Lightning in Sangamon County, Illinois

Lightning April 9, 2011 · Sangamon County, Illinois

$1.8M

Damage as recorded

Where the report was made, with tornadoes recorded within 15 miles over the years.

What the National Weather Service wrote

Lightning struck the steeple of a church at 16th and South Grand Avenue in Springfield, starting a fire which quickly engulfed the building. The church was no longer being used, but still contained pews, books and an organ. The building and its contents were a total loss.

The wider storm

As an upper-level disturbance interacted with a stationary frontal boundary draped across southern Illinois, thunderstorms developed during the pre-dawn hours of April 9th. The storms remained along and south of a Winchester...to Taylorville...to Charleston-Mattoon line. A few of the cells produced hail up to quarter-sized and locally heavy rainfall. One storm produced a lightning strike in Springfield which destroyed a vacant church.

Began near Springfield (39.7866, -89.6333).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event 302706. Narratives are written by the National Weather Service forecast office that issued the report.

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