A multi-faceted storm system brought several periods of heavy rain to central and southeast Illinois from December 26th through 28th.  The system began to spread rain into the region from the southwest during the early morning hours of Saturday, December 26th, with the rain continuing into Saturday night.  By the morning of Sunday, December 27th, widespread 2 to 5-inch totals were reported southeast of a Jacksonville to Rantoul line.  This amount of rain falling on saturated soils from recent wet conditions produced widespread flash flooding and fast rises on creeks and streams.  After a lull in the rainfall for much of Sunday, another round of rain moved in from the south from Sunday night through the afternoon of Monday, December 28th.  Heavy rains of 1 to 3 inches were common across the entire area from this portion of the event, further aggravating existing flooding conditions.  Once the flash flooding subsided, ongoing areal flooding persisted through December 31st...with river flooding continuing well into January 2016.  Many rivers climbed to major flood stage as a result of the excessive rainfall.  The flooding situation was made even worse by levee breaches, including one along the Embarras River near the Jasper-Crawford County line.  Four people died as a result of this major flooding event across central Illinois.  All four died when their vehicles were swept away by high water in Christian County early in the morning of December 29th.

Flood in CHRISTIAN, ILLINOIS
From 27-DEC-15 04:00:00 to 31-DEC-15 15:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: SICILY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 2.80M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

An extended period of heavy rain during the evening of December 26th in Christian County combined with an already saturated ground to produce flash flooding. Rainfall amounts ranged from 2.50 to 4.50 inches in less than six hours, with the heaviest rain in the southern half of the county. Most rural roads and state highways were flooded and impassable. City streets in Taylorville and Pana were also flooded. The flooding continued through all of December 27th. Additional rainfall of 2.50 to 4.75 from December 28th into the 29th aggravated the flooding situation significantly. Every road in the county was flooded which resulted in a shortage of barricades to close the roads. The village of Kincaid was hardest hit as the South Fork of the Sangamon River overtopped levees and flooded the southeast part of town for the first time in its history. People had to be rescued by boat as all roads in and out of town were flooded. Three houses were destroyed by the flooding in Kincaid, with 41 others damaged. Four fatalities occurred in two separate incidents early in the morning of December 29th. Two 18 year old males died as their pickup truck was swept away in flood waters near the South Fork of the Sangamon River and Illinois Route 104 about one mile southeast of Kincaid. Two other people died as their van was swept into the Buckhart Creek about 5 miles ENE of Edinburg. The flooding finally subsided by the afternoon of December 31st, more than four days after it started.

Flood in SHELBY, ILLINOIS
From 27-DEC-15 04:00:00 to 31-DEC-15 15:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: MOWEAQUA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

An extended period of heavy rain during the evening of December 26th in Shelby County combined with an already saturated ground to produce flash flooding. Rainfall amounts ranged from 3.65 to 5.20 inches in less than six hours, with the heaviest rain in the western half of the county. Most rural roads and state highways were flooded and impassable. City streets in Shelbyville were also flooded. The flooding continued through all of December 27th. Additional rainfall of 1.75 to 3.75 from December 28th into the 29th aggravated the flooding situation significantly. The towns of Windsor, Tower Hill, Oconee and Shelbyville had the most flood damage to roads and basements. Every road in the county was flooded, until the water finally subsided by the afternoon of December 31st, more than four days after it started.

Flash Flood in CHRISTIAN, ILLINOIS
From 26-DEC-15 21:15:00 to 27-DEC-15 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: SICILY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

An extended period of heavy rain during the evening of December 26th in Christian County combined with an already saturated ground to produce flash flooding. Rainfall amounts ranged from 2.50 to 4.50 inches in less than six hours, with the heaviest rain in the southern half of the county. Most rural roads and state highways were flooded and impassable. City streets in Taylorville and Pana were also flooded.

Flash Flood in MACON, ILLINOIS
From 26-DEC-15 23:00:00 to 27-DEC-15 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: PRAIRIE HALL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

An extended period of heavy rain during the late evening of December 26th in Macon County combined with an already saturated ground to produce flash flooding. Rainfall amounts ranged from 3.00 to 3.50 inches in less than six hours, with the heaviest rain in the southern half of the county. Most rural roads and state highways were flooded and impassable. Locations from Blue Mound through Macon toward Dalton City and south toward the county line with Christian and Shelby County were the most impacted.

Flood in MACON, ILLINOIS
From 27-DEC-15 04:00:00 to 30-DEC-15 15:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: PRAIRIE HALL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 400.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

An extended period of heavy rain during the late evening of December 26th in Macon County combined with an already saturated ground to produce flash flooding. Rainfall amounts ranged from 3.00 to 3.50 inches in less than six hours, with the heaviest rain in the southern half of the county. Most rural roads and state highways were flooded and impassable. Locations from Blue Mound through Macon toward Dalton City and south toward the county line with Christian and Shelby County were the most impacted. The flooding continued through all of December 27th. Additional rainfall of 2.30 to 2.70 from December 28th into the 29th aggravated the flooding situation significantly, and spread into the central part of the county, resulting in basement flooding in many parts of Decatur. Nearly every road between State Route 48 and 121 in southern Macon County was flooded for about three days. The flood water finally subsided by the afternoon of December 30th.

