Alert archive / Illinois / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 331, NWS Lincoln, IL

July 27, 2026Cumberland County, Illinois

NWS Lincoln, IL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 27, 2026, 7:11 AM CDT for Cumberland County, Illinois. It was in force for 14 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Jul 27, 2026, 7:11 AM CDT (12:11 UTC)
Expired
Jul 27, 2026, 7:25 AM CDT
In force
14 min
Issued by
NWS Lincoln, IL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
0.75 in
Wind
60.0 mph

County Cumberland County, IL

The radar

The Evansville,IN radar (KVWX), 118 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 12:13 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm 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, 0.2 hours before the alert went out and 105 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 2026-07-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 3689 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 12:00Z on 2026-07-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 127 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
3689 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-49 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
801 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
43 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
127 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
158 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.7
Supercell composite
4.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

797 
WUUS53 KILX 271211
SVRILX
ILC035-271315-
/O.NEW.KILX.SV.W.0331.260727T1211Z-260727T1315Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
711 AM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026

The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Central Cumberland County in east central Illinois...

* Until 815 AM CDT.

* At 711 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 5 miles northwest 
  of Toledo, moving southeast at 15 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

* This severe thunderstorm will be near...
  Toledo around 715 AM CDT.
  Greenup around 720 AM CDT.
  Jewett around 730 AM CDT.

This includes Interstate 70 between mile markers 108 and 121.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will send your report to the National Weather Service
office in Lincoln.

&&

LAT...LON 3917 8833 3935 8836 3936 8818 3918 8801
TIME...MOT...LOC 1211Z 321DEG 12KT 3931 8825 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

Geelhart
1 follow-up statement
358 
WWUS53 KILX 271225
SVSILX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
725 AM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026

ILC035-271235-
/O.CAN.KILX.SV.W.0331.000000T0000Z-260727T1315Z/
Cumberland-
725 AM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR CENTRAL CUMBERLAND COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer poses an immediate threat to life or property.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled. However, gusty winds are 
still possible with this thunderstorm.

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
Lincoln.

&&

LAT...LON 3917 8833 3935 8836 3936 8818 3918 8801
TIME...MOT...LOC 1220Z 321DEG 12KT 3927 8821 

$$

Geelhart

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 Jul 27, 6:22 AM CDT, 49 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Areas of fog early this morning from Peoria to Lincoln to Robinson northeast will be locally dense especially from Bloomington to Paris northeast.
  • Oppressive heat and humidity continue through early evening with heat indices peaking between 105 and 115 degrees and a few spots higher this afternoon.
  • Multiple thunderstorm complexes will move across IL into this evening, presenting a conditional threat for severe weather. Damaging winds and heavy rains are a risk especially early this morning in southeast IL, and across central and southeast IL this afternoon and early evening.
  • A cold front will bring relief from the high heat and humidity on Tuesday, transitioning us back to near normal temperatures and humidity levels during mid week.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 27, 6:22 AM CDT, 49 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
622 AM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Areas of fog early this morning from Peoria to Lincoln to
  Robinson northeast will be locally dense especially from
  Bloomington to Paris northeast.

- Oppressive heat and humidity continue through early evening
  with heat indices peaking between 105 and 115 degrees and a
  few spots higher this afternoon.

- Multiple thunderstorm complexes will move across IL into this
  evening, presenting a conditional threat for severe weather.
  Damaging winds and heavy rains are a risk especially early
  this morning in southeast IL, and across central and southeast
  IL this afternoon and early evening.

- A cold front will bring relief from the high heat and humidity on
  Tuesday, transitioning us back to near normal temperatures
  and humidity levels during mid week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 345 AM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026

We have expanded the extreme heat warning over rest of central
IL except having Vermilion, Edgar and Clark counties in a heat
advisory until 9 pm today. Heat indices this afternoon and early
evening to peak from 105-115 with a few spots getting to 120 or
higher.

Areas of fog have developed past few hours from Peoria to
Lincoln and Decatur to Robinson northeast, with dense fog
recently forming at Bloomington and Danville. A dense fog
advisory until 8 am from Livingston and LaSalle counties north.
The fog should lift and push northeast of central IL between 7-8
am.

MCS over western parts of TN/KY has a tail of convection
extending northward into southeast IL (eastern Shelby, western
Cumberland, Effingham, Clay and western Jasper counties). Flash
Flood warning for eastern Effingham county until 5 am and for
southern Clay county until 6 am. A personal weather station on
north side of Effingham measured 3.6 inches of rain at 315 am
and wind gust 40 mph. Very high PWATs were 1.9-2.25 inches from
Decatur SSE and cells moving SSE but backbuilding to the north
toward DEC airport. This boundary extends northward into DeWitt
and western McLean county so may see some cells develop here too
early this morning. CAMs not handling this convection the best
though ARW is closer to reality and also Canadian REG latching
on to this convection longer. So this narrow band of convection
may last a few more hours until 13Z/8 am over parts of east
central and especially southeast IL with heavy rain and frequent
lightning the main threats. Though a few stronger cells could
have wind gusts over 40 mph.

