Alert archive / Illinois / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 36, NWS Lincoln, IL
NWS Lincoln, IL issued this tornado warning at Apr 2, 2026, 6:33 PM CDT for Marshall County, Peoria County, Stark County, Illinois. It was in force for 24 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
- Apr 2, 2026, 6:33 PM CDT (23:33 UTC)
- Expired
- Apr 2, 2026, 6:57 PM CDT
- In force
- 24 min
- Issued by
- NWS Lincoln, IL
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 0.75 in
Counties Marshall County, IL, Peoria County, IL, Stark County, IL
The radar
The Quad Cities radar (KDVN), 103 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:37 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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2, 1:43 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 8 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 12:00Z, 11.6 hours before the alert went out and 132 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
- 19 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -278 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 846 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 44 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 453 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 450 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
712
WFUS53 KILX 022333
TORILX
ILC123-143-175-030015-
/O.NEW.KILX.TO.W.0036.260402T2333Z-260403T0015Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
633 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026
The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Northwestern Marshall County in central Illinois...
Southeastern Stark County in north central Illinois...
North central Peoria County in central Illinois...
* Until 715 PM CDT.
* At 633 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Laura, or 11 miles southwest of Wyoming, 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...
Wyoming and Princeville around 640 PM CDT.
Camp Grove around 645 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 4115 8964 4115 8933 4112 8933 4111 8936
4110 8933 4086 8984 4097 8994 4119 8964
TIME...MOT...LOC 2333Z 228DEG 50KT 4092 8987
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
Erwin2 follow-up statements
080
WWUS53 KILX 022347
SVSILX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
647 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026
ILC143-022356-
/O.CAN.KILX.TO.W.0036.000000T0000Z-260403T0015Z/
Peoria-
647 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL PEORIA COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CDT for central and
north central Illinois.
&&
LAT...LON 4099 8966 4110 8973 4115 8964 4115 8933
4112 8933 4112 8934 4111 8936 4111 8937
TIME...MOT...LOC 2346Z 240DEG 49KT 4109 8958
$$
ILC123-175-030015-
/O.CON.KILX.TO.W.0036.000000T0000Z-260403T0015Z/
Marshall-Stark-
647 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 715 PM CDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN MARSHALL AND EAST CENTRAL STARK COUNTIES...
At 646 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Camp Grove, or 9 miles northwest of Lacon, 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...
Henry around 655 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Marshall-Putnam County Fairgrounds.
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 4099 8966 4110 8973 4115 8964 4115 8933
4112 8933 4112 8934 4111 8936 4111 8937
TIME...MOT...LOC 2346Z 240DEG 49KT 4109 8958
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
Erwin879
WWUS53 KILX 022357
SVSILX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
657 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026
ILC123-175-030007-
/O.CAN.KILX.TO.W.0036.000000T0000Z-260403T0015Z/
Marshall-Stark-
657 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN MARSHALL AND EAST CENTRAL
STARK COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...
The storm which prompted the tornado warning has moved out of the
area. Therefore, the tornado warning has been cancelled. However,
gusty winds are still possible with this thunderstorm.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for central and
north central Illinois.
Remember, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning still remains in effect for
portions of Marshall and Stark Counties!
&&
LAT...LON 4099 8966 4110 8973 4115 8964 4115 8933
4112 8933 4112 8934 4111 8936 4111 8937
TIME...MOT...LOC 2355Z 228DEG 50KT 4119 8943
$$
ErwinWhat 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 Apr 2, 6:22 PM CDT, 11 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- This afternoon and evening, strong winds pose a double threat. Non-thunderstorm gusts are expected to reach 40-50 mph. Furthermore, thunderstorm wind gusts could be stronger, ranging from 55 to 75 mph. Given the recently saturated soils, these high winds will not only create difficulties for high- profile vehicles but also present a risk of uprooted trees.
- In addition to the damaging wind concerns, there remains a localized threat for tornadoes and large hail through this evening as a cold front pushes through the region.
- Another round of severe weather and potential flooding is expected Friday afternoon and evening. Rainfall totals between Friday and Saturday have a medium-high probability (50-70%) of exceeding 1 inch areawide.
