Alert archive / Illinois / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 4, NWS Quad Cities, IA

April 14, 2026Jo Daviess County, Stephenson County, Illinois

NWS Quad Cities, IA issued this flash flood warning at Apr 14, 2026, 7:58 PM CDT for Jo Daviess County, Stephenson County, Illinois. It was in force for 3 hr. 1 report 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
Apr 14, 2026, 7:58 PM CDT (00:58 UTC)
Expired
Apr 14, 2026, 10:42 PM CDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Quad Cities, IA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Jo Daviess County, IL, Stephenson County, IL

The radar

The Quad Cities radar (KDVN), 93 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:02 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Apr 14, 8:20 PM CDTFLASH FLOOD2 Sse Elmoville, ILIllinois Highway 78 was closed numerous hours through early overnight due to water.

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 flash flood warning; the first came 22 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 nearest sounding before it

Davenport, (KDVN), launched 00:00Z, 1.0 hours before the alert went out and 90 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 00:00Z on 2026-04-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1575 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 00:00Z on 2026-04-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 251 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
1575 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-39 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1493 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
58 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
251 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
371 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.9
Supercell composite
19.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

978 
WGUS53 KDVN 150058
FFWDVN
ILC085-177-150700-
/O.NEW.KDVN.FF.W.0004.260415T0058Z-260415T0700Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
758 PM CDT Tue Apr 14 2026

The National Weather Service in Quad Cities has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Jo Daviess County in northwestern Illinois...
  Stephenson County in northwestern Illinois...

* Until 200 AM CDT Wednesday.

* At 758 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain 
  have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are 
  possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected 
  to begin shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Radar.

  IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban
           areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as
           other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Freeport, Galena, Lena, Stockton, Pearl City, Elizabeth, 
  Cedarville, Davis, Woodbine, Dakota, Rock City, Ridott, Nora, 
  Massbach, Schapville, Buena Vista, Loran, Rock Grove, Oneco and 
  Orangeville.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood 
deaths occur in vehicles.

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the 
dangers of flooding.

In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are 
potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded 
roads. Find an alternate route.

Please report observed flooding to local emergency services or law 
enforcement and request they pass this information to the National 
Weather Service when you can do so safely.

&&

LAT...LON 4233 9025 4237 9047 4239 9050 4250 8965
      4250 8940 4222 8940 4223 9023 4228 9022

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

Ervin
1 follow-up statement
209 
WGUS73 KDVN 150342
FFSDVN

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
1042 PM CDT Tue Apr 14 2026

ILC085-177-150352-
/O.CAN.KDVN.FF.W.0004.000000T0000Z-260415T0700Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Jo Daviess IL-Stephenson IL-
1042 PM CDT Tue Apr 14 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR EASTERN JO DAVIESS AND 
STEPHENSON COUNTIES...

Flood waters continue to recede. The heavy rain and flooding threat 
has ended at this time. Additional storms may move back in across the
area overnight with more heavy rain possible. Please continue to 
heed remaining road closures.

&&

LAT...LON 4233 9025 4237 9047 4239 9050 4250 8965
      4250 8940 4222 8940 4223 9023 4228 9022

$$

McClure

What forecasters said that day

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

NWS Quad Cities, IA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Apr 14, 6:37 PM CDT, 1 hour 21 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Strong to severe storms are likely (some significant severe possible) through the evening, with highest confidence in coverage along the Highway 20 corridor and lower confidence on the southern extent. We have an Enhanced (level 3/5) Risk for Severe Weather for our north, and Slight Risk (level 2/5) south.
  • Widespread showers and storms are expected Wednesday, with multiple rounds possible. Severe weather will be possible again, especially in the afternoon and evening. SPC highlighted the whole area in a Slight Risk (level 2/5) for severe weather.
  • A stronger surface low and cold front will work through the region on Friday, bringing along another potential bout of severe weather. SPC currently has much of our area in an Enhanced Risk (level 3/5) for severe weather.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 14, 6:37 PM CDT, 1 hour 21 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
637 PM CDT Tue Apr 14 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Strong to severe storms are likely (some significant severe
  possible) through the evening, with highest confidence in
  coverage along the Highway 20 corridor and lower confidence on
  the southern extent. We have an Enhanced (level 3/5) Risk for
  Severe Weather for our north, and Slight Risk (level 2/5)
  south.

