 8 pm. However, this was enough for Louse Creek to rise, covering Farthing Road at a low water crossing, about half a mile north of intersection with Britt Road. A family of 5 was traveling from Kentucky to Minnesota and somehow got lost after getting off of I-57. The family ended up about 2 miles southeast of Patoka, going north on Farthing Road. In the dark, the driver probably did not see the rushing water over the roadway before it was too late. The vehicle was carried about 150 to 200 feet downstream and became lodged in some trees. An occupant of the vehicle called 911 about 730 pm, but shortly after a firefighter arrived on the scene, the car became dislodged and sank.  Dive teams recovered the car from the water several hours later. All 5 occupants were pronounced dead from drowning just before midnight.  The flooding did not affect any structures in the area, just road flooding in a few locations. Also, this area of flooding was well removed from the axis of the heaviest rain that stretched from the eastern Ozarks into central Illinois.