Alert archive / Illinois / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 31, NWS Lincoln, IL
NWS Lincoln, IL issued this flash flood warning at Jun 17, 2026, 6:11 PM CDT for 6 counties in Illinois. It was in force for 4 hr. 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
- Jun 17, 2026, 6:11 PM CDT (23:11 UTC)
- Expired
- Jun 17, 2026, 10:00 PM CDT
- In force
- 4 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Lincoln, IL
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
Counties Christian County, IL, Logan County, IL, Macon County, IL, Menard County, IL, Moultrie County, IL, Sangamon County, IL
The radar
The Lincoln radar (KILX), 41 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 17, 6:13 PM CDT | FLASH FLOOD | 1 Se Decatur, IL | Report from mPING: Street/road flooding; Street/road closed; Vehicles stranded. |
| Jun 17, 6:17 PM CDT | FLASH FLOOD | 1 S Decatur, IL | Report from mPING: Street/road flooding; Street/road closed; Vehicles stranded. |
| Jun 17, 7:28 PM CDT | RAIN 2.89 | 1 Wsw Decatur Airport, IL | ASOS station KDEC Decatur Arpt. |
| Jun 17, 9:54 PM CDT | RAIN 3.13 | 1 Wsw Decatur Airport, IL | ASOS station KDEC Decatur Arpt. |
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 3 storm reports to this flash flood warning; the first came 2 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
Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 12:00Z, 11.2 hours before the alert went out and 55 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
- 2139 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 41 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 138 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 239 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
157
WGUS53 KILX 172311
FFWILX
ILC021-107-115-129-139-167-180300-
/O.NEW.KILX.FF.W.0031.260617T2311Z-260618T0300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
611 PM CDT Wed Jun 17 2026
The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
North Central Christian County in central Illinois...
Southern Logan County in central Illinois...
Southern Macon County in central Illinois...
Menard County in central Illinois...
Moultrie County in central Illinois...
Northeastern Sangamon County in central Illinois...
* Until 1000 PM CDT.
* At 611 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 3 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...
Springfield, Decatur, Sullivan, Petersburg, Athens, Mount Zion,
Sherman, Riverton, Arthur, Mount Pulaski, Williamsville,
Harristown, Bethany, Long Creek, Warrensburg, Macon, Lovington,
Illiopolis, Greenview and Niantic.
This includes the following State Parks...
Lincoln Trail Homestead State Park & Memorial, Spitler Woods State
Natural Area and Shelbyville State Fish and Wildlife Area.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 72 between mile markers 108 and 140.
Interstate 55 between mile markers 101 and 119.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
&&
LAT...LON 4013 8996 4013 8960 3983 8875 3979 8875
3979 8864 3973 8847 3956 8847 3964 8881
3965 8881 3965 8885 3994 8999
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
Deubelbeiss1 follow-up statement
187
WGUS73 KILX 180259
FFSILX
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
959 PM CDT Wed Jun 17 2026
ILC021-107-115-129-139-167-180309-
/O.EXP.KILX.FF.W.0031.000000T0000Z-260618T0300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Christian IL-Logan IL-Macon IL-Menard IL-Moultrie IL-Sangamon IL-
959 PM CDT Wed Jun 17 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 10 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR
NORTH CENTRAL CHRISTIAN, SOUTHERN LOGAN, SOUTHERN MACON, MENARD,
MOULTRIE AND NORTHEASTERN SANGAMON COUNTIES...
Flood waters have receded. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a
threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.
&&
LAT...LON 4013 8996 4013 8960 3983 8875 3979 8875
3979 8864 3973 8847 3956 8847 3964 8881
3965 8881 3965 8885 3994 8999
$$
AutenWhat 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 Lincoln, IL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Jun 17, 3:16 PM CDT, 2 hours 55 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- A Tornado Watch is in effect until 10pm CDT for locations along and south of a Macomb to Chenoa line. All severe hazards are possible...with the greatest probability for strong tornadoes focusing south of a Springfield to Paris line.
