Alert archive / Illinois / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 183, NWS Lincoln, IL

May 4, 2026Knox County, Illinois

NWS Lincoln, IL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 4, 2026, 5:46 PM CDT for Knox County, Illinois. It was in force for 44 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued: May 4, 2026, 5:46 PM CDT (22:46 UTC)
Expired: May 4, 2026, 6:30 PM CDT
In force: 44 min
Issued by: NWS Lincoln, IL
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 1.0 in
Wind: 60.0 mph

County Knox County, IL

The radar

The Quad Cities radar (KDVN), 82 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:48 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 12:00Z, 10.8 hours before the alert went out and 162 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 1708 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 121 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 231 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm 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 severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 4, 2:50 PM CDT, 2 hours 56 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 4, 2:50 PM CDT, 2 hours 56 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, May 4, 2:56 PM CDT, 2 hours 50 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
256 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026

ILZ027>031-036>038-040>057-061-051100-
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-
256 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026

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

.DAY ONE...Late This Afternoon and Tonight.

Gusty winds of 30 to 40 mph will combine with loose top soil to
create areas of blowing dust this afternoon. This is most likely
north of I-72 and Danville, where morning rainfall was minimal. The
blowing dust may reduce visibilities to less than 1/2 mile at times.
Conditions should improve around 7 pm when wind speeds are reduced.

Scattered thunderstorms are expected late afternoon into tonight, as
a cold front sweeps through the area. Some of these may be severe,
with hail being the primary concern. Most of the hail should be the
size of quarters, but west central Illinois may see some as large as
golf balls.

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

A few thunderstorms may linger into Tuesday over east central
Illinois, though severe weather is not expected.

Minor flooding will continue along the Illinois River from Havana to
Beardstown into early next week, though river levels will slowly
fall during this period.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed after 7 pm.

Expected storm motion is toward the east at 45 mph.

ILZ062-063-066>068-071>073-051100-
Cumberland-Clark-Effingham-Jasper-Crawford-Clay-Richland-Lawrence-
256 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Illinois.

.DAY ONE...Late This Afternoon and Tonight.

Scattered thunderstorms will redevelop this afternoon, and continue
into tonight. A few of the storms may be strong or locally severe,
with damaging gusts up to 60 mph and hail up to 1 inch the primary
severe weather threat.

Lingering flooding on the lower Embarras River and Wabash River
should subside today.

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

Thunderstorms are still possible Tuesday into Tuesday evening.
Severe weather is not expected with any of these storms at this
time.

Minor flooding on the Little Wabash River near Clay City will
continue for several more days.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed this evening.

Expected storm motion is toward the east at 45 mph.

Geelhart

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 4, 3:26 PM CDT, 2 hours 20 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
326 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026

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

0238 PM     Dust Storm       2 ESE Latham            39.95N 89.12W
05/04/2026                   Macon              IL   Public

            Photo showing dust blowing across IL-121
            between Latham and Warrensburg, reducing
            visibility. Report relayed by broadcast
            media.

0245 PM     Dust Storm       1 S Chestnut            40.03N 89.18W
05/04/2026                   Logan              IL   Public

            Photo shows a dust channel south of
            Chestnut, near the intersection of 800th St
            and 2200th Avenue. Report relayed by
            broadcast media.

0307 PM     Dust Storm       2 SSE Lake of the Woods 40.18N 88.36W
05/04/2026                   Champaign          IL   Broadcast Media

            Near zero visibility east of Mahomet on US
            150.

0315 PM     Dust Storm       De Witt                 40.19N 88.79W
05/04/2026                   De Witt            IL   Broadcast Media

            Photo shows dust blowing across Route 54
            near De Witt. Despite cloud-free skies, the
            sky appears murky with a brown tint.

&&

Erwin

Local storm report, May 4, 3:44 PM CDT, 2 hours 2 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
344 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026

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

0312 PM     Dust Storm       Fisher                  40.32N 88.35W
05/04/2026                   Champaign          IL   Public

            Videos shows blowing dust reducing
            visibility in Fisher to around a quarter
            mile. Outdoor objects were reportedly
            covered with a thin layer of dust.

0315 PM     Dust Storm       2 NNW Maroa             40.06N 88.97W
05/04/2026                   De Witt            IL   Public

            Photo showing low visibility on US-51
            between Clinton and Forsyth.

0315 PM     Dust Storm       1 W Warrensburg         39.94N 89.09W
05/04/2026                   Macon              IL   Public

            Security camera shows reduced visibility
            under a quarter mile at times due to blowing
            dust.

0320 PM     Dust Storm       3 NNE Ivesdale          39.98N 88.43W
05/04/2026                   Champaign          IL   Public

            Photo shows blowing dust north of Ivesdale,
            reducing visibility. Report relayed by
            broadcast media.

0324 PM     Dust Storm       3 NNW Latham            40.00N 89.19W
05/04/2026                   Logan              IL   Emergency Mngr

            Zero visibility in the 2100 block of 600th
            Street.

0325 PM     Dust Storm       1 WNW Maroa             40.04N 88.97W
05/04/2026                   Macon              IL   Law Enforcement

            Low visibility due to blowing dust near
            Maroa. Report relayed by emergency manager.

