Alert archive / Illinois / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 48, NWS Lincoln, IL

July 11, 2026Vermilion County, Illinois

NWS Lincoln, IL issued this flash flood warning at Jul 11, 2026, 6:40 AM CDT for Vermilion County, Illinois. It was in force for 3 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Jul 11, 2026, 6:40 AM CDT (11:40 UTC)
Expired
Jul 11, 2026, 9:45 AM CDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Lincoln, IL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Vermilion County, IL

The radar

The Indianapolis radar (KIND), 117 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 11:43 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.

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, 11.7 hours before the alert went out and 87 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 00:00Z on 2026-07-11Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1335 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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 00:00Z on 2026-07-11The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 33 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
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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

396 
WGUS53 KILX 111140
FFWILX
ILC183-111445-
/O.NEW.KILX.FF.W.0048.260711T1140Z-260711T1445Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
640 AM CDT Sat Jul 11 2026

The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Southeastern Vermilion County in east central Illinois...

* Until 945 AM CDT.

* At 639 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 3 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...
  Danville, Georgetown, Westville, Tilton, Catlin and Belgium.

This includes the following State Parks...
Harry Babe Woodyard State Natural Area and Kickapoo State Recreation 
Area.

This includes  Interstate 74 between  mile markers 209 and 220.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 4016 8774 4016 8753 4015 8753 4014 8753
      4005 8753 4000 8753 3997 8753 3994 8753
      3991 8753 3990 8753 3994 8777

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

25
1 follow-up statement
126 
WGUS73 KILX 111442
FFSILX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
942 AM CDT Sat Jul 11 2026

ILC183-111452-
/O.EXP.KILX.FF.W.0048.000000T0000Z-260711T1445Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Vermilion IL-
942 AM CDT Sat Jul 11 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 945 AM CDT THIS MORNING FOR 
SOUTHEASTERN VERMILION 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 4016 8774 4016 8753 4015 8753 4014 8753
      4005 8753 4000 8753 3997 8753 3994 8753
      3991 8753 3990 8753 3994 8777

$$

Knutsvig

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 Jul 11, 5:57 AM CDT, 43 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected today, mainly from I-72 south where pockets of heavy rains of 2-3 inches are possible and could lead to localized flooding especially if they occur in urban areas.
  • There is marginal risk of severe storms this afternoon from Taylorville to Paris south, primarily for damaging winds.
  • Highs in the low to mid 80s this weekend, mid to upper 80s Monday and in the upper 80s and lower 90s Tuesday through Thursday. Afternoon heat indices peak in the mid 90s to near 100 during mid week.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 11, 5:57 AM CDT, 43 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
557 AM CDT Sat Jul 11 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected today, mainly
  from I-72 south where pockets of heavy rains of 2-3 inches are
  possible and could lead to localized flooding especially if
  they occur in urban areas.

- There is marginal risk of severe storms this afternoon from
  Taylorville to Paris south, primarily for damaging winds.

- Highs in the low to mid 80s this weekend, mid to upper 80s
  Monday and in the upper 80s and lower 90s Tuesday through
  Thursday. Afternoon heat indices peak in the mid 90s to near
  100 during mid week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 345 AM CDT Sat Jul 11 2026

Short Term (Today through Monday):

A weakening MCV over central IL was producing showers and
isolated thunderstorms se of the IL river and from I-74 south.
Thunderstorms with some heavy rains were over northern Christian
county, nw and ne of Taylorville and tracking eastward. There
were some flood warnings in northeast Coles, sw Edgar and
northern Clark counties where MRMS shows pockets of 2-3.5 inches
of rain past 6 hours. PWATs of 1.7-2.2 inches over CWA with 2
inches PW values as far north as Lincoln in Logan county. A
surface boundary was near or just south of I-72. Aloft a weak
583 decameter 500 mb low was along the eastern IA/MO border.
This feature to pivot into southeast IL by mid afternoon helping
push the frontal boundary southward through southeast IL during
this afternoon. An unstable tropical airmass lingers over
central and southeast IL much of today, though some drier air
moving into northern/nw CWA later this afternoon. MUCAPES peak
from 1000-1800 j/kg se of the IL river this afternoon while
effective bulk shear values of 25-35 kts in southeast IL shift
further south during this morning. SPC Day1 outlook has marginal
risk of severe storms south of a Taylorville to Paris line this
afternoon/early evening for mainly damaging winds a risk from
wet microbursts. The slight risk is over southern IL, south of
CWA this afternoon/early evening where higher instability and
wind shear, with MUCAPES near 2000 j/kg. PWATS are also higher
the further south you go across IL today and a flood watch
remain in effect south of CWA from Wayne, Edwards and Wabash
counties south through this evening. HREF LPMM shows pockets of
2-3 inches of rain in less than 6 hours from I-72 south this
afternoon and early evening. WPC Day1 ERO has marginal to slight
risk of excessive rainfall se of the IL river today, with the
slight risk in southeast IL. Also the RAP13 and NAM
Nonsupercell Tornado parameters shows 1-3 units se of the IL
river this afternoon, so funnel clouds may again be a risk like
yesterday afternoon. A bit cooler today with highs in the lower
80s with some mid 80s nw of the IL river. Still muggy dewpoints
in the low to mid 70s today se of the IL river and upper 60s nw
of the IL river. Lows tonight in the low to mid 60s in central
IL and upper 60s in southeast IL.

