Flash Flood in Clay County, Illinois

Numerous thunderstorms produced 3 to 6 inches of rain on already saturated ground in nearly all of Clay County. Major flash flooding was reported in the town of Xenia and the city of Flora, where several people were evacuated from their flooded homes. Several water rescues were made for stranded motorists in and near Flora. In the northwest part of the county from Iola to Hord all roads were closed, including U.S. Highway 45.

Scattered thunderstorms developed across southeast Illinois during the late morning and early afternoon of June 23rd, continuing into the early morning of June 24th. Due to copious amounts of moisture in the environment and the slow movement of the storms, portions of Clay County picked up as much as 4 to 6 inches of rain in a short amount of time. As a result, significant flash flooding occurred in Flora as well as parts of rural Clay County and adjoining counties in southeast Illinois. Additional strong to severe thunderstorms developed further north ahead of an advancing cold front by mid to late afternoon on June 23rd. These storms impacted locations from the Peoria area northward with strong winds and large hail.