Alert archive / Illinois / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 192, NWS Lincoln, IL

May 4, 2026Christian County, Macon County, Shelby County, Illinois

NWS Lincoln, IL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 4, 2026, 9:49 PM CDT for Christian County, Macon County, Shelby County, Illinois. It was in force for 41 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, 9:49 PM CDT (02:49 UTC)
Expired
May 4, 2026, 10:30 PM CDT
In force
41 min
Issued by
NWS Lincoln, IL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Christian County, IL, Macon County, IL, Shelby County, IL

The radar

The Lincoln radar (KILX), 67 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:52 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 00:00Z, 2.8 hours before the alert went out and 71 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 2026-05-05Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 731 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 2026-05-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 123 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
731 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-56 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1674 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
41 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
123 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
163 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.2
Supercell composite
4.8

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, 6:10 PM CDT, 3 hours 39 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • SW winds gusting 30-40 mph this afternoon east of the IL river will cause blowing dust in open/rural areas that have recently been tilled. Continued the Blowing Dust Advisory until 6 pm east of the IL river and north of I-70. Blowing dust can result in localized, sharply reduced visibilities for motorists to be use caution if traveling this afternoon in central IL.
  • Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms east of I-55 this afternoon, and become more widespread tonight. There is slight to marginal risk for large hail and damaging wind gusts, mainly from 7 pm to 1 am tonight. The higher risk of severe storms this evening (slight risk with level 2 of 5) is from Shelbyville to Paris north.
Area forecast discussion, May 4, 6:10 PM CDT, 3 hours 39 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
610 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- SW winds gusting 30-40 mph this afternoon east of the IL river
  will cause blowing dust in open/rural areas that have recently
  been tilled. Continued the Blowing Dust Advisory until 6 pm
  east of the IL river and north of I-70. Blowing dust can
  result in localized, sharply reduced visibilities for
  motorists to be use caution if traveling this afternoon in
  central IL.

- Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms east of I-55
  this afternoon, and become more widespread tonight. There is
  slight to marginal risk for large hail and damaging wind
  gusts, mainly from 7 pm to 1 am tonight. The higher risk of
  severe storms this evening (slight risk with level 2 of 5) is
  from Shelbyville to Paris north.

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 1045 AM CDT Mon May 4 2026

Updated the forecast to adjust chances of showers and
thunderstorms the rest of today. Continued Blowing Dust Advisory
from 11 am to 6 pm southeast of the IL river and north of
Effingham, Cumberland and Clark counties. SW winds 10-20 mph
and gusts of 20-30 mph to increase this afternoon with gusts
30-40 mph possible especially over east central IL per latest
HRRR 10M wind gust forecast. This could lead to blowing dust in
recently tilled fields between the IL river and I-70, especially
in areas that stayed dry so far since last night.

Radar mosaic shows a band of showers and thunderstorms from
Springfield to Decatur to Paris south to near I-70 and tracking
eastward quickly at 50 mph. There is a subtle short wave
tracking quickly eastward with this convection along with 30-40
kt sw low level jet into central IL. This convection should
weaken next few hours as LLJ weakens and short wave moves into
Indiana. However more convection expected to develop late this
afternoon and early evening mainly se of I-55, and also during
this evening over nw CWA as cold front moves into nw IL during
this evening. SPC Day1 outlook continues marginal risk of severe
storms for large hail and damaging winds over much of IL for
mainly late afternoon and evening hours, with areas from Canton
to Decatur to Taylorville sw upgraded to a slight risk of severe
storms. Breezy sw winds and some sunshine to warm temperatures
to 75-80F degrees.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 245 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026

We have recently received a few reports of blowing dust since
130 pm over southeast parts of Logan and into Macon counties
with sw winds gusting as high as 30-40 mph. Will continue the
Blowing Dust Advisory until 6 pm east of the IL river and north
of I-70.

Radar mosaic at 230 pm shows some light southeast in southeast
IL from I-70 south while a band of thunderstorms was sw of
Vandalia to south side of St Louis metro and tracking eastward
across southern IL. A fair amount of sunshine nw of a Rantoul to
Taylorville line at mid afternoon helping warm temperatures up
into the mid to upper 70s. Mid to upper 70s also in far
southeast IL from Robinson to Olney to Fairfield se while cooler
65-72 degrees over cloudier areas of eastern IL. The 19Z/2 pm
surface map shows a cold front over southeast parts of WI/Iowa
into far nw MO and central KS. IL was in the warm sector so far.
We have some capping over central and southern CWA at mid
afternoon that has keep thunderstorms below severe levels so
far despite MUCAPES of 1-2k j/kg and MLCapes 500-1k j/kg and
effective bulk shear values of 35-50 kts.

