Alert archive / Illinois / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 131, NWS Lincoln, IL
NWS Lincoln, IL issued this tornado warning at Jun 21, 2026, 7:36 PM CDT for Shelby County, Illinois. It was in force for 39 min. 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
- Jun 21, 2026, 7:36 PM CDT (00:36 UTC)
- Expired
- Jun 21, 2026, 8:15 PM CDT
- In force
- 39 min
- Issued by
- NWS Lincoln, IL
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 0.75 in
County Shelby County, IL
The radar
The Lincoln radar (KILX), 97 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:37 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 21, 8:07 PM CDT | TORNADO | 3 Sw Tower Hill, IL | Very brief touchdown just east of Tower Hill. |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
Did it verify
Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched one storm report to this tornado warning; the first came 31 minutes after it went out.
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 watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 21, 1:28 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 9 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 00:00Z, 0.6 hours before the alert went out and 88 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
- 43 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -35 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 643 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 58 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 194 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 223 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
862
WFUS53 KILX 220036
TORILX
ILC173-220115-
/O.NEW.KILX.TO.W.0131.260622T0036Z-260622T0115Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
736 PM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026
The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Central Shelby County in central Illinois...
* Until 815 PM CDT.
* At 736 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Tower Hill, or near Pana, moving east at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed.
Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree
damage is likely.
* This dangerous storm will be near...
Tower Hill around 740 PM CDT.
Shelbyville around 750 PM CDT.
This also includes Hidden Springs State Forest.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.
&&
LAT...LON 3934 8903 3946 8902 3945 8847 3930 8847
TIME...MOT...LOC 0036Z 282DEG 16KT 3941 8897
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
251 follow-up statement
355
WWUS53 KILX 220052
SVSILX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
752 PM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026
ILC173-220115-
/O.CON.KILX.TO.W.0131.000000T0000Z-260622T0115Z/
Shelby-
752 PM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 PM CDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL SHELBY COUNTY...
At 752 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Shelbyville, moving east at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
This dangerous storm will be near...
Shelbyville around 755 PM CDT.
Windsor around 815 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Strasburg and Trowbridge.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.
&&
LAT...LON 3936 8887 3943 8886 3945 8847 3930 8847
TIME...MOT...LOC 0052Z 275DEG 25KT 3940 8883
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
25What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this tornado 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 tornado warning went out at Jun 21, 6:53 PM CDT, 43 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- A Tornado Watch is in effect for locations along and south of a Shelbyville to Paris line through 9pm this evening.
- Below normal temperatures will persist through the week before a marked warming trend pushes readings well into the 80s close to 90 degrees by next weekend.
Area forecast discussion, Jun 21, 6:53 PM CDT, 43 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 653 PM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - A Tornado Watch is in effect for locations along and south of a Shelbyville to Paris line through 9pm this evening. - Below normal temperatures will persist through the week before a marked warming trend pushes readings well into the 80s close to 90 degrees by next weekend. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 341 PM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026 *** Tornado Watch *** 20z/3pm radar imagery shows a band of rain with embedded thunderstorms pushing across central Illinois. The pre-storm environment remains stable across a large portion of the area: however, MLCAPEs have increased to 500-1000J/kg south of a warm frontal boundary draped along the I-70 corridor. With surface dewpoints in the upper 60s/lower 70s in the warm sector, RAP suggests further destabilization over the next 3-4 hours as MLCAPEs reach 1000-1500J/kg. Deep-layer shear is currently being augmented by an approaching MCV, while 0-1km shear has increased to 20-25kt near the boundary. As a result, the southern part of the rain band now contains rotating supercells capable of producing tornadoes and damaging wind gusts. A Tornado Watch has subsequently been issued for locations along/south of a Shelbyville to Paris line through 9pm. Based on radar trends and latest HRRR/RAP data, it appears the primary storm risk will push into Indiana by 6-7pm. Meanwhile further west, will have to keep an eye on a broken line of much weaker cells currently firing along a Quincy to Kansas City line. These storms are in a much more unfavorable environment and are not expected to become severe: however, gusty winds will still be possible into the evening as they spread E/SE into central Illinois...mainly along/south of the I-72 corridor. *** Quiet Mid-Week *** Cool/dry weather will settle into the region for Monday and Tuesday with daytime highs well below normal for this time of year in the 70s and overnight lows dipping into the 50s. Given persistent upper troughing over Canada, northwesterly flow will continue for the rest of the week. The next embedded short-wave trough and accompanying cold front will push through