Flash Flood in MOULTRIE, ILLINOIS
From 26-DEC-15 22:00:00 to 27-DEC-15 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: GAYS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

An extended period of heavy rain during the late evening of December 26th in Moultrie County combined with an already saturated ground to produce flash flooding. Rainfall amounts ranged from 4.00 to 5.50 inches in less than six hours. Most rural roads and state highways were flooded and impassable. Bethany, Lovington and Sullivan were the most impacted with city streets inundated and basements flooded.

Flood in MOULTRIE, ILLINOIS
From 27-DEC-15 04:00:00 to 31-DEC-15 15:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: GAYS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

An extended period of heavy rain during the late evening of December 26th in Moultrie County combined with an already saturated ground to produce flash flooding. Rainfall amounts ranged from 4.00 to 5.50 inches in less than six hours. Most rural roads and state highways were flooded and impassable. Bethany, Lovington and Sullivan were the most impacted with city streets inundated and basements flooded. The flooding continued through all of December 27th. Additional rainfall of 1.50 to 2.00 from December 28th into the 29th aggravated the flooding situation significantly. Every rural road and most state highways were flooded for nearly four days. The flood water finally subsided by the afternoon of December 31st.

Flash Flood in EFFINGHAM, ILLINOIS
From 27-DEC-15 00:00:00 to 27-DEC-15 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: GREEN CREEK
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

An extended period of heavy rain during the late evening of December 26th in northwest Effingham County combined with an already saturated ground to produce flash flooding. Rainfall amounts ranged from 2.75 to 4.00 inches in less than six hours. Most rural roads and state highways were flooded and impassable northwest of Interstate 70. Beecher City, Altamont and Shumway were the most impacted with flooded streets and basements. Several streets were also flooded in the city of Effingham.

Flood in EFFINGHAM, ILLINOIS
From 27-DEC-15 04:00:00 to 31-DEC-15 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: GREEN CREEK
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 300.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

An extended period of heavy rain during the late evening of December 26th in northwest Effingham County combined with an already saturated ground to produce flash flooding. Rainfall amounts ranged from 2.75 to 4.00 inches in less than six hours. Most rural roads and state highways were flooded and impassable northwest of Interstate 70. Beecher City, Altamont and Shumway were the most impacted with flooded streets and basements. Several streets were also flooded in the city of Effingham. The flooding continued through all of December 27th. Additional rainfall of 2.40 to 3.00 from December 28th into the 29th aggravated the flooding situation significantly and spread into the remainder of the county. Every rural road and most state highways were flooded for nearly four days. The flood water finally subsided by the afternoon of December 31st.

Flash Flood in DOUGLAS, ILLINOIS
From 26-DEC-15 22:45:00 to 27-DEC-15 06:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: GARRETT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

An extended period of heavy rain during the late evening of December 26th in Douglas County combined with an already saturated ground to produce flash flooding. Rainfall amounts ranged from 4.00 to 4.25 inches in less than six hours. Most rural roads and state highways were flooded and impassable. Tuscola, Arcola, Villa Grove and Newman were the most impacted with severely flooded streets and basements.

Flood in DOUGLAS, ILLINOIS
From 27-DEC-15 06:30:00 to 31-DEC-15 15:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: GARRETT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 2.20M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

An extended period of heavy rain during the late evening of December 26th in Douglas County combined with an already saturated ground to produce flash flooding. Rainfall amounts ranged from 4.00 to 4.25 inches in less than six hours. Most rural roads and state highways were flooded and impassable. Tuscola, Arcola, Villa Grove and Newman were the most impacted with severely flooded streets and basements. The flooding continued through all of December 27th. Additional rainfall of 1.50 to 2.75 from December 28th into the 29th aggravated the flooding situation significantly. More than 120 buildings and homes were damaged in various locations across the county, 23 of which sustained major flood damage.  Every rural road and most state highways and city streets were flooded for nearly four days. The flood water finally subsided by the afternoon of December 31st.

Flash Flood in SHELBY, ILLINOIS
From 26-DEC-15 22:00:00 to 27-DEC-15 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: MOWEAQUA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

An extended period of heavy rain during the evening of December 26th in Shelby County combined with an already saturated ground to produce flash flooding. Rainfall amounts ranged from 3.65 to 5.20 inches in less than six hours, with the heaviest rain in the western half of the county. Most rural roads and state highways were flooded and impassable. City streets in Shelbyville were also flooded.