- Overnight lows are likely (50-80% chance) to fall into the mid 30s or lower each morning Sunday through Tuesday. Action may be needed to protect newly- emerged, tender vegetation.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 2, 6:22 PM CDT, 11 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 622 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - This afternoon and evening, strong winds pose a double threat. Non-thunderstorm gusts are expected to reach 40-50 mph. Furthermore, thunderstorm wind gusts could be stronger, ranging from 55 to 75 mph. Given the recently saturated soils, these high winds will not only create difficulties for high- profile vehicles but also present a risk of uprooted trees. - In addition to the damaging wind concerns, there remains a localized threat for tornadoes and large hail through this evening as a cold front pushes through the region. - Another round of severe weather and potential flooding is expected Friday afternoon and evening. Rainfall totals between Friday and Saturday have a medium-high probability (50-70%) of exceeding 1 inch areawide. - Overnight lows are likely (50-80% chance) to fall into the mid 30s or lower each morning Sunday through Tuesday. Action may be needed to protect newly- emerged, tender vegetation. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 1133 AM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026 A quick glance at the mid-level water vapor imagery depicts our compact, negatively-tilted shortwave trough lifting across the Missouri Valley with its attendant surface low positioned over central Iowa. Scattered, elevated morning convection has been observed out ahead of the cold front within a broad warm sector and beneath strong ascent characterized by an upper-level difluent zone and strong kinematic profile. High-resolution model guidance consistently predicts widespread thunderstorms developing across west-central Illinois early this afternoon. The environment, characterized by surface temperatures in the low 70s and dewpoints in the low 60s, is expected to quickly destabilize due to low-level jet (LLJ) moisture transport, synoptic lift, and adiabatic cooling aloft. With MLCAPE values ranging from 500-1500 J/kg and deep-layer shear between 40-50 kts, supercells and multicell clusters are anticipated this afternoon and evening as a pre-frontal trough advances from the west. The robust low-level wind field, highlighted by a 60 kt LLJ core veering ahead of the cold front, will promote rapidly rotating updrafts. This potential is well- supported by 0-3 km Storm Relative Helicity (SRH) values exceeding 300 m2/s2 and a pronounced, humped low-level hodograph. While the parameter space clearly supports a tornado threat this afternoon through early evening across central Illinois, the uncapped warm sector will likely hinder supercells from staying discrete. The reality may be a much messier storm-scale environment with numerous mergers, nudgers, and boundary interactions. Aside from the tornado risk, a significant wind threat also exists given the top-shelf kinematic field in place. The momentum transfer augmented by precip-loading within any storm this afternoon and evening has the potential to put down 60 mph gusts, with the upshot being 75 mph gusts within any bowing segments or RFD surges that develop. The hail risk might be highest later this evening behind the pre-frontal trough and immediately along the cold front as a mid-level cold pocket overtakes the front and increases CAPEs through the hail growth zone. The current outlook supports hail up to the size of golf balls. Storms will exit the area late this evening, moving from northwest to southeast, as the cold front traverses central Illinois and becomes stationary. This stalled front will quickly retreat northward on Friday as a warm front, ahead of a significant upper-level trough that will track across the Missouri Valley toward the Upper-Mississippi Valley. This approaching disturbance and its associated surface low will set the stage for another round of nocturnal convection in central Illinois on Friday evening, likely taking the form of a decaying squall line pushing into west-central Illinois overnight. While a damaging wind risk is possible upon the squall lines arrival, the primary concern is the potential for flooding. Despite diminishing instability overnight, strong isentropic ascent preceding the front and weak low-pressure development along the front are expected to produce a long-duration rainfall event through Saturday morning. With the ground already saturated from recent heavy rains, widespread urban and small stream flooding, and potentially localized flash flooding, is anticipated by Saturday morning. Recent NBM guidance supports a medium-high probability (50-70%) of exceeding 1 during the Friday-Saturday timeframe. A transition to a drier and seasonably cool pattern is expected next week as elongated surface high pressure establishes itself over the central US. Current NBM guidance consistently forecasts daily high temperatures in the 50s from Sunday through Tuesday, with overnight lows in the 30s, raising renewed concerns for frost and freeze given the start of the growing season. Temperatures are then anticipated to rebound to warmer levels by the middle of next week as the high pressure system moves out and a southerly flow returns across the Plains and Midwest. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/... Issued at 622 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026 Line of strong to severe thunderstorms is most likely to impact KPIA over the next couple hours. It may take a few hours for any storms to get over into eastern Illinois. With KPIA most likely, will cover the threat with a TEMPO group, but use PROB30 for the other sites. Currently thinking the thunder threat should be out of the terminals before 06z. Otherwise, the strong southerly winds will gradually ease up this evening, as they shift more toward the west. By daybreak, winds should be relatively light as a front settles over the area, but will go back southerly again through Friday morning. On the north side of the front, a period of MVFR ceilings appears likely during the morning into early afternoon. Late in the period, another chance of thunderstorms. && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for ILZ027>031- 036>038-040>057-061>063-066>068-071>073. && KEY MESSAGES...MJA DISCUSSION...MJA AVIATION...Geelhart
