Hail in Peoria County, Illinois

Wind-driven hail caused significant damage to the roofs and siding of 50 houses in Elmwood. One house suffered a broken window. Numerous cars were damaged as well.

A line of strong to severe thunderstorms developed ahead of a cold front during the late afternoon and evening of November 2nd. The airmass ahead of the front was unseasonably warm and humid with temperatures in the 70s and dewpoints of around 60 degrees. In addition to the moderately strong instability, a vigorous short-wave trough approaching from the Central Plains enhanced low-level wind shear across the area. Some of the resulting thunderstorms interacted with an old outflow boundary left behind by morning convection, further enhancing the available shear. One of the most intense storms developed near Elmwood in Peoria County then tracked southeastward to Morton in Tazewell County. This particular cell produced copious amounts of large hail, accumulating to several inches in some locations. Nearly $3 million worth of damage was done as a result of wind-driven large hail across Peoria County.