Alert archive / Illinois / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 69, NWS Lincoln, IL

August 15, 2026Vermilion County, Illinois

NWS Lincoln, IL issued this flash flood warning at Aug 15, 2026, 3:54 AM CDT for Vermilion County, Illinois. It was in force for 4 hr. 15 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
Aug 15, 2026, 3:54 AM CDT (08:54 UTC)
Expired
Aug 15, 2026, 8:00 AM CDT
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Lincoln, IL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Vermilion County, IL

The radar

The Indianapolis radar (KIND), 122 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:58 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
Aug 15, 4:46 AM CDTRAIN 1.51 S Danville, IL1.50 inches of rainfall measured in last 30-40 minutes in Danville.
Aug 15, 5:53 AM CDTRAIN 2.374 W Vermilion Regional, ILCocorahs station IL-VR-33 Danville 4.2 NW.
Aug 15, 6:00 AM CDTRAIN 1.111 E Hoopeston, ILCocorahs station IL-VR-25 Hoopeston 0.6 E.
Aug 15, 6:00 AM CDTRAIN 1.251 S Oakwood, ILCocorahs station IL-VR-49 Oakwood 0.5 SSE.
Aug 15, 6:01 AM CDTRAIN 1.971 Nne Danville, ILCocorahs station IL-VR-14 Danville.
Aug 15, 6:14 AM CDTRAIN 3.252 Se Collison, ILRainfall total with additional rain falling at time of ob.
Aug 15, 6:48 AM CDTRAIN 3.252 Se Collison, ILCocorahs station IL-VR-46 Collison 1.9 SE.
Aug 15, 7:00 AM CDTRAIN 1.551 Nnw Georgetown, ILCocorahs station IL-VR-35 Georgetown 0.1 NNW.
Aug 15, 7:00 AM CDTRAIN 1.651 Nnw Fithian, ILCocorahs station IL-VR-42 Fithian 0.6 NNW.
Aug 15, 7:00 AM CDTRAIN 2.051 Se Muncie, ILCocorahs station IL-VR-45 Fithian 2.6 ESE.
Aug 15, 7:00 AM CDTRAIN 2.141 Nne Danville, ILCocorahs station IL-VR-30 Danville 0.7 NNW.
Aug 15, 7:00 AM CDTRAIN 2.263 Wsw Vermilion Regiona, ILCocorahs station IL-VR-38 Danville 3.1 NNW.
Aug 15, 7:00 AM CDTRAIN 2.713 W Bismarck, ILCocorahs station IL-VR-4 Henning 3.4 SE.
Aug 15, 7:30 AM CDTRAIN 1.142 Ssw Jamaica, ILCO-OP Observer station SIDI2 Sidell 4N.
Aug 15, 7:30 AM CDTRAIN 2.984 Ene Royal, ILCocorahs station IL-VR-53 , IL.

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, 8.9 hours before the alert went out and 82 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 2026-08-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1237 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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 2026-08-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 167 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
1237 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-137 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
748 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
25 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
167 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
197 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

857 
WGUS53 KILX 150854
FFWILX
ILC183-151300-
/O.NEW.KILX.FF.W.0069.260815T0854Z-260815T1300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
354 AM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026

The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a

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

* Until 800 AM CDT.

* At 354 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain across the warned area. Up to 2 inches of rain have 
  fallen. The expected rainfall rate is 1 to 3 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...
  Danville, Hoopeston, Georgetown, Westville, Tilton, Catlin, 
  Oakwood, Rossville, Ridge Farm, Potomac, Fairmount, Sidell, 
  Rankin, Fithian, Allerton, Vermilion Regional Airport, Bismarck, 
  Belgium, Indianola and Henning.

This includes the following State Parks...
Harry Babe Woodyard State Natural Area, Kickapoo State Recreation 
Area and Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area.

This includes  Interstate 74 between  mile markers 198 and 220.

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.

Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.

&&

LAT...LON 3988 8758 3987 8756 3987 8762 3988 8762
      3988 8794 4049 8794 4049 8753 3988 8753

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
EXPECTED RAINFALL RATE...1-3 INCHES IN 1 HOUR

$$

Copple
1 follow-up statement
753 
WGUS73 KILX 151259
FFSILX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
759 AM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026

ILC183-151309-
/O.EXP.KILX.FF.W.0069.000000T0000Z-260815T1300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Vermilion IL-
759 AM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 AM CDT THIS MORNING FOR 
VERMILION COUNTY...