&&

Erwin

Local storm report, May 4, 3:58 PM CDT, 1 hour 48 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
358 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026

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

0320 PM     Dust Storm       5 SE White Heath        40.03N 88.45W
05/04/2026                   Champaign          IL   Broadcast Media

            Public photo shows near-zero visibility
            along Monticello Road west of I-57 due to
            blowing dust. Time estimated using
            satellite.

0330 PM     Dust Storm       2 W Argenta             39.98N 88.86W
05/04/2026                   Macon              IL   Public

            Photo shows near zero visibility along Emery
            Road, west of Argenta.

&&

Erwin

Local storm report, May 4, 4:17 PM CDT, 1 hour 29 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
417 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026

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

0353 PM     Dust Storm       3 SE Lake of the Woods  40.17N 88.33W
05/04/2026                   Champaign          IL   Broadcast Media

            Visibility around a quarter mile along I-74
            between Mahomet and Champaign due to blowing
            dust.

0410 PM     Dust Storm       2 SSE Bellflower        40.31N 88.51W
05/04/2026                   McLean             IL   Law Enforcement

            Illinois State Police reports dust storm has
            led to the closure of US 136 between Highway
            54 and the Champaign County line.

&&

Erwin

Local storm report, May 4, 5:02 PM CDT, 44 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report...Summary
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
502 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026

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

0238 PM     Dust Storm       2 ESE Latham            39.95N 89.12W
05/04/2026                   Macon              IL   Public

            Photo showing dust blowing across IL-121
            between Latham and Warrensburg, reducing
            visibility. Report relayed by broadcast
            media.

0245 PM     Dust Storm       1 S Chestnut            40.03N 89.18W
05/04/2026                   Logan              IL   Public

            Photo shows a dust channel south of
            Chestnut, near the intersection of 800th St
            and 2200th Avenue. Report relayed by
            broadcast media.

0307 PM     Dust Storm       2 SSE Lake of the Woods 40.18N 88.36W
05/04/2026                   Champaign          IL   Broadcast Media

            Near zero visibility east of Mahomet on US
            150.

0312 PM     Dust Storm       Fisher                  40.32N 88.35W
05/04/2026                   Champaign          IL   Public

            Videos shows blowing dust reducing
            visibility in Fisher to around a quarter
            mile. Outdoor objects were reportedly
            covered with a thin layer of dust.

0315 PM     Dust Storm       1 W Warrensburg         39.94N 89.09W
05/04/2026                   Macon              IL   Public

            Security camera shows reduced visibility
            under a quarter mile at times due to blowing
            dust.

0315 PM     Dust Storm       2 NNW Maroa             40.06N 88.97W
05/04/2026                   De Witt            IL   Public

            Photo showing low visibility on US-51
            between Clinton and Forsyth.

0315 PM     Dust Storm       De Witt                 40.19N 88.79W
05/04/2026                   De Witt            IL   Broadcast Media

            Photo shows dust blowing across Route 54
            near De Witt. Despite cloud-free skies, the
            sky appears murky with a brown tint.

0320 PM     Dust Storm       5 SE White Heath        40.03N 88.45W
05/04/2026                   Champaign          IL   Broadcast Media

            Public photo shows near-zero visibility
            along Monticello Road west of I-57 due to
            blowing dust. Time estimated using
            satellite.

0320 PM     Dust Storm       3 NNE Ivesdale          39.98N 88.43W
05/04/2026                   Champaign          IL   Public

            Photo shows blowing dust north of Ivesdale,
            reducing visibility. Report relayed by
            broadcast media.

0324 PM     Dust Storm       3 NNW Latham            40.00N 89.19W
05/04/2026                   Logan              IL   Emergency Mngr

            Zero visibility in the 2100 block of 600th
            Street.

0325 PM     Dust Storm       1 WNW Maroa             40.04N 88.97W
05/04/2026                   Macon              IL   Law Enforcement

            Low visibility due to blowing dust near
            Maroa. Report relayed by emergency manager.

0330 PM     Dust Storm       2 W Argenta             39.98N 88.86W
05/04/2026                   Macon              IL   Public

            Photo shows near zero visibility along Emery
            Road, west of Argenta.

0353 PM     Dust Storm       3 SE Lake of the Woods  40.17N 88.33W
05/04/2026                   Champaign          IL   Broadcast Media

            Visibility around a quarter mile along I-74
            between Mahomet and Champaign due to blowing
            dust.

0410 PM     Dust Storm       2 SSE Bellflower        40.31N 88.51W
05/04/2026                   McLean             IL   Law Enforcement

            Illinois State Police reports dust storm has
            led to the closure of US 136 between Highway
            54 and the Champaign County line.

&&

Erwin

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 3, 10:20 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	ILX	Clay	25 min
May 3, 10:45 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	Christian, Shelby	30 min
May 3, 11:52 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	Christian, Shelby	23 min
May 4, 2:37 AM CDT	Blowing Dust Advisory	ILX	Cass, Champaign, Christian, Coles, DeWitt, Douglas and 14 more	16 hr
May 4, 2:54 PM CDT	Dust Storm Warning	ILX	DeWitt, Logan, McLean, Macon	2 hr
May 4, 3:14 PM CDT	Dust Storm Warning	ILX	Champaign, DeWitt, McLean, Macon, Piatt	2 hr
May 4, 3:32 PM CDT	Dust Storm Warning	ILX	McLean	88 min
May 4, 6:27 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	Knox, Peoria, Stark	24 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Illinois, 2026 Every severe thunderstorm 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.