Alert archive / Illinois / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 6, NWS Lincoln, IL

April 27, 20265 counties in Illinois

NWS Lincoln, IL issued this flash flood warning at Apr 27, 2026, 5:50 PM CDT for 5 counties in Illinois. It was in force for 2 hr. 2 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
Apr 27, 2026, 5:50 PM CDT (22:50 UTC)
Expired
Apr 27, 2026, 8:04 PM CDT
In force
2 hr
Issued by
NWS Lincoln, IL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Cass County, IL, Menard County, IL, Morgan County, IL, Sangamon County, IL, Scott County, IL

The radar

The Lincoln radar (KILX), 100 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:49 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
Apr 27, 6:50 PM CDTFLASH FLOOD1 Nw Pleasant Plains, ILEast of IL Rte 123 on Sparrow Rd.
Apr 27, 7:35 PM CDTRAIN 5.53 S Petersburg, ILTotal rainfall.

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 2 storm reports to this flash flood warning; the first came 51 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, 10.8 hours before the alert went out and 160 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 2026-04-27Temperature 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 2026-04-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 104 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
1053 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
25 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
104 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
306 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

826 
WGUS53 KILX 272250
FFWILX
ILC017-129-137-167-171-280200-
/O.NEW.KILX.FF.W.0006.260427T2250Z-260428T0200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
550 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Menard County in central Illinois...
  Northwestern Sangamon County in central Illinois...
  Cass County in west central Illinois...
  Morgan County in west central Illinois...
  Scott County in west central Illinois...

* Until 900 PM CDT.

* At 549 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2.5 inches of 
  rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up 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...
  Jacksonville, Petersburg, Virginia, Winchester, Alexander, South 
  Jacksonville, Ashland, Meredosia, Bluff Springs, Pleasant Plains, 
  Greenview, Bluffs, Murrayville, Chandlerville, Woodson, Chapin, 
  Tallula, Arenzville, Manchester and Alsey.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the 
dangers of flooding.

&&

LAT...LON 3983 9057 3987 9059 3993 9054 4006 9032
      4003 9020 4011 8989 4011 8963 3952 9017
      3952 9058 3954 9057 3956 9058 3964 9061
      3970 9065 3976 9061 3979 9060

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

Bumgardner
1 follow-up statement
440 
WGUS73 KILX 280104
FFSILX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
804 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

ILC017-129-137-167-171-280114-
/O.CAN.KILX.FF.W.0006.000000T0000Z-260428T0200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Cass IL-Menard IL-Morgan IL-Sangamon IL-Scott IL-
804 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR MENARD, NORTHWESTERN 
SANGAMON, CASS, MORGAN AND SCOTT COUNTIES...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3983 9057 3987 9059 3993 9054 4006 9032
      4003 9020 4011 8989 4011 8963 3952 9017
      3952 9058 3954 9057 3956 9058 3964 9061
      3970 9065 3976 9061 3979 9060

$$

Bumgardner

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 Apr 27, 2:35 PM CDT, 3 hours 15 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • There is a level 3 of 5 (enhanced) risk for severe weather this evening. Damaging winds, large hail, a couple tornadoes, and flash flooding are all concerns, especially near and south of I-70.
  • There is a 30-50% chance for frost Friday night. Tender vegetation may need to be covered in order to prevent damage.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 27, 2:35 PM CDT, 3 hours 15 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
235 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- There is a level 3 of 5 (enhanced) risk for severe weather this
  evening. Damaging winds, large hail, a couple tornadoes, and
  flash flooding are all concerns, especially near and south of
  I-70.

- There is a 30-50% chance for frost Friday night. Tender
  vegetation may need to be covered in order to prevent damage.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 226 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

***** SEVERE WEATHER THIS EVENING *****

Mid level water vapor satellite reveals a negatively tilted upper
level trough spinning over the Midwest. At the surface, WPC has
analyzed a 996mb low in eastern Iowa which is forecast to lift
northeastward across Wisconsin this evening. Much of the warm sector
has been worked over at this point via a morning-early afternoon
MCS, but these storms left an outflow boundary near/south of the I-
70 corridor which will serve as a differential heating/convergence
zone for renewed storms later this afternoon. A wake low continues
to foster wind gusts up to 35mph from the southeast, which should
help maintain stable low levels further north. Nonetheless, a few
elevated storms could generate locally severe hail and wind in
those areas. Meanwhile, south of the I-70 corridor, dewpoints
should surge into the mid-upper 60s while a 50 kt LLJ maintains
40-55 kt effective bulk wind shear and 400-700 (679 on the VWX
vad profiler) m^2/s^2 0-3km SRH via strongly cyclonically
curved hodographs. CAMs generally suggest convective activity
developing upstream over the next couple hours and moving
through this environment during the evening will start discrete
and eventually grow upscale into another MCS. Hence, the initial
hazards will be very large hail and tornadoes, with the risk
transitioning to damaging winds, locally severe hail, and QLCS
tornadoes with time. Training storms will pose a risk for flash
flooding (REFS and HREF ensemble max precip have swaths of 4+
inches of rain falling in <6 hours), for which we have issued a
Flood Watch which extends through 10pm. A Tornado Watch is in
effect for Effingham to Crawford Counties and areas further
south, where the chance of surface based (and hence potentially
tornadic) storms is highest. Storms should exit the ILX County
Warning area by 11pm, while a cooler and more stable airmass
arrives from the west-northwest behind a cold front.

