Alert archive / Illinois / Tornado Warnings in 2025
Tornado Warning 60, NWS Lincoln, IL
NWS Lincoln, IL issued this tornado warning at May 20, 2025, 5:26 PM CDT for Vermilion County, Illinois. It was in force for 34 min. 4 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.
The facts
- Issued
- May 20, 2025, 5:26 PM CDT (22:26 UTC)
- Expired
- May 20, 2025, 6:00 PM CDT
- In force
- 34 min
- Issued by
- NWS Lincoln, IL
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Observed
- Hail
- 1.75 in
County Vermilion County, IL
The radar
The Indianapolis radar (KIND), 133 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:28 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 was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 20, 5:30 PM CDT | HAIL 1.75 | 2 E Henning, IL | A mile north of intersection of US-136 and IL-119. |
| May 20, 5:35 PM CDT | HAIL 1 | 1 N Bismarck, IL | |
| May 20, 5:39 PM CDT | TORNADO | 3 Ene Bismarck, IL | The tornado touched down about 3 miles east of Bismark and produced some tree damage along E 2500 North Rd. It progressed to the northeast where it damaged the roof of an outbuilding before dissipating before reaching the Indiana State Line. EF-0 rating with e |
| May 20, 5:57 PM CDT | FUNNEL CLOUD | 5 N Danville, IL | Relayed by EMA. |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
Did it verify
Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched one storm report to this tornado warning; the first came 13 minutes after it went out.
Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.
The watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 20, 1:42 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 12:00Z, 10.4 hours before the alert went out and 80 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 562 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 65 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 634 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 684 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.4
The text
As transmitted.
217
WFUS53 KILX 202226
TORILX
ILC183-202300-
/O.NEW.KILX.TO.W.0060.250520T2226Z-250520T2300Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
526 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025
The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Northeastern Vermilion County in east central Illinois...
* Until 600 PM CDT.
* At 525 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located near Collison, or 7
miles northwest of Danville, moving northeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Damaging tornado and golf ball size hail.
SOURCE...Emergency management confirmed tornado.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed.
Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree
damage is likely.
* This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
northeastern Vermilion County, including the following locations...
Bismarck, Henning, and Alvin.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
To repeat, a tornado is on the ground. TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a
basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy
building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in
a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect
yourself from flying debris.
&&
LAT...LON 4018 8774 4028 8779 4042 8753 4022 8753
TIME...MOT...LOC 2225Z 245DEG 23KT 4024 8770
TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.75 IN
$$
BarnesWhat forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this tornado warning 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 tornado warning went out at May 20, 2:33 PM CDT, 2 hours 53 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Severe thunderstorms capable of all hazards (tornadoes, large hail, damaging winds, and locally heavy rainfall) will progress west to east across Illinois this afternoon, exiting into Indiana during the evening. As of 2pm, a tornado watch was in effect for most areas along and north of I-70.
- A prolonged period of below normal temperatures is expected beginning Wednesday and lasting into next week. During this period, high temperatures will struggle to reach 70 degrees.
- Some light showers are possible Wednesday (20-30%) and Thursday (20%), then a better chance for rain arrives over the weekend (40- 60%). At this time, the severe thunderstorm/flash flooding potential appears low.
Area forecast discussion, May 20, 2:33 PM CDT, 2 hours 53 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 233 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Severe thunderstorms capable of all hazards (tornadoes, large hail, damaging winds, and locally heavy rainfall) will progress west to east across Illinois this afternoon, exiting into Indiana during the evening. As of 2pm, a tornado watch was in effect for most areas along and north of I-70. - A prolonged period of below normal temperatures is expected beginning Wednesday and lasting into next week. During this period, high temperatures will struggle to reach 70 degrees. - Some light showers are possible Wednesday (20-30%) and Thursday (20%), then a better chance for rain arrives over the weekend (40- 60%). At this time, the severe thunderstorm/flash flooding potential appears low. