Flood — Fulton, Illinois

2009-05-16 to 2009-05-21 · near Avon, Fulton, Illinois

Event narrative

Periods of heavy rain between May 13 and May 16 resulted in near record river levels on much of the Spoon River. The gage at London Mills, IL recorded its third highest crest on record at 25.28 feet at 1445 CST on May 16th, which was more than 10 feet above flood stage. This was the highest crest since the major floods of July 1993. The gage at Seville, IL also recorded its third highest stage on record at 30.84 feet at 1430 CST on May 17th, which was nearly 9 feet above flood stage. This was the highest crest in 35 years. Sandbagging efforts at London Mills and Seville prevented property damage. A levee was breached about 2.6 miles west-northwest of the town of Blyton, IL. The breach was about 500 feet across at the levee, with the cone of damage consisting of tree debris and field erosion about 1/2 mile out and 1/2 mile across at the widest point. Two smaller levees also breached about two miles downstream. These breaches and the associated flooding closed a large partion of Illinois Route 9 and caused significant inundation of agricultural land. There was one fatality due to the flooding. A 45 year old man drove around a barricade into the floodwaters of the Spoon River about 1 mile southwest of London Mills and drowned around 1930CST on May 16th. His body was found on May 18th about 85 yards from where he entered the river.

Wider weather episode

Several rounds of heavy rainfall in west central Illinois resulted in major flooding on the Spoon River in eastern Knox County and Fulton County. One man died when he drove his vehicle around a barricade and drowned in the Spoon River. Three levees also broke and flooded agricultural areas and grasslands, but there was no property damage reported.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (40.7150, -90.4440)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 174089. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.