Alert archive / Illinois / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 44, NWS Lincoln, IL
NWS Lincoln, IL issued this flash flood warning at Jul 3, 2026, 6:04 PM CDT for Clay County, Illinois. It was in force for 3 hr. 5 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
- Jul 3, 2026, 6:04 PM CDT (23:04 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 3, 2026, 9:15 PM CDT
- In force
- 3 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Lincoln, IL
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
County Clay County, IL
The radar
The Evansville,IN radar (KVWX), 79 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:04 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 3, 6:55 PM CDT | RAIN 1.18 | Flora Municipal Airport, IL | Fell in 1 hour. |
| Jul 3, 7:30 PM CDT | FLASH FLOOD | 4 Se Flora, IL | Route 45 closed southeast of Flora due to water flowing over the road. |
| Jul 3, 7:30 PM CDT | RAIN 2.3 | 2 W Flora, IL | Mainly fell in 20 minutes. |
| Jul 3, 7:35 PM CDT | RAIN 1.47 | 1 Nw Flora, IL | Personal weather station. |
| Jul 3, 7:37 PM CDT | RAIN 1.63 | 2 E Louisville, IL | Personal weather station. |
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 86 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, 11.1 hours before the alert went out and 162 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
- 2722 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -34 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 932 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 19 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -1 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 58 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.8
The text
As transmitted.
115
WGUS53 KILX 032304
FFWILX
ILC025-040215-
/O.NEW.KILX.FF.W.0044.260703T2304Z-260704T0215Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
604 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026
The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Eastern Clay County in south central Illinois...
* Until 915 PM CDT.
* At 603 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. The expected rainfall rate is 1
to 2 inches in 1 hour. 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...
Flora, Clay City, Sailor Springs, Flora Municipal Airport,
Ingraham and Wendelin.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
&&
LAT...LON 3861 8856 3865 8861 3885 8840 3884 8827
3860 8830
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
EXPECTED RAINFALL RATE...1-2 INCHES IN 1 HOUR
$$
252 follow-up statements
154
WGUS73 KILX 040045
FFSILX
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
745 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026
ILC025-040215-
/O.CON.KILX.FF.W.0044.000000T0000Z-260704T0215Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Clay IL-
745 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 915 PM CDT THIS
EVENING FOR EASTERN CLAY COUNTY...
At 730 PM CDT, emergency management reported Route 45 closed
southeast of Flora due to water flowing over the road. Between 1 and
3 inches of rain have fallen. Flooding impacts will continue, but no
additional rainfall is expected. Flash flooding is already occurring.
HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE...Emergency management reported.
IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
drainage and low-lying areas.
Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Flora, Clay City, Sailor Springs, Flora Municipal Airport,
Ingraham and Wendelin.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
&&
LAT...LON 3861 8856 3865 8861 3885 8840 3884 8827
3860 8830
FLASH FLOOD...OBSERVED
$$
25352
WGUS73 KILX 040210
FFSILX
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
910 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026
ILC025-040220-
/O.EXP.KILX.FF.W.0044.000000T0000Z-260704T0215Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Clay IL-
910 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 915 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR
EASTERN CLAY COUNTY...
Flood waters have receded. The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no
longer expected to pose a threat. Please continue to heed remaining
road closures.
&&
LAT...LON 3861 8856 3865 8861 3885 8840 3884 8827
3860 8830
$$
25What 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 Jul 3, 5:45 PM CDT, 19 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- A Heat Advisory is in effect Saturday for much of central and southeast IL.
- Isolated severe storms may develop this evening. While widespread severe weather is unlikely, any storm could produce localized torrential rainfall and brief, damaging wind gusts.