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 225 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025 *** THROUGH TONIGHT *** A tornado watch has been issued for much of the CWA until 8pm/01z (though the threat will be ending from west to east during the late afternoon/evening), as an approaching MCV has spawned an arcing band of convection. A warm front was also draped just north of the I-74 corridor as of 19z/2pm, leaving the majority of the ILX CWA in the warm sector. Within the warm sector, temps have climbed into the mid or upper 70s, which is near or above what model guidance suggested this morning. RAP- based mesoA fields suggest SBCAPE values have climbed above 1500 J/kg. It seems the factors supporting large hail (steep mid- level lapse rates of 8 degC/km in the 500-700mb layer per the 18z ILX sounding; wide CAPE in the hail growth zone) are winning out over some of the potential mitigating factors, as some of the storms have already produced 2" hail in Morgan County. Based on the KILX VAD, low- level winds are fairly unidirectional, resulting in 0-1km SRH less than 100 J/kg at Lincoln as of this writing. However, KILX is still fairly removed from the influence of the MCV, which will act to locally back the sfc winds, and thus its reasonable that moderate SRH values of over 100 J/kg are present near the arcing band of storms. While deep layer shear vectors appear rather orthogonal to the arcing convection, the robust forcing has led to convective clusters, rather than discrete cells. All of this activity will progress east through the evening, posing a risk of all severe hazards, and instability could rise further across eastern IL before storms move through this evening. Storms should reach the IL/IN between 6-8pm, and it does not appear that there will be a LLJ onset this evening, so no obvious increase in the tornado potential in that regard. We will be monitoring for the development of any flash flooding given that overnight rainfall totals ranged generally from 0.75- 2.00". PWAT values are around 1.3", not quite as high as what was in place during the overnight hours. Storm motions are fairly progressive in the ILX CWA (20-35 mph to the northeast), and these motions should help limit the flooding potential unless training occurs. Winds this evening will swing around to westerly, and some lingering showers (little to no thunder) are possible (20-30% chance) mainly north of I-72. Lows fall into the low 50s. *** WEDNESDAY AND BEYOND *** Much of the long term forecast period will be characterized by upper level troughing over the eastern Great Lakes/New England. This will translate to several days of cooler than normal temperatures locally with highs generally in the 60s each day through the weekend. Some light showers/drizzle are possible (20-30%) Wed/Thurs, mainly north of I-74. It will be breezy through the end of the work week as a sfc low slowly lifts northeast over the eastern Great Lakes, but winds speeds should trend lower each day after Wednesday (when gusts of up to 30 mph are forecast). Overall, significant weather impacts appear unlikely through the end of the week. Forecast lows should stay warm enough (mid 40s) to avoid any frost issues during this cool spell. Precip chances return/increase late in the weekend, although guidance has been inconsistent in the evolution of the associated system. For now, the blended guidance has a 40-60% chance of rain Sat-Sun. Even into next week, the deterministic NBM keeps forecast highs near 70F, below normal for this time of year. Erwin && .AVIATION... (For the 18z TAFs through 18z Wednesday Afternoon) Issued at 1227 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025 A warm front is near the I-74 corridor, with IFR ceilings north of the front and MVFR/VFR ceilings to the south. A sfc low will track across the area this afternoon resulting in scattered showers/storms shifting from west to east. These should depart to the east of KCMI by 23z. Scattered light showers could continue into the evening, but the threat of thunder should end after 23z, or 00z at the latest. Overnight another push of MVFR, or perhaps IFR, ceilings arrives from the north. Winds will have a southerly component this afternoon, then shift to westerly tonight and become breezy into the daytime hours on Wednesday. Erwin && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. &&
Hazardous weather outlook, May 20, 2:53 PM CDT, 2 hours 33 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Lincoln IL 253 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025 ILZ027>031-036>038-040>057-061>063-066>068-071>073-212000- 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- Cumberland-Clark-Effingham-Jasper-Crawford-Clay-Richland-Lawrence- 253 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Illinois, east central Illinois, southeast Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Scattered thunderstorms will progress west to east across the area this evening, posing a threat of tornadoes, large hail, damaging winds, and locally heavy rainfall. Storms should exit eastern Illinois by 8 PM this evening, after which point the rest of the night should be free of hazardous weather. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will likely be needed this afternoon through 8 PM. Expected storm motion is toward the northeast around 40 mph. Erwin
In the hours before
Local storm report, May 20, 4:15 PM CDT, 1 hour 11 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report...Summary
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
415 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0410 PM Hail Fisher 40.32N 88.35W
05/20/2025 M1.00 Inch Champaign IL Trained Spotter
0346 PM Hail Forsyth 39.93N 88.95W
05/20/2025 E0.75 Inch Macon IL Public
Report from mPING: Dime (0.75 in.).
0335 PM Hail 1 S Latham 39.95N 89.16W
05/20/2025 M1.75 Inch Logan IL Emergency Mngr
0333 PM Tornado 2 S Latham 39.94N 89.16W
05/20/2025 Logan IL Trained Spotter
Rain wrapped tornado reported. Relayed by
EMA.
0325 PM Hail 1 W Fisher 40.31N 88.36W
05/20/2025 E0.75 Inch Champaign IL Public
Report from mPING: Dime (0.75 in.).
0321 PM Funnel Cloud 2 NW Rantoul 40.32N 88.18W
05/20/2025 Champaign IL Broadcast Media
0256 PM Hail 2 N Leland Grove 39.80N 89.69W
05/20/2025 E0.75 Inch Sangamon IL Public
Report from mPING: Dime (0.75 in.).
0245 PM Hail Marquette Heights 40.62N 89.60W
05/20/2025 M1.00 Inch Tazewell IL Public
Relayed by media. Time estimated from radar.