***** DRY CONDITIONS LIKELY WEDNESDAY AND BEYOND  *****

Another shortwave will lift northeast through the area tomorrow
night, bringing another opportunity for some rain and perhaps a
rumble of thunder. Thankfully QPF with this system is lighter, with
a low (<20%) chance for an additional inch of rainfall. Since this
will occur around 24 hours after this evening's heavy rainfall in
southeast Illinois, the ground may have some time to absorb the
water, though we'll still be keeping one eye on it.

By Wednesday morning, a drier pattern should take hold of the
region, with less than a 20% chance for rain through the weekend.
High temperatures each day are forecast in the 60s, with locations
near and north of the I-74 corridor potentially (60% chance) not
climbing out of the 50s on Friday. The National Blend of Models
(NBM) indicates a 30-50% chance temperatures fall below 37 degF
Friday night into Saturday morning, which should be cold enough for
frost given the expected light winds.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY/...
Issued at 1258 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

A thunderstorm complex will move east of the airfields over the
next couple hours, with a 30-40% chance of redevelopment north
to impact BMI and PIA (higher chances at the other airfields) after
22z. In the wake of the morning storms, a brief period of
southeast wind gusts to 40 kt are possible (20-30% chance); TAFs
will be amended for this as necessary. Otherwise, winds will
blow from the south-southeast around 15-20 kt with gusts up to
30 kt through late afternoon, veering to southwesterly and
easing this evening, and then veering more sharply to a west-
northwesterly direction tonight behind a cold front. There will
also be a 50-60% chance for MVFR ceilings behind that front
after around 06z.

&&

.ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Flood Watch until 10 PM CDT this evening for ILZ052>057-
061>063-066>068-071>073.

&&

KEY MESSAGES...Bumgardner
DISCUSSION...Bumgardner
AVIATION...Bumgardner
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 27, 2:32 PM CDT, 3 hours 18 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
232 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

ILZ027>031-036>038-040-041-281945-
Knox-Stark-Peoria-Marshall-Woodford-Fulton-Tazewell-McLean-Schuyler-
Mason-
232 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Illinois and west
central Illinois.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Thunderstorm redevelopment continues to be possible this afternoon
and moving east through mid evening. The storms will be capable of
producing damaging winds, hail, and a few tornadoes. In addition,
heavy rainfall may produce areas of flooding.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday.

Minor flooding will persist on the Illinois River from Havana to
Beardstown through the week, with some renewed rises around midweek.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed.

Expected storm motion is toward the east-northeast around 50 mph.

ILZ042>057-061>063-281945-
Logan-De Witt-Piatt-Champaign-Vermilion-Cass-Menard-Scott-Morgan-
Sangamon-Christian-Macon-Moultrie-Douglas-Coles-Edgar-Shelby-
Cumberland-Clark-
232 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

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

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Thunderstorm redevelopment is possible this afternoon with storms
moving out of east central Illinois by late evening. The storms will
be capable of producing damaging winds, hail, and a few tornadoes.
In addition, heavy rainfall may produce areas of flooding.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday.

A few thunderstorms are expected Tuesday night, but severe weather
is not likely.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed.

Expected storm motion is toward the east-northeast around 50 mph.

ILZ066>068-071>073-281945-
Effingham-Jasper-Crawford-Clay-Richland-Lawrence-
232 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Illinois.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Periods of thunderstorms are expected through the evening hours.
Some of these will be severe. Damaging winds and tornadoes are the
main concerns. In addition, heavy rainfall may produce areas of
flooding.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday.

Scattered thunderstorms are expected Tuesday night, but severe
weather is not likely.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will likely be needed.

Expected storm motion is toward the east-northeast around 50 mph.

Knutsvig

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 27, 3:43 PM CDT, 2 hours 7 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
343 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0234 PM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst Willard Airport         40.03N 88.28W
04/27/2026  M52 MPH          Champaign          IL   ASOS

            ASOS station KCMI Willard Arpt.

&&

JLA
Local storm report, Apr 27, 3:46 PM CDT, 2 hours 4 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
346 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0333 PM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst Coles County Airport    39.47N 88.27W
04/27/2026  M52 MPH          Coles              IL   ASOS

            ASOS station KMTO Coles Co. Mem AP.

&&

JLA
Local storm report, Apr 27, 3:50 PM CDT, 2 hours before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
350 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0338 PM     Hail             Bridgeport              38.71N 87.76W
04/27/2026  E1.25 Inch       Lawrence           IL   Public

            Report from mPING: Half Dollar (1.25 in.).

&&
Local storm report, Apr 27, 4:28 PM CDT, 1 hour 22 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
428 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0413 PM     Rain             3 NNE Curran            39.77N 89.75W
04/27/2026  M3.20 Inch       Sangamon           IL   Public

            Storm total rainfall since this morning.
            Relayed by Broadcast Media.

