A anomalous low pressure system brought strong wind gusts and record temperatures to portions of central Illinois on December 15-16, 2021. Information detailing the observed wind speeds, record temperatures, and meteorology from this event can be found below.
There were a few reports of wind damage across central Illinois with the system.
A list of damage reports and observed wind gusts are shown below:
Wind Damage Reports
Location | Time/Date | Source | Report |
Astoria (Fulton Co.) | 853 PM CST Dec 15 | Emergency Manager | Power lines down |
Dawson (Sangamon Co.) | 930 PM CST Dec 15 | Trained Spotter | Tree down |
1 N Peoria (Peoria Co.) | 956 PM CST Dec 15 | Broadcast Media | Tree down |
1 N Eureka (Woodford Co.) | 1000 PM CST Dec 15 | Emergency Manager | Tree down. Time estimated |
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL 908 AM CST THU DEC 16 2021 ...HIGHEST WIND REPORTS... LOCATION SPEED TIME/DATE LAT/LON BLOOMINGTON 59 MPH 0829 PM 12/15 40.48N/88.98W SPRINGFIELD CAPITAL AP 59 MPH 0716 PM 12/15 39.85N/89.68W TOWANDA 59 MPH 0718 PM 12/15 40.58N/88.95W CENTRAL ILLINOIS AIRPORT 56 MPH 1159 PM 12/15 40.47N/88.92W GALESBURG MUNI AP 56 MPH 1015 PM 12/15 40.93N/90.43W DECATUR AP 55 MPH 1231 AM 12/16 39.83N/88.85W DANVILLE AIRPORT 54 MPH 0955 PM 12/15 40.20N/87.60W PEORIA INTL AIRPORT 54 MPH 0830 PM 12/15 40.67N/89.68W COOKSVILLE 52 MPH 0931 PM 12/15 40.51N/88.72W EDGAR COUNTY AP 52 MPH 0755 PM 12/15 39.70N/87.67W WILLARD AIRPORT 51 MPH 0131 AM 12/16 40.03N/88.27W GERMANTOWN HILLS 49 MPH 0847 PM 12/15 40.76N/89.48W HENRY 49 MPH 0906 PM 12/15 41.10N/89.40W LINCOLN - LOGAN COUNTY AP 49 MPH 0815 PM 12/15 40.17N/89.33W OGDEN 49 MPH 0600 AM 12/16 40.11N/87.96W COLES COUNTY MEM AP 48 MPH 0632 PM 12/15 39.47N/88.27W MARSHALL COUNTY ARPT. 48 MPH 0935 PM 12/15 41.02N/89.38W URBANA 48 MPH 0915 PM 12/15 40.08N/88.19W TAYLORVILLE MUNI AP 47 MPH 0955 PM 12/15 39.53N/89.33W ARROWSMITH 46 MPH 1001 PM 12/15 40.45N/88.63W EL PASO 46 MPH 0928 PM 12/15 40.74N/89.01W EUREKA 46 MPH 1045 PM 12/15 40.73N/89.27W HANNA CITY 46 MPH 0805 PM 12/15 40.70N/89.60W MIDDLETOWN 45 MPH 0928 PM 12/15 40.07N/89.55W PUTNAM 45 MPH 0918 PM 12/15 41.03N/89.65W JACKSONVILLE MUNI AP 44 MPH 0915 PM 12/15 39.77N/90.25W NEW HOLLAND 43 MPH 0901 PM 12/15 40.17N/89.58W RUSHVILLE 43 MPH 1031 PM 12/15 40.12N/90.55W SULLIVAN 43 MPH 1205 AM 12/16 39.60N/88.71W 4 N TOWER HILL 43 MPH 1236 AM 12/16 39.44N/88.98W WINCHESTER 43 MPH 0830 PM 12/15 39.63N/90.45W PAWNEE 42 MPH 1146 PM 12/15 39.59N/89.58W LAWRENCEVILLE AP 40 MPH 1258 AM 12/16 38.77N/87.60W PEKIN 40 MPH 1108 PM 12/15 40.49N/89.60W 3 SW ROYAL 40 MPH 0654 PM 12/15 40.16N/87.99W WASHINGTON 40 MPH 0931 PM 12/15 40.74N/89.42W CASEY 39 MPH 0316 PM 12/15 39.30N/87.98W PEORIA HEIGHTS 39 MPH 0900 PM 12/15 40.74N/89.58W TALLULA 39 MPH 0720 PM 12/15 39.92N/89.99W OLNEY 38 MPH 1002 PM 12/15 38.80N/88.12W 2 N PANOLA 38 MPH 0920 PM 12/15 40.82N/89.02W ARCOLA 37 MPH 0135 AM 12/16 39.69N/88.42W FLORA MUNICIPAL AP 37 MPH 1035 PM 12/15 38.67N/88.45W 4 NW LONGVIEW 37 MPH 1016 PM 12/15 39.92N/88.11W MT CARMEL ARPT 36 MPH 1155 PM 12/15 38.62N/87.73W MT. PULASKI 36 MPH 0945 PM 12/15 40.00N/89.29W OLNEY NOBLE AP 36 MPH 0735 PM 12/15 38.72N/88.18W OBSERVATIONS ARE COLLECTED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES WITH VARYING EQUIPMENT AND EXPOSURES. WE THANK ALL VOLUNTEER WEATHER OBSERVERS FOR THEIR DEDICATION. NOT ALL DATA LISTED ARE CONSIDERED OFFICIAL.
Much of central Illinois experienced high temperatures on December 15th that were 20-30 degrees above normal. Unusually warm low temperatures were also observed. Ahead of the cold front, temperatures remained in the mid-60s overnight into December 16th, resulting in record warm high temperatures for December 16th. By sunrise on the 16th, temperatures had begun dropping and would continue to drop into the low 40s by mid-morning. Below is a list of the records set at the official climate sites for the NWS Lincoln county warning area.
December 15
Record Warm High Temperature
Record Warm Low Temperature
December 16
Record Warm High Temperature
Note: The record warm temperatures for December 16th occurred shortly after midnight.