Alert archive / Illinois / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 45, NWS Lincoln, IL
NWS Lincoln, IL issued this flash flood warning at Jul 10, 2026, 11:34 PM CDT for Macon County, Sangamon 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
- Jul 10, 2026, 11:34 PM CDT (04:34 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 11, 2026, 2:35 AM CDT
- In force
- 3 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Lincoln, IL
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
Counties Macon County, IL, Sangamon County, IL
The radar
The Lincoln radar (KILX), 40 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:35 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 11, 1:46 AM CDT | RAIN 3.98 | 1 Ene Leland Grove, IL | Cocorahs station IL-SG-81 Springfield 1.7 SW. |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
Did it verify
Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood 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 nearest sounding before it
Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 00:00Z, 4.6 hours before the alert went out and 66 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
- 1335 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -5 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1239 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 31 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 33 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 49 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.1
- Supercell composite
- 1.3
The text
As transmitted.
398
WGUS53 KILX 110434
FFWILX
ILC115-167-110745-
/O.NEW.KILX.FF.W.0045.260711T0434Z-260711T0745Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
1134 PM CDT Fri Jul 10 2026
The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Central Macon County in central Illinois...
Central Sangamon County in central Illinois...
* Until 245 AM CDT.
* At 1134 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain
have fallen. 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, Mount Zion, Rochester, Riverton, Harristown,
Long Creek, Illiopolis, Niantic, Mechanicsburg, Dawson, Buffalo,
Illinois State Fairgrounds, Decatur Airport, Jerome, Southern
View, Leland Grove, Grandview, Spaulding and Clear Lake.
This includes the following State Parks...
Lincoln Trail Homestead State Park & Memorial and Spitler Woods
State Natural Area.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 72 between mile markers 97 and 137.
Interstate 55 between mile markers 92 and 101.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
&&
LAT...LON 3979 8943 3966 8952 3980 8978 3989 8947
3991 8917 3986 8884 3976 8877 3973 8884
3977 8908 3983 8916 3983 8928
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
251 follow-up statement
629
WGUS73 KILX 110735
FFSILX
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
235 AM CDT Sat Jul 11 2026
ILC115-167-110745-
/O.CAN.KILX.FF.W.0045.000000T0000Z-260711T0745Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Macon IL-Sangamon IL-
235 AM CDT Sat Jul 11 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR CENTRAL MACON AND CENTRAL
SANGAMON COUNTIES...
The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a
threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.
&&
LAT...LON 3979 8943 3966 8952 3980 8978 3989 8947
3991 8917 3986 8884 3976 8877 3973 8884
3977 8908 3983 8916 3983 8928
$$
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 10, 8:57 PM CDT, 2 hours 37 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Areas of heavy rain are expected through tonight, with pockets of 2 to 3 inches not out of the question south of I-72.
- Locally strong to severe thunderstorms will be a threat this evening, and again Saturday from midday through the afternoon.
- Temperatures will warm back close to 90 degrees again next week, though oppressive humidity is not expected at this time.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 10, 8:57 PM CDT, 2 hours 37 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 857 PM CDT Fri Jul 10 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Areas of heavy rain are expected through tonight, with pockets of 2 to 3 inches not out of the question south of I-72. - Locally strong to severe thunderstorms will be a threat this evening, and again Saturday from midday through the afternoon. - Temperatures will warm back close to 90 degrees again next week, though oppressive humidity is not expected at this time. && .UPDATE... Issued at 857 PM CDT Fri Jul 10 2026 Overall, the current forecast still looks good with showers and storms likely across the CWA along and north of I-72/Danville. However, as the boundary continues to drop south, additional showers and storms will develop through the evening. Also monitoring the storms coming out of LSX CWA that will likely move into southeast IL in the nxt few hours. Have made adjustments to pops through tomorrow noon. Otherwise, rest of the forecast looks ok. Update should be coming shortly. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 230 PM CDT Fri Jul 10 2026 Latest surface map shows a stationary front draped roughly along a Galesburg to Watseka line. Convection developed just north of this boundary beginning around midday, and has produced a few funnel clouds mainly north of our forecast area. Non-supercell tornado parameters through the afternoon suggest additional funnels may develop near/north of I-74 as storms develop, but will likely fade away once the rain begins. Much of the forecast area has reached the mid 80s as of 1 pm, though some lower temperatures were noted south of I-70 where clouds have been more extensive so far today. Short Term (Through Sunday): Main forecast concern remains with the period through Saturday, involving timing of rain chances and any potential severe weather or flooding. Regional radar mosaics early this afternoon show an MCS developing over northwest Missouri. While the core of this should track to our southwest, residual boundaries and/or MCV's will help trigger additional storms further northeast, which are most favored to cross central Illinois during the evening. HREF precipitable water values increase to near 2 inches near/south of I-72 by this evening, supporting areas of heavy rain and potential for flooding. Localized probability-matched means (LPMM) suggest potential for over 2 inches of rain with the heavier storms, and a level 2 risk of excessive rainfall covers the entire forecast area. While some areas of southeast Illinois did receive 2-3 inches of rain last evening, coverage of that intensity was not really widespread, with antecedent conditions being rather dry before that. Will hold off issuing a Flood Watch at this time, but will need to watch this closely. The boundary is expected to settle near I-72 by early Saturday morning. Several of the CAM's suggest