Cold front to push se into nw IL during this evening and will
see sw LLJ 35-40 kts into central IL helping to develop
scattered convection during this evening and a few cells could
appear late afternoon/early evening in eastern IL and getting
into Knox and Stark and nw Marshall counties by sunset and
shifting se into central IL during this evening. SPC Day1
outlook has slight risk over much of central IL from
Shelbyville to Paris northwest and marginal risk southeast.
SPC has 2% risk of tornadoes in slight risk area, while 5-15%
risk of damaging winds over CWA (highest ne of BMI).
Also have 5-15% risk of large hail over area, with the 15% risk
in slight risk area. Also have level 1 for 2 inch or larger hail
over west central IL into northern MO for late afternoon and
evening. Cold front to press se toward IL river valley early
overnight and into southeast IL late Tue morning to midday Tue.
Chance of severe storms shift south of CWA on Tue though we have
marginal risk of excessive rainfall in southeast IL where 1-2
inches possible.

Showers to diminish from nw to se during Tue night wile just
slight chances of showers on Wed mainly south of I-74. Much
cooler Tue with the clouds and showers, with highs 55-60F over
central IL and 60-65 in southeast IL from I-70 se. Lows in the
lower 40s central IL Tue night and mid 40s southeast IL. Cool
highs Wed in the mid to upper 50s with even cooler lows in the
upper 30s in central IL and lower 40s in southeast IL. A large
mid/upper level trof over the Midwest/Great Lakes and Ohio river
valley Thu could keep slight chances of light rain showers
around though we currently have pops less than 20% on Thu. Highs
Thu 60-65F, mildest over west central IL. A northern stream
short wave trof dives se into the area on Friday afternoon
bringing a chance of showers and isolated thunderstorms Fri
afternoon and Fri evening. Breezy sw winds on Friday warms
temps up to 65-70F.

Saturday currently looks dry and comfortable with highs in the
low to mid 70s. But another another disturbance moving in
overnight Sat night and Sunday (Mothers Day) to return chances
of showers and thunderstorms.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 610 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026

Several rounds of showers and storms are expected the next 24 hours
with the main waves being this evening and again tomorrow morning
into early afternoon. Breezy southwest winds will lessen shortly
after 00Z, with speeds remaining around 10-15 kts through the
overnight hours. A cold front will shift winds to the north-northwest
late tonight into Tuesday morning. MVFR ceilings develop behind
the departing rain Tuesday, with at least a low chance for
these to impact KDEC and KCMI. However, higher chances (60-80%)
remain just south and east of the airfields.

&&

.ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Blowing Dust Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for ILZ031-
037-038-041>048-050>057-061.

&&

KEY MESSAGES...07
UPDATE...07
DISCUSSION...07
AVIATION...NMA
Hazardous weather outlook, May 4, 2:56 PM CDT, 6 hours 53 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, 5:02 PM CDT, 4 hours 47 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
Special weather statement, May 4, 8:13 PM CDT, 1 hour 36 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
813 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026

ILZ028>031-037-050200-
Tazewell-Marshall-Peoria-Woodford-Stark-
813 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN MARSHALL...WESTERN
WOODFORD...SOUTHEASTERN STARK...NORTHEASTERN TAZEWELL AND
NORTHEASTERN PEORIA COUNTIES THROUGH 900 PM CDT...

At 813 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Edelstein to near Dunlap to 6 miles
northwest of Peoria. Movement was east at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Peoria, East Peoria, Chillicothe, Eureka, Lacon, Washington,
Metamora, Germantown Hills, Rome, Dunlap, Washburn, Deer Creek,
Spring Bay, Sparland, Edelstein, Kickapoo, Peoria Heights, Cazenovia,
Hopewell, and Bay View Gardens.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 474 between mile markers 0 and 1.
 Interstate 74 between mile markers 78 and 90.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4098 8922 4076 8922 4062 8934 4079 8983
      4093 8974 4109 8972
TIME...MOT...LOC 0113Z 290DEG 36KT 4100 8964 4087 8962 4078 8972

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

NMA
Local storm report, May 4, 9:11 PM CDT, 38 minutes before
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Local storm report, May 4, 9:13 PM CDT, 36 minutes before
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Local storm report, May 4, 9:22 PM CDT, 27 minutes before
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Local storm report, May 4, 9:42 PM CDT, 7 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 4, 7:19 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXFulton, Knox41 min
May 4, 7:42 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXKnox, Marshall, Peoria, Stark33 min
May 4, 7:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXMarshall, Woodford31 min
May 4, 8:13 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementILXPeoria47 min
May 4, 8:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXClay41 min
May 4, 9:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXColes, Douglas, Moultrie, Shelby52 min
May 4, 9:10 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXClay, Jasper, Richland11 min
May 4, 9:12 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXChristian, Macon, Piatt, Sangamon48 min
May 4, 9:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXMason, Tazewell36 min
May 4, 10:10 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXCass, Fulton, Mason, Schuyler35 min
May 4, 10:23 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXLogan, Mason, Menard37 min
May 4, 10:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXMoultrie10 min
May 4, 10:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXCass, Mason, Menard, Morgan, Sangamon35 min
May 4, 10:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXDeWitt, Logan, McLean, Macon34 min
May 4, 11:31 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXChristian, Menard, Morgan, Sangamon29 min
May 5, 12:11 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementILXEdgar34 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Illinois, 2026Every 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.