Alert archive / Illinois / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 133, NWS St. Louis, MO

May 3, 2026Calhoun County, Jersey County, Illinois; Lincoln County, Saint Charles County, Missouri

NWS St. Louis, MO issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 3, 2026, 10:15 PM CDT for Calhoun County, Jersey County, Illinois; Lincoln County, Saint Charles County, Missouri. It was in force for 30 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
May 3, 2026, 10:15 PM CDT (03:15 UTC)
Expired
May 3, 2026, 10:45 PM CDT
In force
30 min
Issued by
NWS St. Louis, MO
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Calhoun County, IL, Jersey County, IL, Lincoln County, MO, Saint Charles County, MO

The radar

The St Louis radar (KLSX), 30 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 03:17 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 severe thunderstorm 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 nearest sounding before it

Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 00:00Z, 3.3 hours before the alert went out and 229 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 00:00Z on 2026-05-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 95 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Lincoln, IL at 00:00Z on 2026-05-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 203 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
95 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-26 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2057 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
62 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
203 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
318 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

235 
WUUS53 KLSX 040315
SVRLSX
ILC013-083-MOC113-183-040345-
/O.NEW.KLSX.SV.W.0133.260504T0315Z-260504T0345Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service St Louis MO
1015 PM CDT Sun May 3 2026

The National Weather Service in St Louis has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Southeastern Calhoun County in southwestern Illinois...
  Southwestern Jersey County in southwestern Illinois...
  Southeastern Lincoln County in east central Missouri...
  Northwestern Saint Charles County in east central Missouri...

* Until 1045 PM CDT.

* At 1015 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Moscow
  Mills, or near Troy, moving east at 50 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to
           roofs, siding, and trees.

* This severe thunderstorm will be near...
  Fountain N' Lakes, Chain of Rocks, Moscow Mills and Troy around
  1020 PM CDT.
  Winfield and St. Paul around 1025 PM CDT.
  O'Fallon around 1030 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by the severe thunderstorm include Flint
Hill, Old Monroe, Foley, Beechville, Batchtown, Brussels, Golden
Eagle, Meppen, Deer Plain and Kampville.

This includes the following State Parks...
Cuivre River State Park and Pere Marquette State Park.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Seek shelter inside a well-built structure and stay away from
windows. This storm is capable of producing damaging winds and large
hail.

&&

LAT...LON 3888 9100 3906 9097 3913 9044 3882 9049
TIME...MOT...LOC 0315Z 275DEG 43KT 3896 9089

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

Jaja
3 follow-up statements
554 
WWUS53 KLSX 040327
SVSLSX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service St Louis MO
1027 PM CDT Sun May 3 2026

ILC013-083-MOC113-183-040345-
/O.CON.KLSX.SV.W.0133.000000T0000Z-260504T0345Z/
Calhoun IL-Jersey IL-Lincoln MO-Saint Charles MO-
1027 PM CDT Sun May 3 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1045 PM CDT
FOR SOUTHEASTERN CALHOUN, SOUTHWESTERN JERSEY, SOUTHEASTERN LINCOLN
AND NORTHWESTERN SAINT CHARLES COUNTIES...

At 1027 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Winfield, or 7
miles north of St. Paul, moving east at 50 mph.

HAZARD...Ping pong ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail
         damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect wind
         damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

This severe thunderstorm will be near...
  Winfield, St. Paul, O'Fallon and Chain of Rocks around 1030 PM CDT.
  St. Charles and St. Peters around 1040 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by the severe thunderstorm include
Beechville, Old Monroe, Batchtown, Brussels, Golden Eagle, Meppen,
Deer Plain and Kampville.

This includes the following State Parks...
Pere Marquette State Park.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Seek shelter inside a well-built structure and stay away from
windows. This storm is capable of producing damaging winds and large
hail.

&&

LAT...LON 3887 9088 3902 9080 3908 9045 3882 9049
TIME...MOT...LOC 0315Z 275DEG 43KT 3896 9089

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

Jaja
434 
WWUS53 KLSX 040333
SVSLSX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service St Louis MO
1033 PM CDT Sun May 3 2026

MOC113-040343-
/O.CAN.KLSX.SV.W.0133.000000T0000Z-260504T0345Z/
Lincoln MO-
1033 PM CDT Sun May 3 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR SOUTHEASTERN LINCOLN
COUNTY...