The weak cutoff 500 mb low moves into KY/TN on Sunday with best
chances of convection shifting se of CWA. We still have slight
chance of convection far se IL near Lawrence county Sunday
afternoon. SPC Day2 outlook keeps marginal risk of severe storms
se of IL along with WPC Day2 ERO. Highs Sunday in the low to mid
80s, warmest over the IL river valley. Dewpoints Sunday into
Monday range from mid 60s northern CWA and lower 70s in
southeast IL. A bit warmer highs in the mid to upper 80s Monday.

Long Term (Tuesday through Saturday):

Expansive mid/upper level ridge over the Rockies will lean into
the western Great Lakes and build a 600 decameter 500 mb high
over central MN on Monday. This strong 500 mb high to be just
north and ne of central IL Tue/Wed bringing a heat wave to the
area, though not quite as hot as last week. Highs in the mid to
upper 80s Monday and upper 80s/lower 90s Tue-Thu with dewpoints
back in the low to mid 70s. A Rex Block like pattern for
much of upcoming work week with weak upper level low over TN
river valley Monday, and over the southern MS river valley
Tue/Wed. Much of central IL should be dry and very warm Mon-
Wed, though upper level low in lower MS river valley may be
close enough to produce isolated convection in southeast IL
during Tue/Wed afternoon, though currently we keep pops less
than 20%. Upper level ridge retrogrades westward back into the
central Rockies on Fri/Sat with upper level trof digging over
the eastern Great Lakes and Northeast States. This puts IL in a
nw upper level flow with some signals of convection chances from
Thu into Saturday, though chances are in the slight chance
category.

The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) 8-14 Day Outlook for July
18-24 has temperatures and precipitation trending near normal
over IL. CPC's Week 3-4 Outlook for Jul 25 to Aug 7 has equal
chances of above or below normal temperatures and 35-45% chance
of above normal precipitation (highest in eastern IL).

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 555 AM CDT Sat Jul 11 2026

A cluster of thunderstorms was moving eastward into CMI airport
at dawn and carried tempo IFR to low end MVFR conditions next
1-2 hours with +TSRA. Another cluster of thunderstorms was
over west central IL south of Quincy and west of Jacksonville
also drifting eastward and will likely affect SPI airport
into mid morning and carried PROB30 for MVFR conditions at SPI.
DEC may see some convection during mid morning into mid morning
and have PROB30 for a few hours this morning at DEC with MVFR
conditions possible. Convection to be more widely scattered at
northern airports of PIA and BMI this morning so just VCSH at
those localities. Weak 584 decameter 500 mb low in northeast MO
to pivot into southeast IL by mid afternoon, pushing frontal
boundary near I-72 further south through southeast IL during
this afternoon. Carried VCSH along I-72 airports this afternoon,
with clouds scattering out at PIA at midday and along I-72 late
afternoon/early evening with dry/fair wx with VFR conditions
tonight. NE winds 5-10 kts to prevail next 24 hours.

&&

.ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

KEY MESSAGES...07
DISCUSSION...07
AVIATION...07
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 11, 5:00 AM CDT, 1 hour 40 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
500 AM CDT Sat Jul 11 2026

ILZ027>031-036>038-040>057-061>063-066>068-071>073-121000-
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-
500 AM CDT Sat Jul 11 2026

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

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Scattered thunderstorms are possible through this afternoon. There is
a marginal risk severe storms this afternoon south of a Taylorville
to Paris line, where gusty thunderstorm winds are possible. Locally
heavy rain could accompany any thunderstorm.

Minor flooding continues along portions of the Illinois River.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.

Heat and humidity will build back into the area Tuesday through
Friday, when afternoon heat indices are forecast to reach 95 to 100
degrees.

Minor flooding will continue for several days along portions
of the Illinois River.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not anticipated tonight.

25

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 10, 7:24 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryILXFulton, Knox3 hr
Jul 10, 11:34 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningILXMacon, Sangamon3 hr
Jul 11, 12:29 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningILXColes, Edgar3 hr
Jul 11, 1:08 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningILXClark3 hr
Jul 11, 2:31 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryILXSangamon3 hr
Jul 11, 2:37 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryILXLawrence, Richland3 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.