Alert archive / Illinois / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 137, NWS St. Louis, MO
NWS St. Louis, MO issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 4, 2026, 6:08 PM CDT for Macoupin County, Madison County, Illinois. It was in force for 52 min. 7 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
- May 4, 2026, 6:08 PM CDT (23:08 UTC)
- Expired
- May 4, 2026, 7:00 PM CDT
- In force
- 52 min
- Issued by
- NWS St. Louis, MO
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 1.0 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Macoupin County, IL, Madison County, IL
The radar
The St Louis radar (KLSX), 80 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 4, 6:11 PM CDT | HAIL 0.75 | 2 Nne Bethalto, IL | Lasted about 5 minutes. |
| May 4, 6:16 PM CDT | HAIL 0.75 | Dorsey, IL | Twitter report. |
| May 4, 6:21 PM CDT | HAIL 1.5 | 2 W Worden, IL | |
| May 4, 6:23 PM CDT | HAIL 1 | 1 Ne Prairietown, IL | Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.). |
| May 4, 6:33 PM CDT | HAIL 1.75 | 2 E Worden, IL | |
| May 4, 6:39 PM CDT | HAIL 2 | Livingston, IL | |
| May 4, 6:44 PM CDT | HAIL 1.5 | New Douglas, IL |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
Did it verify
Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 5 storm reports to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 13 minutes after it went out.
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 12:00Z, 11.1 hours before the alert went out and 169 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
- 1708 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 35 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 121 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 231 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
903
WUUS53 KLSX 042308
SVRLSX
ILC117-119-050000-
/O.NEW.KLSX.SV.W.0137.260504T2308Z-260505T0000Z/
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service St Louis MO
608 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026
The National Weather Service in St Louis has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Southern Macoupin County in southwestern Illinois...
Northeastern Madison County in southwestern Illinois...
* Until 700 PM CDT.
* At 608 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Dorsey, or
near Bethalto, moving east at 40 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.
* Locations impacted include...
East Alton, Wood River, Bethalto, Dorsey, Bunker Hill, Prairietown,
Carpenter, Worden, Wilsonville, Mount Clare, Staunton, Sawyerville,
Benld, Livingston, Alhambra, Eagarville and Mount Olive.
This includes Interstate 55 in Illinois between exits 30 and 44.
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 3900 9012 3905 9013 3914 8970 3900 8970
3900 8964 3888 8964 3887 8963 3887 8960
3885 8960 3887 9010
TIME...MOT...LOC 2307Z 263DEG 35KT 3897 9006
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
Kimble3 follow-up statements
280
WWUS53 KLSX 042323
SVSLSX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service St Louis MO
623 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026
ILC117-119-050000-
/O.CON.KLSX.SV.W.0137.000000T0000Z-260505T0000Z/
Macoupin IL-Madison IL-
623 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN MACOUPIN AND NORTHEASTERN MADISON COUNTIES IN
SOUTHWESTERN ILLINOIS...
At 623 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Worden, or 7
miles southwest of Staunton, moving east at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Ping pong ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts.
SOURCE...Trained spotters reported.
IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail
damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect wind
damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
Locations impacted include...
Prairietown, Carpenter, Hamel, Worden, Staunton, Kaufman,
Livingston, Williamson, Alhambra and New Douglas.
This includes Interstate 55 in Illinois between exits 30 and 41.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Seek shelter inside a well-built structure and stay away from
windows. This storm is capable of producing damaging winds and has
produced large hail.
&&
LAT...LON 3900 8999 3907 8970 3900 8970 3900 8964
3888 8964 3887 8963 3887 8960 3885 8960
3887 8998
TIME...MOT...LOC 2308Z 268DEG 34KT 3893 9006
HAIL THREAT...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
Kimble501
WWUS53 KLSX 042344
SVSLSX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service St Louis MO
644 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026
ILC117-119-050000-
/O.CON.KLSX.SV.W.0137.000000T0000Z-260505T0000Z/
Macoupin IL-Madison IL-
644 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN MACOUPIN AND NORTHEASTERN MADISON COUNTIES IN
SOUTHWESTERN ILLINOIS...
At 644 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 5 miles northeast of
Alhambra, or 9 miles southeast of Staunton, moving east at 35 mph.
Ping pong ball sized hail was reported in Worden and New Douglas.