The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

&&

LAT...LON 3891 9064 3894 9067 3895 9067 3896 9068
      3900 9068 3904 9070 3908 9045 3896 9047
      3895 9047 3889 9048 3887 9054 3887 9058
      3889 9063
TIME...MOT...LOC 0327Z 275DEG 43KT 3895 9070

$$


ILC013-083-MOC183-040345-
/O.CON.KLSX.SV.W.0133.000000T0000Z-260504T0345Z/
Calhoun IL-Jersey IL-Saint Charles MO-
1033 PM CDT Sun May 3 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1045 PM CDT
FOR SOUTHEASTERN CALHOUN, SOUTHWESTERN JERSEY AND NORTH CENTRAL SAINT
CHARLES COUNTIES...

At 1033 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 9 miles northwest
of Orchard Farms, or 11 miles northeast of St. Paul, moving east at
55 mph.

HAZARD...Ping pong ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail
         damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect wind
         damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

Other locations impacted by the severe thunderstorm include Brussels,
Deer Plain, Golden Eagle, Meppen, Beechville and Batchtown.

This includes the following State Parks...
Pere Marquette State Park.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Seek shelter inside a well-built structure and stay away from
windows. This storm is capable of producing damaging winds and large
hail.

&&

LAT...LON 3891 9064 3894 9067 3895 9067 3896 9068
      3900 9068 3904 9070 3908 9045 3896 9047
      3895 9047 3889 9048 3887 9054 3887 9058
      3889 9063
TIME...MOT...LOC 0327Z 278DEG 47KT 3896 9068

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

Jaja
309 
WWUS53 KLSX 040345
SVSLSX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service St Louis MO
1045 PM CDT Sun May 3 2026

ILC013-083-MOC183-040355-
/O.EXP.KLSX.SV.W.0133.000000T0000Z-260504T0345Z/
Calhoun IL-Jersey IL-Saint Charles MO-
1045 PM CDT Sun May 3 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR SOUTHEASTERN CALHOUN,
SOUTHWESTERN JERSEY AND NORTH CENTRAL SAINT CHARLES COUNTIES...

The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning has been allowed to expire. However, small
hail is still possible with this thunderstorm.

&&

LAT...LON 3891 9064 3894 9067 3895 9067 3896 9068
      3900 9068 3904 9070 3908 9045 3896 9047
      3895 9047 3889 9048 3887 9054 3887 9058
      3889 9063
TIME...MOT...LOC 0333Z 278DEG 47KT 3895 9058

$$

Jaja

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS St. Louis, MO wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 3, 6:24 PM CDT, 3 hours 51 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected from the late evening into early tonight, mainly between U.S. Route 36 and the I- 70 corridor.
  • Additional chances for more widespread showers and thunderstorms are forecast Monday night, with periods of rain continuing into Tuesday night.
Area forecast discussion, May 3, 6:24 PM CDT, 3 hours 51 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion...Updated Aviation
National Weather Service Saint Louis MO
624 PM CDT Sun May 3 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected from the late
  evening into early tonight, mainly between U.S. Route 36 and
  the I- 70 corridor.

- Additional chances for more widespread showers and thunderstorms
  are forecast Monday night, with periods of rain continuing into
  Tuesday night.

&&

.SHORT TERM... (Through Late Tuesday Night)
Issued at 151 PM CDT Sun May 3 2026

A weak cold front is approaching from the northwest this afternoon,
with recent surface analysis unveiling this front across
southeastern IA, stretching southwestward into northwestern MO.
Water vapor imagery reveals that broad cyclonic flow envelops
southern Canada with shortwave ridging out west ahead of a cutoff
low across the Baja Coast. This pattern places our area under
northwesterly flow aloft with a low/mid-level shortwave propagating
over the region today. This feature has worked to produce scattered
showers across northeast MO/west-central IL today. Overall, this
activity has been light in nature, with virga being a common
observation, thanks to dry air in the low-levels and meager forcing
for ascent aloft. The most notable impact on the sensible weather
has been an increase in mid-level clouds from the northwest, leading
to slightly cooler afternoon temperatures where clouds have been
more prevalent. Otherwise, increased southwesterly low-level flow
today ahead of the approaching cold front, has boosted temperatures
into the low 70s for most locations this afternoon.

