Alert archive / Illinois / Areal Flood Advisories in 2025

Areal Flood Advisory 21, NWS Lincoln, IL

July 19, 20257 counties in Illinois

NWS Lincoln, IL issued this areal flood advisory at Jul 19, 2025, 10:50 AM CDT for 7 counties in Illinois. It was in force for 3 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 19, 2025, 10:50 AM CDT (15:50 UTC)
Expired
Jul 19, 2025, 2:00 PM CDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Lincoln, IL
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Christian County, IL, Logan County, IL, Macon County, IL, Menard County, IL, Moultrie County, IL, Piatt County, IL, Sangamon County, IL

The radar

The Lincoln radar (KILX), 36 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 15:53 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this areal flood advisory went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Lincoln, IL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this areal flood advisory went out at Jul 19, 9:14 AM CDT, 1 hour 36 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Periods of storms are forecast through Monday, with the highest chances (60-70%) today, tonight into tomorrow morning, and tomorrow night into Monday morning. Any of these storms may generate severe weather and heavy rain leading to localized flooding.
  • Heat and humidity will build into the area beginning Tuesday. There is a 60-70% chance heat indices surpass 105 by Wednesday and Thursday, when heat risk is slated to reach level 3 of 4 (or the "major" category).
Area forecast discussion, Jul 19, 9:14 AM CDT, 1 hour 36 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion...Updated
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
914 AM CDT Sat Jul 19 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Periods of storms are forecast through Monday, with the highest
  chances (60-70%) today, tonight into tomorrow morning, and
  tomorrow night into Monday morning. Any of these storms may
  generate severe weather and heavy rain leading to localized
  flooding.

- Heat and humidity will build into the area beginning Tuesday.
  There is a 60-70% chance heat indices surpass 105 by Wednesday
  and Thursday, when heat risk is slated to reach level 3 of 4 (or
  the "major" category).

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 914 AM CDT Sat Jul 19 2025

MCS that formed across Iowa earlier has been holding together
fairly well, though severe warnings have eased off over the last
couple hours. The line from that is now along the IA/IL border and
extends westward along the MO border, but ahead of it, a
northwest/southeast axis of storms has been increasing quite a bit
across a large part of the forecast area. Surface obs are showing
a cold pool behind the line in southeast Iowa, suggesting this
will continue to progress along and pose a periodic damaging wind
threat. Also have concerns for areas of flash flooding, as
precipitable water on our morning sounding was at 2 inches and
orientation of the storms is suggesting some training potential.

Since it's appearing this may be the main show, in terms of
storms, significant updates to the rain chances have been made
through the evening. Northwest CWA may recover soon enough to get
high temperatures to the original projections, but highs in the
east may be tricky.

Geelhart

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 303 AM CDT Sat Jul 19 2025

***** SCATTERED STRONG STORMS TODAY *****

Nighttime microphysics satellite imagery reveals percolating stratus
across the Midwest ahead of thunderstorm clusters in southern MN,
northwest IA, and eastern NE. South-southwesterly flow in advance of
the attendant shortwave trough continues to advect into the region a
rich supply of deep moisture from the Gulf, with PWATs over 2 inches
in southern IL according to RAP mesoanalysis at 3am. With exception
to the FV3, the 00z CAMs and successive hourly iterations of the
HRRR suggest isolated showers and storms will develop across our
southwest counties within the next couple hours, and spread
northeast mid to late morning. Given 0-6km bulk shear less than 25
kt and 1000-2000 J/kg MUCAPE, these morning storms will be sub-
severe, but should generate some beneficial rain.

The question is then: how will this mess of morning convection
affect an incoming storm cluster/MCS early this afternoon? We
still don't have an answer to that, because the CAMs remain in
disarray on specifics (location, timing, storm morphology). For
what it's worth, the 04z and 05z HRRR runs seem to be best
capturing what's happening upstream, and it suggests a messy line
of storms will bring gusty to locally severe wind gusts to areas
mainly near and north of the I-74 corridor early afternoon, with
convective coverage decreasing across our area in its wake (after
4pm) as synoptic subsidence suppresses updraft initiation behind
the shortwave. Given HREF mean brings 0- 6km shear to 25-35 kt
(highest north) ahead of these storms where MLCAPE (SBCAPE) values
climb to 2000-3000 (2500-4000) J/kg, sufficient storm
organization for severe weather seems plausible. Damaging wind
gusts to 60+mph would be the main risk, though can't completely
rule out a brief tornado given low LCLs...nor hail up to 1 inch
with any discrete cells given plentiful instability. The past
couple HRRR iterations also advertise a backbuilding cluster or
nearly stationary cell south of the I-70 corridor this afternoon,
suggesting some risk for heavy rainfall totals leading to
localized flooding there.

