High Wind — Champaign, Illinois

2025-05-16 · Champaign, Illinois

Event narrative

A tree was blown down in Urbana.

Wider weather episode

A nearly stationary frontal boundary draped along I-70 separated a warm, humid airmass to the south across the Ohio River Valley from a warm, but considerably drier airmass further north across much of central and northern Illinois on May 16th. Thunderstorms developed near the boundary during the afternoon and early evening, with the activity remaining largely south of I-72. Thanks to a very dry sub-cloud environment, developing showers to the north of the thunderstorms were able to mix higher momentum air from aloft down to the surface....resulting in 60-70 mph wind gusts well away from falling precipitation and scattered wind damage along and northeast of a Lincoln to Mattoon line.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1251058. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.