&&

JLA
Local storm report, Apr 27, 4:34 PM CDT, 1 hour 16 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
434 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0352 PM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst Coles County Airport    39.47N 88.27W
04/27/2026  M53 MPH          Coles              IL   ASOS

            ASOS station KMTO Coles Co. Mem AP.

&&

JLA
Local storm report, Apr 27, 5:09 PM CDT, 41 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
509 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0500 PM     Hail             1 N Pleasant Plains     39.89N 89.92W
04/27/2026  E0.88 Inch       Sangamon           IL   Fire Dept/Rescue

&&

JLA

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 27, 8:20 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXMorgan, Sangamon40 min
Apr 27, 8:38 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXChristian, Macon, Shelby52 min
Apr 27, 8:59 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXLogan, Sangamon46 min
Apr 27, 9:02 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryILXSangamon62 min
Apr 27, 9:09 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatILXCass, Fulton, Mason, Menard, Morgan, Sangamon and 2 more51 min
Apr 27, 9:37 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXFulton, Knox, Mason23 min
Apr 27, 9:44 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXDeWitt, Logan, Macon, Sangamon31 min
Apr 27, 9:52 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningILXClay, Richland14 days
Apr 27, 9:53 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatILXCass, Fulton, Logan, Mason, Menard, Morgan and 1 more37 min
Apr 27, 10:04 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningILXSangamon2 hr
Apr 27, 10:09 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXDeWitt, Macon, Piatt36 min
Apr 27, 10:27 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXChristian, Logan, Macon, Sangamon33 min
Apr 27, 10:35 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXDeWitt, Logan, McLean, Tazewell, Woodford25 min
Apr 27, 10:41 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXChristian, Macon, Sangamon34 min
Apr 27, 10:45 AM CDTTornado WarningILXChristian, Sangamon30 min
Apr 27, 10:52 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXChampaign, Christian, DeWitt, Logan, McLean, Macon and 3 more38 min
Apr 27, 11:15 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXChristian, Moultrie, Piatt, Shelby30 min
Apr 27, 11:20 AM CDTTornado WarningILXChristian, Moultrie, Shelby25 min
Apr 27, 11:29 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXChampaign, DeWitt, Douglas, McLean, Moultrie, Piatt and 1 more61 min
Apr 27, 11:30 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXCrawford, Jasper, Lawrence, Richland30 min
Apr 27, 11:38 AM CDTTornado WarningILXChampaign, Douglas, Piatt37 min
Apr 27, 11:42 AM CDTFlood WatchILXChristian, Clark, Clay, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland and 9 more11 hr
Apr 27, 11:43 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXChampaign, Clark, Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar and 4 more62 min
Apr 27, 11:45 AM CDTTornado WarningILXColes, Douglas, Edgar33 min
Apr 27, 12:36 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXEffingham24 min
Apr 27, 12:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXClark, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Edgar, Jasper61 min
Apr 27, 12:58 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryILXColes3 hr
Apr 27, 1:11 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningILXClay, Cumberland, Effingham, Jasper, Shelby19 hr
Apr 27, 1:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXClay51 min
Apr 27, 2:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXClay, Richland47 min
Apr 27, 3:11 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryILXChristian, Shelby5 hr
Apr 27, 3:18 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatILXLawrence42 min
Apr 27, 3:56 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryILXClay, Crawford, Jasper, Lawrence, Richland3 hr
Apr 27, 4:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXCass, Mason, Morgan, Schuyler48 min
Apr 27, 5:07 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXFulton, Mason, Peoria, Tazewell38 min
Apr 27, 5:18 PM CDTTornado WarningILXCass, Morgan, Scott42 min
Apr 27, 5:40 PM CDTTornado WarningILXMenard, Morgan, Sangamon23 min
Apr 27, 5:42 PM CDTTornado WarningILXLogan, Mason, Menard33 min
Apr 27, 5:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXCass, Menard, Morgan, Sangamon, Scott42 min
Apr 27, 6:02 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatILXLogan, McLean, Mason, Menard, Sangamon32 min
Apr 27, 6:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXChampaign, Macon, Piatt45 min
Apr 27, 6:18 PM CDTTornado WarningILXDeWitt, Logan, Macon27 min
Apr 27, 6:20 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatILXChristian, Macon, Sangamon40 min
Apr 27, 6:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatILXDeWitt, Logan, McLean, Macon, Piatt47 min
Apr 27, 6:38 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatILXChristian37 min
Apr 27, 6:39 PM CDTTornado WarningILXDeWitt, Macon, Piatt36 min
Apr 27, 6:46 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryILXChristian, DeWitt, Logan, Macon, Menard, Morgan and 3 more104 min
Apr 27, 6:46 PM CDTTornado WarningILXDeWitt, McLean, Piatt29 min
Apr 27, 6:52 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatILXChampaign, Christian, Coles, DeWitt, Douglas, McLean and 4 more53 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.