0241 PM Hail 2 W Springfield 39.80N 89.69W
05/20/2025 M1.25 Inch Sangamon IL Trained Spotter
0234 PM Hail 3 SW Capital Airport 39.81N 89.71W
05/20/2025 M1.50 Inch Sangamon IL Trained Spotter
Delayed report. Ping pong sized hail near
interchange of Highway 97 and Highway 4.
0232 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 N Alta 40.83N 89.63W
05/20/2025 Peoria IL Trained Spotter
3-4" diameter tree limbs blown down.
0230 PM Hail 3 W Curran 39.73N 89.82W
05/20/2025 E1.00 Inch Sangamon IL Public
Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
0228 PM Hail 2 S Curran 39.71N 89.77W
05/20/2025 M1.00 Inch Sangamon IL Storm Chaser
Time based on radar.
0225 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Peoria 40.72N 89.59W
05/20/2025 Peoria IL Trained Spotter
2-3" diameter tree limbs blown down.
0202 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 3 E Knoxville 40.91N 90.23W
05/20/2025 Knox IL Broadcast Media
Tree down on I-74 blocking eastbound right
lane.
0158 PM Funnel Cloud 1 N Alexander 39.74N 90.04W
05/20/2025 Morgan IL Storm Chaser
0156 PM Hail 4 NNW Berlin 39.81N 89.93W
05/20/2025 M2.00 Inch Sangamon IL Storm Chaser
0124 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Jacksonville 39.73N 90.23W
05/20/2025 M60 MPH Morgan IL Trained Spotter
Measured gust, no damage noted.
0124 PM Hail Jacksonville 39.73N 90.23W
05/20/2025 E1.25 Inch Morgan IL Public
Quarter to half dollar hail, relayed by
media.
0124 PM Hail Jacksonville 39.73N 90.23W
05/20/2025 M2.00 Inch Morgan IL Trained Spotter
&&Local storm report, May 20, 4:43 PM CDT, 43 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
443 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0442 PM Hail Mahomet 40.19N 88.40W
05/20/2025 M1.00 Inch Champaign IL Emergency Mngr
&&Local storm report, May 20, 4:48 PM CDT, 38 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
448 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0444 PM Funnel Cloud Gifford 40.31N 88.02W
05/20/2025 Champaign IL Emergency Mngr
Funnel cloud reports from EMA and media.
&&Local storm report, May 20, 4:55 PM CDT, 31 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
455 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0222 PM Funnel Cloud Oakland 39.66N 88.03W
05/20/2025 Coles IL Broadcast Media
Report from earlier this afternoon. Several
funnel cloud pics received.
&&Local storm report, May 20, 4:58 PM CDT, 28 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
458 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0445 PM Hail Mahomet 40.19N 88.40W
05/20/2025 M1.50 Inch Champaign IL Trained Spotter
&&Local storm report, May 20, 5:05 PM CDT, 21 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
505 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0445 PM Hail Mahomet 40.19N 88.40W
05/20/2025 M2.00 Inch Champaign IL Public
relayed by media.
&&The office that day
Everything else NWS Lincoln, IL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 19, 8:39 PM CDT | River Flood Warning | ILX | Clay, Richland | 24 hr |
| May 19, 10:29 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | ILX | Cass, Schuyler | 46 min |
| May 19, 11:36 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Schuyler | 23 min |
| May 20, 1:19 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Morgan | 41 min |
| May 20, 1:32 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Morgan | 43 min |
| May 20, 1:40 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Cass, Menard, Sangamon | 50 min |
| May 20, 2:03 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ILX | Menard, Sangamon | 30 min |
| May 20, 2:13 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ILX | Sangamon | 33 min |
| May 20, 2:30 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Knox, Marshall, Peoria, Stark, Tazewell, Woodford | 45 min |
| May 20, 2:31 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Logan, Menard, Sangamon | 44 min |
| May 20, 2:36 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ILX | Logan, Sangamon | 39 min |
| May 20, 3:11 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ILX | DeWitt, Logan, Macon, Sangamon | 49 min |
| May 20, 3:14 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Champaign, Vermilion | 31 min |
| May 20, 3:30 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | ILX | Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford | 2 hr |
| May 20, 3:50 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ILX | DeWitt, McLean | 12 min |
| May 20, 3:53 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | DeWitt, McLean | 37 min |
| May 20, 3:54 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ILX | DeWitt, Macon, Piatt | 36 min |
| May 20, 4:12 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Champaign | 33 min |
| May 20, 4:24 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Champaign, Vermilion | 51 min |
| May 20, 4:27 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Champaign, Piatt | 48 min |
| May 20, 4:33 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Champaign, McLean | 12 min |
| May 20, 4:47 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ILX | Champaign, Vermilion | 43 min |
| May 20, 5:10 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Champaign, Vermilion | 65 min |
| May 20, 5:31 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Champaign, Vermilion | 23 min |
| May 20, 6:07 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Champaign, Vermilion | 38 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Illinois, 2025Every tornado warning in 2025Tornadoes 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.