Alert archive / Illinois / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 133, NWS Lincoln, IL

June 21, 2026Coles County, Cumberland County, Shelby County, Illinois

NWS Lincoln, IL issued this tornado warning at Jun 21, 2026, 8:32 PM CDT for Coles County, Cumberland County, Shelby County, Illinois. It was in force for 43 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
Jun 21, 2026, 8:32 PM CDT (01:32 UTC)
Expired
Jun 21, 2026, 9:15 PM CDT
In force
43 min
Issued by
NWS Lincoln, IL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Coles County, IL, Cumberland County, IL, Shelby County, IL

The radar

The Lincoln radar (KILX), 110 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:31 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 tornado 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 watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Jun 21, 1:28 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 00:00Z, 1.5 hours before the alert went out and 91 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 2026-06-22Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 43 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 2026-06-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 194 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
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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

007 
WFUS53 KILX 220132
TORILX
ILC029-035-173-220215-
/O.NEW.KILX.TO.W.0133.260622T0132Z-260622T0215Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
832 PM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026

The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southwestern Coles County in east central Illinois...
  Southeastern Shelby County in central Illinois...
  Northwestern Cumberland County in east central Illinois...

* Until 915 PM CDT.

* At 832 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Shelbyville, moving east at 25 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.

* Locations impacted include...
  Neoga.

This also includes Hidden Springs State Forest.
 
This includes Interstate 57 between mile markers 173 and 185.
 
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 3929 8882 3939 8882 3944 8831 3926 8830
TIME...MOT...LOC 0132Z 273DEG 23KT 3932 8878 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

25
3 follow-up statements
673 
WWUS53 KILX 220149
SVSILX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
849 PM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026

ILC029-220158-
/O.CAN.KILX.TO.W.0133.000000T0000Z-260622T0215Z/
Coles-
849 PM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN COLES COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out 
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for central and
east central Illinois.

&&

LAT...LON 3928 8868 3934 8867 3937 8831 3926 8830
TIME...MOT...LOC 0148Z 273DEG 31KT 3929 8863 

$$

ILC035-173-220215-
/O.CON.KILX.TO.W.0133.000000T0000Z-260622T0215Z/
Shelby-Cumberland-
849 PM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 915 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN SHELBY AND NORTHWESTERN CUMBERLAND COUNTIES...

At 848 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Stewardson, or 9 miles west of Neoga, moving east at
35 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.

Locations impacted include...
Neoga and Trowbridge.

This includes Interstate 57 between mile markers 173 and 179.
 
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 3928 8868 3934 8867 3937 8831 3926 8830
TIME...MOT...LOC 0148Z 273DEG 31KT 3929 8863 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

25
398 
WWUS53 KILX 220159
SVSILX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
859 PM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026

ILC035-173-220215-
/O.CON.KILX.TO.W.0133.000000T0000Z-260622T0215Z/
Shelby-Cumberland-
859 PM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 915 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN SHELBY AND WEST CENTRAL CUMBERLAND COUNTIES...

At 859 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Neoga, 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.

Locations impacted include...
Trowbridge.

This includes Interstate 57 between mile markers 173 and 175.
 
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 3927 8858 3931 8857 3931 8840 3927 8840
TIME...MOT...LOC 0159Z 277DEG 27KT 3928 8853 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

25
176 
WWUS53 KILX 220213
SVSILX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
913 PM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026

ILC035-173-220223-
/O.EXP.KILX.TO.W.0133.000000T0000Z-260622T0215Z/
Shelby-Cumberland-
913 PM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN SHELBY AND WEST CENTRAL
CUMBERLAND COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 915 PM CDT...

The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for central and
east central Illinois.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3927 8858 3931 8857 3931 8840 3927 8840
TIME...MOT...LOC 0213Z 273DEG 23KT 3928 8842 

$$

25

What 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, 1 hour 39 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, 1 hour 39 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, 4 hours 55 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, 8:13 PM CDT, 19 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
813 PM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026

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

0807 PM     Tornado          3 SW Tower Hill         39.36N 88.99W
06/21/2026                   Shelby             IL   Trained Spotter

            Very brief touchdown just east of Tower
            Hill.

&&
Local storm report, Jun 21, 8:19 PM CDT, 13 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
819 PM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026

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

0420 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     4 SW Hutton             39.37N 88.14W
06/21/2026                   Cumberland         IL   Public

            Multiple large softwood tree limbs snapped.

&&
Local storm report, Jun 21, 8:21 PM CDT, 11 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
821 PM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026

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

0720 PM     Flash Flood      1 SSE Beecher City      39.17N 88.78W
06/21/2026                   Effingham          IL   Public

&&
Local storm report, Jun 21, 8:25 PM CDT, 7 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
825 PM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026

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

0625 PM     Flash Flood      1 NNW Shelbyville       39.42N 88.81W
06/21/2026                   Shelby             IL   Public

&&
Local storm report, Jun 21, 8:30 PM CDT, 2 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
830 PM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026

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

0630 PM     Flash Flood      4 NW Sigel              39.26N 88.55W
06/21/2026                   Shelby             IL   Public

&&
Local storm report, Jun 21, 8:32 PM CDT, 0 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
832 PM CDT Sun Jun 21 2026

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

0732 PM     Flash Flood      2 S Lawrenceville       38.69N 87.69W
06/21/2026                   Lawrence           IL   Public

&&

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 21, 7:29 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedILXChristian24 min
Jun 21, 7:36 PM CDTTornado WarningILXShelby39 min
Jun 21, 7:51 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningILXClay, Crawford, Effingham, Jasper, Lawrence, Richland12 hr
Jun 21, 8:01 PM CDTTornado WarningILXShelby44 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.