Alert archive / Illinois / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 74, NWS Lincoln, IL
NWS Lincoln, IL issued this flash flood warning at Aug 19, 2026, 6:13 PM CDT for Vermilion 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
- Aug 19, 2026, 6:13 PM CDT (23:13 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 19, 2026, 8:59 PM CDT
- In force
- 3 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Lincoln, IL
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
County Vermilion County, IL
The radar
The Lincoln radar (KILX), 137 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:13 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 19, 7:00 PM CDT | RAIN 2.5 | Rossville, IL | Relayed report of 2.5 inches rainfall in Rossville over the last 90 minutes. |
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 12:00Z, 11.2 hours before the alert went out and 76 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
- 310 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -93 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 917 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 42 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 17 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 63 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.1
The text
As transmitted.
590
WGUS53 KILX 192313
FFWILX
ILC183-200215-
/O.NEW.KILX.FF.W.0074.260819T2313Z-260820T0215Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
613 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026
The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Northern Vermilion County in east central Illinois...
* Until 915 PM CDT.
* At 611 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1.5 and 2 inches of
rain have fallen. The expected rainfall rate is 1 to 2 inches in 1
hour. 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...
Hoopeston, Rossville, Potomac, Henning, Alvin and Armstrong.
This area is already very saturated from previous rainfall, so it
would not take much rain to cause flash flooding in northern
Vermilion County.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
&&
LAT...LON 4043 8753 4041 8753 4040 8753 4037 8753
4031 8753 4027 8793 4033 8793 4034 8793
4035 8793 4036 8793 4039 8793 4040 8793
4041 8793 4043 8793 4048 8753
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
EXPECTED RAINFALL RATE...1-2 INCHES IN 1 HOUR
$$
Auten1 follow-up statement
181
WGUS73 KILX 200159
FFSILX
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
859 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026
ILC183-200209-
/O.CAN.KILX.FF.W.0074.000000T0000Z-260820T0215Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Vermilion IL-
859 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR NORTHERN VERMILION COUNTY...
The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a
threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.
A Flood Watch remains in effect until 100 AM CDT for portions of
central, east central, and west central Illinois.
&&
LAT...LON 4043 8753 4041 8753 4040 8753 4037 8753
4031 8753 4027 8793 4033 8793 4034 8793
4035 8793 4036 8793 4039 8793 4040 8793
4041 8793 4043 8793 4048 8753
$$
AutenWhat 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 19, 2:45 PM CDT, 3 hours 28 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected through this evening, and into the overnight hours southeast of the IL river. Damaging winds, hail, heavy rains and localized flooding is in play today. A Flood Watch is posted until 1 am tonight from Fulton to Macon to Vermilion counties north where 1-2 inches and locally 2-4 inches of rain possible.
- A persistent northwest flow will keep temperatures and humidity levels in check the next several days, with seasonable highs in the upper 70s to mid 80s.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 19, 2:45 PM CDT, 3 hours 28 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 245 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected through this evening, and into the overnight hours southeast of the IL river. Damaging winds, hail, heavy rains and localized flooding is in play today. A Flood Watch is posted until 1 am tonight from Fulton to Macon to Vermilion counties north where 1-2 inches and locally 2-4 inches of rain possible. - A persistent northwest flow will keep temperatures and humidity levels in check the next several days, with seasonable highs in the upper 70s to mid 80s. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 245 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026 We continued the Flood Watch through 1 am tonight from Fulton, Mason, Menard, Logan, Macon, Piatt, Champaign and Vermilion counties north. Some areas could see 1-2 inches of rain through early overnight in central IL with pockets of 2-4 inches possible. PWATs are in the 1.6-2 inch range over CWA (highest over southern CWA) and supports heavy rain threat next several hours. Parts of the flood watch area has already seen 5-10 inches of rain since last Sunday Aug 9th. Radar mosaic shows a few cells developing along a frontal trof from southern Fulton county into central parts of McLean and Ford county. Had a recent report and photo of a funnel clouds in Bloomington and Galva (southern Henry county). Moderately unstable tropical airmass over CWA with SB CAPES of 2-3k j/kg, and highest over northern/nw CWa. The 0-6 km bulk shear values are at moderate levels too from 35-45 kts over CWA and highest over southern/sw CWA. A cold front over northern/nw IL will push se thru CWA during tonight, while an associated short wave trof over western Iowa tracks se through IL during tonight. This will interact with the tropical air mass to likely produce scattered showers and thunderstorms. SPC Day1 outlook has marginal risk of severe storms over CWA for large hail and damaging winds while tornado threat is over southern IL south of CWA though a few more funnels may occur along weak trof over northern CWA through 00Z/7 pm. Quieter weather expected on Thursday and Thu night as cold front nearing the Ohio river by sunrise Thu pushes into central KY. Highs in the lower 80s Thu with dewpoints in the mid to upper 60s. A northern stream system approached IL on Friday bringing 20-40% chance of convection over northern cWA Fri afternoon and across central IL friday night especially Fri evening. SPC keeps severe risk west nw of IL on Fri with slight risk of Nebraska and northeast KS. Highs in the low to mid 80s Friday with dewpoints sneaking up into the upper 60s/lower 70s by Fri afternoon. Fairly quiet weather this weekend into early next week with just slight pops at times while most areas should stay dry. Another cold front to sweep through IL early Saturday and bringing in less humid air during this weekend. Lows Saturday night in the lower 60s and lows in upper 50s to around 60F Sunday night making for more comfortable nights ahead. Highs Sat 80-85 (warmest in southeast IL) and upper 70s/lower 