Alert archive / Illinois / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 72, NWS Lincoln, IL
NWS Lincoln, IL issued this tornado warning at Apr 27, 2026, 7:04 PM CDT for Champaign County, Illinois. It was in force for 26 min. 14 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
- Apr 27, 2026, 7:04 PM CDT (00:04 UTC)
- Expired
- Apr 27, 2026, 7:30 PM CDT
- In force
- 26 min
- Issued by
- NWS Lincoln, IL
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 1.0 in
County Champaign County, IL
The radar
The Lincoln radar (KILX), 107 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:08 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 27, 7:05 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Nw Lake Of The Woods, IL | Tree uprooted along highway 47. |
| Apr 27, 7:05 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | 2 W Mahomet, IL | Tree on a house. |
| Apr 27, 7:06 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | 1 W Mahomet, IL | Power lines down with road closure. |
| Apr 27, 7:06 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | Mahomet, IL | Numerous 4-8 inch diameter tree branches down. Fences blown down too. |
| Apr 27, 7:07 PM CDT | TSTM WND GST 65 | Mahomet, IL | |
| Apr 27, 7:10 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | 4 Ene Lake Of The Woods, IL | Large tree limb snapped. |
| Apr 27, 7:13 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | Thomasboro, IL | Fence blown down. |
| Apr 27, 7:15 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | Lake Of The Woods, IL | Numerous large branches down 4-6 inches in diameter. Wooden fences blown over. |
| Apr 27, 7:16 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Sw Champaign, IL | Trees and power lines down near Centennial Park. |
| Apr 27, 7:16 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | Thomasboro, IL | Tree limbs down. |
| Apr 27, 7:30 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | Saint Joseph, IL | Picture of tree down in town. |
| Apr 27, 7:32 PM CDT | TSTM WND GST 60 | Ogden, IL | Estimated over 60 mph winds. |
| Apr 27, 7:35 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | Ogden, IL | Picture of tree down on a house. |
| Apr 27, 7:36 PM CDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 60 | Ogden, IL | Winds estimated over 60 mph. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 27, 4:41 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 00:00Z, 0.1 hours before the alert went out and 45 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
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1082 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 76 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -1 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- -57 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
628
WFUS53 KILX 280004
TORILX
ILC019-280030-
/O.NEW.KILX.TO.W.0072.260428T0004Z-260428T0030Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
704 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Northern Champaign County in east central Illinois...
* Until 730 PM CDT.
* At 703 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Mahomet, or 10 miles northwest of Champaign,
moving east at 60 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado and quarter 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...
Lake Of The Woods around 710 PM CDT.
Rantoul and Thomasboro around 715 PM CDT.
Other locations in the path of this tornadic thunderstorm include
Gifford.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 57 between mile markers 234 and 255.
Interstate 72 between mile markers 174 and 182.
Interstate 74 between mile markers 169 and 197.
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 4022 8794 4007 8794 4011 8846 4027 8846
4040 8806 4040 8793 4023 8793
TIME...MOT...LOC 0003Z 251DEG 52KT 4019 8844
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
$$
Deubelbeiss2 follow-up statements
093
WWUS53 KILX 280020
SVSILX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
720 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
ILC019-280030-
/O.CON.KILX.TO.W.0072.000000T0000Z-260428T0030Z/
Champaign-
720 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN CHAMPAIGN COUNTY...
At 720 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Rantoul, moving east at 60 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
This dangerous storm will be near...
Gifford around 725 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Royal,
Flatville, and Penfield.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 57 between mile markers 237 and 254.
Interstate 74 between mile markers 177 and 179, and between mile
markers 182 and 197.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.
&&
LAT...LON 4022 8794 4007 8794 4015 8832 4029 8832
4040 8806 4040 8793 4023 8793
TIME...MOT...LOC 0020Z 251DEG 52KT 4027 8813
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
$$
Deubelbeiss500
WWUS53 KILX 280027
SVSILX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
727 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
ILC019-280037-
/O.EXP.KILX.TO.W.0072.000000T0000Z-260428T0030Z/
Champaign-
727 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN CHAMPAIGN COUNTY WILL EXPIRE
AT 730 PM CDT...
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 Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM CDT for east central
Illinois.
&&
LAT...LON 4022 8794 4007 8794 4015 8832 4029 8832
4040 8806 4040 8793 4023 8793
TIME...MOT...LOC 0027Z 251DEG 52KT 4030 8803
$$
DeubelbeissWhat 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 27, 6:39 PM CDT, 25 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- There is a level 3 of 5 (enhanced) risk for severe weather this evening. Damaging winds, large hail, a couple tornadoes, and flash flooding are all concerns, especially near and south of I-70.