HAZARD...Ping pong ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts.
SOURCE...Trained spotters reported.
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.
Locations impacted include...
Livingston, Williamson, Alhambra and New Douglas.
This includes Interstate 55 in Illinois between exits 37 and 41.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Seek shelter inside a well-built structure and stay away from
windows. This storm is capable of producing damaging winds and has
produced large hail.
&&
LAT...LON 3900 8977 3902 8977 3907 8970 3900 8970
3900 8964 3888 8964 3887 8963 3887 8960
3885 8960 3886 8976
TIME...MOT...LOC 2323Z 269DEG 32KT 3893 8990
HAIL THREAT...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
Kimble557
WWUS53 KLSX 042356
SVSLSX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service St Louis MO
656 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026
ILC117-119-050006-
/O.EXP.KLSX.SV.W.0137.000000T0000Z-260505T0000Z/
Macoupin IL-Madison IL-
656 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 7 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN MACOUPIN AND NORTHEASTERN MADISON COUNTIES IN
SOUTHWESTERN ILLINOIS...
The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire. To report severe
weather, contact your nearest law enforcement agency. They will send
your report to the National Weather Service office.
&&
LAT...LON 3900 8977 3902 8977 3907 8970 3900 8970
3900 8964 3888 8964 3887 8963 3887 8960
3885 8960 3886 8976
TIME...MOT...LOC 2344Z 269DEG 32KT 3893 8966
$$
KimbleWhat 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 4, 2:56 PM CDT, 3 hours 12 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Showers and thunderstorms are expected tonight. Some storms may be severe with 1 to 1 1/2 inch hail this evening, primarily a. long and north of I-70. There may also be damaging winds, however this is not as likely as large hail.
- Periods of rain will continue on Tuesday as a cold front moves through the area.
- Temperatures will be below normal Tuesday through Thursday, but will warm back up for Friday into the weekend.
Area forecast discussion, May 4, 2:56 PM CDT, 3 hours 12 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Saint Louis MO 256 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Showers and thunderstorms are expected tonight. Some storms may be severe with 1 to 1 1/2 inch hail this evening, primarily a. long and north of I-70. There may also be damaging winds, however this is not as likely as large hail. - Periods of rain will continue on Tuesday as a cold front moves through the area. - Temperatures will be below normal Tuesday through Thursday, but will warm back up for Friday into the weekend. && .SHORT TERM... (Through Late Tuesday Night) Issued at 255 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026 A cold front which is currently stretching from northeast Kansas into northwest Missouri and southwest/central Iowa will move slowly southeast through Missouri and Illinois over the next 24-36 hours. Latest RAP and GFS show as much as 2000-2500 J/Kg of MUCAPE across parts of central and northeast Missouri late this afternoon into early this evening with around 30kts of deep-layer shear. However, they also show a good deal of CINH capping the boundary layer. The CINH will likely lead to only sparse development of storms this evening, at least initially. There is enough CAPE and shear to support severe storms, but any storms that do form are not expected to be rooted in the boundary layer, so large hail will be the primary threat. Damaging wind gusts are less likely, though still possible if a particularly strong storm dumps its core and produces a microburst. A modest low level jet will develop ahead of the front closer to midnight which produces moderate moisture convergence across the area. This will lead to an increase in thunderstorm coverage overnight, but instability will be decreasing rapidly by that time. Even though there will be more storms after midnight it is unlikely they will be severe. The cold front continues moving slowly southeast through the area on Tuesday with moderate to occasionally strong low level moisture convergence ahead of an 850mb low over the eastern Plains. This will lead to widespread across most of the area. Clouds and rain will keep temperatures cool with little chance for the atmosphere to become unstable through the day. While there will likely be some rumbles of thunder through the day, severe storms are unlikely due to lack of instability. Rain should taper off from west to east through the evening. Carney && .LONG TERM... (Wednesday through Next Monday) Issued at 255 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026 The upper level trough axis digs into the Great Plains on Wednesday which forces the cold front farther south into the lower Mississippi Valley. A cool high pressure system builds into Missouri and Illinois, however the approaching trough produces moderate to strong mid level frontogenesis over Missouri and Illinois. The GFS and to a lesser extent