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 2, 3:05 PM CDT, 3 hours 28 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Lincoln IL 305 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026 ILZ027>031-036>038-040>043-047>053-031100- Knox-Stark-Peoria-Marshall-Woodford-Fulton-Tazewell-McLean-Schuyler- Mason-Logan-De Witt-Cass-Menard-Scott-Morgan-Sangamon-Christian- Macon- 305 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Scattered thunderstorms are expected through the first half of the evening, with the highest threat of severe weather near and west of the Illinois River. Damaging winds, potentially as high as 75 mph, will be the primary threat, though large hail and a few tornadoes are also possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Another round of severe storms is forecast Friday night into the overnight hours, with all hazards possible. Minor flooding may develop along portions of the Illinois River early next week, mainly from Havana to Beardstown. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will likely be needed until 9 pm. Expected storm motion is toward the northeast, around 50 mph. ILZ044>046-054>057-061>063-066>068-071>073-031100- Piatt-Champaign-Vermilion-Moultrie-Douglas-Coles-Edgar-Shelby- Cumberland-Clark-Effingham-Jasper-Crawford-Clay-Richland-Lawrence- 305 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Illinois and southeast Illinois. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Periods of thunderstorms are expected through the evening, lingering past midnight south of I-70. Some of the storms will be severe. Damaging winds, potentially as high as 60 to 70 mph, will be the primary threat, though there is also a low threat of tornadoes. Outside of the storms, strong south winds with gusts 40 to 50 mph will continue into early evening. This could cause difficult driving conditions for high profile vehicles, especially on east west oriented roadways. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Thunderstorms are expected to develop again by late afternoon Friday, and continue into the first part of Saturday. Some of the storms may be strong after midnight Friday night. Minor flooding is possible along the Wabash River, beginning this weekend. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed through this evening. Expected storm motion is toward the northeast, around 50 mph. Geelhart
In the hours before
Local storm report, Apr 2, 4:02 PM CDT, 2 hours 31 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
402 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 AM Rain 1 W Galesburg 40.95N 90.39W
04/02/2026 M1.28 Inch Knox IL CO-OP Observer
CO-OP Observer station GBGI2 Galesburg.
0355 PM Rain Galesburg Airport 40.93N 90.43W
04/02/2026 M1.11 Inch Knox IL AWOS
AWOS station KGBG Galesburg Arpt.
0700 AM Rain 3 NNW Sparland 41.08N 89.47W
04/02/2026 M1.09 Inch Marshall IL Cocorahs
Cocorahs station IL-MH-4 Sparland 3.4 NNW.
0700 AM Rain 1 NW Knoxville 40.91N 90.29W
04/02/2026 M1.03 Inch Knox IL Cocorahs
Cocorahs station IL-KX-9 Knoxville 0.7 NW.
&&Local storm report, Apr 2, 4:49 PM CDT, 1 hour 44 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
449 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0423 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 1 NW Lincoln 40.16N 89.37W
04/02/2026 M52 MPH Logan IL Public
&&Local storm report, Apr 2, 5:44 PM CDT, 49 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
544 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0532 PM Funnel Cloud Galesburg 40.95N 90.37W
04/02/2026 Knox IL Fire Dept/Rescue
Funnel reported on south side of Galesburg.
&&
ShimonLocal storm report, Apr 2, 5:48 PM CDT, 45 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
548 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0535 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Galesburg 40.95N 90.37W
04/02/2026 M49 MPH Knox IL ASOS
&&
ShimonLocal storm report, Apr 2, 5:51 PM CDT, 42 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
551 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0532 PM Funnel Cloud Galesburg 40.94N 90.37W
04/02/2026 Knox IL Trained Spotter
Reported outside of the Public Safety
Building at 150 S Broad Street in Galesburg.
&&
ShimonLocal storm report, Apr 2, 6:20 PM CDT, 13 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
620 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0542 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst Central Illinois Airpor 40.48N 88.91W
04/02/2026 M51 MPH McLean IL AWOS
AWOS station KBMI Bloomington Arpt.
&&The office that day
Everything else NWS Lincoln, IL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2, 4:38 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Champaign, Douglas, Vermilion | 52 min |
| Apr 2, 5:12 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Vermilion | 33 min |
| Apr 2, 5:19 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ILX | Knox | 41 min |
| Apr 2, 5:47 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ILX | Knox, Stark | 43 min |
| Apr 2, 6:00 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Fulton, Knox | 45 min |
| Apr 2, 6:16 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ILX | Knox, Peoria | 29 min |
| Apr 2, 6:31 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Fulton, Knox, Marshall, Peoria, Stark | 44 min |
| Apr 2, 6:55 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Marshall, Peoria, Woodford | 50 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.