redevelopment just south of this area by midday, though the NAM-Nest looks more like a prominent MCV or small-scale low pressure area. Recent SPC Day2 outlook brought the level 1 risk up to about I-70, for locally damaging winds during the afternoon. As an upper trough settles into the Ohio Valley, several models are suggesting it will pinch off an upper low. This would keep a threat of rain continuing into Sunday over portions of the forecast area, primarily near and south of I-70. Long Term (Monday through Friday): Expansive upper ridge is still progged to cover a large portion of the CONUS early in the work week, centered over the northern Plains. A bit of a rex block pattern sets up, with the upper low lingering over the lower Mississippi Valley. With time, the center of the high finally slides off to the southeast, though ridging redevelops over the Rockies and western Plains by late week. The overall pattern much of the week is not favorable for any precipitation in our area, though some of the guidance suggests the lower Mississippi Valley low may be close enough for some showers in southeast Illinois. Better rain chances return toward late week, as we start to get more into a northwest flow and convection slides along the periphery of the ridge. Temperatures through the week remain quite warm, though the rex block pattern will cut off any meaningful moisture advection, keeping heat index readings in check. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/... Issued at 724 PM CDT Fri Jul 10 2026 Scattered thunderstorms will threaten PIA and BMI for the first couple of hours of the TAFs, then showers will remain in the vicinity of both sites through the rest of the evening. SPI, DEC, CMI will also have scattered storms, but not starting until after 2-3z. So have TEMPO with IFR vis and cigs near MVFR. When this ends, will keep VCSH at these three sites through the night. SPI, DEC, CMI will see MVFR cigs in the morning and then improve to VFR in the afternoon. PIA and BMI will have VFR conditions during the day tomorrow. Winds will be less than 10kts through the period outside of storms. Wind direction will be variable tonight and then become northeast tomorrow. && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && KEY MESSAGES...Geelhart UPDATE...Auten DISCUSSION...Geelhart AVIATION...Auten
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 10, 2:45 PM CDT, 8 hours 49 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Lincoln IL 245 PM CDT Fri Jul 10 2026 ILZ027>031-037-038-043-045-046-111100- Knox-Stark-Peoria-Marshall-Woodford-Tazewell-McLean-De Witt- Champaign-Vermilion- 245 PM CDT Fri Jul 10 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Illinois, east central Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Scattered thunderstorms are possible this afternoon through tonight. These storms are not expected to be severe, but may contain locally heavy downpours and gusty winds. Minor to moderate flooding continues along portions of the Illinois River. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Minor to moderate flooding will continue for several days along portions of the Illinois River. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated tonight. ILZ036-040>042-044-047>057-061>063-066>068-071>073-111100- Fulton-Schuyler-Mason-Logan-Piatt-Cass-Menard-Scott-Morgan-Sangamon- Christian-Macon-Moultrie-Douglas-Coles-Edgar-Shelby-Cumberland-Clark- Effingham-Jasper-Crawford-Clay-Richland-Lawrence- 245 PM CDT Fri Jul 10 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Illinois, east central Illinois, southeast Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Scattered thunderstorms are possible this afternoon through tonight (30-60% chance). Some of these storms could be strong to severe. Damaging wind gusts, hail up to an inch in diameter, and heavy rain will be the primary hazards, although a tornado or two is possible as well, mainly south of a Jacksonville to Effingham line. Minor to moderate flooding continues along portions of the Illinois River. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Additional thunderstorms are possible Saturday and Sunday. A few severe thunderstorms are possible, mainly south of I-70. Damaging wind gusts and heavy rain will be the primary hazards. Minor to moderate flooding will continue for several days along portions of the Illinois River. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed until around 10 pm today. Expected storm motion is toward the east around 25 mph. 37
In the hours before
Local storm report, Jul 10, 7:04 PM CDT, 4 hours 30 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
704 PM CDT Fri Jul 10 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0640 PM Funnel Cloud 1 NE Saybrook 40.44N 88.51W
07/10/2026 McLean IL Public
Relayed by local media.
&&
BarnesLocal storm report, Jul 10, 8:28 PM CDT, 3 hours 6 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
828 PM CDT Fri Jul 10 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0735 PM Rain 1 W Hoopeston 40.47N 87.69W
07/10/2026 M2.05 Inch Vermilion IL CO-OP Observer
&&
BarnesLocal storm report, Jul 10, 9:48 PM CDT, 1 hour 46 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
948 PM CDT Fri Jul 10 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0640 PM Tornado 2 NE Saybrook 40.45N 88.50W
07/10/2026 McLean IL Public
Brief touchdown in a corn field observed on
video.
&&Local storm report, Jul 10, 9:54 PM CDT, 1 hour 40 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report...Summary
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
954 PM CDT Fri Jul 10 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0210 PM Funnel Cloud Normal 40.51N 88.98W
07/10/2026 McLean IL Public
Relayed by local media.
0235 PM Funnel Cloud Galesburg 40.95N 90.37W
07/10/2026 Knox IL Public
0445 PM Funnel Cloud 1 SSE Carlock 40.57N 89.12W
07/10/2026 McLean IL Trained Spotter
0640 PM Tornado 2 NE Saybrook 40.45N 88.50W
07/10/2026 McLean IL Public
Brief touchdown in a corn field observed on
video.
0735 PM Rain 1 W Hoopeston 40.47N 87.69W
07/10/2026 M2.05 Inch Vermilion IL CO-OP Observer
&&The office that day
Everything else NWS Lincoln, IL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 10, 7:24 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | ILX | Fulton, Knox | 3 hr |
| Jul 11, 12:29 AM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | ILX | Coles, Edgar | 3 hr |
| Jul 11, 1:08 AM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | ILX | Clark | 3 hr |
| Jul 11, 6:40 AM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | ILX | Vermilion | 3 hr |
| Jul 11, 2:31 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | ILX | Sangamon | 3 hr |
| Jul 11, 2:37 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | ILX | Lawrence, Richland | 3 hr |
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.