- There is a 30-50% chance for frost Friday night. Tender vegetation may need to be covered in order to prevent damage.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 27, 6:39 PM CDT, 25 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 639 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - There is a level 3 of 5 (enhanced) risk for severe weather this evening. Damaging winds, large hail, a couple tornadoes, and flash flooding are all concerns, especially near and south of I-70. - There is a 30-50% chance for frost Friday night. Tender vegetation may need to be covered in order to prevent damage. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 226 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026 ***** SEVERE WEATHER THIS EVENING ***** Mid level water vapor satellite reveals a negatively tilted upper level trough spinning over the Midwest. At the surface, WPC has analyzed a 996mb low in eastern Iowa which is forecast to lift northeastward across Wisconsin this evening. Much of the warm sector has been worked over at this point via a morning-early afternoon MCS, but these storms left an outflow boundary near/south of the I- 70 corridor which will serve as a differential heating/convergence zone for renewed storms later this afternoon. A wake low continues to foster wind gusts up to 35mph from the southeast, which should help maintain stable low levels further north. Nonetheless, a few elevated storms could generate locally severe hail and wind in those areas. Meanwhile, south of the I-70 corridor, dewpoints should surge into the mid-upper 60s while a 50 kt LLJ maintains 40-55 kt effective bulk wind shear and 400-700 (679 on the VWX vad profiler) m^2/s^2 0-3km SRH via strongly cyclonically curved hodographs. CAMs generally suggest convective activity developing upstream over the next couple hours and moving through this environment during the evening will start discrete and eventually grow upscale into another MCS. Hence, the initial hazards will be very large hail and tornadoes, with the risk transitioning to damaging winds, locally severe hail, and QLCS tornadoes with time. Training storms will pose a risk for flash flooding (REFS and HREF ensemble max precip have swaths of 4+ inches of rain falling in <6 hours), for which we have issued a Flood Watch which extends through 10pm. A Tornado Watch is in effect for Effingham to Crawford Counties and areas further south, where the chance of surface based (and hence potentially tornadic) storms is highest. Storms should exit the ILX County Warning area by 11pm, while a cooler and more stable airmass arrives from the west-northwest behind a cold front. ***** DRY CONDITIONS LIKELY WEDNESDAY AND BEYOND ***** Another shortwave will lift northeast through the area tomorrow night, bringing another opportunity for some rain and perhaps a rumble of thunder. Thankfully QPF with this system is lighter, with a low (<20%) chance for an additional inch of rainfall. Since this will occur around 24 hours after this evening's heavy rainfall in southeast Illinois, the ground may have some time to absorb the water, though we'll still be keeping one eye on it. By Wednesday morning, a drier pattern should take hold of the region, with less than a 20% chance for rain through the weekend. High temperatures each day are forecast in the 60s, with locations near and north of the I-74 corridor potentially (60% chance) not climbing out of the 50s on Friday. The National Blend of Models (NBM) indicates a 30-50% chance temperatures fall below 37 degF Friday night into Saturday morning, which should be cold enough for frost given the expected light winds. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 640 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026 A squall line consisting of strong to severe thunderstorms was along I-55 at 640 pm with a severe cell ahead of this line between DEC and CMI and racing eastward at 50-60 mph. Convection was also over PIA which was on the back side of this complex. We have gradient SE winds 25-35 kts with gusts 40-50 kts ahead of this squall line especially at DEC and CMI. A severe storm would produce wind gusts over 50 kts possible at DEC and CMI next hour. IFR to MVF conditions expected with this strong to severe convection as HRRR has it tracking east of DEC and CMI between 01-02Z at mid evening. May see a brief period of VFR conditions late evening/early overnight before MVFR ceilings likely spread into central IL during overnight and linger into Tue morning. the MVFR ceilings could scatter out at PIA and possibly as far se as I-55 at BMI and SPI during Tue afternoon. Breezy south to SE winds gusting 25-35 kts to weaken and shift west to WNW behind cold frontal passage overnight. && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flood Watch until 10 PM CDT this evening for ILZ052>057- 061>063-066>068-071>073. && KEY MESSAGES...Bumgardner DISCUSSION...Bumgardner AVIATION...07