The previously mentioned weak cold front will work its way southward
into the area, eventually washing out as it nears the I-70 corridor
early tonight. Recent CAMs show convective initiation between U.S.
Route 36 and the I-70 corridor late this evening around sunset with
southeastward progression of showers and thunderstorms overnight as
the 850mb low-level jet strengthens to 40-50kts. The 850mb jet will
be parallel to the remnants of the cold front, potentially resulting
in training showers and thunderstorms. Fortunately, mean PWATs
progged by high-resoltion guidance stay below 1", which lowers the
threat for heavy rainfall. Regardless, localized amounts of up to 1"
of rainfall are possible for locations where multiple rounds of
showers/thunderstorms move over, which may cause typical ponding on
roadways where the heavier rates occur. A marginal threat for severe
weather exists with both the HREF and REFS revealing pockets of
1,000 J/kg SBCAPE by mid-evening, with quickly waning instability
after sunset. Forecast model soundings reveal a cap inversion around
the 800-700mb layer, with potential erosion of this cap into the
late evening. Effective layer shear near 30kts may be sufficient for
organization of sustained updrafts, resulting in the potential for
an isolated strong to severe thunderstorm. As a result, this threat
remains conditional on a narrow window of favorable conditions when
thunderstorms would be able to tap into better instability. Storms
that are able to become strong/severe late this evening have the
potential to produce hail up to 1 inch, with a lesser threat for
damaging winds.

A secondary and stronger cold front will be making its way southward
across the Upper Midwest on Monday, leading to yet another day of
increased low-level southerly flow resulting in warm/moist
advection. In fact, temperatures are forecast to be even warmer on
Monday with widespread highs in the upper 70s along with lower 80s
possible across southern MO and the St. Louis Metro heat island. By
Monday evening, the HREF and REFS both reveal near 2,000 J/kg of
SBCAPE. However, forecast model soundings show that the open warm
sector Monday afternoon/evening across the area remains well capped,
with most CAMs not initiating anything until the low-level jet ramps
up around sunset. At that time, the most likely position of the cold
front will be near northern MO, where additional showers and storms
may be ongoing. Once again, with this conditional setup, a marginal
threat for severe weather is in place with hail and damaging winds
the primary threats. As the front sinks southward into the area
interacting with the nearly parallel 850mb low-level jet, widespread
showers and thunderstorms are expected across the area. Model
guidance still varies on the southward evolution of this cold front,
with slower solutions not exiting the front out of the area until
Tuesday night. As a result, confidence remains low with the forecast
for temperatures and precipitation chances on Tuesday. Locations
under the post-frontal airmass on Tuesday may experience a falling
of temperatures throughout the day, or a flattening of the typical
diurnal temperature curve, with highs in the 50s expected north of
the I-70 corridor.

Peine

&&

.LONG TERM... (Wednesday through Next Sunday)
Issued at 151 PM CDT Sun May 3 2026

At the start of the extended, continued broad cyclonic flow across
southern Canada will be phasing with a cutoff low near the Great
Plains. As these features move over the region, mostly cloudy
conditions along with scattered chances for showers will exist on
Wednesday. At the surface, the aforementioned cold front will be
well off to the southeast, placing the entire region under the much
cooler post-frontal airmass. With modest low-level CAA and a mostly
cloudy sky forecast, high temperatures on Wednesday will be at least
20 degrees below average with afternoon temperatures maxing out in
the 50s across the entire area.

By the end of next, model guidance varies with the placement of many
important large scale features, resulting in more uncertainty with
temperatures and precipitation chances for the area. The general
consensus is that a stretch of dry weather will prevail Thursday
through the end of the week with a gradual warming trend from the
mid-week chill. Recent LREF temperature IQRs indicate this well with
spreads of 7-10 degrees centered near values that are below average
on Thursday, but near average Friday into Saturday.

