Alert archive / Illinois / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 20, NWS St. Louis, MO

May 18, 2026Jefferson County, Saint Louis County, City of Saint Louis, Missouri; 4 counties in Illinois

NWS St. Louis, MO issued this flash flood warning at May 18, 2026, 5:06 PM CDT for Jefferson County, Saint Louis County, City of Saint Louis, Missouri; 4 counties in Illinois. It was in force for 4 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
May 18, 2026, 5:06 PM CDT (22:06 UTC)
Expired
May 18, 2026, 8:57 PM CDT
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS St. Louis, MO
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Clinton County, IL, Madison County, IL, Monroe County, IL, Saint Clair County, IL, City of Saint Louis, MO, Jefferson County, MO, Saint Louis County, MO

The radar

The St Louis radar (KLSX), 54 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:08 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 12:00Z, 10.1 hours before the alert went out and 222 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 2026-05-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 850 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 2026-05-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 301 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
850 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-80 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
966 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
25 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
301 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
331 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.8
Supercell composite
8.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

728 
WGUS53 KLSX 182206
FFWLSX
ILC027-119-133-163-MOC099-189-510-190200-
/O.NEW.KLSX.FF.W.0020.260518T2206Z-260519T0200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service St Louis MO
506 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

The National Weather Service in St Louis has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Western Clinton County in south central Illinois...
  Southern Madison County in southwestern Illinois...
  Northwestern Monroe County in southwestern Illinois...
  Saint Clair County in southwestern Illinois...
  Northeastern Jefferson County in east central Missouri...
  Eastern Saint Louis County in east central Missouri...
  East Central Saint Louis City in east central Missouri...

* Until 900 PM CDT.

* At 506 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain
  have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are
  possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected
  to begin shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
           highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
           drainage and low-lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Belleville, Granite City, O'Fallon, East St. Louis, Collinsville,
  Edwardsville, Fairview Heights, Cahokia, Swansea, Glen Carbon,
  Shiloh, Highland, Troy, Waterloo, Columbia, Maryville, Mascoutah,
  Pontoon Beach and Centreville.

This includes the following State Parks...
Frank Holten State Park and Horseshoe Lake State Park.

This includes the following highways...
Interstate 64 in Illinois between exits 9 and 27. Interstate 70 in
Illinois between exits 21 and 30.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

&&

LAT...LON 3826 9037 3835 9036 3844 9029 3852 9026
      3861 9018 3867 9018 3872 9021 3877 9017
      3882 8960 3866 8960 3866 8971 3843 8970
      3821 9035

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

Walsh
2 follow-up statements
615 
WGUS73 KLSX 190109
FFSLSX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service St Louis MO
809 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

MOC510-190119-
/O.CAN.KLSX.FF.W.0020.000000T0000Z-260519T0200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Saint Louis City MO-
809 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR THE EAST CENTRAL SAINT LOUIS
CITY...

Flooding is no longer expected to pose a threat. Please continue to
heed remaining road closures.

A Flood Watch remains in effect until 100 PM CDT Tuesday for portions
of southwest Illinois and east central Missouri.

A Flood Watch remains in effect until 100 PM CDT Tuesday for a
portion of south central Illinois.

&&

LAT...LON 3826 9037 3835 9036 3844 9029 3852 9026
      3861 9018 3867 9018 3872 9021 3875 9018
      3876 9018 3877 9017 3882 8960 3866 8960
      3866 8971 3843 8970 3821 9035

$$

ILC027-119-133-163-MOC099-189-190200-
/O.CON.KLSX.FF.W.0020.000000T0000Z-260519T0200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Clinton IL-Madison IL-Monroe IL-Saint Clair IL-Jefferson MO-Saint
Louis MO-
809 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING
FOR WESTERN CLINTON COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS, SOUTHERN
MADISON, NORTHWESTERN MONROE AND SAINT CLAIR COUNTIES IN SOUTHWESTERN
ILLINOIS AND NORTHEASTERN JEFFERSON AND EASTERN SAINT LOUIS COUNTIES
IN EAST CENTRAL MISSOURI...

