Alert archive / Illinois / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 135, NWS Lincoln, IL
NWS Lincoln, IL issued this tornado warning at Jul 27, 2026, 7:30 PM CDT for Crawford County, Illinois. It was in force for 30 min. 3 reports 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
- Jul 27, 2026, 7:30 PM CDT (00:30 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 27, 2026, 8:00 PM CDT
- In force
- 30 min
- Issued by
- NWS Lincoln, IL
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 0.75 in
County Crawford County, IL
The radar
The Evansville,IN radar (KVWX), 78 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:31 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.
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 27, 7:47 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | Robinson, IL | A 2-foot diameter tree was blown down on Tampa Street. |
| Jul 27, 7:47 PM CDT | HAIL 1 | Robinson, IL | |
| Jul 27, 7:48 PM CDT | HAIL 1.25 | 1 W Robinson, IL |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 27, 1:39 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 8 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 00:00Z, 0.5 hours before the alert went out and 149 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
- 2993 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -84 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1393 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 44 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 372 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 626 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 4.0
- Supercell composite
- 22.2
The text
As transmitted.
821
WFUS53 KILX 280030
TORILX
ILC033-280100-
/O.NEW.KILX.TO.W.0135.260728T0030Z-260728T0100Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
730 PM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026
The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Central Crawford County in east central Illinois...
* Until 800 PM CDT.
* At 729 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Robinson, moving south at 40 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...
Robinson around 735 PM CDT.
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 3885 8785 3911 8789 3914 8774 3885 8762
TIME...MOT...LOC 0029Z 348DEG 34KT 3904 8780
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
Deubelbeiss1 follow-up statement
105 WWUS53 KILX 280102 SVSILX Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service Lincoln IL 802 PM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026 ILC033-280112- /O.EXP.KILX.TO.W.0135.000000T0000Z-260728T0100Z/ Crawford- 802 PM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026 ...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL CRAWFORD COUNTY HAS EXPIRED... The tornado threat has diminished and the Tornado Warning has been cancelled. However, large hail and damaging winds remain likely and a Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect for the area. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for southeastern and east central Illinois. && LAT...LON 3885 8785 3911 8789 3914 8774 3885 8762 TIME...MOT...LOC 0102Z 348DEG 34KT 3874 8772 $$ Deubelbeiss
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 Jul 27, 6:53 PM CDT, 37 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Oppressive heat and humidity continues through early evening with heat indices peaking between 105 and 115 degrees.
- Multiple thunderstorm complexes will move across IL this afternoon/evening, presenting a conditional threat for severe weather. Damaging winds (60-70+ mph gusts) and heavy rains are a risk especially in eastern and southeastern 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, 6:53 PM CDT, 37 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 653 PM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Oppressive heat and humidity continues through early evening with heat indices peaking between 105 and 115 degrees. - Multiple thunderstorm complexes will move across IL this afternoon/evening, presenting a conditional threat for severe weather. Damaging winds (60-70+ mph gusts) and heavy rains are a risk especially in eastern and southeastern 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 218 PM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026 Outside of the storm risk today, it has been very hot and humid today. Heat indices have been around 100-105 so far but still have time to increase to about 115 degrees in some spots. The Extreme Heat Warning continues until tonight at 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. Beyond today, temperatures become more seasonable and less humid with highs in the 80s and lows in the 60s through next week. Today's forecast has been a doozy. The models haven't been of the greatest assistance recently with this round of convection. We have an Enhanced Risk (level 3 of 5) for areas near and north of a Henry to Marshall line and a Slight Risk (level 2 of 5) elsewhere for today. Primarily this risk is for damaging winds, potentially stronger than 70 mph, but there is also a 2% tornado risk for the area within the Enhanced Risk. Our 12z sounding shows MUCAPE over 5500 J/kg, effective shear of ~50 knots, and PWATs of nearly 2 inches. A shortwave is pulsing through this afternoon across Illinois