Alert archive / Illinois / Tornado Warnings in 2025

Tornado Warning 61, NWS Lincoln, IL

June 3, 2025Knox County, Illinois

NWS Lincoln, IL issued this tornado warning at Jun 3, 2025, 6:56 PM CDT for Knox County, Illinois. It was in force for 24 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Jun 3, 2025, 6:56 PM CDT (23:56 UTC)
Expired
Jun 3, 2025, 7:20 PM CDT
In force
24 min
Issued by
NWS Lincoln, IL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

County Knox County, IL

The radar

The Quad Cities radar (KDVN), 63 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:57 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Jun 3, 4:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Davenport, (KDVN), launched 12:00Z, 11.9 hours before the alert went out and 62 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.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Davenport, at 12:00Z on 2025-06-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 114 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Davenport, at 12:00Z on 2025-06-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 44 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
114 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-81 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1180 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
44 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
91 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

545 
WFUS53 KILX 032356
TORILX
ILC095-040030-
/O.NEW.KILX.TO.W.0061.250603T2356Z-250604T0030Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
Issued by National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville
656 PM CDT Tue Jun 3 2025

The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Northwestern Knox County in west central Illinois...

* Until 730 PM CDT.

* At 655 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms capable of producing both 
  tornadoes and straight line wind damage were located along a line 
  extending from near Lake Warren to near Monmouth, moving northeast 
  at 50 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  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.

* These dangerous storms will be near...
  Rio and Henderson around 710 PM CDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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 4115 9014 4090 9044 4115 9044
TIME...MOT...LOC 2355Z 225DEG 43KT 4102 9067 4094 9057 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

Petr
2 follow-up statements
818 
WWUS53 KILX 040008
SVSILX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
Issued by National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville
708 PM CDT Tue Jun 3 2025

ILC095-040030-
/O.CON.KILX.TO.W.0061.000000T0000Z-250604T0030Z/
Knox-
708 PM CDT Tue Jun 3 2025

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM CDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN KNOX COUNTY...

At 706 PM CDT, a severe line of thunderstorms capable of producing 
both tornadoes and straight line wind damage was located along a 
line extending from Burgess to North Henderson to near Henderson, 
moving northeast at 50 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

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.

Locations impacted include...
Rio.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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 4115 9022 4099 9044 4115 9044
TIME...MOT...LOC 0006Z 228DEG 46KT 4113 9051 4105 9041 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

Petr
456 
WWUS53 KILX 040020
SVSILX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
Issued by National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville
720 PM CDT Tue Jun 3 2025

ILC095-040029-
/O.CAN.KILX.TO.W.0061.000000T0000Z-250604T0030Z/
Knox-
720 PM CDT Tue Jun 3 2025

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN KNOX COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

The tornado threat has diminished and the Tornado Warning has been 
cancelled. However, damaging winds remain likely and a Severe 
Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect for northern Knox County!

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for
west central Illinois.

&&

LAT...LON 4115 9022 4099 9044 4115 9044
TIME...MOT...LOC 0017Z 225DEG 43KT 4123 9038 4115 9028 

$$

Petr

What 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 Jun 3, 2:10 PM CDT, 4 hours 46 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Periods of scattered thunderstorms this evening through Friday may generate localized heavy rain. The risk of flooding is low (5%), but nuisance ponding of water in poor drainage areas may occur.
  • There is a level 2 of 5 (slight) risk for severe weather west of the IL River this evening. The primary risk will be localized damaging thunderstorm winds.
  • Temperatures behind the cold front will be slightly cooler through the new week. Highs in the upper 70s near 80, and lows in the upper 50s to mid 60s.
Area forecast discussion, Jun 3, 2:10 PM CDT, 4 hours 46 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
Issued by National Weather Service St Louis MO
210 PM CDT Tue Jun 3 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Periods of scattered thunderstorms this evening through Friday
  may generate localized heavy rain. The risk of flooding is low
  (5%), but nuisance ponding of water in poor drainage areas may
  occur.

- There is a level 2 of 5 (slight) risk for severe weather west
  of the IL River this evening. The primary risk will be localized
  damaging thunderstorm winds.