At 809 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy
rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain have
fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible in
the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin
shortly.

HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
         highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
         drainage and low-lying areas.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Belleville, Granite City, O'Fallon, East St. Louis, Collinsville,
  Edwardsville, Fairview Heights, Cahokia, Swansea, Glen Carbon,
  Shiloh, Highland, Troy, Waterloo, Columbia, Maryville, Mascoutah,
  Pontoon Beach and Centreville.

This includes the following State Parks...
Frank Holten State Park and Horseshoe Lake State Park.

This includes the following highways...
Interstate 64 in Illinois between exits 9 and 27. Interstate 70 in
Illinois between exits 21 and 30.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

&&

LAT...LON 3826 9037 3835 9036 3844 9029 3852 9026
      3861 9018 3867 9018 3872 9021 3875 9018
      3876 9018 3877 9017 3882 8960 3866 8960
      3866 8971 3843 8970 3821 9035

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

Maples
163 
WGUS73 KLSX 190157
FFSLSX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service St Louis MO
857 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

ILC027-119-133-163-MOC099-189-190207-
/O.CAN.KLSX.FF.W.0020.000000T0000Z-260519T0200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Clinton IL-Madison IL-Monroe IL-Saint Clair IL-Jefferson MO-Saint
Louis MO-
857 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR WESTERN CLINTON COUNTY IN
SOUTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS, SOUTHERN MADISON, NORTHWESTERN MONROE AND
SAINT CLAIR COUNTIES IN SOUTHWESTERN ILLINOIS AND NORTHEASTERN
JEFFERSON AND EASTERN SAINT LOUIS COUNTIES IN EAST CENTRAL
MISSOURI...

The heavy rain has ended. Minor flooding may continue to linger for
the next few hours, especially in flood prone areas. Please continue
to heed remaining road closures.

A Flood Watch remains in effect until 100 PM CDT Tuesday for portions
of southwest Illinois and east central Missouri.

A Flood Watch remains in effect until 100 PM CDT Tuesday for a
portion of south central Illinois.

&&

LAT...LON 3826 9037 3835 9036 3844 9029 3852 9026
      3861 9018 3867 9018 3872 9021 3875 9018
      3876 9018 3877 9017 3882 8960 3866 8960
      3866 8971 3843 8970 3821 9035

$$

Maples

The office that day

Everything else NWS St. Louis, MO issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 18, 1:12 AM CDTFlood WatchLSXAudrain, Boone, Callaway, Cole, Crawford, Franklin and 14 more35 hr
May 18, 6:12 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXAudrain, Marion, Pike, Ralls48 min
May 18, 6:18 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatLSXAudrain, Boone, Callaway42 min
May 18, 6:41 AM CDTTornado WarningLSXPike, Ralls28 min
May 18, 7:21 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXLincoln, Pike39 min
May 18, 10:56 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLSXFranklin, Gasconade4 hr
May 18, 12:39 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLSXCrawford, Franklin, Washington7 hr
May 18, 1:22 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLSXSaint Louis, City of Saint Louis6 hr
May 18, 2:40 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLSXBoone, Callaway, Cole, Moniteau4 hr
May 18, 3:05 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningLSXCrawford, Franklin, Gasconade, Warren6 hr
May 18, 5:01 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningLSXFranklin, Gasconade, Warren3 hr
May 18, 5:12 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningLSXSaint Charles, Saint Louis, City of Saint Louis3 hr
May 18, 7:37 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXCalhoun, Greene, Pike25 min
May 18, 11:25 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLSXFayette, Marion3 hr
May 18, 2:00 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLSXMadison, Monroe, Saint Clair3 hr
May 18, 2:11 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningLSXClinton, Fayette, Marion6 hr
May 18, 2:13 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLSXBond, Clinton, Fayette, Washington41 min
May 18, 2:54 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningLSXBond, Clinton, Fayette, Madison, Marion, Saint Clair and 1 more6 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Illinois, 2026Flash Flood Warnings in Missouri, 2026Every flash flood warning 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.