and Indiana, based off GFS 500 mb vorticity. The storms currently over the Chicago-Land area may clip eastern IL as it drops south into Indiana and they are evolving into a damaging wind threat as it transitions to a linear mode rather than supercellular. It is starting to trend towards areas west of I- 55 may not see any of the severe threat today. There may be some showers/storms that direction but it looks like the main show will remain east of I-55 this afternoon/evening. An additional wave may move behind it that will also drop south, potentially riding the IL/IN border, but could possibly be weaker in strength, based off the HRRR. The HRRR's 16z and 17z runs are picking up the active convection well. The storms should have exited by 10 pm tonight. Storms will be moving to the south-southeast at 30-40 mph this afternoon/evening. The next chance for showers and thunderstorms comes in on Friday into Saturday as a shortwave moves through the area. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 653 PM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026 2330z/630pm radar imagery shows the bulk of the convection well E/SE of the central Illinois terminals. With the synoptic cold front still to the NW across eastern/southern Iowa, an isolated shower or thunderstorm will remain possible through the remainder of the evening. Current satellite trends show mostly clear skies along/ahead of the front: however, the HRRR/RAP have been consistently showing a few cells popping along the front later this evening. Confidence for thunder is low, so have only mentioned VCSH between 03z and 09z. Once the front passes, winds will veer to the N/NW late tonight, then to the N/NE Tuesday morning. Skies will be mostly clear overnight, but low clouds poised upstream across the Great Lakes will filter southwestward into the area on Tuesday. Some guidance shows low MVFR ceilings, but other models such as the HRRR and NAM suggest the clouds may be MVFR. Given low confidence at that time range, have introduced SCT015 BKN035 after the 12z-14z time frame. && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Extreme Heat Warning until 9 PM CDT this evening for ILZ027>031-036>038-040>057-061>063-066>068-071>073. && KEY MESSAGES...Copple DISCUSSION...Copple AVIATION...Barnes
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 27, 2:26 PM CDT, 5 hours 4 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Lincoln IL 226 PM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026 ILZ027>031-036>038-040>057-061>063-066>068-071>073-281930- 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- 226 PM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Illinois, east central Illinois, southeast Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Heat index values of 105 to 115 degrees will continue into this evening, then ease overnight. Scattered storms are expected across portions of east central Illinois east of I-57 with isolated storms possible west of I-57. A few storms will be capable of producing wind gusts in excess of 70 mph. Isolated large hail and a brief tornado are also possible. .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 and evening. Expected storm motion is toward the southeast around 35 mph. Deubelbeiss
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Jul 27, 4:26 PM CDT, 3 hours 4 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
426 PM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026
ILZ051>053-272200-
Sangamon-Macon-Christian-
426 PM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHERN CHRISTIAN...
NORTHEASTERN SANGAMON AND SOUTHWESTERN MACON COUNTIES THROUGH 500 PM
CDT...
At 425 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Buffalo, or 13 miles east of Springfield, moving southeast at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Taylorville, Rochester, Riverton, Kincaid, Blue Mound, Edinburg,
Stonington, Illiopolis, Niantic, Mechanicsburg, Dawson, Buffalo,
Mount Auburn, Jeisyville, Spaulding, Clear Lake, Willeys, Sharpsburg,
Taylorville Municipal Airport, and Langleyville.
This includes Interstate 72 between mile markers 105 and 128.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3984 8959 3993 8941 3992 8940 3992 8921
3966 8903 3949 8935
TIME...MOT...LOC 2125Z 324DEG 32KT 3984 8942
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
CoppleLocal storm report, Jul 27, 7:02 PM CDT, 28 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
702 PM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0614 PM Tornado 1 WNW Hoopeston 40.47N 87.70W
07/27/2026 Vermilion IL Emergency Mngr
Video evidence from storm spotters showed
that a tornado briefly touched down 1 mile
west of IL-1 and about 100 yards south of
Thompson Street. A power pole and a street
sign were leaning in the immediate vicinity
of the tornado.
&&
BarnesThe office that day
Everything else NWS Lincoln, IL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 27, 7:03 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Clark, Crawford | 57 min |
| Jul 27, 7:23 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Crawford | 52 min |
| Jul 27, 7:54 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Lawrence | 66 min |
| Jul 27, 8:27 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ILX | Lawrence | 33 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.