Alert archive / Illinois / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 50, NWS Lincoln, IL
NWS Lincoln, IL issued this flash flood warning at Jul 27, 2026, 2:50 AM CDT for Clay County, Illinois. It was in force for 5 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 27, 2026, 2:50 AM CDT (07:50 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 27, 2026, 7:30 AM CDT
- In force
- 5 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Lincoln, IL
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
County Clay County, IL
The radar
The Evansville,IN radar (KVWX), 80 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 07:52 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 27, 5:56 AM CDT | FLOOD | Flora, IL | Reports with pictures of yards with standing water of a couple inches depth. |
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, 7.8 hours before the alert went out and 165 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
- 5988 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -7 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 663 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 38 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 196 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 215 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 6.4
- Supercell composite
- 28.4
The text
As transmitted.
484
WGUS53 KILX 270750
FFWILX
ILC025-271100-
/O.NEW.KILX.FF.W.0050.260727T0750Z-260727T1100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
250 AM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026
The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Southern Clay County in south central Illinois...
* Until 600 AM CDT.
* At 250 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1.5 and 2.5 inches of
rain have fallen in about an hour, with the heaviest amounts just
north and east of Flora. 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...
Flora, Louisville, Clay City and Flora Municipal Airport.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
Please report observed flooding to local emergency services or law
enforcement and request they pass this information to the National
Weather Service when you can do so safely.
&&
LAT...LON 3861 8853 3877 8862 3877 8838 3860 8832
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
Geelhart3 follow-up statements
685
WGUS73 KILX 270921
FFSILX
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
421 AM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026
ILC025-271100-
/O.CON.KILX.FF.W.0050.000000T0000Z-260727T1100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Clay IL-
421 AM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CDT EARLY THIS
MORNING FOR SOUTHERN CLAY COUNTY...
At 417 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy
rain across the warned area. Between 2 and 4 inches of rain have
fallen in an area north through southeast of Flora. A personal
weather station on the west side of Flora measured 3.6 inches of
rain. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible in
the warned area.
HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE...Radar.
IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
drainage and low-lying areas.
Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Flora, Louisville, Clay City and Flora Municipal Airport.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
Please report observed flooding to local emergency services or law
enforcement and request they pass this information to the National
Weather Service when you can do so safely.
&&
LAT...LON 3861 8853 3877 8862 3877 8838 3860 8832
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
Geelhart821
WGUS53 KILX 271048
FFWILX
ILC025-271230-
/O.EXT.KILX.FF.W.0050.000000T0000Z-260727T1230Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
548 AM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026
The National Weather Service in Lincoln has extended the
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Southern Clay County in south central Illinois...
* Until 730 AM CDT.
* At 547 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 3 and 5 inches of rain
have fallen, with new storms forming once again. Additional
rainfall amounts up to 2 inches are possible in the warned area.
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, Louisville, Clay City and Flora Municipal Airport.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.
Please report observed flooding to local emergency services or law
enforcement and request they pass this information to the National
Weather Service when you can do so safely.
&&
LAT...LON 3861 8853 3877 8862 3877 8838 3860 8832
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
Geelhart728 WGUS73 KILX 271223 FFSILX Flash Flood Statement National Weather Service Lincoln IL 723 AM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026 ILC025-271233- /O.EXP.KILX.FF.W.0050.000000T0000Z-260727T1230Z/ /00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/ Clay IL- 723 AM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026 ...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 730 AM CDT THIS MORNING FOR SOUTHERN CLAY COUNTY... The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures. && LAT...LON 3861 8853 3877 8862 3877 8838 3860 8832 $$ Geelhart
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 27, 12:18 AM CDT, 2 hours 32 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Oppressive heat and humidity continue through Monday with heat indices peaking between 100 and 110 degrees.
- Multiple thunderstorm complexes will move across the Midwest states through Monday, presenting a conditional threat for severe weather and heavy rain.
