Alert archive / Illinois / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 34, NWS Lincoln, IL

June 21, 2026Effingham County, Shelby County, Illinois

NWS Lincoln, IL issued this flash flood warning at Jun 21, 2026, 3:09 PM CDT for Effingham County, Shelby County, 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 21, 2026, 3:09 PM CDT (20:09 UTC)
Expired
Jun 21, 2026, 7:00 PM CDT
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Lincoln, IL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Effingham County, IL, Shelby County, IL

The radar

The Lincoln radar (KILX), 102 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:13 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
Jun 21, 6:25 PM CDTFLASH FLOOD1 Nnw Shelbyville, IL
Jun 21, 6:30 PM CDTFLASH FLOOD4 Nw Sigel, IL
Jun 21, 6:40 PM CDTFLASH FLOOD1 W Clarksburg, IL
Jun 21, 6:49 PM CDTFLASH FLOODShumway, IL

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 4 storm reports to this flash flood warning; the first came 196 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, 8.2 hours before the alert went out and 84 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, Lincoln, IL at 12:00Z on 2026-06-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Lincoln, IL at 12:00Z on 2026-06-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 10 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1482 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
41 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
10 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
35 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

299 
WGUS53 KILX 212009
FFWILX
ILC049-173-220000-
/O.NEW.KILX.FF.W.0034.260621T2009Z-260622T0000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
309 PM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026

The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Southeastern Shelby County in central Illinois...
  Northwestern Effingham County in south central Illinois...

* Until 700 PM CDT.

* At 308 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...
  Shelbyville, Windsor, Stewardson, Cowden, Beecher City, Herrick, 
  Shumway, Strasburg, Clarksburg, Mode, Wolf Creek State Park, 
  Lakewood and Trowbridge.

This includes the following State Parks...
Eagle Creek State Park, Hidden Springs State Forest and Wolf Creek 
State Park.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3922 8881 3922 8908 3952 8870 3952 8864
      3951 8864 3951 8862 3949 8862 3949 8860
      3948 8860 3948 8858 3945 8858 3945 8847
      3927 8847 3908 8881

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

Deubelbeiss
2 follow-up statements
397 
WGUS73 KILX 212131
FFSILX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
431 PM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026

ILC049-173-220000-
/O.CON.KILX.FF.W.0034.000000T0000Z-260622T0000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Effingham IL-Shelby IL-
431 PM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING 
FOR SOUTHEASTERN SHELBY AND NORTHWESTERN EFFINGHAM COUNTIES...

At 429 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy 
rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 3 inches of rain have 
fallen. Flooding impacts will continue, but little or no additional 
rainfall is expected. 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...
  Shelbyville, Windsor, Stewardson, Cowden, Beecher City, Herrick, 
  Shumway, Strasburg, Clarksburg, Mode, Wolf Creek State Park, 
  Lakewood and Trowbridge.

This includes the following State Parks...
Eagle Creek State Park, Hidden Springs State Forest and Wolf Creek 
State Park.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3922 8881 3922 8908 3952 8870 3952 8864
      3951 8864 3951 8862 3949 8862 3949 8860
      3948 8860 3948 8858 3945 8858 3945 8847
      3927 8847 3908 8881

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

Deubelbeiss
583 
WGUS73 KILX 212351
FFSILX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
651 PM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026

ILC049-173-220001-
/O.EXP.KILX.FF.W.0034.000000T0000Z-260622T0000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Effingham IL-Shelby IL-
651 PM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR 
SOUTHEASTERN SHELBY AND NORTHWESTERN EFFINGHAM COUNTIES...

Flood waters have started to recede. The heavy rain has ended. 
Flooding is no longer expected to pose a threat. Please continue to 
heed remaining road closures.

A Flood Watch remains in effect until 100 AM CDT Monday for portions 
of central, east central, southeast, and west central Illinois.