- Widespread showers and storms are expected Wednesday, with
  multiple rounds possible. Severe weather will be possible
  again, especially in the afternoon and evening. SPC
  highlighted the whole area in a Slight Risk (level 2/5) for
  severe weather.

- A stronger surface low and cold front will work through the
  region on Friday, bringing along another potential bout of
  severe weather. SPC currently has much of our area in an
  Enhanced Risk (level 3/5) for severe weather.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 130 PM CDT Tue Apr 14 2026

An active forecast lies ahead, with current SPC outlooks
highlighting areas along/north of Interstate 80 in an Enhanced
(level 3/5) Risk for severe weather, with a Slight Risk (level
2/5) south. Features that we are watching as potential points
for convective initiation will be subtle outflow boundaries over
the area, resulting from overnight convection. Also, we will
have a stationary boundary draped over/near our northern
counties along Highway 20. This stationary boundary will be the
area of most concern, as it will provide the necessary surface
forcing for convective initiation. Further, we will see the LLJ
increase in magnitude later this afternoon and through the
evening, converging near that boundary. Thus, there will be
plenty of forcing in our north for thunderstorm potential. We
are looking at the potential for discrete supercell storms,
where coverage may increase in the evening hours owing to the
strengthening LLJ. Below, we will dive into timing and
environmental details.

The main forecast challenge lies with the location and timing of
convection, owing to the cap in place over the area. Best chances to
see storms this afternoon/evening will be along and north of the
Highway 20 corridor, where we will see the best forcing to overcome
the cap. Although, our whole outlook is highlighted for severe
weather for a reason. Even though areas south of the Highway 20
corridor are capped, there are ways in which we can break through
that cap. Looking at 12z CAMs, the cap does seem to be a little
weaker than initially forecast, where some CAMs are starting to hint
at late afternoon storms developing farther south than the Highway
20 corridor. Further, the latest runs of the HRRR and other high-res
CAMs are starting to indicate more coverage of potential supercells,
especially closer to the I-80 corridor. This is generally showing
the possibility of a broken line of supercells moving west to east
from mid-afternoon and through the evening. Thus, mesoscale analysis
through the afternoon will be crucial, closely monitoring the extent
of surface heating, moisture, along with any sources of mesoscale
lift. As was mentioned, an outflow boundary from the morning
convection can be in play. This has generally set up along the
Interstate 80 corridor this morning, which may be a potential source
of forcing necessary. This feature has become more diffuse, but
still may serve as a point for initiation, especially with a
strengthening LLJ. Timing wise, we are generally looking at the
potential for storms to develop as early as 3PM and the severe
threat lasting until around 10PM. Storms are expected to move west-
east through the evening.

Now, let's dive into the environment that we have in place. As was
mentioned, initiation will largely be conditional on surface
forcing, with best forcing in our north along the stationary front.
Along and south of that boundary, the open warm sector is primed for
severe convection, with the cap being the limiting factor. We will
see deep layer shear around 45-55 KTs. This will couple with
instability around 2500-3500+ CAPE, favorable for organized
strong/severe convection. The environment is favoring supercell
thunderstorms as the main convective mode. The decreased upper level
support should help keep these more discrete at least through the
afternoon, with a strengthening LLJ late in the afternoon increasing
coverage. This CAPE profile is also quite large in the hail growth
layer, with midlevel lapse rates of 7.5-8.5 C/km favoring large hail
potential, with some very large hail possible. This increased hail
potential has been noted by the SPC. Otherwise, while the deep layer
shear is moderate-high, much of this will be seen in the lowest 3km,
where the best curvature in model hodographs are seen. Thus, strong
LLVL shear will also be favorable for tornadoes as well, some of
which could be stronger and longer lived. In the end, all hazards
are in play, with hail and tornadoes being the primary threat.

A quick look at our 18z sounding would indicate higher instability
is in place, with CAPE around 4000+, along with shear nearing 50
KTs. Thus, a supercell environment is in place. Along with that, our
lapse rates are around 9.5 just above the cap, which is more than
favorable for severe hail, some of which may be significantly
severe. Now, as was forecast, a cap does remain in place. Although,
it is not a strong cap, with CIN sitting around -50. Any further
heating and mesoscale forcing should be able to overcome this cap.
This has been hinted in latest runs in CAMs, showing an increased
coverage of storms later this afternoon and evening.

