Thunderstorm Wind — Jackson, Illinois

2009-05-08 · near Neunert, Jackson, Illinois

Event narrative

Widespread wind damage occurred across Jackson County. Widespread damage to trees, power lines, and structures occurred as the comma head of a bow echo moved east across the county. In the city of Carbondale alone, officials reported 34 properties were deemed total losses from the storm. All but nine of those properties were mobile homes. Damage in the city alone (excluding Southern Illinois University) was estimated near 3 million dollars. Officials estimated about 3,000 trees were down or damaged in Carbondale alone, including the campus of Southern Illinois University. Officials in Murphysboro reported 17 dwellings in that city were total losses. One mobile home was blown over onto a car. Murphysboro officials also reported a police cruiser, a truck, and a mobile command center were destroyed. The city's public works garage was shifted off its foundation, and the city police station was damaged. The peak gust recorded by the automated system at the Carbondale airport was 81 mph before the system failed. An observer at the airport visually observed a separate anemometer located on the rooftop reach 106 mph. The automated system measured a sustained wind of 68 mph before failing. Numerous permanent structures and vehicles were damaged countywide. Small outbuildings were destroyed. The roof of a school collapsed. Carbondale was virtually impassable due to debris. One fatality occurred on Old Route 13 in Murphysboro when a large tree limb fell on a home, knocking an elderly man down a flight of stairs and causing a severe head injury. Emergency responders were delayed by blocked roads. A state disaster declaration was granted for Jackson County. A curfew and state of emergency was declared. Cleanup was expected to take most or all of the summer. Hundreds of trees were blown down in parks, which were closed indefinitely. The preliminary damage estimate for Southern Illinois University was 5 million dollars. Many buildings on campus sustained roof damage. The storm blew out nearly 100 windows in residence halls. Countywide, efforts to restore power were complicated by swampy fields, mud, and downed trees. Eighty-seven percent of the county was without power at the peak of the outages. Widespread power and telephone outages complicated recovery efforts. Most roads were blocked by debris and downed trees. Gas stations were closed in many areas, adding to problems obtaining fuel for generators. Red Cross shelters were opened in Carbondale and Murphysboro. Major grocery stores were closed for at least 12 to 24 hours, and much of their frozen food was lost. Most communication by cell phone and land line was impossible.

Wider weather episode

A mature, very intense derecho moved rapidly east along a stationary front across the Mid Mississippi Valley into the Lower Ohio Valley. With a very moist and unstable atmosphere, along with strongly veering winds aloft, embedded tornadic supercells were associated with the derecho. Widespread damaging winds were the primary impact. Nearly all the damage in southern Illinois was associated with the comma head at the northern end of the bow echo. Winds were measured slightly over 100 mph under the comma head as it passed through the Carbondale area. In addition to damaging winds, the slow-moving storm complex dumped very heavy rain that flooded roads.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (37.7360, -89.5688)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 160079. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.