- Quiet weather will prevail Thursday through Saturday...with the next chance for thunderstorms arriving by Sunday.
Area forecast discussion, Jun 17, 3:16 PM CDT, 2 hours 55 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 316 PM CDT Wed Jun 17 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - A Tornado Watch is in effect until 10pm CDT for locations along and south of a Macomb to Chenoa line. All severe hazards are possible...with the greatest probability for strong tornadoes focusing south of a Springfield to Paris line. - Quiet weather will prevail Thursday through Saturday...with the next chance for thunderstorms arriving by Sunday. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 316 PM CDT Wed Jun 17 2026 19z/2pm mesoanalysis shows an outflow boundary left behind by the morning convection along a Quincy...to Litchfield...to Salem line. This is considerably further south than previously thought: therefore the most significant risk for widespread severe weather later this afternoon and evening has shifted south as well. As such, the new Tornado Watch coordinated with SPC does not include the far northern KILX CWA from the Peoria area northward. MLCAPEs are currently under 1000J/kg: however, as the boundary mixes slowly northward this afternoon, the RAP suggests MLCAPEs will increase into the 1500-2000J/kg along/southeast of a Quincy to Champaign line over the next couple of hours. Impressive wind fields aloft are contributing to very strong 0-6km bulk shear of 60-80kt...while 0-1km shear values remain in the 30-40kt range. Given marginal instability and extreme shear, am expecting supercell thunderstorms to rapidly develop along/ahead of a slowly advancing cold front across the Illinois River Valley imminently. All severe hazards will be in play...including damaging wind gusts in excess of 70mph, hail larger than golf balls, and tornadoes. The Significant Tornado Parameter (STP) is currently maximized closer to the outflow boundary from central/northern Missouri across south-central Illinois, but is progged to lift northward later this afternoon/evening. At this time, it appears the highest probability of potentially strong tornadoes will focus along/south of a Springfield to Paris line. Thunderstorms are currently developing in a band from Galesburg/Rushville eastward to Pontiac/Champaign. CAMs have generally sped up the development process, as well as the gradual S/SE movement of the band. As a result, think the primary severe risk will be focused along the I-72 corridor between 4pm and 6pm, then will sink toward I-70 by 7pm to 9pm. The primary line of convection will exit the far SE KILX CWA around midnight: however, a few showers may linger further north throughout the evening into the first part of the overnight. A short-wave trough will bring a period of mid-level cloudiness to central Illinois Thursday morning, with forecast soundings suggesting the potential for a few light rain showers mostly along/south of a Rushville to Robinson line where slight chance PoPs (20%) are warranted. Once this wave departs, a return to cool and mostly dry weather will be on tap for Friday and Saturday. The next significant chance for precipitation will hold off until late Saturday night into Sunday as a stronger short-wave trough traverses the Plains and approaches from the west. Given better deep-layer moisture and strong forcing, think showers and thunderstorms will become widespread. The severe weather risk remains uncertain at this time, with several machine learning algorithms such as Colorado State and NSSL keeping the greatest probabilities further south. A few NCAR members do however suggest 15-30% probs northward into central Illinois, so will need to keep an eye on mesoscale details as the time nears. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/... Issued at 1247 PM CDT Wed Jun 17 2026 Convection is ongoing across central Illinois early this afternoon: however, 1740z/1240pm radar imagery shows the back edge of the precip along a KGBG to KSPI line. Based on radar/satellite trends, it appears the terminals will see a couple hour break as the afternoon progresses before a final line of thunderstorms forms from the Iowa/Missouri border eastward into the area after 19z/20z. Following the latest HRRR/RAP solution closely, have highlighted thunder with visbys down to 1 mile at KPIA between 19z and 21z...then further south to the I-72 sites between 22z and 00z. Once the convective line settles further south, scattered showers will remain possible until early evening. After that, am expecting skies to become mostly clear through much of the evening before a layer of mid-level clouds AOA 15,000ft spreads across the area by Thursday morning. Winds are highly variable at the moment due to ongoing storms, but will become southeasterly this afternoon...then westerly this evening as a cold front passes. && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flood Watch until 10 PM CDT this evening for ILZ027>031- 036>038. Wind Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for ILZ040>057- 061>063-066>068-071>073. && KEY MESSAGES...Barnes DISCUSSION...Barnes AVIATION...Barnes
Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 17, 3:28 PM CDT, 2 hours 43 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Lincoln IL 328 PM CDT Wed Jun 17 2026 ILZ036>038-040>057-061>063-066>068-071>073-181100- 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- 328 PM CDT Wed Jun 17 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Illinois, east central Illinois, southeast Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...Tonight. A broken line of thunderstorms capable of all severe hazards will settle southward through central Illinois late this afternoon and evening. The strongest cells within the line will have the potential to produce tornadoes, damaging wind gusts in excess of 70mph, and hail large than golf balls. The highest probability for strong tornadoes will focus along and south of a Springfield to Paris line. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Thunderstorms will develop across the area late Saturday night into Sunday. At this time it appears the severe weather risk will remain low. River flooding is ongoing for portions of central Illinois. Please refer to the latest flood statements for details. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will be needed through 10pm this evening. Expected storm motion is toward the east at 60-70mph. ILZ027>031-181100- Knox-Stark-Peoria-Marshall-Woodford- 328 PM CDT Wed Jun 17 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...Tonight. A few strong to severe thunderstorms capable of damaging wind gusts and large hail will track across north-central Illinois late this afternoon. The storms will drop south of the Peoria area by early evening. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Thunderstorms will develop across the area late Saturday night into Sunday. At this time it appears the severe weather risk will remain low. River flooding is ongoing for portions of central Illinois. Please refer to the latest flood statements for details. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed through 5pm this afternoon. Expected storm motion is toward the east at 60-70mph. Barnes
In the hours before
Local storm report, Jun 17, 5:59 PM CDT, 12 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
559 PM CDT Wed Jun 17 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0514 PM Rain 2 NW Littleton 40.26N 90.65W
06/17/2026 M2.20 Inch Schuyler IL Public
Rainfall so far today.
&&
07Local storm report, Jun 17, 6:01 PM CDT, 10 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
601 PM CDT Wed Jun 17 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0558 PM Hail 2 W Decatur 39.85N 88.99W
06/17/2026 E1.00 Inch Macon IL Public
Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
0553 PM Hail 1 W Decatur 39.84N 88.97W
06/17/2026 M1.00 Inch Macon IL Public
&&Local storm report, Jun 17, 6:04 PM CDT, 7 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
604 PM CDT Wed Jun 17 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0545 PM Rain Willard Airport 40.03N 88.28W
06/17/2026 M1.32 Inch Champaign IL ASOS
ASOS station KCMI Willard Arpt.
0545 PM Rain 2 N Urbana 40.13N 88.21W
06/17/2026 M1.98 Inch Champaign IL Mesonet
Mesonet station URBNC 1 N Urbana.
0545 PM Rain 1 NNW Morton 40.63N 89.48W
06/17/2026 M1.70 Inch Tazewell IL Mesonet
Mesonet station MRTNV 1 NNW Morton.
&&Local storm report, Jun 17, 6:07 PM CDT, 4 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
607 PM CDT Wed Jun 17 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0445 PM Hail Boody 39.76N 89.05W
06/17/2026 M1.50 Inch Macon IL Emergency Mngr
Photo of ping pong size hail with a ruler.
&&Local storm report, Jun 17, 6:09 PM CDT, 2 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
609 PM CDT Wed Jun 17 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0500 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Niantic 39.85N 89.17W
06/17/2026 Macon IL Emergency Mngr
Shed destroyed by high winds.