- Temperatures behind the cold front will be slightly cooler
  through the new week. Highs in the upper 70s near 80, and lows
  in the upper 50s to mid 60s.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 208 PM CDT Tue Jun 3 2025

Here comes the rain. Scattered showers and thunderstorms have
been percolating across west central IL so far today. The line of
thunderstorms that will bring the risk of damaging winds and
*maybe* an isolated tornado enters the western part of the state
between 23z and 01z. The SPC has west of the Illinois River in a
slight risk for this evening into overnight hours. It looks like
the severe risk will be when it first enters Illinois, but will
lose steam as it makes its way east. We may have a 2-3 hour period
where we could see the damaging winds. Instability initially is
1500-2500 J/kg of MUCAPE but as it progresses, the instability
rapidly decays. The shear is being modelled stronger than in
previous days. We have been seeing bulk shear of 20-30 knots and
now today, the CAMs are depicting 40-50 knots of bulk 0-6km shear
just ahead of the front. There is an inverted v signature on model
soundings. This could indicate potential microburst activity. The
long, skinny CAPE profile on the model soundings, and the PWAT
values of 1.7-2 inches indicate more of a heavy rain risk. These
PWAT values look to linger over the area through at least
Thursday. We will see beneficial and much needed rain, but
localized, urban flooding is possible. At this time, the risk
looks to be highest near and south of the I-72 corridor. The crops
will be greatly appreciative of the multiple rounds of rain this
week. From tonight to Thursday morning we could see rainfall
amounts of 1-2.5 inches

Tomorrow we have a marginal risk for severe weather east of I-55,
primarily for the damaging wind risk. However, most of us will
experience much needed rain. The slowly departing cold front
hanging across central IL, along with multiple shortwaves
seemingly pulsing through the region through Friday, bring several
rounds of showers and thunderstorms for the rest of the week. We
should see a dry Saturday, but additional rain chances return on
Sunday for the new week.

Tomorrow IL EPA is increasing our air quality concerns with it
becoming unhealthy for sensitive groups (orange category) north of
a Quincy to Paxton line. The Canadian wildfire smoke will make an
attempt to return south behind the cold front.

Temperatures cool slightly behind the front today. Highs through
the weekend into the new week will be in the upper 70s to near 80.
Lows will be in the upper 50s to mid 60s.

Copple

&&

.AVIATION...  (For the 18z TAFs through 18z Wednesday Afternoon)
Issued at 1228 PM CDT Tue Jun 3 2025

A slow-moving cold front is now just entering northwest Missouri,
and ahead of it increasing moisture and cloud cover are
overspreading the terminals. A few showers and isolated
thunderstorms may approach KPIA and KSPI early this afternoon, but
the bulk of any impacts will not occur until closer to 06Z.

By then, waves of thunderstorms will slowly track east and
eventually impact all terminals to some degree overnight. While
exact timing of the thunderstorms will likely vary from the
current TAFs, the forecast represents the current thinking on best
timeframe. Thunderstorms will eventually weaken with the
diminishing of a LLJ overnight, but showery activity will continue
to keep degraded conditions at the terminals through the TAF
period. There is a risk for IFR ceilings along and in the vicinity
of the stalled front, and with persistent showers and
thunderstorms impacting the region, that risk is becoming more
tangible.

MRB

&&

.ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&
Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 3, 2:12 PM CDT, 4 hours 44 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
Issued by National Weather Service St Louis MO
212 PM CDT Tue Jun 3 2025

ILZ027>031-036>038-040>042-047>051-041915-
Knox-Stark-Peoria-Marshall-Woodford-Fulton-Tazewell-McLean-Schuyler-
Mason-Logan-Cass-Menard-Scott-Morgan-Sangamon-
212 PM CDT Tue Jun 3 2025

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

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Scattered thunderstorms are expected to persist this evening and
tonight. A few of the storms may be strong to severe with a threat
of damaging winds and hail. An isolated tornado is possible as well.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

Air quality will be unsafe for sensitive groups on Wednesday.

A couple of waves of thunderstorms will continue Wednesday through
Friday. The severe weather threat is more uncertain during that time
frame, but locally heavy rainfall is possible through the period.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not anticipated tonight.

ILZ043>046-052>057-061>063-066>068-071>073-041915-
De Witt-Piatt-Champaign-Vermilion-Christian-Macon-Moultrie-Douglas-
Coles-Edgar-Shelby-Cumberland-Clark-Effingham-Jasper-Crawford-Clay-
Richland-Lawrence-
212 PM CDT Tue Jun 3 2025

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

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Scattered thunderstorms will begin to move into eastern central and
southeast Illinois late tonight. At this time, severe weather is not
expected.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

Scattered thunderstorms area expected to continue into Wednesday and
Wednesday night. Some of these storms could be strong to severe with
hail and damaging winds the main threat.

A couple of waves of thunderstorms will continue Thursday and
Friday. The severe weather threat is more uncertain during that time
frame, but locally heavy rainfall is possible through the period.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not anticipated tonight.

WFO ILX

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 3, 6:46 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXKnox59 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.