&&

LAT...LON 3922 8881 3922 8908 3952 8870 3952 8864
      3951 8864 3951 8862 3949 8862 3949 8860
      3948 8860 3948 8858 3945 8858 3945 8847
      3927 8847 3908 8881

$$

Deubelbeiss

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 Lincoln, IL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Jun 21, 12:18 PM CDT, 2 hours 51 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Widespread rain will occur across central and southeast Illinois today. Amounts of 1 to 2 inches will be common. Isolated higher amounts over 3 inches could result in flash flooding.
  • There is a Slight Risk (level 2 of 5) for severe weather along and south of a Jacksonville to Danville line from 2 PM to 10 PM today.
Area forecast discussion, Jun 21, 12:18 PM CDT, 2 hours 51 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
1218 PM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Widespread rain will occur across central and southeast Illinois
  today. Amounts of 1 to 2 inches will be common. Isolated
  higher amounts over 3 inches could result in flash flooding.

- There is a Slight Risk (level 2 of 5) for severe weather along
  and south of a Jacksonville to Danville line from 2 PM to 10
 PM today.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 155 AM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026

The 00z high-resolution guidance indicates dual-threats today
consisting of heavy rainfall and a severe weather risk this
afternoon and evening. The primary forecast uncertainty revolves
around the degree of destabilization following this mornings
initial convective activity, and the location of the resulting
outflow boundary/effective warm front. High- resolution models
show a clear signal that the northern portion of the forecast
area will remain overturned and stable. However, near and south
of the I-72 corridor, guidance supports stronger
destabilization.

     SEVERE RISK TODAY...

The RAP and HRRR project MLCAPE values surging over 1000 J/kg
late afternoon south of the warm front. This higher-instability
reservoir will couple with favorable kinematics, as an upper-
level jet streak provides 35 to 45 knots of effective bulk
shear. Updraft helicity (UH) swaths show a distinct clustering
across the southern half of the forecast area after 19z. This
environment favors multi-cell clusters and transient supercells
capable of producing damaging downburst winds and large hail.
Low-level hodographs curve sufficiently near the surface
boundary to support a localized tornado threat, reflected in
SPC's 5% tornado risk. The primary forecast solution favors a
targeted severe threat area focused along and south of a line
from Jacksonville to Lincoln to Danville, peaking between 19z
and 03z, before the instability axis is shunted east into
Indiana.

     HEAVY RAIN TODAY...

Anomalous atmospheric moisture is surging northward into
central Illinois early this morning ahead of an approaching
shortwave. High-resolution guidance shows precipitable water
values climbing into the 2-2.25-inch range, which approaches
climatological maximums for late June. This deep tropical
moisture will interact with a 40-50 kt low-level jet streak,
with its convergent nose aimed at central IL this afternoon. As
a result, thunderstorms will become highly efficient rainfall
producers. The 00z HREF probability-matched mean (PMM) indicates
a widespread swath of 1-3 inches of rain across central and
southeast Illinois, with localized totals exceeding 4 inches
where storms train over the same areas. Given antecedent
saturated soils, this rain will rapidly convert to runoff. The
Weather Prediction Center (WPC) maintains a Moderate Risk (level
3 of 4) in the Excessive Rainfall Outlook (ERO) for today.
Flash flooding is a primary threat, particularly in urban and
low-lying areas.

     NEXT WEEK...

Lingering rain showers remain possible over eastern IL into
Monday morning as the upper- level trough crosses the region.
Cooler, drier air filters in on Monday afternoon on northwest
winds, with highs only in the mid-70s.

Surface high pressure builds over the Midwest on Tuesday,
bringing dry conditions and seasonably mild temperatures with
highs in the upper 70s to lower 80s.

For the mid-to-late week period, the official forecast relies
closely on NBM guidance, though confidence drops due to notable
model disagreements. The main forecast periods of precip are
associated a frontal passage late Wednesday, and a stronger
shortwave projected over the Midwest late Friday into Saturday.
Ensemble guidance show a general trend toward rising geopotential
heights next weekend, suggesting warming temperatures.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY/...
Issued at 1218 PM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026

Showers and a few thunderstorms are overspreading central
Illinois early this afternoon with additional development
possible behind this initial line. Confidence in details on
coverage/location of late afternoon/evening storms remains low,
thus precludes more than a prob30 mention at this time.
Meanwhile, E/ESE winds currently in place are expected to back
to NE by late this evening as weak low pressure moves across the
region. MVFR and eventually IFR ceilings will accompany the low
passage, with slow improvement expected from the northwest
behind the departing wave Monday.