- A front will push through the region on Sunday, bringing a welcome end to the heat wave. Cooler, less humid, and dry conditions are forecast Monday through Wednesday.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 3, 5:45 PM CDT, 19 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 545 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - A Heat Advisory is in effect Saturday for much of central and southeast IL. - Isolated severe storms may develop this evening. While widespread severe weather is unlikely, any storm could produce localized torrential rainfall and brief, damaging wind gusts. - A front will push through the region on Sunday, bringing a welcome end to the heat wave. Cooler, less humid, and dry conditions are forecast Monday through Wednesday. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 230 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026 High Heat and Humidity... The Extreme Heat Warning for CWA goes until 7 pm today with dangerous heat indices peaking from 100-110, highest along and southeast of a Macomb to Pontiac line where less convection has occurred so far today. The Heat Advisory from 11 am to 7 pm on Saturday has been expanded northward to include the rest of the CWA except for Knox, Stark and Marshall counties. Some convection that affected areas nw of the IL river past 1-2 hours has cooled temps and heat indices over Knox, Stark and Marshall counties but starting to heat back up with Galesburg heat index up to 97F and Lacon heat index up to 96F and Heat indices may warm back up to near 100F late this afternoon over northern 3 counties. We are forecasting highs back to around 90F to lower 90s Saturday with afternoon heat indices peaking from 100-105, highest in southeast IL. Heat indices still around 100F in southeast IL on Sunday afternoon while low to mid 90s from I-72 north. We may need to have another heat advisory Sunday afternoon for southeast IL due to the duration of this heat wave since this past Sunday June 28th. Convective Potential & Severe Risks... Severe Thunderstorm Watch was posted this afternoon until 7 pm over northeast IL from LaSalle, Livingston, Ford and Iroquois counties northeast. More widespread thunderstorms, with some strong to potentially severe have been in northeast IL with a few strong cells earlier passing through eastern Marshall and northern Woodford counties between 120-2 pm with gusty winds and possible small hail. Current radar mosaic shows isolated cells nw of the IL river and along a St Louis to Taylorville to Decatur to Danville line. More convection was over southern Indiana into western KY and far southern IL. SPC day1 outlook has marginal risk of severe storms, with slight risk north of a Canton to Bloomington line for this afternoon and into this evening. Primary severe wx risk is damaging winds (15%) with 5% risk of large hail in slight risk area over northern CWA. Very unstable airmass with ML CAPES of 3-4k j/kg while weak effective bulk shear values less than 25 kts over all but far northern 3 counties where its 25-30 kts from Galesburg to Lacon north. Latest CAMs show increasing convection chances into central IL late evening and overnight while southeast IL appears to be dry during that time frame. WPC Day 1 ERO has marginal risk of excessive rainfall over northern/nw CWA this afternoon and tonight with high tropical PWATs of 1.75-2 inches. Outflow boundaries from convection going into tonight to get further south into our CWA on Saturday and will likely see more convection fire up along these boundaries Sat afternoon in very unstable tropical air mass, similar to todays air mass. Some CAMs even show some bands of convection affecting parts of CWA Sat morning, and more convection developing and moving se Sat afternoon/evening. SPC Day2 outlook keeps marginal risk of severe storms over CWA on Sat for damaging winds, mainly afternoon into mid evening. WPC Day2 ERO has marginal chance of excessive rainfall over CWA on Sat into Sunday. Convection chances to continue on Sunday with best chances in southeast IL where WPC Day3 ERO has marginal chance of excessive rainfall. SPC Day 3 outlook keeps slight and marginal risk of severe storms se of IL and Indiana. Next Work Week... The cold front pushing southeast through southern IL and into nw KY during Monday may still produce 20-30% chance of showers and possible thunderstorms over se part of CWA, with the 30% pops in southeast IL, se of a Danville to Shelbyville line. Cooler highs in the low to mid 80s on Monday and still rather muggy but lower dewpoints in the upper 60s/lower 70s. Dry weather is expected Monday night with seasonable lows in the mid to upper 60s. We have just slight chance of convection on Tue afternoon in southeast IL closer to a frontal boundary lingering in nw KY and southeast MO. GEM model appears too aggressive with a weak upper level low/trof and its widespread showers over IL on Tue. GFS and Ecmwf models show an upper level ridging starting to push eastward toward the MS river valley and into IL. Seasonable highs in the mid 80s Tue with dewpoints 65-70F. Dry weather again Tue night into Wed morning over CWA with small chances of convection in southeast IL Wed afternoon. Highs in the upper 80s Wed with dewpoints in the upper 60s/lower 70s. We have chance of showers/thunderstorms across area on Thu into Friday as frontal boundary lifting ne from MO as warm front on Thu and then cold front pushing se into central or nw IL on Friday. Highs in the upper 80s to near 90F on Thu and mid to upper 80s next Friday and muggy dewpoints 70-75F. The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) 8-14 Day Outlook for July 11-17 has 35-40% chance of above normal temperatures over IL with precipitation trending near normal. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/... Issued at 545 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026 Medium confidence in two periods of scattered thunderstorms that could affect the central IL terminals, one tonight, and another Saturday afternoon. Confidence on any terminal being impacted is low, so limited mention to PROB30 for both time periods. Outside of TSRA, VFR conditions and S-SW winds near/under 10 kt will be common. && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Extreme Heat Warning until 7 PM CDT this evening for ILZ027>031-036>038-040>057-061>063-066>068-071>073. Heat Advisory until 7 PM CDT Saturday for ILZ029-031-036>038- 040>057-061>063-066>068-071>073. && KEY MESSAGES...07 DISCUSSION...07 AVIATION...25
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 3, 2:34 PM CDT, 3 hours 30 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Lincoln IL 234 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026 ILZ027>031-036>038-040>057-061>063-066>068-071>073-041100- 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- 234 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Illinois, east central Illinois, southeast Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Heat index values will be 105 degrees through early evening today. As a result, there is a high risk of heat-related illness in sensitive individuals and those without access to effective cooling. Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and evening. A few may be severe with damaging wind gusts around 60 mph, one inch hail, and locally heavy rain. Moderate flooding continues along portions of the Illinois River from Havana to Beardstown. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Heat index values will peak around 100 to 103 degrees Saturday afternoon. Scattered thunderstorms will be possible again Saturday. There is a low risk (5-15% chance) of scattered damaging wind gusts with the strongest cells. In addition, a few storms will be capable of torrential downpours and localized flash flooding. Additional thunderstorms are possible Sunday though Thursday. The severe weather risk looks to lower for Sunday through Tuesday, but remains more uncertain later in the week. Moderate flooding will continue Saturday along the Illinois River from Havana to Beardstown, but is expected to fall into minor flooding category over the weekend. Minor flooding continues next week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed this afternoon and evening. Expected storm motion is toward the east-northeast around 25 mph. 37
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Jul 3, 1:21 PM CDT, 4 hours 43 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
121 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026
ILZ030-031-031900-
Marshall-Woodford-
121 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN MARSHALL AND NORTH
CENTRAL WOODFORD COUNTIES THROUGH 200 PM CDT...
At 121 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Washburn, or 8 miles southeast of Lacon, moving northeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Minonk, Toluca, Washburn, Wenona, Varna, and La Rose.
This includes Interstate 39 between mile markers 28 and 40.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
office in Lincoln.
&&
LAT...LON 4093 8905 4092 8894 4087 8936 4100 8938
4111 8914 4110 8905
TIME...MOT...LOC 1821Z 246DEG 24KT 4093 8930
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
GeelhartSpecial weather statement, Jul 3, 4:22 PM CDT, 1 hour 42 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
422 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026
ILZ066-032145-
Effingham-
422 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT WESTERN JASPER...SOUTHEASTERN
SHELBY...SOUTHWESTERN CUMBERLAND...NORTHERN CLAY AND EFFINGHAM
COUNTIES THROUGH 445 PM CDT...
At 422 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Altamont, or 7 miles southwest of Effingham, moving east at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Effingham, Altamont, Teutopolis, Watson, Dieterich, Beecher City,
Edgewood, Mason, Shumway, Montrose, Heartville, and Effingham County
Airport.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 57 between mile markers 143 and 168.
Interstate 70 between mile markers 79 and 104.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3922 8880 3922 8847 3917 8847 3917 8836
3891 8836 3891 8880
TIME...MOT...LOC 2122Z 250DEG 14KT 3906 8867
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
25The office that day
Everything else NWS Lincoln, IL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2, 11:44 PM CDT | Heat Advisory | ILX | Cass, Champaign, Christian, Clark, Clay, Coles and 26 more | 43 hr |
| Jul 3, 1:21 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | ILX | Marshall | 39 min |
| Jul 3, 4:22 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | ILX | Effingham | 23 min |
| Jul 3, 6:11 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Clay | 50 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.