Alert archive / Illinois / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 73, NWS Lincoln, IL
NWS Lincoln, IL issued this tornado warning at Apr 27, 2026, 7:51 PM CDT for Cumberland County, Effingham County, Shelby County, Illinois. It was in force for 39 min. 2 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, 7:51 PM CDT (00:51 UTC)
- Expired
- Apr 27, 2026, 8:30 PM CDT
- In force
- 39 min
- Issued by
- NWS Lincoln, IL
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 1.25 in
Counties Cumberland County, IL, Effingham County, IL, Shelby County, IL
The radar
The Lincoln radar (KILX), 122 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:54 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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 27, 7:55 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Sse Beecher City, IL | Picture of metal in a field. |
| Apr 27, 8:13 PM CDT | FUNNEL CLOUD | 1 Nw Effingham, IL |
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, 0.9 hours before the alert went out and 107 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.
234
WFUS53 KILX 280051
TORILX
ILC035-049-173-280130-
/O.NEW.KILX.TO.W.0073.260428T0051Z-260428T0130Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
751 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Southeastern Shelby County in central Illinois...
Western Cumberland County in east central Illinois...
Northern Effingham County in south central Illinois...
* Until 830 PM CDT.
* At 750 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Beecher City, or 15 miles west of Effingham,
moving east at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado and half dollar 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...
Beecher City and Shumway around 755 PM CDT.
Effingham around 805 PM CDT.
Other locations in the path of this tornadic thunderstorm include
Montrose.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 57 between mile markers 158 and 178.
Interstate 70 between mile markers 91 and 105.
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 3910 8880 3922 8880 3925 8879 3937 8836
3908 8836
TIME...MOT...LOC 0050Z 265DEG 44KT 3918 8883
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN
$$
Deubelbeiss2 follow-up statements
265
WWUS53 KILX 280106
SVSILX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
806 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
ILC035-049-173-280130-
/O.CON.KILX.TO.W.0073.000000T0000Z-260428T0130Z/
Shelby-Cumberland-Effingham-
806 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 830 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN SHELBY...WESTERN CUMBERLAND AND NORTHEASTERN EFFINGHAM
COUNTIES...
At 805 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Shumway, or near Effingham, moving east at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado and half dollar size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
This dangerous storm will be near...
Effingham around 810 PM CDT.
Montrose around 815 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Sigel
and Trowbridge.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 57 between mile markers 160 and 178.
Interstate 70 between mile markers 94 and 105.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.
&&
LAT...LON 3915 8869 3928 8868 3937 8836 3908 8836
TIME...MOT...LOC 0105Z 265DEG 44KT 3920 8858
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN
$$
Deubelbeiss136
WWUS53 KILX 280111
SVSILX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
811 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
ILC035-049-173-280130-
/O.CON.KILX.TO.W.0073.000000T0000Z-260428T0130Z/
Shelby-Cumberland-Effingham-
811 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 830 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN SHELBY...WESTERN CUMBERLAND AND NORTHEASTERN EFFINGHAM
COUNTIES...
At 811 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Neoga, moving east at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado and half dollar 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
southeastern Shelby, western Cumberland and northeastern Effingham
Counties, including the following locations... Sigel and Trowbridge.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 57 between mile markers 160 and 178.
Interstate 70 between mile markers 94 and 105.
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 3914 8862 3931 8858 3937 8836 3908 8836
TIME...MOT...LOC 0111Z 270DEG 38KT 3926 8849
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN
$$
ShimonWhat 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, 1 hour 12 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, 1 hour 12 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, 5 hours 19 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, 7:15 PM CDT, 36 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
715 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0648 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Weldon 40.12N 88.75W
04/27/2026 De Witt IL Emergency Mngr
Power poles down and possibly a home with
roof off.
&&
JLALocal storm report, Apr 27, 7:16 PM CDT, 35 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
716 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0648 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Weldon 40.12N 88.75W
04/27/2026 De Witt IL Broadcast Media
Older tree down.
&&
JLALocal storm report, Apr 27, 7:29 PM CDT, 22 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
729 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0540 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 NE Alexander 39.74N 90.01W
04/27/2026 Morgan IL Emergency Mngr
Power lines down.
&&
JLALocal storm report, Apr 27, 7:32 PM CDT, 19 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
732 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0703 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Seymour 40.11N 88.43W
04/27/2026 M65 MPH Champaign IL Emergency Mngr
&&
JLALocal storm report, Apr 27, 7:33 PM CDT, 18 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
733 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 PM Rain 2 ESE Chatham 39.67N 89.67W
04/27/2026 M2.77 Inch Sangamon IL Cocorahs
Total since 7 am.
&&
JLALocal storm report, Apr 27, 7:36 PM CDT, 15 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
736 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0736 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst Ogden 40.11N 87.96W
04/27/2026 E60 MPH Champaign IL Emergency Mngr
Winds estimated over 60 mph.
&&
JLAThe office that day
Everything else NWS Lincoln, IL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 27, 7:04 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ILX | Champaign | 26 min |
| 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, 7:58 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.