Jacksonville soaked by near historic rain, more storms possible tonight
Jacksonville logged about 3 inches overnight, its second 3-inch rain day this year, with more storms possible as flood advisories stayed in place.
Jacksonville woke up to soaked yards, puddled streets and another rain total that pushed the city into near-historic territory. WLDS measured about 3 inches overnight on June 12, making it the second time this year Jacksonville has had a day with 3 or more inches of rain, with more storms still possible later in the day.
The rainfall added to a wet start to the month. WLDS said Jacksonville had already recorded 3.06 inches on April 26, and the station’s weather statistics showed 17.19 inches of precipitation for 2026 as of June 3, ahead of the normal year-to-date total of 14.96 inches. For June alone, rainfall had reached 4.12 inches by early in the month, close to the normal June total of 4.58 inches with most of the month still ahead.
The city’s rain history helps explain why a storm total that sounds modest outside central Illinois can still create trouble in Jacksonville, the Morgan County seat and home to 17,616 people in the 2020 census. WLDS noted that Jacksonville also took a 3-plus inch hit on April 30, 2017, and the all-time June record remains 4.8 inches on June 18, 2011. That storm flooded Jacksonville’s water plant and led to the plant’s relocation uphill off Mauvaisterre Lake along Hardin Avenue, a move that reflected how directly heavy rain can shape local infrastructure decisions.
The current storm also put old drainage realities back in focus. Jacksonville says most of its sewer system is a combined sewer system, with street inlets tied into it to move stormwater during rain events. The city also says combined-sewer overflow events are governed by plans required by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, which makes heavy rain a water-quality issue as well as a nuisance for drivers and property owners.
Jacksonville’s water supply system adds another layer of vulnerability in wet weather. The city says water can come from Lake Jacksonville, Lake Mauvaisterre and wells, with Lake Jacksonville water flowing into Lake Mauvaisterre to ensure enough supply for treatment. Lake Mauvaise Terre has also been identified in watershed work as impaired for phosphorus and sediment, underscoring why runoff from intense storms matters well beyond a single day of bad weather. Flood-related advisories and warnings were active across central Illinois on June 12 as the rain moved through, leaving Jacksonville watching for standing water, saturated ground and the next round of storms.
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