&&Local storm report, Jun 17, 6:11 PM CDT, 0 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
611 PM CDT Wed Jun 17 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0606 PM Funnel Cloud 3 NE Villa Grove 39.90N 88.13W
06/17/2026 Champaign IL Public
0551 PM Hail Decatur Airport 39.83N 88.86W
06/17/2026 M1.00 Inch Macon IL Emergency Mngr
&&The office that day
Everything else NWS Lincoln, IL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 17, 8:14 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Fulton, Knox, Peoria, Stark | 61 min |
| Jun 17, 9:03 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Fulton, Marshall, Peoria, Stark, Tazewell, Woodford | 57 min |
| Jun 17, 9:11 AM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | ILX | Knox | 3 hr |
| Jun 17, 9:45 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Logan, Mason, Menard, Sangamon | 60 min |
| Jun 17, 9:54 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | McLean, Woodford | 66 min |
| Jun 17, 10:09 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | DeWitt, Macon, Moultrie, Piatt | 66 min |
| Jun 17, 10:58 AM CDT | River Flood Warning | ILX | Marshall, Putnam | 11 days |
| Jun 17, 2:53 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | DeWitt, Fulton, Logan, McLean, Mason, Tazewell | 50 min |
| Jun 17, 2:55 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | McLean, Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford | 31 min |
| Jun 17, 3:41 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | ILX | DeWitt, Logan, McLean, Tazewell | 3 hr |
| Jun 17, 3:42 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | DeWitt, Logan, McLean, Macon, Piatt | 41 min |
| Jun 17, 3:50 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | ILX | McLean, Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford | 3 hr |
| Jun 17, 3:50 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Cass, Logan, Mason, Menard, Sangamon | 55 min |
| Jun 17, 3:52 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | DeWitt, Logan, McLean, Mason, Tazewell | 26 min |
| Jun 17, 3:57 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Cass, Christian, Logan, Mason, Menard, Sangamon | 63 min |
| Jun 17, 4:08 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ILX | Champaign, DeWitt, Douglas, Macon, Piatt | 31 min |
| Jun 17, 4:14 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Fulton, Mason, Tazewell | 28 min |
| Jun 17, 4:19 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | ILX | Champaign, DeWitt, McLean, Piatt | 3 hr |
| Jun 17, 4:19 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ILX | Logan, Menard, Sangamon | 41 min |
| Jun 17, 4:23 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ILX | DeWitt, Logan, Macon | 52 min |
| Jun 17, 4:29 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Cass, Fulton, Mason, Schuyler | 61 min |
| Jun 17, 4:42 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Christian, Logan, Menard, Sangamon | 19 min |
| Jun 17, 4:49 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Christian, DeWitt, Macon, Moultrie, Piatt, Sangamon and 1 more | 56 min |
| Jun 17, 4:54 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ILX | Christian, Macon | 38 min |
| Jun 17, 5:05 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Logan, Menard, Sangamon | 40 min |
| Jun 17, 5:11 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ILX | Christian, Macon, Moultrie, Shelby | 21 min |
| Jun 17, 5:14 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | DeWitt, Logan, Macon | 26 min |
| Jun 17, 5:18 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Cass, Morgan, Scott | 38 min |
| Jun 17, 5:21 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ILX | Champaign, Douglas, Piatt | 39 min |
| Jun 17, 5:23 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ILX | Macon, Moultrie, Piatt, Shelby | 30 min |
| Jun 17, 5:26 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Logan, Mason, Menard, Sangamon | 34 min |
| Jun 17, 5:43 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Christian, Logan, Macon, Moultrie, Piatt, Sangamon and 1 more | 44 min |
| Jun 17, 5:46 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ILX | Coles, Douglas | 44 min |
| Jun 17, 6:09 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ILX | Clark, Edgar | 53 min |
| Jun 17, 6:16 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | ILX | Champaign, Piatt, Vermilion | 4 hr |
| Jun 17, 6:18 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Coles, Douglas, Moultrie, Piatt | 42 min |
| Jun 17, 6:33 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Morgan, Sangamon, Scott | 45 min |
| Jun 17, 6:40 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | ILX | Clark, Coles, Douglas, Edgar | 3 hr |
| Jun 17, 6:44 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Coles, Cumberland, Douglas | 46 min |
| Jun 17, 6:46 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ILX | Coles, Cumberland | 29 min |
| Jun 17, 6:47 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ILX | Christian, Sangamon | 43 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.