&&

.ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Flood Watch through late tonight for ILZ027>031-036>038-
040>057-061>063-066>068-071>073.

&&

KEY MESSAGES...25
DISCUSSION...25
AVIATION...Deubelbeiss
Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 21, 5:01 AM CDT, 10 hours 8 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
501 AM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026

ILZ027>031-036>038-040>057-061>063-066>068-071>073-221015-
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-
501 AM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026

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

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Heavy rain will develop today, with 1.5 to 2 inches expected in most
areas and locally higher amounts over 3 inches possible by tonight.
This may produce flash flooding in urban and low lying flood prone
areas. Additionally, scattered thunderstorms could become severe
this afternoon and evening, with a risk for locally damaging wind
gusts and possibly a few tornadoes.

Several rivers are in minor to moderate flood today, and additional
rises are expected following heavy rainfall tonight. Rivers expected
to flood include portions of the Illinois, Sangamon, Wabash, Little
Wabash, and Spoon Rivers.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday.

Several rivers will continue in minor to moderate flood for many
days, including portions of the Illinois, Wabash, Little Wabash,
Sangamon, and Spoon Rivers.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed from around 2 to 10 PM.

Expected storm motion is toward the northeast around 50 mph.

37

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 20, 7:14 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningILXCass, Mason49 hr
Jun 20, 7:20 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningILXFulton, Knox3 days
Jun 21, 9:24 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningILXLawrence10 days
Jun 21, 10:06 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningILXFulton34 hr
Jun 21, 2:15 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryILXSangamon5 hr
Jun 21, 2:52 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXEffingham, Shelby64 min
Jun 21, 3:04 PM CDTTornado WarningILXEffingham, Shelby41 min
Jun 21, 3:14 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXClay, Effingham, Jasper, Richland61 min
Jun 21, 3:22 PM CDTTornado WarningILXClay, Effingham, Jasper, Richland38 min
Jun 21, 3:38 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXColes, Cumberland, Effingham, Jasper, Shelby67 min
Jun 21, 3:51 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedILXCrawford, Jasper39 min
Jun 21, 3:55 PM CDTTornado WarningILXClay, Effingham32 min
Jun 21, 3:56 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningILXClay, Effingham4 hr
Jun 21, 3:59 PM CDTTornado WarningILXClark, Coles, Cumberland46 min
Jun 21, 4:06 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningILXCumberland, Effingham3 hr
Jun 21, 4:10 PM CDTTornado WarningILXClay, Effingham17 min
Jun 21, 4:23 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedILXClark, Crawford, Jasper43 min
Jun 21, 4:29 PM CDTTornado WarningILXClay46 min
Jun 21, 4:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXClark, Coles, Crawford, Edgar, Jasper60 min
Jun 21, 4:32 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXClark, Crawford, Jasper58 min
Jun 21, 4:37 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningILXClark, Clay, Cumberland, Jasper, Richland3 hr
Jun 21, 4:46 PM CDTTornado WarningILXCrawford, Jasper25 min
Jun 21, 4:52 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXClay, Effingham, Jasper53 min
Jun 21, 4:55 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningILXClark, Crawford3 hr
Jun 21, 4:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXLawrence, Richland64 min
Jun 21, 5:12 PM CDTTornado WarningILXClay, Richland48 min
Jun 21, 5:20 PM CDTTornado WarningILXCrawford, Lawrence40 min
Jun 21, 5:21 PM CDTTornado WarningILXClay, Jasper39 min
Jun 21, 5:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXCrawford, Jasper63 min
Jun 21, 5:49 PM CDTTornado WarningILXLawrence, Richland41 min
Jun 21, 5:52 PM CDTTornado WarningILXClay, Jasper, Richland25 min
Jun 21, 5:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXClay, Jasper, Richland62 min
Jun 21, 5:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXCrawford, Jasper, Lawrence, Richland61 min
Jun 21, 6:11 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningILXClay, Lawrence, Richland104 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.