A vigorous short-wave trough interacted with an approaching low pressure system and associated warm frontal boundary to trigger clusters of strong to severe thunderstorms across west-central Illinois during the late afternoon of August 6th.  Due to enhanced low-level wind shear along and north of the warm front, many of the cells began rotating and spinning up occasional funnel clouds.  One of the cells intensified as it pushed into Sangamon County, producing a long-track tornado that was on the ground for over 25 miles from just north of Pawnee in far southeastern Sangamon County to southeast of Stonington in Christian County.  The tornado produced EF-1 damage along much of its path, peaking with EF-2 damage just south of Willeys in Christian County.  This particular thunderstorm cell dropped 2-inch diameter hail north of Taylorville and went on to produce a downburst with 80 mph wind gusts in far eastern Shelby County near Lake Mattoon.  The storms eventually congealed into a line as they pushed into eastern Illinois later in the evening, with scattered wind damage, hail, and flash flooding.

Thunderstorm Wind in EFFINGHAM, ILLINOIS
From 06-AUG-23 18:30:00 to 06-AUG-23 18:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: MASON
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter estimated a 60 mph wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind in CLAY, ILLINOIS
From 06-AUG-23 19:00:00 to 06-AUG-23 19:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: INGRAHAM
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

An emergency manager estimated sustained winds of 50 mph with gusts to around 60 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in EFFINGHAM, ILLINOIS
From 06-AUG-23 18:30:00 to 06-AUG-23 18:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: MASON
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Several 2 to 4-inch diameter tree branches were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in SANGAMON, ILLINOIS
From 06-AUG-23 17:15:00 to 06-AUG-23 17:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: NEW CITY
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

An outbuilding was damaged and a few trees were blown over near the intersection of Pawnee-New City Road and Zion Road.

Flash Flood in CLAY, ILLINOIS
From 06-AUG-23 21:50:00 to 07-AUG-23 00:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: MC CABE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Water was flowing across several streets in Flora.

Flash Flood in CHRISTIAN, ILLINOIS
From 06-AUG-23 19:07:00 to 06-AUG-23 22:07:00 (CST-6)
Location: PANA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Water was 1 to 2 feet deep on some streets in Pana.

Thunderstorm Wind in COLES, ILLINOIS
From 06-AUG-23 19:05:00 to 06-AUG-23 19:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: ETNA
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A large tree was snapped.

Hail in LAWRENCE, ILLINOIS
From 06-AUG-23 20:47:00 to 06-AUG-23 20:52:00 (CST-6)
Location: BRIDGEPORT
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Thunderstorm Wind in CUMBERLAND, ILLINOIS
From 06-AUG-23 19:07:00 to 06-AUG-23 19:12:00 (CST-6)
Location: NEOGA
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A power pole was blown down and caught on fire.

Flash Flood in EFFINGHAM, ILLINOIS
From 06-AUG-23 20:35:00 to 06-AUG-23 22:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: WATSON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

US-45 was flooded south of Watson near Salt Creek.

Hail in LAWRENCE, ILLINOIS
From 06-AUG-23 20:49:00 to 06-AUG-23 20:54:00 (CST-6)
Location: LAWRENCEVILLE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Thunderstorm Wind in SANGAMON, ILLINOIS
From 06-AUG-23 17:13:00 to 06-AUG-23 17:18:00 (CST-6)
Location: PAWNEE
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A farmstead was damaged near the intersection of Cotton Hill Road and Galloway Road.  The roof was damaged and a few trees were blown over.