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

A Flood Watch remains in effect until 1000 AM CDT for portions of 
central, east central, and west central Illinois.

&&

LAT...LON 3988 8758 3987 8756 3987 8762 3988 8762
      3988 8794 4049 8794 4049 8753 3988 8753

$$

MJA

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 Aug 15, 2:20 AM CDT, 1 hour 34 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • There is flash flooding ongoing across portions of central Illinois this morning, where thunderstorms track over areas that have already seen 4-6 inches of rain since Thursday. Areas north of a Havana to Bloomington line are most at risk.
  • Storms have the potential to produce damaging winds today and tomorrow. SPC has a marginal (level 1 of 5) risk of severe weather for the weekend.
  • The heat and humidity remain a concern for the weekend, with the hottest conditions in the southern half of the state.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 15, 2:20 AM CDT, 1 hour 34 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
220 AM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- There is flash flooding ongoing across portions of central
  Illinois this morning, where thunderstorms track over areas
  that have already seen 4-6 inches of rain since Thursday.
  Areas north of a Havana to Bloomington line are most at risk.

- Storms have the potential to produce damaging winds today and
  tomorrow. SPC has a marginal (level 1 of 5) risk of severe
  weather for the weekend.

- The heat and humidity remain a concern for the weekend, with
  the hottest conditions in the southern half of the state.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 220 AM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026

Tonight, storms are moving across central IL. There is a low risk
(but non-zero) for damaging winds within these storms, but the main
concern is the flash flooding risk. WPC has areas near and north of
I-72 in a moderate risk (level 3 of 4) for excessive rainfall for
the overnight hours. The 00z sounding shows the environment having
PWATs of 2.2-2.4 inches. Over the last few days, this area has
gotten 3-6 inches of rain, with some locally higher amounts. The
storms passing through tonight are expected to drop another 2-5
inches with the LPMM suggesting some localized pockets of up to 10
inches. Flash flood guidance seems a bit generous (too high). If the
pockets of higher rain set up over where the ground is already
extremely saturated, flash flooding is likely.

For the remainder of the day after this morning round of convection
exits about 15-16z, there is a marginal risk for severe weather for
additional activity that will move through. It will be very similar
to what has happened over the last few days. The next round of MCS
activity will move into central IL by late evening and will continue
into the overnight hours. The main concern will be damaging winds
and the heavy rain potential.

There is another marginal risk for severe weather again tomorrow for
areas south of a Schuyler to McLean County line with a similar
environment in place as previous days. The forecast will continue to
evolve as we get newer runs of the models.

Temperatures remain hot and humid. The heat advisory for south of I-
70 is valid through Sunday. Heat indices of 100-110 degrees are
forecast through Sunday, but how far north these heat indices get
will depend solely on the convection location. Like yesterday for
example, the convection lingered further south longer than forecast,
so heat indices struggled to hit triple digits.

Next week may bring us a brief break in the active weather and the
heat briefly. A high pressure area will set up over the Upper
Mississippi Valley / Great Lakes region by Monday, behind a cold
front that will move through central IL during the day. Temperatures
starting Monday into much of the next week will be mainly in the
upper 70s to 80s for highs and 60s to low 70s for lows.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 1223 AM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026

Thunderstorms are moving across portions of central Illinois during
the early overnight hours and expected to continue into Saturday
morning before exiting east of the area. MVFR/IFR ceilings currently
in place north of the terminals will sink south to along the I-74
corridor overnight, but confidence is currently low that it will
reach as far south as SPI/DEC. Areas that do drop are expected to
improve back to VFR early to mid Saturday afternoon as winds veer to
SWerly.

&&

.ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Flood Watch until 10 AM CDT this morning for ILZ027>031-
036>038-040-041-043>046-055-057.
Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT Sunday for ILZ066>068-071>073.

