A stationary frontal boundary triggered strong to severe thunderstorms across portions of central Illinois during the afternoon of April 26th.  The storms were primarily focused south of the I-72 corridor from Winchester eastward to Paris.  Hail as large as golf balls was reported in Paris in Edgar County.  Heavy rainfall of 3 to 4 inches from slow-moving thunderstorms caused localized flash flooding in Moultrie, Coles and Edgar counties.  In addition, a lightning strike caused a garage to burn down in Xenia in Clay County.

Hail in MOULTRIE, ILLINOIS
From 26-APR-16 13:54:00 to 26-APR-16 13:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: SULLIVAN
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Hail in MOULTRIE, ILLINOIS
From 26-APR-16 14:13:00 to 26-APR-16 14:23:00 (CST-6)
Location: GAYS
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in EDGAR, ILLINOIS
From 26-APR-16 14:32:00 to 26-APR-16 14:37:00 (CST-6)
Location: PARIS
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in EDGAR, ILLINOIS
From 26-APR-16 14:52:00 to 26-APR-16 14:57:00 (CST-6)
Location: PARIS
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Thunderstorm Wind in SANGAMON, ILLINOIS
From 26-APR-16 14:00:00 to 26-APR-16 14:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: PAWNEE
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 12.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A 50-foot tall, 30-inch diameter tree was blown over at Dickee Road and Horse Creek Drive just west of Pawnee.  Another large tree split down the middle and fell onto a house on 6th Street north of Route 104 in Pawnee.

Thunderstorm Wind in CLAY, ILLINOIS
From 26-APR-16 15:35:00 to 26-APR-16 15:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: FLORA
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 70.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Several trees and tree branches were blown down in Flora, knocking out power to half the town.  One house was severely damaged by a falling tree.

Lightning in CLAY, ILLINOIS
From 26-APR-16 15:30:00 to 26-APR-16 15:31:00 (CST-6)
Location: XENIA
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Lightning struck a garage in Xenia. The resulting fire completely destroyed the garage.

Flash Flood in EDGAR, ILLINOIS
From 26-APR-16 15:45:00 to 26-APR-16 18:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: EDGAR CTY ARPT PARIS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Thunderstorms along a nearly stationary front produced periods of heavy rain of 3.00 to 5.00 inches during a three hour period during the mid-afternoon of April 26th in central and eastern Edgar County, including the city of Paris. Many roads along and five north of U.S. Route 150 were closed between Paris and the Illinois/Indiana state line, where the water was up to three feet deep. A basement wall in a Paris home collapsed due to the water. The flooding rapidly subsided by the evening.

Flash Flood in COLES, ILLINOIS
From 26-APR-16 15:00:00 to 26-APR-16 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: COOKS MILLS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorms along a nearly stationary front produced a period of heavy rain accumulating to 2.00 to 4.00 inches in a two hour period during the mid-afternoon of April 26th in extreme western Coles County. Many rural roads near the Moultrie County line were flooded with nearly one foot of water. The heaviest rain and deepest flood waters were in the vicinity of the town of Coles. The flooding rapidly subsided by the evening.

Flash Flood in MOULTRIE, ILLINOIS
From 26-APR-16 15:00:00 to 26-APR-16 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALLENVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorms along a nearly stationary front produced a period of heavy rain accumulating to 2.00 to 4.00 inches in a two hour period during the mid-afternoon of April 26th in eastern Moultrie County. Many rural roads between County Road 550 North and 800 North were flooded with more than one foot of water. The heaviest rain and deepest water was near the Coles County line, southwest of the town of Coles. The flooding rapidly subsided by the evening.