As a vigorous upper-level wave tracked eastward out of the southern Rockies, surface low pressure formed over Texas then lifted northeastward into the Ohio River Valley on March 3rd.  Analysis from the evening of March 2nd showed a 991mb low over central Texas...with the low rapidly deepening to 976mb as it tracked into southern Indiana by the afternoon of March 3rd.  Surface pressures of these magnitudes are rare across the Midwest and are in fact more comparable to a tropical storm or hurricane.  To the north of the low track, central Illinois got battered with very strong gradient winds.  Northeasterly gusts frequently topped 50 mph...with the highest gusts in excess of 60 mph focused in a corridor from Decatur and Mattoon northeastward to Champaign.  The highest gust recorded was 72 mph at the Mattoon Airport.  Given the high wind gusts from an unusual direction (northeast), several trees, tree branches, and power lines were downed across the area.

High Wind in COLES, ILLINOIS
From 03-MAR-23 13:51:00 to 03-MAR-23 13:52:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 63.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Gust recorded at Coles County Memorial Airport.

High Wind in MACON, ILLINOIS
From 03-MAR-23 11:00:00 to 03-MAR-23 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

A small tree was blown down near McDonald's on Eldorado Street in Decatur.

High Wind in CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS
From 03-MAR-23 11:00:00 to 03-MAR-23 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

A large tree was blown down in Hessel Park in Champaign.

High Wind in MACON, ILLINOIS
From 03-MAR-23 11:00:00 to 03-MAR-23 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A large spruce tree was blown over on the northwest side of Decatur.

High Wind in CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS
From 03-MAR-23 12:55:00 to 03-MAR-23 12:56:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 60.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Gust recorded at Willard Airport south of Champaign.

High Wind in MACON, ILLINOIS
From 03-MAR-23 11:00:00 to 03-MAR-23 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A power pole was blown over on Eldorado Street in Decatur.

High Wind in MACON, ILLINOIS
From 03-MAR-23 11:00:00 to 03-MAR-23 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Strong northeasterly winds bent down a few power poles at the corner of Illinois Route 105 and Esther Avenue east of Decatur.

High Wind in MACON, ILLINOIS
From 03-MAR-23 12:18:00 to 03-MAR-23 12:19:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 58.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Gust recorded at Decatur Airport.

High Wind in VERMILION, ILLINOIS
From 03-MAR-23 16:15:00 to 03-MAR-23 16:16:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Gust recorded at Danville Airport.

High Wind in MACON, ILLINOIS
From 03-MAR-23 11:00:00 to 03-MAR-23 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A power line was blown down near Route 36 southwest of the Decatur Airport.

High Wind in MACON, ILLINOIS
From 03-MAR-23 11:00:00 to 03-MAR-23 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

A silo was blown over just outside of Decatur.

High Wind in MACON, ILLINOIS
From 03-MAR-23 11:00:00 to 03-MAR-23 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A large tree limb was blown down on Highlawn Road in Decatur.

High Wind in CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS
From 03-MAR-23 11:00:00 to 03-MAR-23 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

A power line was blown down on the southeast side of Urbana.

High Wind in MACON, ILLINOIS
From 03-MAR-23 11:00:00 to 03-MAR-23 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A tree was blown down, causing siding damage on a building in Decatur.

High Wind in SANGAMON, ILLINOIS
From 03-MAR-23 11:00:00 to 03-MAR-23 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Powerlines were blown down on the 1300 block of West Enos Avenue in Springfield.

High Wind in MCLEAN, ILLINOIS
From 03-MAR-23 11:00:00 to 03-MAR-23 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A street lamp was blown down at Aldi on Maple Hill Road in Bloomington.

High Wind in MACON, ILLINOIS
From 03-MAR-23 11:00:00 to 03-MAR-23 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A large tree was blown across East Elwin Road just west of Mount Zion.

High Wind in CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS
From 03-MAR-23 11:00:00 to 03-MAR-23 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A large tree was snapped at its base in Urbana.

High Wind in CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS
From 03-MAR-23 11:00:00 to 03-MAR-23 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A segment of a wooden fence was blown down on the southwest side of Champaign.

High Wind in MACON, ILLINOIS
From 03-MAR-23 11:00:00 to 03-MAR-23 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Part of a stop light was blown down in Decatur.

High Wind in MOULTRIE, ILLINOIS
From 03-MAR-23 11:00:00 to 03-MAR-23 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

A tree was blown onto a garage and a shed was knocked over in Bethany.

High Wind in CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS
From 03-MAR-23 11:00:00 to 03-MAR-23 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

A 2-foot diameter cedar tree was blown over on South Homer Lake Road just north of Homer.

High Wind in DOUGLAS, ILLINOIS
From 03-MAR-23 11:00:00 to 03-MAR-23 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A large tree was blown down in Tuscola.

High Wind in CHRISTIAN, ILLINOIS
From 03-MAR-23 11:00:00 to 03-MAR-23 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A white pine tree was blown down into the Qik n Ez parking lot near Highway 51 in Pana.