Alert archive / Illinois / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 27, NWS Lincoln, IL

March 15, 2026Coles County, Douglas County, Moultrie County, Illinois

NWS Lincoln, IL issued this tornado warning at Mar 15, 2026, 6:54 PM CDT for Coles County, Douglas County, Moultrie County, Illinois. It was in force for 36 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, 6:54 PM CDT (23:54 UTC)
Expired
Mar 15, 2026, 7:30 PM CDT
In force
36 min
Issued by
NWS Lincoln, IL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Coles County, IL, Douglas County, IL, Moultrie County, IL

The radar

The Lincoln radar (KILX), 100 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:54 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, 6:54 PM CDTTORNADO2 Se Arthur, ILThe tornado touched down about 2 miles southeast of Arthur near N County Rd 100 E producing tree and outbuilding damage and tossing it into the field to the northeast. It produced more tree and outbuilding damage along E County Rd 300 N as it curved east. The
Mar 15, 6:58 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG2 Se Arthur, IL8 inch diameter branches down.
Mar 15, 6:58 PM CDTTSTM WND GST 612 Se Arthur, IL8 inch diameter tree branches down.
Mar 15, 6:59 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG2 Se Arthur, ILRoof blown off barn and tops of trees carried a couple hundred feet. Possible tornado.
Mar 15, 7:03 PM CDTTORNADO4 Ese Garrett, ILThe tornado touched down about 4.5 miles southwest of Tuscola along County Rd 750 N and it progressed east along that road snapping off numerous large pine trees as well as damaging an outbuilding before it dissipated shortly after crossing N County Rd 800 E.
Mar 15, 7:06 PM CDTTORNADO2 Wsw Tuscola, ILCorrects previous tornado report from 2 WSW Tuscola, adjusting the time back one hour. The tornado touched down about 2 miles southwest of Tuscola where it snapped off several large trees along N County Rd 800 E. It moved northeast into Tuscola where it caused
Mar 15, 7:18 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGVilla Grove, ILA tree was blown on to a car.

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, 11.9 hours before the alert went out and 55 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.

091 
WFUS53 KILX 152354
TORILX
ILC029-041-139-160030-
/O.NEW.KILX.TO.W.0027.260315T2354Z-260316T0030Z/

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

The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Northwestern Coles County in east central Illinois...
  East central Moultrie County in central Illinois...
  Douglas County in east central Illinois...

* Until 730 PM CDT.

* At 654 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Arthur, or 7 miles northeast of Sullivan, moving
  northeast at 60 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...
  Arcola and Arthur around 700 PM CDT.
  Tuscola around 705 PM CDT.
  Camargo around 710 PM CDT.

Other locations in the path of this tornadic thunderstorm include
Villa Grove.

This includes Interstate 57 between mile markers 200 and 215.
 
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.

This cluster of thunderstorms is capable of producing tornadoes and
widespread significant wind damage. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest
floor of a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3955 8849 3967 8859 3988 8819 3988 8813
      3973 8797
TIME...MOT...LOC 2354Z 236DEG 52KT 3965 8849 

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

$$

25
2 follow-up statements
133 
WWUS53 KILX 160005
SVSILX

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

ILC029-139-160014-
/O.CAN.KILX.TO.W.0027.000000T0000Z-260316T0030Z/
Coles-Moultrie-
705 PM CDT Sun Mar 15 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN COLES AND EAST CENTRAL
MOULTRIE COUNTIES 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 east central
Illinois.

&&

LAT...LON 3965 8827 3965 8833 3973 8843 3988 8819
      3988 8813 3973 8797
TIME...MOT...LOC 0004Z 236DEG 52KT 3974 8832 

$$

ILC041-160030-
/O.CON.KILX.TO.W.0027.000000T0000Z-260316T0030Z/
Douglas-
705 PM CDT Sun Mar 15 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM CDT FOR CENTRAL
DOUGLAS COUNTY...

At 704 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Arcola, moving northeast at 60 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...
  Tuscola and Camargo around 710 PM CDT.
  Villa Grove around 715 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Chesterville, Murdock, Bourbon, and Hindsboro.

This includes Interstate 57 between mile markers 202 and 214.
 
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.

This cluster of thunderstorms is capable of producing tornadoes and
widespread significant wind damage. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest
floor of a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3965 8827 3965 8833 3973 8843 3988 8819
      3988 8813 3973 8797
TIME...MOT...LOC 0004Z 236DEG 52KT 3974 8832 

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

$$

25
663 
WWUS53 KILX 160026
SVSILX

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

ILC041-160035-
/O.EXP.KILX.TO.W.0027.000000T0000Z-260316T0030Z/
Douglas-
726 PM CDT Sun Mar 15 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT 730
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 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 3965 8827 3965 8833 3973 8843 3988 8819
      3988 8813 3973 8797
TIME...MOT...LOC 0025Z 236DEG 52KT 3990 8800 

$$

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, 6:15 PM CDTTornado WarningILXChristian, Macon, Moultrie, Shelby30 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, 6:56 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.