- A cold front will bring relief from the heat on Tuesday, transitioning us back to near-normal temperatures.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 27, 12:18 AM CDT, 2 hours 32 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 1218 AM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Oppressive heat and humidity continue through Monday with heat indices peaking between 100 and 110 degrees. - Multiple thunderstorm complexes will move across the Midwest states through Monday, presenting a conditional threat for severe weather and heavy rain. - A cold front will bring relief from the heat on Tuesday, transitioning us back to near-normal temperatures. && .UPDATE... Issued at 904 PM CDT Sun Jul 26 2026 Updated PoPs to trim thunderstorm chances down for much of tonight given less activity than expected in the wake of a thunderstorm complex southeast of the area, despite several thousand MLCAPE still analyzed over the area by SPC Mesoanalysis product and effective bulk shear over 40 kts. Nevertheless, continued at least a slight chance for thunderstorms the next several hours in a band stretching from near Lawrenceville toward Quad Cities where anywhere from isolated to scattered radar returns have been noted northeast of the surface warm front. SPC continues a slight risk for severe thunderstorms over the area given the favorable parameters noted above. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 149 PM CDT Sun Jul 26 2026 Upper analysis shows a large ridge of high pressure over the west- central US with northwest flow over the Midwest states. At the surface, a stationary/warm front is positioned from roughly Burlington IA to Flora IL. Isentropic upglide on the ~300K surface has resulted in a consistent low stratus deck near/east of the boundary, ultimately holding temperatures down several degrees lower than originally anticipated. Clearer skies west of the front have allowed temperatures to surge into the upper 80s to low 90s, paired with dewpoints in the low 80s. Heat indices in these same areas have climbed above 100 degrees with Springfield and Jacksonville IL reporting heat indices over 110 degrees as of 1 pm. Although cloud cover looks to be slow to depart, any pockets of clearing should allow temperatures to quickly rebound. Because of this, no changes to our current heat products have been made. Things remain hot and humid on Monday as the 850 mb ridge axis moves overhead, keeping 22-25C 850 mb temperatures largely in place. Monday has the potential to be the hottest day of the forecast period, pending any thunderstorm activity/convective debris clouds. Multiple thunderstorm complexes could impact parts of the region through Monday night as several upper shortwaves ride the eastern periphery of the upper ridge and a cold front approaches from the north. CAMs continue to struggle with thunderstorm placement and evolution, which has led to difficulty pinpointing timing. Water vapor imagery shows a subtle shortwave disturbance over eastern South Dakota/southern Minnesota with composite radar showing some storms ahead of that wave, potentially serving as our first opportunity for convective activity later this afternoon or evening. Additional waves are expected to track through the Midwest states overnight into Monday and could impact parts of the area. Any storms that do develop will have the potential to become severe as they move through an environment characterized by very strong instability (4000+ J/kg SBCAPE) and seasonally strong wind shear (30- 40 kts). Hazards with any severe storms would be damaging wind gusts in excess of 60 mph and torrential rainfall. Temperatures and dewpoints drop closer to seasonal normals on Tuesday as the airmass modifies behind a cold front. Northwest flow will remain in place aloft through the upcoming week and may open the door for shortwave disturbances through next weekend. A brief window of surface high pressure should shield precipitation chances through midweek before a stronger upper wave approaches later in the week. && .AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z TUESDAY/... Issued at 1218 AM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026 A general period of MVFR to locally IFR conditions will continue overnight, primarily driven by visibilities in the 1 to 3 mile range. Ceilings below 2000 feet should exit KSPI/KDEC shortly, but development of some bands of low stratus in eastern Illinois may result in ceilings below 1000 feet at times. Conditions generally improve by 13-14z. Potential for thunder remains a challenging forecast. Some model guidance suggests activity as early as 18-19z near KPIA/KBMI. While this can't be ruled out, much will depend on upstream activity over the next several hours. For now, will only include PROB30 mention from KSPI-KCMI for late afternoon. && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Extreme Heat Warning until 9 PM CDT this evening for ILZ027>029-036-037-040>042-047>052. Heat Advisory until 9 PM CDT this evening for ILZ030-031-038- 043-044-053-054-061-066-071-072. && KEY MESSAGES...NMA UPDATE...37 DISCUSSION...NMA AVIATION...Geelhart
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 26, 2:30 PM CDT, 12 hours 20 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Lincoln IL 230 PM CDT Sun Jul 26 2026 ILZ027>031-036>038-040>043-047>053-271930- Knox-Stark-Peoria-Marshall-Woodford-Fulton-Tazewell-McLean-Schuyler- Mason-Logan-De Witt-Cass-Menard-Scott-Morgan-Sangamon-Christian- Macon- 230 PM CDT Sun Jul 26 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Heat index values of 105 to 110 degrees are likely into this evening. Clusters of thunderstorms will drop southeast out of the Upper Mississippi Valley tonight. While it is uncertain how far west they may get, they would most likely arrive overnight and produce gusty winds. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Additional storm clusters will drop southeast into the area through Monday evening. The best chance of severe weather would be further east, but strong winds will be possible with any storms. Heat index values around 115 degrees are likely on Monday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed after 12 am. ILZ044>046-054>057-061>063-066>068-071>073-271930- Piatt-Champaign-Vermilion-Moultrie-Douglas-Coles-Edgar-Shelby- Cumberland-Clark-Effingham-Jasper-Crawford-Clay-Richland-Lawrence- 230 PM CDT Sun Jul 26 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Illinois, east central Illinois and southeast Illinois. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Heat index values of 100 to 105 degrees are likely into this evening. Clusters of thunderstorms will drop southeast out of the Upper Mississippi Valley tonight. They would most likely arrive in eastern Illinois toward daybreak and may be locally strong to severe. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Additional storm clusters will drop southeast into the area through Monday evening. These may also be strong to severe, with damaging winds the main concern. Heat index values around 110 degrees are likely on Monday, though they will be lower if storms end up being numerous through the day. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed overnight tonight into the early morning hours. Copple
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Jul 26, 9:30 PM CDT, 5 hours 20 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
930 PM CDT Sun Jul 26 2026
ILZ068-073-270245-
Lawrence-Crawford-
930 PM CDT Sun Jul 26 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN LAWRENCE AND
SOUTHEASTERN CRAWFORD COUNTIES THROUGH 945 PM CDT...