&&

KEY MESSAGES...Copple
DISCUSSION...Copple
AVIATION...Deubelbeiss
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 14, 3:00 PM CDT, 12 hours 54 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
300 PM CDT Fri Aug 14 2026

ILZ027>031-036>038-040>057-061>063-066>068-071>073-151100-
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-
300 PM CDT Fri Aug 14 2026

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

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Widespread thunderstorm activity is likely tonight, mainly north of
I-72. Locally strong to severe storms and flash flooding are
possible.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

Hot and humid conditions will peak over the area this weekend. Peak
afternoon heat indices will range from 103 to 112 Saturday, and 100
to 105 Sunday.

Daily chances for thunderstorms exist through the weekend, mainly
north of I-70 for Saturday. Some of these storms could be severe and
produce heavy rain.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed after midnight.

37

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 15, 1:46 AM CDT, 2 hours 8 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
146 AM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026

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

0144 AM     Flash Flood      Tremont                 40.53N 89.49W
08/15/2026                   Tazewell           IL   Public

            6 inches of water flowing over E Pearl
            Street.

&&

RAC
Local storm report, Aug 15, 2:12 AM CDT, 1 hour 42 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
212 AM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026

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

0209 AM     Flash Flood      3 WNW Mackinaw          40.56N 89.40W
08/15/2026                   Tazewell           IL   Public

            Allentown Road about a mile west of
            Allentown is flooded over.

&&

RAC
Local storm report, Aug 15, 2:32 AM CDT, 1 hour 22 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
232 AM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026

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

0224 AM     Flash Flood      2 ESE Bloomington       40.47N 88.96W
08/15/2026                   McLean             IL   911 Call Center

            Vehicle stalled in flood waters, road is
            impassable at Oakland Ave/Four Seasons Rd
            and Prospect Rd / Grandview Dr.

&&

RAC
Local storm report, Aug 15, 2:52 AM CDT, 1 hour 2 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
252 AM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026

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

0244 AM     Flash Flood      1 ENE Bloomington       40.49N 88.97W
08/15/2026                   McLean             IL   911 Call Center

            Vehicle stalled in floodwater, road is
            impassable.

&&

RAC
Local storm report, Aug 15, 2:54 AM CDT, 1 hour before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
254 AM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026

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

0252 AM     Flash Flood      Minier                  40.43N 89.31W
08/15/2026                   Tazewell           IL   Broadcast Media

            Water entering basement egress window at a
            home in Minier.

&&

RAC
Local storm report, Aug 15, 3:24 AM CDT, 30 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
324 AM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026

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

0318 AM     Flash Flood      Fisher                  40.32N 88.35W
08/15/2026                   Champaign          IL   Broadcast Media

            Reports of basements flooding in Fisher.

&&

RAC

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 14, 11:56 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningILXFulton, Knox, Mason, Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford7 hr
Aug 15, 1:09 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningILXMcLean6 hr
Aug 15, 1:23 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXFulton, Mason67 min
Aug 15, 1:51 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXFulton24 min
Aug 15, 2:19 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningILXMcLean5 hr
Aug 15, 2:23 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXPeoria, Tazewell38 min
Aug 15, 2:36 AM CDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatILXMcLean6 hr
Aug 15, 3:23 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningILXChampaign5 hr
Aug 15, 3:43 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXCass, Fulton, Mason, Menard, Morgan, Schuyler and 1 more62 min
Aug 15, 4:29 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementILXLogan, Menard, Sangamon31 min
Aug 15, 5:33 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryILXMorgan3 hr
Aug 15, 5:48 AM CDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatILXChampaign, Vermilion8 hr
Aug 15, 6:24 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementILXChampaign, Piatt, Vermilion36 min
Aug 15, 6:37 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningILXFulton, Knox, Mason, Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford27 hr
Aug 15, 7:33 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningILXMcLean65 min
Aug 15, 7:40 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningILXMcLean26 hr
Aug 15, 8:04 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningILXMcLean5 hr
Aug 15, 8:38 AM CDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatILXMcLean4 hr
Aug 15, 10:11 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningILXCass, Fulton, Mason13 days
Aug 15, 10:12 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningILXBrown, Cass, Morgan, Schuyler14 days
Aug 15, 10:19 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningILXPiatt7 days
Aug 15, 12:40 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningILXMcLean21 hr
Aug 15, 1:40 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningILXChampaign, Vermilion46 hr
Aug 15, 1:46 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningILXMcLean, Tazewell, Woodford20 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.