MLCAPEs currently 2500-4000 j/kg and MUCAPES are 4000-5000 j/kg
over central/IL with a cap in place at dawn. This very unstable
air mass to likely continue through the afternoon when CAPES
likely top 4000 j/kg and effective bulk shear values of 30-40
kts. Challenging forecast today with convection chances since
triggers are not very obvious. Consensus of models was showing
MCS developing over WI this morning and moving southward over
central IL during this afternoon/early evening. Though this
convection has been slower to develop in east central WI. SPC
Day1 outlook has upgraded to a slight risk over central and sw
CWA and enhanced risk over ne CWA this afternoon/early evening.
There is 15-30% risk of damaging winds, with a level 1 for
winds of over 75 mph over much of CWA. There is a 2% to less
than 5% risk of tornadoes over CWA. The enhanced risk in ne CWA
has 5-15% risk of large hail.

Highs today in the low to mid 90s combined with dewpoints in the
upper 70s/lower 80s to give afternoon heat indices of 110-115
and few places reaching 120 or higher. Dewpoints got into the
mid 80s late yesterday afternoon at SPI and Macomb with
Springfield 84 degrees setting a new record high dewpoint.
We expanded the extreme heat warning across rest of central IL
except have heat advisory for Vermilion, Edgar and Clark
counties until 9 pm. If thunderstorms materialize and move in
during the afternoon and early evening, it would cool temps/heat
indices and would likely end the heat headlines earlier than 9
pm.

Main synoptic cold front to push southward across central IL
overnight and could produce isolated convection with better
chances east of IL where better forcing expected. Muggy lows
tonight in the low to mid 70s, warmest in southeast IL. Modest
northerly breezes on Tue bring in cooler and gradually less
humid air as dewpoints slip into the upper 60s/lower 70s Tue
afternoon. Highs Tue in the mid to upper 80s with heat indices
Tue afternoon peaking in the mid to upper 80s from Springfield
and Robinson sw. Quiet weather expected during mid week (Tue-
Thu) as weak high pressure ridge settles into IL on Wed with
more comfortable temperatures and humidity levels. Highs in the
low to mid 80s Wed and mid 80s Thu with lows in the low to mid
60s Tue and Wed nights.

Medium range models show a northern stream short wave trof
moving into IL on Friday into Saturday likely bringing next
chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the low to mid 80s
Fri/Sat and mid 80s Sunday.

The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) 8-14 Day Outlook for Aug
3-9th has 50-60% chance of above normal temperatures over
central and southern IL (45-50% chance above normal temps in
northern IL) with precipitation trending near normal across IL.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z TUESDAY/...
Issued at 622 AM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026

Area of IFR ceilings/visibilities extends from KBMI-KCMI early
this morning, though it will continue to lift over the next hour
or two. Main forecast challenge will be with timing of
additional storms. Upstream storm evolution (or lack thereof)
introduces great uncertainty with timing, aside from storms
currently nearby to KCMI. Will mention PROB30 groups at all
sites from 21-24z. Late in the period, winds shift to the
northwest and north as a cold front pushes through the area.

&&

.ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Extreme Heat Warning until 9 PM CDT this evening for
ILZ027>031-036>038-040>045-047>056-061-062-066>068-071>073.
Heat Advisory until 9 PM CDT this evening for ILZ046-057-063.

&&

KEY MESSAGES...07
DISCUSSION...07
AVIATION...Geelhart
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 27, 5:34 AM CDT, 1 hour 37 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
534 AM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026

ILZ027>031-036>038-040>057-061-281100-
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-
534 AM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026

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

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Oppressive heat will continue today, with heat index values of 110 to
115 degrees likely.

While there is some uncertainty in the evolution of severe weather
today, any storms that form will be capable of producing wind gusts
in excess of 70 mph. This would be most likely in the afternoon.

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

Scattered thunderstorms are expected from Thursday night into
Saturday. The severe weather threat appears low at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed this afternoon.

Expected storm motion is toward the southeast around 30 mph.

ILZ062-063-066>068-071>073-281100-
Cumberland-Clark-Effingham-Jasper-Crawford-Clay-Richland-Lawrence-
534 AM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Illinois.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Early morning thunderstorms will produce areas of flash flooding,
along with scattered wind damage. This is most likely close to the
I-57 corridor. Additional thunderstorms are possible toward late
afternoon and early evening, and these may also be severe.