At 930 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Flat Rock, or 11 miles southeast of Robinson, moving south 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...
Palestine, Flat Rock, Russellville, and Lawrenceville Vincennes
Airport.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3868 8754 3867 8760 3894 8770 3904 8758
3900 8758 3899 8756 3899 8758 3896 8751
3890 8752 3889 8754 3888 8753 3886 8755
3885 8753 3882 8753 3879 8750 3877 8751
3876 8750 3874 8750
TIME...MOT...LOC 0230Z 343DEG 24KT 3890 8757
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
37Special weather statement, Jul 26, 10:00 PM CDT, 4 hours 50 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
1000 PM CDT Sun Jul 26 2026
ILZ073-270315-
Lawrence-
1000 PM CDT Sun Jul 26 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL LAWRENCE COUNTY THROUGH
1015 PM CDT...
At 959 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Bridgeport, or near Lawrenceville, moving southeast at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 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...
Lawrenceville, Bridgeport, Billett, Pinkstaff, and Red Hills State
Park.
This also includes Red Hills State Park.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
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.
&&
LAT...LON 3882 8787 3883 8766 3867 8758 3867 8760
3863 8781
TIME...MOT...LOC 0259Z 334DEG 32KT 3880 8776
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
37Special weather statement, Jul 26, 10:15 PM CDT, 4 hours 35 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
1015 PM CDT Sun Jul 26 2026
ILZ073-270330-
Lawrence-
1015 PM CDT Sun Jul 26 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN LAWRENCE COUNTY
THROUGH 1030 PM CDT...
At 1014 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Bridgeport, or near Lawrenceville, moving south at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size 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...
Lawrenceville, Bridgeport, St. Francisville, Billett, Red Hills State
Park, and Mount Carmel Airport.
This also includes Red Hills State Park.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
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.
&&
LAT...LON 3873 8784 3874 8763 3865 8760 3864 8762
3860 8762 3859 8761 3859 8764 3858 8764
3857 8765 3857 8782
TIME...MOT...LOC 0314Z 345DEG 24KT 3870 8774
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
37The office that day
Everything else NWS Lincoln, IL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 26, 9:30 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | ILX | Lawrence | 15 min |
| Jul 26, 9:46 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Lawrence | 15 min |
| Jul 26, 10:00 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | ILX | Lawrence | 15 min |
| Jul 26, 10:15 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | ILX | Lawrence | 15 min |
| Jul 27, 2:02 AM CDT | Heat Advisory | ILX | Clark, Edgar, Vermilion | 9 hr |
| Jul 27, 2:24 AM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | ILX | Effingham | 4 hr |
| Jul 27, 2:31 AM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | ILX | Clay | 3 hr |
| Jul 27, 4:12 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Clay | 33 min |
| Jul 27, 5:01 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Clay, Effingham, Jasper | 44 min |
| Jul 27, 6:27 AM CDT | Areal Flood Warning | ILX | Effingham | 3 hr |
| Jul 27, 7:11 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Cumberland | 14 min |
| Jul 27, 3:58 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Logan, Menard, Sangamon | 29 min |
| Jul 27, 4:26 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | ILX | Christian | 34 min |
| Jul 27, 5:17 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Edgar, Vermilion | 43 min |
| Jul 27, 5:45 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Vermilion | 60 min |
| Jul 27, 6:07 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ILX | Vermilion | 38 min |
| Jul 27, 6:13 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Clark, Edgar | 62 min |
| Jul 27, 6:42 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Clark, Crawford | 48 min |
| Jul 27, 6:44 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Vermilion | 31 min |
| Jul 27, 6:59 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | ILX | Clark, Edgar | 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.