Tonight, we will continue to see the potential for showers/storms as
the LLJ remains overhead and better forcing aloft moves in. Cloud
cover will remain through the night, moderating temperatures in the
60s. While the overall severe threat will be lower overnight, some
guidance hints at some wind/hail potential, but confidence is low.

Tomorrow, we will see another chance for severe weather, with a
Slight Risk (level 2/5) for the whole area. A similar
environment will be in place tomorrow, but a little less on the
instability owing to more cloud cover. Although, it will remain
sufficient for convection. The main difference tomorrow will be
the surface low and associated cold front passing through. Thus,
plenty of surface forcing and better upper level support moving
in. With such forcing in play, we are expecting more coverage
of storms, especially in the afternoon and evening hours. Storm
mode looks to be mixed, with initial supercells eventually
growing upscale into line segments, with the main line of
convection coming with the cold front that evening/night.
Overall, with such forcing, the radar presentation tomorrow may
look quite messy through the day. Showers/Storms may be possible
through the day, but the better severe threat seems to be the
afternoon and evening. All hazards will be in play, but hail and
wind seem to be the primary threats at this time.

&&

.LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
Issued at 130 PM CDT Tue Apr 14 2026

Upper wave that brought impacts to the area on Wednesday will have
since pushed east of the area on Thursday, with weak upper ridging
moving in. With this, we will see a surface high pass through the
area, resulting in a quiet weather day. We should be geared to have
quite a pleasant day, with temperatures increasing into the 70s, a
westerly breeze, and decreasing cloud cover.

This break of quiet weather will be short-lived though, as Thursday
night into Friday, strong southwesterly flow sets up ahead of the
next shortwave trough. Strong vort max will approach the area Friday
afternoon and evening, with a surface low dragging a seasonally
strong cold front through the area. Thus, plenty of forcing in play
for storms. A brief look at the environment would indicate
sufficient shear and instability in place ahead of the front,
favorable for organized convection, some of which could be strong to
severe. Environment would be favorable for supercell thunderstorms
being the initial storm mode, which may be discrete. Although, as
the day goes on and the strongest part of the LLJ core moves in
ahead of the cold front, upscale growth is likely. This would lead
to a QLCS event for the late afternoon and evening on Friday, where
all hazards will be possible. Will refrain from further details, as
much can change between now and then. SPC also has their eyes on
this system, highlighting much of our area in a 15% or 30% risk for
severe weather, which equates to a Slight/Enhanced Risk (level 2/3
of 5) for severe weather.

A look ahead to the upcoming weekend shows a drier pattern
developing for Saturday and Sunday as upper-level ridging develops
to the west. A cold front should bring notably cooler and more
seasonal temperatures to the area on the heels of strong, gusty
northwest winds. This could bring our first bout of frost/freeze
conditions during this growing season, possibly Saturday night,
though winds may stay up to limit this to just a freeze
potential for parts of the area, while Sunday night could bring
about more widespread freeze and frost with lighter winds as
high pressure builds in.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 629 PM CDT Tue Apr 14 2026

Convection across eastern Iowa will move into southern Wisconsin
by 03z/15 followed by a brief lull. After 06z/15 the next round
of convection will develop/move into eastern Iowa and eventually
northern Illinois through 14z/15. A period of LLWS will be
observed along/east of the Mississippi river through 06z/15.
Potential for IFR conditions with any convection. After 15z/15
quiet conditions with diurnal convection developing after 18z/15
across mainly northern Illinois but also into eastern Iowa.

&&

.DVN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IA...None.
IL...None.
MO...None.

&&

SHORT TERM...Gunkel
LONG TERM...Gunkel/McClure
AVIATION...08
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 14, 2:38 PM CDT, 5 hours 20 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
238 PM CDT Tue Apr 14 2026

IAZ040>042-051>054-063>068-076>078-087>089-098-099-ILZ001-002-007-
009-015>018-024>026-034-035-MOZ009-010-151945-
Buchanan-Delaware-Dubuque-Benton-Linn-Jones-Jackson-Iowa-Johnson-
Cedar-Clinton-Muscatine-Scott-Keokuk-Washington-Louisa-Jefferson-
Henry IA-Des Moines-Van Buren-Lee-Jo Daviess-Stephenson-Carroll-
Whiteside-Rock Island-Henry IL-Bureau-Putnam-Mercer-Henderson-
Warren-Hancock-McDonough-Scotland-Clark-
238 PM CDT Tue Apr 14 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central
Illinois...northwest Illinois...west central Illinois...east
central Iowa...northeast Iowa...southeast Iowa and northeast
Missouri.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

Scattered thunderstorms are expected mid to late afternoon into
this evening, with the favored location mainly north of Highway
30. The severe threat is for the whole area though, so severe
storms south of Highway 30 are possible. Damaging winds, very
large hail and tornadoes will be possible with these storms. Some
significantly severe weather is possible, especially along the
Highway 20 corridor.

