Flash Flood in Macon County, Illinois

A severe thunderstorm produced 2.00 to 3.00 of rain within one hour in parts of central Macon County, including the cities of Decatur and Mt. Zion. The flash flooding resulted in the closure of numerous streets and viaducts in Decatur, as well as basement flooding to numerous homes and businesses. The flash flooding also impacted several rural roads from Harristown through Decatur to Mt. Zion. The flooding subsided by late evening.

An approaching cold front triggered strong to severe thunderstorms across portions of central Illinois during the late afternoon and evening of August 26th. Hail up to the size of quarters was reported in a few locations, while gusty winds of around 60 mph downed trees in Macon and Edgar counties. In addition, high rainfall rates with the strongest storms led to localized flash flooding, particularly across portions of Macon, Christian, and DeWitt counties. Rainfall amounts in these areas generally ranged from 1.50 to 2.50, with the highest observed total of 3.94 being measured by an observer near Kincaid in Christian County.