Alert archive / Illinois / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 77, NWS Lincoln, IL
NWS Lincoln, IL issued this tornado warning at Apr 27, 2026, 9:28 PM CDT for Lawrence County, Richland County, Illinois. It was in force for 28 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, 9:28 PM CDT (02:28 UTC)
- Expired
- Apr 27, 2026, 9:56 PM CDT
- In force
- 28 min
- Issued by
- NWS Lincoln, IL
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 1.0 in
Counties Lawrence County, IL, Richland County, IL
The radar
The Evansville,IN radar (KVWX), 49 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:29 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, 9:39 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | Sumner, IL | |
| Apr 27, 9:52 PM CDT | TSTM WND GST 50 | Bridgeport, IL | Small twigs blown down too. |
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, 2.5 hours before the alert went out and 176 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.
568
WFUS53 KILX 280228
TORILX
ILC101-159-280315-
/O.NEW.KILX.TO.W.0077.260428T0228Z-260428T0315Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
928 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Southwestern Lawrence County in southeastern Illinois...
Southeastern Richland County in southeastern Illinois...
* Until 1015 PM CDT.
* At 928 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms capable of producing a tornado
were located along a line extending from Olney to 9 miles east of
Cisne, 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.
* These dangerous storms will be near...
Sumner and Parkersburg around 935 PM CDT.
Bridgeport around 940 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.
This line 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 3860 8816 3860 8824 3870 8813 3874 8774
3857 8777 3857 8814
TIME...MOT...LOC 0228Z 274DEG 53KT 3873 8805 3852 8826
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
$$
Erwin2 follow-up statements
461
WWUS53 KILX 280248
SVSILX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
948 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
ILC159-280258-
/O.CAN.KILX.TO.W.0077.000000T0000Z-260428T0315Z/
Richland-
948 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN RICHLAND COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
The storms which prompted the warning have moved out of the warned
area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for southeastern
Illinois. A Tornado Watch also remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT
for southeastern Illinois.
&&
LAT...LON 3869 8791 3874 8774 3857 8777 3857 8791
TIME...MOT...LOC 0248Z 268DEG 53KT 3872 8768 3853 8791
$$
ILC101-280315-
/O.CON.KILX.TO.W.0077.000000T0000Z-260428T0315Z/
Lawrence-
948 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1015 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN LAWRENCE COUNTY...
At 948 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes
were located along a line extending from Lawrenceville to near
Lancaster, 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.
These tornadic storms will remain over mainly rural areas of
southwestern Lawrence County.
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 line 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 3869 8791 3874 8774 3857 8777 3857 8791
TIME...MOT...LOC 0248Z 268DEG 53KT 3872 8768 3853 8791
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
$$
Erwin558 WWUS53 KILX 280256 SVSILX Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service Lincoln IL 956 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026 ILC101-280305- /O.CAN.KILX.TO.W.0077.000000T0000Z-260428T0315Z/ Lawrence- 956 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026 ...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN LAWRENCE COUNTY IS CANCELLED... The storms which prompted the warning have moved out of the area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled. A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for southeastern Illinois. A Tornado Watch also remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for southeastern Illinois. Remember, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning still remains in effect for Lawrence County! && LAT...LON 3869 8791 3874 8774 3857 8777 3857 8791 TIME...MOT...LOC 0254Z 274DEG 53KT 3871 8755 3852 8778 $$ Erwin
What 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, 8:58 PM CDT, 30 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, 8:58 PM CDT, 30 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 858 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. && .UPDATE... Issued at 858 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026 We extended the tornado watch another 2 hours until 11 pm cdt in east central and southeast IL. We also extended the Flood Watch another hour until 11 pm cdt from Christian, Macon, Moultrie, Douglas and Edgar counties south. The squall line with strong to severe thundertorms (including possible tornadoes) was near or southeast of a Danville to Effingham line, and west of Mount Vernon, racing eastward at 50-60 mph. The HRRR has been handling this convection fairly well and has the squall line passing southeast of Lawrence county IL by 04Z/11 pm. Will still be risk of severe storms with damaging winds, large hail and possible tornadoes with this line next 1-2 hours. Also rainfall amounts of 1-2 inches in 2-3 hours with locally 2-3 inches possible in southeast IL which already seen 1.5-3 inches of rain so far today. The cold front was pushing east toward the IL river at mid evening and will push through se IL between 1-3 am overnight. Most of the convection should be east/se of CWA after 1 am tonight with quieter weather returning. Lows overnight to range from upper 40s over the IL river valley from I-55 west (mid 40s by Galesburg) and 55-60F in southeast IL. && .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 11 PM CDT this evening for ILZ052>057- 061>063-066>068-071>073. && KEY MESSAGES...Bumgardner UPDATE...07 DISCUSSION...Bumgardner AVIATION...07
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 27, 2:32 PM CDT, 6 hours 56 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, 9:12 PM CDT, 16 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
912 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0644 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 WNW De Land 40.13N 88.69W
04/27/2026 Piatt IL Fire Dept/Rescue
Corrects previous flash flood report from 2
WNW De Land. Deland-Weldon school sustained
roof damage.
&&
JLALocal storm report, Apr 27, 9:18 PM CDT, 10 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
918 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0900 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Louisville 38.77N 88.50W
04/27/2026 Clay IL Emergency Mngr
Tree on apartments. Injuries unknown.
&&
JLALocal storm report, Apr 27, 9:20 PM CDT, 8 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
920 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0900 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Xenia 38.64N 88.64W
04/27/2026 Clay IL Emergency Mngr
Tree over the road.
&&
JLALocal storm report, Apr 27, 9:24 PM CDT, 4 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
924 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0900 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Xenia 38.64N 88.64W
04/27/2026 Clay IL Emergency Mngr
Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from
Xenia. Limb over the road.
&&
JLALocal storm report, Apr 27, 9:26 PM CDT, 2 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
926 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0716 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Thomasboro 40.24N 88.19W
04/27/2026 Champaign IL Broadcast Media
Tree limbs down.
&&
JLALocal storm report, Apr 27, 9:28 PM CDT, 0 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
928 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0813 PM Funnel Cloud 1 NW Effingham 39.13N 88.55W
04/27/2026 Effingham IL Public
&&The 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, 7:51 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, 9:33 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.