***** ADDITIONAL ROUNDS OF STORMS TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY *****

This evening into tonight, another piece of shortwave energy
cresting the ridge is expected to fire additional storms upstream
across Iowa, and these will be favored to ride the instability
gradient southeast into our neck of the woods. These will bear close
watching for severe weather (evening) and heavy rain potential
(evening into overnight). The 06z HRRR is especially aggressive
in depicting localized significant severe wind gusts (75+mph) and
high VILs/reflectivities suggesting severe hail with this wave,
but this is just one iteration of one model; at this point, we'll
label this a low probability/high impact scenario and watch how it
evolves in successive iterations (and eventually mesoanalysis and
observations) closely. Training storms tonight may result in some
localized totals over 4 inches - exceeding 6h FFG and potentially
resulting in flooding - per HREF LPMM, though most locations will
only see beneficial totals (today and tonight, combined) between
0.75 and 2.5 inches.

The next round, to arrive tomorrow night into Monday morning, seems
to stand the highest chance of being problematic for 2 reasons:
First, the pattern may be slightly more conducive here given (1)
stronger moisture transport feeding into storms with a LLJ and (2)
the ridge and instability axis shifting east, which would put the
favored MCS track across our eastern CWA with the westward portion
of any clusters (where backbuilding would be most favored) across
our area. Second, soils across parts of the area will be saturated
from whatever rain falls today and tonight.

***** HUMID, INCREASINGLY HOT NEXT WORK WEEK *****

Guidance continues to trend ever so slightly slower with the arrival
of the ridge, with LREF maintaining 40% or higher chances for rain
right through the day on Monday and even some low (15-20%) chances
into early Tuesday as the ridge takes its sweet old time building
in. However, Tuesday into Wednesday, conditions will turn
increasingly hot and humid as the ridge axis shifts overhead and
agricultural evapotranspiration, bolstered by weekend-Monday precip,
becomes efficient at adding moisture to the low levels. Wednesday
into Thursday, high temperatures are forecast to climb into the
low- mid 90s with dewpoints in the upper 70s to low 80s, bringing
heat indices into the 105-112 degF range. Consequently, we're
likely to need heat headlines, though we'll once again hold off
due to uncertainty which is highest on Tuesday.

Bumgardner

&&

.AVIATION...  (For the 12z TAFs through 12z Sunday Morning)
Issued at 554 AM CDT Sat Jul 19 2025

VFR flight conditions should be predominant throughout the
forecast period, though there is a 30-50% chance of a brief MVFR
ceiling this morning from 12-16z (7-11am) according to HREF. A
band of showers and thunderstorms in west-central IL will drift
east-northeast, impacting SPI and PIA (and if it holds together,
the remaining terminals) early to mid morning. An MCS across
north-central IA will arrive late morning into early afternoon,
losing organization and resulting in scattered to numerous
thunderstorms during the 17-21z (noon-4pm) timeframe. Behind it,
subsidence should limit storms for the late afternoon-early
evening timeframe, but then additional storms may develop in IA
and spread southeast into the airfields after 04z/11pm; confidence
in timing and placement of those overnight storms was too low to
add another PROB30 group at this time.

Bumgardner

&&

.ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 19, 5:29 AM CDT, 5 hours 21 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
529 AM CDT Sat Jul 19 2025

ILZ027>031-036>038-040>057-061-201100-
Knox-Stark-Peoria-Marshall-Woodford-Fulton-Tazewell-McLean-Schuyler-
Mason-Logan-De Witt-Piatt-Champaign-Vermilion-Cass-Menard-Scott-
Morgan-Sangamon-Christian-Macon-Moultrie-Douglas-Coles-Edgar-Shelby-
529 AM CDT Sat Jul 19 2025

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Illinois, east
central Illinois and west central Illinois.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Scattered thunderstorms will spread through central IL today. Some of
the storms may be severe, mainly this afternoon and evening. Locally
heavy rain will be possible at times, and may lead to flooding,
especially in urban and poor drainage areas.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.