Peine

&&

.AVIATION...  (For the 00z TAFs through 00z Monday Evening)
Issued at 622 PM CDT Sun May 3 2026

VFR conditions continue for the most part. The primary concern
will be the potential for thunderstorms which could at times
impact any terminal. The chances are too low to mention at most
sites, but just high enough for a mention at the St Louis area
sites tonight. Additional showers or a rogue thunderstorm are
possible late tomorrow afternoon, but again the chances are quite
low. A better chances arrives later tomorrow night, but this is
just outside the current TAF period. Winds were gusty today and
are expected to diminish within the next 2 hours, but they ramp
back up again tomorrow morning out of the southwest at all sites.

Kimble

&&

.LSX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MO...None.
IL...Blowing Dust Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for Fayette IL-
     Greene IL-Macoupin IL-Montgomery IL.

&&

WFO LSX
Hazardous weather outlook, May 3, 3:55 PM CDT, 6 hours 20 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service St Louis MO
355 PM CDT Sun May 3 2026

ILZ058>060-064-065-069-070-074-079-095>102-MOZ018-019-026-027-
034>036-041-042-047>052-059>065-072>075-084-085-099-042100-
Greene IL-Macoupin IL-Montgomery IL-Bond IL-Fayette IL-Clinton IL-
Marion IL-Washington IL-Randolph IL-Adams IL-Brown IL-Pike IL-
Calhoun IL-Jersey IL-Madison IL-Saint Clair IL-Monroe IL-Knox MO-
Lewis MO-Shelby MO-Marion MO-Monroe MO-Ralls MO-Pike MO-Boone MO-
Audrain MO-Moniteau MO-Cole MO-Osage MO-Callaway MO-Montgomery MO-
Lincoln MO-Gasconade MO-Warren MO-Saint Charles MO-Franklin MO-
Saint Louis MO-Saint Louis City MO-Jefferson MO-Crawford MO-
Washington MO-Saint Francois MO-Sainte Genevieve MO-Iron MO-
Madison MO-Reynolds MO-
355 PM CDT Sun May 3 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of eastern and
central Missouri as well as west central and southwest Illinois.

.DAYS ONE THROUGH SEVEN...This afternoon through Saturday.

More detailed information can be accessed at:
https://www.weather.gov/media/lsx/DssPacket.pdf

The Area Forecast Discussion is available at:
https://forecast.weather.gov/
product.php?issuedby=LSX&product=AFD&site=lsx

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected from the late
  evening into early tonight, mainly between U.S. Route 36 and
  the I- 70 corridor.

- Additional chances for more widespread showers and thunderstorms
  are forecast Monday night, with periods of rain continuing into
  Tuesday night.

NOTE: Starting May 29, 2026, this outlook product will be
discontinued. Please see the above products for more detailed
forecast information.

WFO LSX

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 3, 9:20 PM CDT, 55 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service St Louis MO
920 PM CDT Sun May 3 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0918 PM     Hail             3 ENE Kingdom City      38.96N 91.88W
05/03/2026  M0.25 Inch       Callaway           MO   Trained Spotter

&&

JPG
Local storm report, May 3, 9:21 PM CDT, 54 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service St Louis MO
921 PM CDT Sun May 3 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0916 PM     Hail             1 S Fulton              38.84N 91.95W
05/03/2026  E0.25 Inch       Callaway           MO   Public

&&

JPG
Local storm report, May 3, 10:07 PM CDT, 8 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service St Louis MO
1007 PM CDT Sun May 3 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0958 PM     Hail             Hawk Point              38.97N 91.13W
05/03/2026  E1.75 Inch       Lincoln            MO   Public

&&

JPG

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 3, 10:38 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXJersey, Macoupin, Madison45 min
May 4, 12:01 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXMacoupin18 min
May 4, 2:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXClinton, Saint Clair, Washington42 min
May 4, 6:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXMacoupin, Madison52 min
May 4, 6:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatLSXBond, Montgomery38 min
May 4, 6:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXFayette46 min
May 3, 9:38 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXLincoln, Montgomery, Warren30 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Illinois, 2026Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Missouri, 2026Every severe thunderstorm 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.