Alert archive / Illinois / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 25, NWS Lincoln, IL

March 15, 20264 counties in Illinois

NWS Lincoln, IL issued this tornado warning at Mar 15, 2026, 6:15 PM CDT for 4 counties in Illinois. It was in force for 30 min. 7 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
Mar 15, 2026, 6:15 PM CDT (23:15 UTC)
Expired
Mar 15, 2026, 6:45 PM CDT
In force
30 min
Issued by
NWS Lincoln, IL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

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

The radar

The Lincoln radar (KILX), 73 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:19 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Mar 15, 6:17 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGPana, ILLarge, softwood tree uprooted. Relayed via broadcast media with photo.
Mar 15, 6:18 PM CDTTORNADO1 Wsw Assumption, ILThe tornado touched down just southwest of Assumption and town along W Illinois St where it uprooted and snapped numerous trees and knocked over a couple power poles. The tornado proceeded through town where it snapped more trees and removed roofing material f
Mar 15, 6:20 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGAssumption, ILTree down on a car. Multiple power lines downed throughout town.
Mar 15, 6:20 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGAssumption, ILCorrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from Assumption. Tree down on a car. Multiple power lines downed throughout town.
Mar 15, 6:37 PM CDTTORNADO3 W Bethany, ILThe tornado developed about 2 miles west of Bethany where it uprooted an old tree. It curved to the northeast and caused tree damage as well as destroying an outbuilding along County Rd 225 E before dissipating near Hwy 121.
Mar 15, 6:42 PM CDTTORNADO3 W Lovington, ILThe tornado touched down about 2 miles west of Lovington along County Rd 700 E and progressed to the northeast eventually ending near Lanton about 3 miles north of Lovington. Along its path, the tornado snapped large branches and uprooted one tree, as well as
Mar 15, 6:44 PM CDTTSTM WND GST 60Sullivan, ILEstimated winds at least 50-60 mph. Video shared via social media.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Mar 15, 3:43 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 12:00Z, 11.3 hours before the alert went out and 76 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 2026-03-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Lincoln, IL at 12:00Z on 2026-03-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 389 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1382 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
55 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
389 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
410 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

715 
WFUS53 KILX 152315
TORILX
ILC021-115-139-173-152345-
/O.NEW.KILX.TO.W.0025.260315T2315Z-260315T2345Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
615 PM CDT Sun Mar 15 2026

The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southeastern Christian County in central Illinois...
  Southwestern Moultrie County in central Illinois...
  Northwestern Shelby County in central Illinois...
  Southeastern Macon County in central Illinois...

* Until 645 PM CDT.

* At 615 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Owaneco, or near Pana, moving northeast at 50 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...
  Assumption around 620 PM CDT.

Other locations in the path of this tornadic thunderstorm include
Dalton City.

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 3961 8921 3983 8879 3954 8850 3934 8916
      3935 8921
TIME...MOT...LOC 2315Z 225DEG 45KT 3944 8914 

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

$$

25
1 follow-up statement
860 
WWUS53 KILX 152328
SVSILX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
628 PM CDT Sun Mar 15 2026

ILC021-152337-
/O.CAN.KILX.TO.W.0025.000000T0000Z-260315T2345Z/
Christian-
628 PM CDT Sun Mar 15 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN CHRISTIAN 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
Illinois.

&&

LAT...LON 3972 8900 3983 8879 3954 8850 3943 8896
TIME...MOT...LOC 2327Z 233DEG 49KT 3958 8892 

$$

ILC115-139-173-152345-
/O.CON.KILX.TO.W.0025.000000T0000Z-260315T2345Z/
Moultrie-Shelby-Macon-
628 PM CDT Sun Mar 15 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN MOULTRIE...NORTH CENTRAL SHELBY AND SOUTHEASTERN MACON
COUNTIES...

At 627 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Moweaqua, or 13 miles northwest of Shelbyville,
moving northeast at 55 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...
  Bethany and Dalton City around 635 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Hervey
City, Westervelt, Kirksville, and Lake City.

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 3972 8900 3983 8879 3954 8850 3943 8896
TIME...MOT...LOC 2327Z 233DEG 49KT 3958 8892 

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

$$

25

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 15, 2:33 AM CDTBlizzard WarningILXKnox, Stark34 hr
Mar 15, 8:02 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXMason, Menard, Sangamon17 min
Mar 15, 8:17 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXCass, Mason, Menard28 min
Mar 15, 8:39 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXPeoria, Tazewell13 min
Mar 15, 9:50 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementILXChristian25 min
Mar 15, 10:39 AM CDTWinter Weather AdvisoryILXCass, Fulton, Knox, Logan, McLean, Marshall and 7 more37 hr
Mar 15, 4:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXMorgan, Sangamon, Scott44 min
Mar 15, 4:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXLogan, Menard, Sangamon34 min
Mar 15, 5:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXChristian, Sangamon42 min
Mar 15, 5:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXDeWitt, Logan, McLean, Tazewell51 min
Mar 15, 5:40 PM CDTTornado WarningILXLogan, Sangamon35 min
Mar 15, 5:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXChristian, Logan, Macon, Sangamon46 min
Mar 15, 6:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXChristian, Macon, Moultrie, Shelby45 min
Mar 15, 6:00 PM CDTTornado WarningILXDeWitt, Logan, Macon45 min
Mar 15, 6:21 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXDeWitt, McLean, Macon, Piatt39 min
Mar 15, 6:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXColes, Cumberland, Douglas, Moultrie, Piatt, Shelby38 min
Mar 15, 6:43 PM CDTTornado WarningILXChampaign, Douglas, Moultrie, Piatt32 min
Mar 15, 6:54 PM CDTTornado WarningILXColes, Douglas, Moultrie36 min
Mar 15, 6:56 PM CDTTornado WarningILXChampaign, DeWitt, McLean, Piatt34 min
Mar 15, 6:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXChampaign, McLean, Piatt41 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.