Thunderstorm Wind — Washington, Illinois

2023-06-30 · near Johannisburg, Washington, Illinois

Event narrative

Widespread wind damage occurred across most of Washington County. As the severe storm moved into the western portions of the county, several outbuildings and barns sustained major damage about 2 miles southwest of Johannisburg, along Illinois Route 15. In Johannisburg, the steeple on St. Johns Evangelical Church was blown over onto the roof of the main church building causing catastrophic damage. In Venedy, widespread tree damage around town, a grain bin was damaged, as well as several power lines blown down. Three miles south southeast of Venedy, at the intersection of County Road 12 and Stone Church Road, a training center sustained major roof damage. About 3 miles south southwest of Okawville, a large barn was destroyed. Then just southwest of Okawville, multiple large treetops were snapped off and a barn and a machine shed were destroyed. Along County Highway 13, south of Okawville, two small barns were destroyed and two grain bins sustained minor damage. In Addieville, there was widespread tree and power line damage, as well as roof damage to a local business. As the storm moved into the Nashville area, numerous trees, tree limbs, power poles and power lines were blown down. One house sustained moderate roof damage due to a fallen tree. Also, a local business sustained roof damage with water causing interior damage as well. In Ashley, there was widespread tree, tree limbs and power lines blown down. One large tree fell onto a house causing moderate roof damage. Also, a number of trees were blown down onto Illinois Route 15. In Radom, a large tree was blown down onto a garage, destroying it. No deaths or injuries were reported.

Wider weather episode

Earlier in the day on June 30th, an MCS made its way across southern Iowa and northern Missouri into north-central Illinois. As it moved eastward, an outflow boundary moved south and interacted with a surface boundary stretching across central Missouri. There was a strong gradient of surface-based CAPE. Storms developed and followed that gradient and frontal boundary southeast across central Missouri into south central Illinois. The severe storms produced large hail and damaging winds.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (38.3617, -89.7030)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1112505. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.