Periods of thunderstorms will continue through Tuesday. Some of the
storms could be severe Sunday afternoon and evening. Locally heavy
rain will be possible at times, especially on Sunday.

Oppressive heat will build across the region starting Tuesday
afternoon, and will persist through Thursday, and possibly into next
Friday. Heat indices are expected to peak in the 105 to 115 degree
range.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed this afternoon and evening.

Expected storm motion is toward the east around 20 mph.

ILZ062-063-066>068-071>073-201100-
Cumberland-Clark-Effingham-Jasper-Crawford-Clay-Richland-Lawrence-
529 AM CDT Sat Jul 19 2025

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Illinois and
southeast Illinois.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Scattered thunderstorms will spread into southeast IL today. Some of
the storms may be severe, mainly this afternoon and evening. Locally
heavy rain will be possible at times, and may lead to flooding,
especially in urban and poor drainage areas.

Minor flooding on the Little Wabash River is expected to subside
tonight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.

Periods of thunderstorms will continue through Tuesday. Some of the
storms could be severe Sunday afternoon and evening. Locally heavy
rain will be possible at times, especially on Sunday.

Oppressive heat will build across the region starting Wednesday
afternoon, and will persist through next Friday. Heat indices are
expected to peak in the 105 to 115 degree range.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed this afternoon and evening.

Expected storm motion is toward the east around 20 mph.

37

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 19, 9:50 AM CDT, 1 hour before
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Local storm report, Jul 19, 9:51 AM CDT, 59 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 19, 10:12 AM CDT, 38 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
1012 AM CDT Sat Jul 19 2025

ILZ029-036-037-040-041-047-048-050-191545-
Tazewell-Peoria-Mason-Morgan-Menard-Schuyler-Cass-Fulton-
1012 AM CDT Sat Jul 19 2025

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN MENARD...FULTON...
SOUTHWESTERN TAZEWELL...CASS...CENTRAL SCHUYLER...MASON...
SOUTHWESTERN PEORIA AND NORTHERN MORGAN COUNTIES THROUGH 1045 AM
CDT...

At 1011 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near St. David to near Ipava to near Rushville.
Movement was southeast at 45 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Canton, Beardstown, Havana, Rushville, Lewistown, Virginia, Manito,
Cuba, Astoria, Bluff Springs, Green Valley, Vermont, St. David,
Chandlerville, Ipava, Bath, Easton, Kilbourne, Littleton, and
Browning.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4025 9079 4028 9073 4027 9045 4043 9045
      4062 9026 4044 8958 4020 8974 3983 9020
TIME...MOT...LOC 1511Z 310DEG 38KT 4052 9008 4031 9031 4018 9052

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

Knutsvig
Local storm report, Jul 19, 10:18 AM CDT, 32 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
1018 AM CDT Sat Jul 19 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0945 AM     Rain             3 NE Rushville          40.15N 90.51W
07/19/2025  M2.24 Inch       Schuyler           IL   Mesonet

            Rain fell in a little over an hour.

&&

Barnes
Local storm report, Jul 19, 10:22 AM CDT, 28 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
1022 AM CDT Sat Jul 19 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0945 AM     Rain             3 WNW Browning          40.14N 90.42W
07/19/2025  M1.97 Inch       Schuyler           IL   Mesonet

&&

Barnes
Local storm report, Jul 19, 10:31 AM CDT, 19 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
1031 AM CDT Sat Jul 19 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1030 AM     Rain             Williamsville           39.95N 89.55W
07/19/2025  M2.50 Inch       Sangamon           IL   Public

&&

Barnes

The office that day

Everything else NWS Lincoln, IL issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 19, 9:24 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementILXKnox36 min
Jul 19, 9:50 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementILXFulton25 min
Jul 19, 10:12 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementILXCass, Fulton, Mason, Schuyler33 min
Jul 19, 10:35 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryILXClay3 hr
Jul 19, 10:42 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryILXFulton, Schuyler3 hr
Jul 19, 10:54 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementILXDeWitt, Logan, Menard, Sangamon51 min
Jul 19, 10:57 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningILXMacon3 hr
Jul 19, 11:10 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningILXClay8 hr
Jul 19, 11:22 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementILXColes, Douglas, Moultrie23 min

Nearby

Areal Flood Advisories in Illinois, 2025Every areal flood advisory in 2025

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.