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 27, 2:32 PM CDT, 4 hours 32 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Lincoln IL 232 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026 ILZ027>031-036>038-040-041-281945- Knox-Stark-Peoria-Marshall-Woodford-Fulton-Tazewell-McLean-Schuyler- Mason- 232 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Thunderstorm redevelopment continues to be possible this afternoon and moving east through mid evening. The storms will be capable of producing damaging winds, hail, and a few tornadoes. In addition, heavy rainfall may produce areas of flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Minor flooding will persist on the Illinois River from Havana to Beardstown through the week, with some renewed rises around midweek. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed. Expected storm motion is toward the east-northeast around 50 mph. ILZ042>057-061>063-281945- Logan-De Witt-Piatt-Champaign-Vermilion-Cass-Menard-Scott-Morgan- Sangamon-Christian-Macon-Moultrie-Douglas-Coles-Edgar-Shelby- Cumberland-Clark- 232 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Illinois, east central Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Thunderstorm redevelopment is possible this afternoon with storms moving out of east central Illinois by late evening. The storms will be capable of producing damaging winds, hail, and a few tornadoes. In addition, heavy rainfall may produce areas of flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. A few thunderstorms are expected Tuesday night, but severe weather is not likely. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed. Expected storm motion is toward the east-northeast around 50 mph. ILZ066>068-071>073-281945- Effingham-Jasper-Crawford-Clay-Richland-Lawrence- 232 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Illinois. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Periods of thunderstorms are expected through the evening hours. Some of these will be severe. Damaging winds and tornadoes are the main concerns. In addition, heavy rainfall may produce areas of flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Scattered thunderstorms are expected Tuesday night, but severe weather is not likely. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will likely be needed. Expected storm motion is toward the east-northeast around 50 mph. Knutsvig
In the hours before
Local storm report, Apr 27, 6:46 PM CDT, 18 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
646 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0639 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Latham 39.97N 89.16W
04/27/2026 E80 MPH Logan IL Fire Dept/Rescue
Estimated 70-80 mph winds.
&&
JLALocal storm report, Apr 27, 6:47 PM CDT, 17 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
647 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0643 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 W Warrensburg 39.94N 89.11W
04/27/2026 E80 MPH Macon IL Law Enforcement
&&
JLALocal storm report, Apr 27, 6:50 PM CDT, 14 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
650 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0610 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Ogden 40.11N 87.96W
04/27/2026 M64 MPH Champaign IL CO-OP Observer
&&
JLALocal storm report, Apr 27, 6:52 PM CDT, 12 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
652 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0645 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Alvin 40.31N 87.61W
04/27/2026 Vermilion IL Emergency Mngr
Tree down across south bound lane of State
119.
&&
JLALocal storm report, Apr 27, 6:57 PM CDT, 7 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
657 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0616 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 WNW Mount Pulaski 40.02N 89.31W
04/27/2026 Logan IL Emergency Mngr
Large tree down & out building tin scattered
around property.
&&
JLALocal storm report, Apr 27, 7:01 PM CDT, 3 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
701 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0655 PM Hail Saint Francisville 38.59N 87.65W
04/27/2026 M0.75 Inch Lawrence IL Trained Spotter
&&
JLAThe office that day
Everything else NWS Lincoln, IL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 27, 7:12 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Christian, Shelby | 33 min |
| Apr 27, 7:24 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Vermilion | 36 min |
| Apr 27, 7:28 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | ILX | Champaign, Coles, Douglas, Macon, Moultrie, Piatt and 2 more | 3 hr |
| Apr 27, 7:38 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Effingham, Moultrie and 1 more | 67 min |
| Apr 27, 7:51 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ILX | Cumberland, Effingham, Shelby | 39 min |
| Apr 27, 7:58 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Vermilion | 17 min |
| Apr 27, 8:05 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Clark, Clay, Coles, Cumberland, Effingham, Jasper | 40 min |
| Apr 27, 8:18 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ILX | Clark, Crawford, Cumberland, Effingham, Jasper | 42 min |
| Apr 27, 8:31 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Clark, Coles, Crawford, Edgar, Jasper | 59 min |
| Apr 27, 8:47 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Clay, Effingham, Jasper, Richland | 58 min |
| Apr 27, 8:50 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | ILX | Coles, Douglas, Edgar, Vermilion | 3 hr |
| Apr 27, 8:54 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ILX | Clay, Richland | 35 min |
| Apr 27, 8:57 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ILX | Clark, Crawford | 19 min |
| Apr 27, 9:25 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Clay, Crawford, Jasper, Lawrence, Richland | 50 min |
| Apr 27, 9:28 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ILX | Lawrence, Richland | 28 min |
| Apr 27, 9:33 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | ILX | Crawford, Jasper | 3 hr |
| Apr 27, 9:46 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ILX | Lawrence | 14 min |
| Apr 27, 9:48 PM CDT | River Flood Warning | ILX | Lawrence | 7 days |
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.