An approaching cold front triggered thunderstorms across central Illinois during the late afternoon and evening of August 12th.  Due to copious amounts of moisture in the atmosphere and the slow-moving nature of the storms, extremely heavy rain fell along and just west of I-55.  The heaviest rain occurred in a swath from southern Woodford County southward into western Sangamon County where 3.00 to 6.00 inches were common. The Springfield Airport set a new daily record for August 12th and a new calendar day record for any date of 5.59 inches. The highest totals of around 8.00 inches were focused across southern Tazewell County near the town of Delavan. The tremendous amount of rain coming down in a short period of time created flash flooding in many areas.  Numerous roads had water flowing across them across portions of Tazewell, Logan, Mason, Menard, and Sangamon counties.  In addition, the Illinois State Fair was getting underway in Springfield, where 50 people had to be rescued due to rising waters.

Flash Flood in SANGAMON, ILLINOIS
From 12-AUG-16 18:00:00 to 12-AUG-16 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: CANTRALL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 2.20M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Persistent thunderstorms produced heavy rainfall during the early evening in Sangamon County and the western half of Springfield with 2.50 to 6.00 inches in less than three hours. Some locations reported more than 3.00 inches of rain between 1700 and 1800 CST. Numerous city streets in Springfield were closed due to the flooding, including all of the roads in the vicinity of the Illinois State Fairgrounds where the annual State Fair was starting. A total of 58 camper trailers and 25 vehicles were damaged on the State Fairgrounds, where nearly 50 people were rescued in the camping area. No injuries were reported. Many livestock buildings were flooded, the Grandstand concert was cancelled, and fair officials closed the entrance/exit gates to keep people from leaving due to the extensive street flooding. In other areas of Springfield, 48 water rescues were made on city streets and viaducts by first responders, with no injuries reported. In other parts of the county, rural roads north of Springfield toward Cantrall, and west of Springfield toward New Berlin were impassable. State Highways 4, 29, 97 and 125 were also closed in spots due to flowing water and flooding.

Flash Flood in MENARD, ILLINOIS
From 12-AUG-16 18:00:00 to 12-AUG-16 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: SWEET WATER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Persistent thunderstorms produced heavy rainfall during the early evening in southeast Menard County with 2.50 to 5.50 inches in three hours. Rural roads adjacent to northern Sangamon County, from southeast of Athens to Fancy Prairie, were impassable during the heavy rain. The flash flooding subsided by late evening.

Flood in SANGAMON, ILLINOIS
From 12-AUG-16 21:00:00 to 13-AUG-16 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: CANTRALL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Persistent thunderstorms produced heavy rainfall during the early evening in Sangamon County and the western half of Springfield with 2.50 to 6.00 inches in less than three hours. Some locations reported more than 3.00 inches of rain between 1700 and 1800 CST. Numerous city streets in Springfield were closed due to the flooding, including all of the roads in the vicinity of the Illinois State Fairgrounds where the annual State Fair was starting. A total of 58 camper trailers and 25 vehicles were damaged on the State Fairgrounds, where nearly 50 people were rescued in the camping area. No injuries were reported. Many livestock buildings were flooded, the Grandstand concert was cancelled, and fair officials closed the entrance/exit gates to keep people from leaving due to the extensive street flooding. In other areas of Springfield, 48 water rescues were made on city streets and viaducts by first responders, with no injuries reported. In other parts of the county, rural roads north of Springfield toward Cantrall, and west of Springfield toward New Berlin were impassable. State Highways 4, 29, 97 and 125 were also closed in spots due to flowing water and flooding. Due to the extent of the flooding and additional rainfall up to 1.00 inch in some locations, many roads remained flooded into the early morning hours of August 13th.

Flash Flood in MENARD, ILLINOIS
From 12-AUG-16 17:00:00 to 12-AUG-16 21:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: HUBLEY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Persistent thunderstorms produced heavy rainfall during the early evening in northern Menard County with 2.50 to 4.00 inches in three hours. The heavy rain caused the Salt Creek to flood, along with rural roads from near Greenview to the Logan-Mason-Menard County line. The flash flooding subsided by late evening.

Flash Flood in MASON, ILLINOIS
From 12-AUG-16 16:30:00 to 12-AUG-16 21:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALLEN
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Persistent thunderstorms produced heavy rainfall during the early evening in eastern Mason County with 2.50 to 6.00 inches in three hours, with the heaviest rain from 3 miles northeast of Mason City to San Jose. Most rural roads in extreme eastern Mason County were impassable during the heavy rain. U.S. Highway 136 was also flooded in spots near San Jose. The flash flooding subsided by late evening.

Flash Flood in LOGAN, ILLINOIS
From 12-AUG-16 16:30:00 to 12-AUG-16 21:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: SAN JOSE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Persistent thunderstorms produced heavy rainfall during the early evening in northern and western Logan County with 2.50 to 6.00 inches in three hours. The heaviest rain and flooding extended from San Jose to Emden to New Holland. Multiple rural roads in northwest Logan County were inundated. U.S. Highway 136 from I-155 to the Mason County line was impassable in several locations. The flash flooding subsided by late evening.

Flash Flood in TAZEWELL, ILLINOIS
From 12-AUG-16 16:00:00 to 12-AUG-16 21:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: WINKEL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 240.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Persistent thunderstorms produced heavy rainfall during the late afternoon and early evening hours when 4.00 to 8.00 inches was reported in 3. to 4 hours. Numerous roads in southern and eastern Tazewell County were flooded, including parts of I-155 two to four miles north of the Tazewell-Logan County line. Cars which hydroplaned on the water covered roads slid into ditches along the interstate. Parts of Illinois Route 122 were also impassable from Delavan through Hopedale to Minier. Most of the flash flooding subsided by late evening.