Alert archive / Illinois / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 3, NWS Lincoln, IL

February 19, 2026Effingham County, Jasper County, Illinois

NWS Lincoln, IL issued this tornado warning at Feb 19, 2026, 3:23 PM CST for Effingham County, Jasper County, Illinois. It was in force for 52 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
Feb 19, 2026, 3:23 PM CST (21:23 UTC)
Expired
Feb 19, 2026, 4:15 PM CST
In force
52 min
Issued by
NWS Lincoln, IL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
1.5 in

Counties Effingham County, IL, Jasper County, IL

The radar

The Evansville,IN radar (KVWX), 106 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:24 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
Feb 19, 3:23 PM CSTTORNADO2 Sw Wheeler, ILEFU, brief touch down in an open field.
Feb 19, 3:37 PM CSTHAIL 2.5Dieterich, ILDelayed report. Time estimated by radar. Report relayed by broadcast media.
Feb 19, 3:38 PM CSTHAIL 11 W Dieterich, ILReport from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
Feb 19, 3:38 PM CSTHAIL 2Dieterich, IL
Feb 19, 3:39 PM CSTHAIL 1.25Dieterich, ILReport from mPING: Half Dollar (1.25 in.).
Feb 19, 3:44 PM CSTHAIL 1.75Dieterich, ILHalf dollar to ping pong size hail with some golf ball size hailstones.
Feb 19, 3:46 PM CSTFUNNEL CLOUDWheeler, ILSocial media report with photo of funnel cloud.

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
Feb 19, 12:20 PM CSTTornado WatchSPC10 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 12:00Z, 9.4 hours before the alert went out and 121 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 2026-02-19Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 7 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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 2026-02-19The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 23 square meters per square second.1939587897117136Sfc1 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
7 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-290 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
783 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
62 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
23 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
185 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
-0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

330 
WFUS53 KILX 192123
TORILX
ILC049-079-192215-
/O.NEW.KILX.TO.W.0003.260219T2123Z-260219T2215Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
323 PM CST Thu Feb 19 2026

The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Northwestern Jasper County in southeastern Illinois...
  East central Effingham County in south central Illinois...

* Until 415 PM CST.

* At 323 PM CST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Heartville, or 8 miles south of Effingham, moving
  northeast at 30 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and ping pong ball size hail.

  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...
  Dieterich around 330 PM CST.
  Wheeler around 335 PM CST.

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 3907 8852 3917 8836 3917 8817 3905 8809
      3897 8842
TIME...MOT...LOC 2123Z 240DEG 28KT 3901 8849 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN

$$

Deubelbeiss
3 follow-up statements
881 
WWUS53 KILX 192141
SVSILX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
341 PM CST Thu Feb 19 2026

ILC049-192151-
/O.CAN.KILX.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-260219T2215Z/
Effingham-
341 PM CST Thu Feb 19 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL EFFINGHAM 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 800 PM CST for southeastern
Illinois.

&&

LAT...LON 3913 8836 3917 8817 3905 8809 3898 8836
TIME...MOT...LOC 2141Z 251DEG 28KT 3904 8831 

$$

ILC079-192215-
/O.CON.KILX.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-260219T2215Z/
Jasper-
341 PM CST Thu Feb 19 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM CST FOR
NORTHWESTERN JASPER COUNTY...

At 341 PM CST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Wheeler, or 8 miles northwest of Newton, moving east
at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and ping pong ball size hail.

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 tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
northwestern Jasper County, including the following locations... Rose
Hill.

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 3913 8836 3917 8817 3905 8809 3898 8836
TIME...MOT...LOC 2141Z 251DEG 28KT 3904 8831 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN

$$

Deubelbeiss
855 
WWUS53 KILX 192154
SVSILX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
354 PM CST Thu Feb 19 2026

ILC079-192215-
/O.CON.KILX.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-260219T2215Z/
Jasper-
354 PM CST Thu Feb 19 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM CST FOR
NORTHWESTERN JASPER COUNTY...

At 353 PM CST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Hidalgo, or near Newton, moving northeast at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and ping pong ball size hail.

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...
Rose Hill.

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 3909 8829 3917 8817 3905 8809 3901 8826
TIME...MOT...LOC 2153Z 243DEG 28KT 3908 8819 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN

$$

Deubelbeiss
409 
WWUS53 KILX 192206
SVSILX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
406 PM CST Thu Feb 19 2026

ILC079-192216-
/O.EXP.KILX.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-260219T2215Z/
Jasper-
406 PM CST Thu Feb 19 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN JASPER COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT
415 PM CST...

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 800 PM CST for southeastern
Illinois.

&&

LAT...LON 3909 8829 3917 8817 3905 8809 3901 8826
TIME...MOT...LOC 2206Z 240DEG 28KT 3913 8809 

$$

Deubelbeiss

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 19, 1:02 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXVermilion28 min
Feb 19, 1:07 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementILXChampaign8 min
Feb 19, 1:13 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXChampaign32 min
Feb 19, 1:34 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXVermilion15 min
Feb 19, 5:24 AM CSTDense Fog AdvisoryILXChristian, DeWitt, Logan, Macon, Menard, Morgan and 3 more6 hr
Feb 19, 1:51 PM CSTWind AdvisoryILXCass, Champaign, Christian, Coles, DeWitt, Douglas and 20 more19 hr
Feb 19, 3:02 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXEffingham32 min
Feb 19, 3:06 PM CSTTornado WarningILXEffingham24 min
Feb 19, 3:11 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXColes, Cumberland, Moultrie, Shelby34 min
Feb 19, 3:27 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXMoultrie, Shelby33 min
Feb 19, 3:45 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXColes30 min
Feb 19, 3:48 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXClark, Cumberland29 min
Feb 19, 3:49 PM CSTTornado WarningILXClark, Cumberland26 min
Feb 19, 3:57 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXCrawford, Jasper, Lawrence, Richland48 min
Feb 19, 3:59 PM CSTTornado WarningILXClark, Crawford, Cumberland, Jasper31 min
Feb 19, 4:04 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXClark, Coles, Edgar41 min
Feb 19, 4:09 PM CSTTornado WarningILXCrawford36 min
Feb 19, 4:10 PM CSTTornado WarningILXClark50 min
Feb 19, 4:22 PM CSTTornado WarningILXClark, Crawford23 min
Feb 19, 4:25 PM CSTTornado Warning Tornado observedConsiderable damage threatILXCrawford12 min
Feb 19, 4:39 PM CSTTornado Warning Tornado observedILXCrawford12 min
Feb 19, 4:43 PM CSTTornado Warning Tornado observedILXClark, Crawford17 min
Feb 19, 5:57 PM CSTTornado WarningILXClay, Effingham48 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.