80s Sunday/Monday. Still pretty not much weather expected into middle of next week with some moderation of temperatures and dewpoints to more summerlike readings. && .AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY/... Issued at 1250 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026 Scattered convection is forecast to develop during mid/late afternoon and continue through this evening, and early overnight se of the IL River with MVFR conditions possible. There is also a chance of IFR condtions with thunderstorms with heavier rains later this afternoon into this evening. A weak east/west trof was just south of PIA and near BMI early this afternoon with east to NE winds near 5 kts north of this boundary and south to SW winds near 5 kts south of the boundary. Main cold front over northern IL to push southward into the IL river valley/PIA late afternoon and thru rest of central IL during this evening, keeping convection chances going for several hours. We have MVFR vsbys possible overnight into early Thu morning from patchy fog after the convection chances end. Winds to stay fairly light next 24 hours under 10 kts and veer NE during tonight into Thu morning. && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flood Watch until 1 AM CDT Thursday for ILZ027>031-036>038- 041>046-048-053. && KEY MESSAGES...07 DISCUSSION...07 AVIATION...07
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 19, 2:52 PM CDT, 3 hours 21 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Lincoln IL 252 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026 ILZ027>031-036>038-040>057-061-201100- 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- 252 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Illinois, east central Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...Late This Afternoon and Tonight. Scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop this afternoon and persist into the evening, producing locally heavy rain which could lead to flash flooding. A few of the storms may be strong or briefly severe, producing damaging winds and large hail. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Additional thunderstorms are possible Friday afternoon and night. The risk of severe weather is low. Flooding will continue into the weekend for portions of the Illinois and Sangamon Rivers. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be required through this evening. Expected storm motion is to the east around 25 mph. ILZ062-063-066>068-071>073-201100- Cumberland-Clark-Effingham-Jasper-Crawford-Clay-Richland-Lawrence- 252 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Illinois and southeast Illinois. .DAY ONE...Late This Afternoon and Tonight. Scattered thunderstorms are expected this evening, lingering past midnight. Isolated damaging wind gusts and locally heavy rain which could lead to flash flooding are the primary hazards. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Flooding will linger on the Wabash River for several days. Otherwise, no hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be required this evening. Expected storm motion is to the east around 25 mph. Geelhart
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Aug 19, 2:40 PM CDT, 3 hours 33 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Lincoln IL 240 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026 ILZ027>031-036>038-040-041-192300- Knox-Stark-Peoria-Marshall-Woodford-Fulton-Tazewell-McLean-Schuyler- Mason- Including the cities of Galesburg, Toulon, Peoria, Lacon, Eureka, Canton, Pekin, Bloomington, Normal, Rushville, and Havana 240 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026 ...FUNNEL CLOUDS SIGHTED OVER CENTRAL ILLINOIS... At 145 PM, broadcast media reported a funnel cloud near Bloomington, and at 235 PM, a storm spotter reported one near the Knox and Henry county line. Atmospheric conditions exist that favor the possible formation of weak circulations along a pre-existing boundary. Some of these circulations are occurring underneath developing showers and thunderstorms, where a funnel cloud may develop. Once the rain begins, the funnel cloud usually dissipates. Low hanging clouds can also appear to dip up and down at times, but they will not show signs of any rapid rotation. An actual funnel cloud will exhibit spinning in a counter-clockwise direction. In rare instances these funnels may briefly touch down. Stay alert and be prepared to move to a safe shelter if a funnel cloud approaches the ground. Geelhart
Special weather statement, Aug 19, 3:43 PM CDT, 2 hours 30 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Lincoln IL 343 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026 ILZ027>031-036>038-040>051-053-200000- Knox-Stark-Peoria-Marshall-Woodford-Fulton-Tazewell-McLean-Schuyler- Mason-Logan-De Witt-Piatt-Champaign-Vermilion-Cass-Menard-Scott- Morgan-Sangamon-Macon- Including the cities of Galesburg, Toulon, Peoria, Lacon, Eureka, Canton, Pekin, Bloomington, Normal, Rushville, Havana, Lincoln, Clinton, Monticello, Champaign, Urbana, Danville, Beardstown, Petersburg, Winchester, Jacksonville, Springfield, and Decatur 343 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026 ...FUNNEL CLOUDS SIGHTED OVER CENTRAL ILLINOIS... At 315 PM, broadcast media and Emergency Management personnel reported additional funnel clouds over parts of central Illinois. Atmospheric conditions exist that favor the possible formation of weak circulations along pre-existing boundaries. Some of these circulations are occurring underneath developing showers and thunderstorms, where a funnel cloud may develop. Once the rain begins, the funnel cloud usually dissipates. Low hanging clouds can also appear to dip up and down at times, but they will not show signs of any rapid rotation. An actual funnel cloud will exhibit spinning in a counter-clockwise direction. In rare instances these funnels may briefly touch down. Stay alert and be prepared to move to a safe shelter if a funnel cloud approaches the ground. Auten
Local storm report, Aug 19, 6:02 PM CDT, 11 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
602 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0530 PM Funnel Cloud 2 NW Monica 40.94N 89.86W
08/19/2026 Peoria IL Public
Multiple reports of two funnel clouds near
this area.
&&
AutenThe office that day
Everything else NWS Lincoln, IL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 19, 2:35 AM CDT | Flood Watch | ILX | Champaign, DeWitt, Fulton, Knox, Logan, McLean and 10 more | 22 hr |
| Aug 19, 5:43 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | ILX | Knox | 3 hr |
| Aug 19, 6:34 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Fulton | 56 min |
| Aug 19, 6:52 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | ILX | Tazewell, Woodford | 6 hr |
| Aug 19, 6:58 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | ILX | Champaign | 2 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.