Oppressive heat will continue today outside of the storms, with heat
index values of 110 to 115 degrees likely.

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

Scattered thunderstorms are expected from Friday into Saturday. The
severe weather threat appears low at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed through early evening.

Expected storm motion is toward the southeast around 30  mph.

Geelhart

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 27, 5:58 AM CDT, 1 hour 13 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
558 AM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026

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

0545 AM     Rain             2 NNE Effingham         39.15N 88.53W
07/27/2026  M3.02 Inch       Effingham          IL   Mesonet

            Mesonet station DW5254 Baraboo.

0535 AM     Rain             Effingham County Airpor 39.07N 88.53W
07/27/2026  M1.82 Inch       Effingham          IL   AWOS

            AWOS station K1H2 Effingham Arpt.

&&
Local storm report, Jul 27, 6:30 AM CDT, 41 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
630 AM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026

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

0313 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 S Effingham           39.10N 88.54W
07/27/2026                   Effingham          IL   Public

            Tree down on home and multiple reports of
            tree limbs down.

0453 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 SE Effingham          39.11N 88.53W
07/27/2026                   Effingham          IL   Broadcast Media

            Tree damage in the Homewood Subdivision.
            Time estimated from radar.

0453 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Teutopolis              39.13N 88.47W
07/27/2026                   Effingham          IL   Public

            Large trees uprooted, trees down on
            powerlines, and multiple reports across town
            of tree limbs down. Time estimated from
            radar.

0545 AM     Rain             Teutopolis              39.13N 88.48W
07/27/2026  M3.43 Inch       Effingham          IL   Mesonet

            Mesonet station FW1289 Teutopolis.

0550 AM     Flood            Teutopolis              39.13N 88.48W
07/27/2026                   Effingham          IL   Broadcast Media

            A foot of standing water in the Caseys
            parking lot. Photo shows water up to the
            bumper of a white commercial van.

0552 AM     Flood            1 ENE Teutopolis        39.14N 88.46W
07/27/2026                   Effingham          IL   Public

            Route 40 flooded with standing water.

0556 AM     Flood            Flora                   38.67N 88.49W
07/27/2026                   Clay               IL   Public

            Reports with pictures of yards with standing
            water of a couple inches depth.

&&
Local storm report, Jul 27, 6:35 AM CDT, 36 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
635 AM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026

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

0628 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 W Mattoon             39.48N 88.40W
07/27/2026                   Coles              IL   Public

            Tree blocking the road near Marshall Ave and
            33rd St.

&&

RAC
Local storm report, Jul 27, 6:43 AM CDT, 28 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
643 AM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026

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

0628 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 W Mattoon             39.48N 88.40W
07/27/2026                   Coles              IL   Emergency Mngr

            Large tree limb down in Lytle Park. Time
            estimated from radar.

&&

RAC
Local storm report, Jul 27, 6:49 AM CDT, 22 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
649 AM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026

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

0628 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 W Mattoon             39.48N 88.40W
07/27/2026                   Coles              IL   Broadcast Media

            Tree down on Park Street. Time estimated via
            radar.

&&

RAC
Local storm report, Jul 27, 7:00 AM CDT, 11 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
700 AM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026

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

0700 AM     Rain             6 SSE Clay City         38.61N 88.31W
07/27/2026  M1.07 Inch       Clay               IL   CO-OP Observer

            24 hour rainfall report.

&&

RAC

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 26, 9:30 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementILXLawrence15 min
Jul 26, 9:46 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXLawrence15 min
Jul 26, 10:00 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementILXLawrence15 min
Jul 26, 10:15 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementILXLawrence15 min
Jul 27, 2:02 AM CDTHeat AdvisoryILXClark, Edgar, Vermilion9 hr
Jul 27, 2:24 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningILXEffingham4 hr
Jul 27, 2:31 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryILXClay3 hr
Jul 27, 2:50 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningILXClay5 hr
Jul 27, 4:12 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXClay33 min
Jul 27, 5:01 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXClay, Effingham, Jasper44 min
Jul 27, 6:27 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningILXEffingham3 hr
Jul 27, 3:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXLogan, Menard, Sangamon29 min
Jul 27, 4:26 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementILXChristian34 min
Jul 27, 5:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXEdgar, Vermilion43 min
Jul 27, 5:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatILXVermilion60 min
Jul 27, 6:07 PM CDTTornado WarningILXVermilion38 min
Jul 27, 6:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXClark, Edgar62 min
Jul 27, 6:42 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXClark, Crawford48 min
Jul 27, 6:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXVermilion31 min
Jul 27, 6:59 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningILXClark, Edgar3 hr

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.