Flash Flood in Sangamon County, Illinois

Heavy rainfall amounts of 2.50 to 5.10 inches fell on the Springfield Metro area in less than two hours during the evening of August 28th. Multiple viaducts were flooded in Springfield, streets were inundated with water at least 2 feet deep, vehicles were stranded and parts of Interstates 72 and 55 were closed. Nearly 250 water rescues were performed by the Springfield Fire Department for stranded motorists. No injuries were reported.

A nearly stationary thunderstorm produced around 4.50 inches of rain in 90 minutes over the city of Springfield just before the evening rush hour. The downtown suffered major impacts with extensive flooding of streets and up to 7 feet of water under viaducts. Most streets were impassable, which resulted in more than 200 stranded vehicles. Nearly 650 homes and businesses sustained flood damage. Several people had to be rescued from the their flooded autos, but there were no injuries or fatalities.

Flash flooding of historic proportions occurred in western Sangamon County from late in the evening of June 17th through much of June 18th. Rainfall amounts of 5.00 to 9.00 were reported, with the highest totals along the boder with Morgan County. The nearly stationary thunderstorms produced a majority of the rain between 2200 LST and 0300 LST. ||Every rural road and state highway in western Sangamon County was water covered and closed. Streets and about 300 homes in the towns of New Berlin and Loami, as well as numerous farms in west central parts of the county, were severely flooded. Around 22,000 acres of farmland also sustained significant flooding.||Property and business damages were estimated to be about $3 Million, while crop losses could be close to $10 Million. The flash flooding continued as an areal flood for the same areas for at least another 20 hours.