Hail in EFFINGHAM, ILLINOIS
From 06-AUG-23 18:20:00 to 06-AUG-23 18:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALTAMONT
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in EFFINGHAM, ILLINOIS
From 06-AUG-23 18:26:00 to 06-AUG-23 18:31:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALTAMONT
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Thunderstorm Wind in CHRISTIAN, ILLINOIS
From 06-AUG-23 18:08:00 to 06-AUG-23 18:13:00 (CST-6)
Location: ASSUMPTION
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Several large trees and power lines were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in CUMBERLAND, ILLINOIS
From 06-AUG-23 19:36:00 to 06-AUG-23 19:41:00 (CST-6)
Location: TOLEDO
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Several tree branches were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in CUMBERLAND, ILLINOIS
From 06-AUG-23 19:05:00 to 06-AUG-23 19:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: NEOGA
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Downburst winds of 80-85 mph caused significant damage around Lake Mattoon.  Extensive tree damage was noted in a concentrated area south of Cumberland County Road 1250 North.

Thunderstorm Wind in SANGAMON, ILLINOIS
From 06-AUG-23 16:55:00 to 06-AUG-23 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: SOUTHLAWN
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

A power line was blown down on East Lakeshore Drive.

Thunderstorm Wind in CLAY, ILLINOIS
From 06-AUG-23 19:05:00 to 06-AUG-23 19:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: INGRAHAM
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

The roof of a house suffered significant damage.

Hail in CHRISTIAN, ILLINOIS
From 06-AUG-23 18:01:00 to 06-AUG-23 18:06:00 (CST-6)
Location: TAYLORVILLE
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in EFFINGHAM, ILLINOIS
From 06-AUG-23 18:26:00 to 06-AUG-23 18:31:00 (CST-6)
Location: EDGEWOOD
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Hail in SANGAMON, ILLINOIS
From 06-AUG-23 17:11:00 to 06-AUG-23 17:16:00 (CST-6)
Location: NEW CITY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Tornado in CHRISTIAN, ILLINOIS
From 06-AUG-23 17:13:00 to 06-AUG-23 18:03:00 (CST-6)
Location: SICILY
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This tornado crossed from Sangamon County into far western Christian County just north of the intersection of Pawnee-New City Road and Skaggs Road at 6:13 PM CDT.  It continued east-southeastward across Sangchris Lake, damaging a home near the lakeshore and causing extensive tree damage before passing just north of Tovey and Kincaid.  The tornado crossed Route 29 southeast of Sharpsburg and tracked over mainly open fields between Routes 29 and 48.  It then strengthened and caused EF-2 damage 2 miles south of Willeys along 1600 East Road just south of 1600 North Road where it demolished about 2/3 of a house.  The tornado continued east-southeastward, then dissipated near North 2300 East Road about a half mile north of 1500 North Road at 7:03 PM CDT.

Hail in SANGAMON, ILLINOIS
From 06-AUG-23 17:33:00 to 06-AUG-23 17:38:00 (CST-6)
Location: NEW CITY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in CHRISTIAN, ILLINOIS
From 06-AUG-23 18:00:00 to 06-AUG-23 18:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: TAYLORVILLE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in CHRISTIAN, ILLINOIS
From 06-AUG-23 17:50:00 to 06-AUG-23 17:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: TAYLORVILLE
Magnitude: 2.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Flash Flood in CLAY, ILLINOIS
From 06-AUG-23 21:36:00 to 07-AUG-23 00:36:00 (CST-6)
Location: CLAY CITY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Water was flowing across Main Street in Clay City.

Thunderstorm Wind in SHELBY, ILLINOIS
From 06-AUG-23 19:05:00 to 06-AUG-23 19:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: SEXSON CORNER
Magnitude: 74.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Downburst winds of 80-85 mph caused significant damage around Lake Mattoon.  One home on the east side of the lake lost half its roof, while a home on the west side of the lake had a tree blown onto it.  Extensive tree damage was noted in a concentrated area south of Shelby County Road 975 North.

Tornado in SANGAMON, ILLINOIS
From 06-AUG-23 17:09:00 to 06-AUG-23 17:13:00 (CST-6)
Location: BEAMINGTON
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A tornado touched down 3 miles north of Pawnee at 6:09 PM CDT.  It caused minor roof damage and blew down several trees before it crossed into Christian County just north of the intersection of Pawnee-New City Road and Skaggs Road at 6:13 PM CDT.