Additional thunderstorms are possible area-wide late this
evening and overnight. Large hail and damaging winds would be
the main threats.

Area rivers are experiencing flooding. Please see the latest
Flood Statements and Flood Warnings for details.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

An active weather pattern will bring periods of thunderstorms,
which are likely to pose some severe weather risk. Currently, the
main timing for the severe weather risk is Wednesday afternoon
and evening, and again late Friday afternoon and Friday night.
In addition to severe storms, repeated rounds of storms could also
pose a flash flooding threat, particularly if heavy rainfall occurs
over urban areas.

Much colder air will bring the potential for frost and freeze
conditions Saturday night, and especially Sunday night.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed this afternoon and evening.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 14, 6:31 PM CDT, 1 hour 27 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
631 PM CDT Tue Apr 14 2026

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

0629 PM     Hail             Noble                   41.17N 91.62W
04/14/2026  E2.00 Inch       Washington         IA   Trained Spotter

&&

ALE
Local storm report, Apr 14, 6:38 PM CDT, 1 hour 20 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
638 PM CDT Tue Apr 14 2026

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

0630 PM     Hail             3 S Crawfordsville      41.18N 91.55W
04/14/2026  E1.50 Inch       Washington         IA   Storm Chaser

            Storm chaser report. Time estimated from
            radar.

&&

CMD
Local storm report, Apr 14, 6:47 PM CDT, 1 hour 11 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
647 PM CDT Tue Apr 14 2026

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

0641 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Dubuque Regional Arpt   42.40N 90.72W
04/14/2026  M88 MPH          Dubuque            IA   ASOS

            ASOS.

&&
Local storm report, Apr 14, 7:13 PM CDT, 45 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
713 PM CDT Tue Apr 14 2026

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

0555 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Delhi                   42.43N 91.33W
04/14/2026                   Delaware           IA   Fire Dept/Rescue

            Lots of trees down and flagpoles folded in
            half. Time estimated from radar.

&&

ALE
Local storm report, Apr 14, 7:23 PM CDT, 35 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
723 PM CDT Tue Apr 14 2026

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

0600 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Delhi                   42.43N 91.32W
04/14/2026                   Delaware           IA   Public

            Significant damage to farm buildings and
            wooden stakes impaled into the ground.

&&

ALE
Local storm report, Apr 14, 7:27 PM CDT, 31 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
727 PM CDT Tue Apr 14 2026

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

0715 PM     Hail             Bellevue                42.26N 90.43W
04/14/2026  M1.00 Inch       Jackson            IA   Trained Spotter

&&

CMD

The office that day

Everything else NWS Quad Cities, IA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 14, 7:05 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedDVNCarroll, Jo Daviess40 min
Apr 14, 7:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNMercer, Rock Island38 min
Apr 14, 7:12 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningDVNJo Daviess3 hr
Apr 14, 7:24 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatDVNJo Daviess, Stephenson81 min
Apr 14, 7:45 PM CDTTornado WarningDVNStephenson35 min
Apr 14, 8:26 PM CDTRiver Flood WatchDVNHenry, Rock Island, Whiteside6 days
Apr 15, 2:50 AM CDTFlood WatchDVNCarroll, Jo Daviess, Stephenson20 hr
Apr 15, 11:21 AM CDTRiver Flood WatchDVNHancock21 days
Apr 15, 11:21 AM CDTRiver Flood WatchDVNMercer21 days
Apr 15, 11:21 AM CDTRiver Flood WatchDVNHenderson, Mercer21 days
Apr 15, 12:31 PM CDTRiver Flood WatchDVNHenry, Rock Island21 days
Apr 15, 12:31 PM CDTRiver Flood WatchDVNWhiteside5 days
Apr 15, 12:31 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningDVNStephenson8 hr
Apr 15, 6:05 PM CDTTornado WarningDVNJo Daviess, Stephenson40 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Illinois, 2026Every flash flood warning in 2026

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.