central Illinois on Wednesday. While deep-layer moisture will be lacking, there will be strong enough forcing to warrant low chance PoPs (30-40%) for showers/thunder, especially during the afternoon and evening. *** Weekend Warm-Up and Storm Risk *** The mid-week frontal boundary is progged to stall across the Ohio River Valley on Thursday, then begin lifting slowly back northward by the weekend as upper heights rise in response to an upstream trough digging west of the Rockies. While the exact speed of this process is still in question, model consensus indicates the most favorable period for rain will be from late Friday through late Saturday when several bouts of convection may develop along/north of the front. It is still too early to discuss any specific severe weather risks: however, all machine learning algorithms show low probabilities (less than 15% chance) for severe. Once the boundary lifts into the Great Lakes, a return to more typical summertime weather is anticipated for early next week. In fact, the 12z NBM shows a 30-50% chance for temperatures climbing above 90 degrees by next Sunday. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z TUESDAY/... Issued at 652 PM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026 2330z/630pm radar imagery shows scattered convection persisting along/east of the I-55 corridor. Based on radar trends and latest HRRR/RAP analysis, have opted to leave thunder mention out of the TAF for the I-74 terminals. Further south, have maintained a 1-3 hour window of thunder between 00z and 03z at KSPI/KDEC. Once the convection pushes further east, the primary aviation forecast concern will be low ceilings tonight into Monday morning. A large area of IFR clouds across Iowa into western Illinois will pivot southeastward into the area over the next several hours...with the HRRR suggesting all sites down to IFR after 05z. The low clouds will gradually dissipate/scatter from northwest to southeast toward midday Monday...with partial clearing expected across the board during the afternoon. Winds will become NE with gusts of 20-25kt at KPIA/KBMI this evening as low pressure tracks through the heart of central Illinois. Further south, winds will veer to NW tonight, then eventually to NE by Monday morning. && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flood Watch until 1 AM CDT Monday for ILZ038-042>046-048>057- 061>063-066>068-071>073. && KEY MESSAGES...Barnes DISCUSSION...Barnes AVIATION...Barnes
Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 21, 3:37 PM CDT, 3 hours 59 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Lincoln IL 337 PM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026 ILZ027>031-036>038-040>057-061>063-066>068-071>073-222045- 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- 337 PM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Illinois, east central Illinois, southeast Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Thunderstorms are expected through this evening with some potentially strong to severe south of a Shelbyville to Paris line. Damaging wind gusts and a few isolated tornadoes are possible. In addition, locally heavy rain is expected which will lead to some pockets of flooding. Several rivers are in minor to moderate flood today, and additional rises are expected following heavy rainfall tonight. Rivers expected to flood include portions of the Illinois, Sangamon, Wabash, Little Wabash, and Spoon Rivers. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Several rivers will continue in minor to moderate flood for many days, including portions of the Illinois, Wabash, Little Wabash, Sangamon, and Spoon Rivers. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed through this evening. Expected storm motion is toward the northeast around 40 mph. Deubelbeiss
In the hours before
Local storm report, Jun 21, 6:07 PM CDT, 1 hour 29 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
607 PM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0530 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Birds 38.84N 87.67W
06/21/2026 Lawrence IL Emergency Mngr
Collapsed barn. Possible tornado.
&&Local storm report, Jun 21, 6:13 PM CDT, 1 hour 23 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
613 PM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0608 PM Hail 1 SE Xenia 38.63N 88.63W
06/21/2026 M1.00 Inch Clay IL Emergency Mngr
&&Local storm report, Jun 21, 6:20 PM CDT, 1 hour 16 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
620 PM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0603 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 WNW Xenia 38.64N 88.67W
06/21/2026 M60 MPH Clay IL Fire Dept/Rescue
&&Local storm report, Jun 21, 6:35 PM CDT, 1 hour 1 minute before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
635 PM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0445 PM Flash Flood 3 S Dieterich 39.02N 88.38W
06/21/2026 Effingham IL Emergency Mngr
Multiple roads closed. E 700 Ave and also E
500 Ave, just east of 2300th St.
&&Local storm report, Jun 21, 7:31 PM CDT, 5 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
731 PM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0727 PM Tornado 2 WSW Edinburg 39.65N 89.43W
06/21/2026 Christian IL Storm Chaser
&&Local storm report, Jun 21, 7:34 PM CDT, 2 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
734 PM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0732 PM Tornado 2 N Oblong 39.03N 87.91W
06/21/2026 Crawford IL Emergency Mngr
Several downed power lines off 1250 N,
between 200 E and 300 E.
&&The office that day
Everything else NWS Lincoln, IL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 21, 7:29 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ILX | Christian | 24 min |
| Jun 21, 7:51 PM CDT | Areal Flood Warning | ILX | Clay, Crawford, Effingham, Jasper, Lawrence, Richland | 12 hr |
| Jun 21, 8:01 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ILX | Shelby | 44 min |
| Jun 21, 8:32 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ILX | Coles, Cumberland, Shelby | 43 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Illinois, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes 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.