the NAM print out some light QPF due to the frontogenesis, but forecast soundings show a dry layer near the surface associated with the approaching surface high. Think chance PoPs remain appropriate in this situation. Northerly flow, with clouds and potential showers will likely make Wednesday the coolest day of the next 7 with highs struggling into the mid to upper 50s. Temperatures warm back into the mid 60s, and then to near normal in the 70s for Friday through Sunday as the long wave trough moves east and the upper level flow becomes more zonal. There will be a brief chance for rain Friday as a weak short wave moves across the Mid Mississippi Valle, but the next substantial chance for rain holds off until Sunday ahead of the next upstream cold front. The LREF is showing a good deal of uncertainty with regards to the amplitude of the trough which is driving this cold front. This translates into low confidence in the position of the front, and wide variations in the temperature forecast. The interquartile range of high temperatures is 10+ degrees on Sunday, and around 8 degrees on Monday behind the cold front. With that in mind, it does look cooler on Monday with around a 10 degree drop in mean temperatures, and deterministic guidance cools from the mid to upper 70s on Sunday in most locations to the upper 60s and low 70s. Carney && .AVIATION... (For the 18z TAFs through 18z Tuesday Afternoon) Issued at 1247 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026 Scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue this afternoon and into the evening, mainly across parts of eastern Missouri and southwest Illinois. The storms will be capable of brief heavy rain which could lower the visibility to 3 miles or less. The strongest storms may also produce small hail. Additional thunderstorm development is expected this evening ahead of a cold front across northeast and central Missouri. Isolated storms could produce 1 inch or larger diameter hail and wind gusts to 50kts, mainly along and north of I-70. Widespread showers will continue on Tuesday morning behind the cold front with ceilings falling low MVFR along and south of I-70, and IFR across the eastern Ozarks. Carney && .LSX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MO...None. IL...None. && WFO LSX
Hazardous weather outlook, May 4, 3:55 PM CDT, 2 hours 13 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service St Louis MO 355 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026 ILZ058>060-064-065-069-070-074-079-095>102-MOZ018-019-026-027- 034>036-041-042-047>052-059>065-072>075-084-085-099-052100- 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 Mon May 4 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 Sunday. 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... - Showers and thunderstorms are expected tonight. Some storms may be severe with 1 to 1 1/2 inch hail this evening, primarily a. long and north of I-70. There may also be damaging winds, however this is not as likely as large hail. - Periods of rain will continue on Tuesday as a cold front moves through the area. - Temperatures will be below normal Tuesday through Thursday, but will warm back up for Friday into the weekend. 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 4, 5:47 PM CDT, 21 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service St Louis MO
547 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0742 AM Tstm Wnd Dmg 8 SSW Madison 39.37N 92.27W
04/27/2026 Monroe MO NWS Storm Survey
NWS Storm Survey found a home with less than
20% loss of shingles. Estimated wind speed
of 80 mph. Time estimated from radar.
&&
BAHLocal storm report, May 4, 5:49 PM CDT, 19 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service St Louis MO
549 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0743 AM Tstm Wnd Dmg 8 SSW Madison 39.37N 92.25W
04/27/2026 Monroe MO NWS Storm Survey
NWS Storm Survey found a home with less than
20% loss of shingles. Estimated wind speed
of 80 mph. Time estimated from radar.
&&
BAHLocal storm report, May 4, 5:50 PM CDT, 18 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service St Louis MO
550 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0744 AM Tstm Wnd Dmg 7 SSW Madison 39.38N 92.25W
04/27/2026 Monroe MO NWS Storm Survey
NWS Storm Survey found multiple trees
uprooted. Estimated wind speed of 85 mph.
Time estimated from radar.
&&
BAHLocal storm report, May 4, 5:51 PM CDT, 17 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service St Louis MO
551 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0744 AM Tstm Wnd Dmg 7 S Madison 39.37N 92.21W
04/27/2026 Monroe MO NWS Storm Survey
NWS Storm Survey found a farm outbuilding
with all walls collapsed. Estimated wind
speed of 95 mph. Time estimated from radar.
&&
BAHLocal storm report, May 4, 5:53 PM CDT, 15 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service St Louis MO
553 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0745 AM Tstm Wnd Dmg 7 S Madison 39.37N 92.20W
04/27/2026 Monroe MO NWS Storm Survey
NWS Storm Survey found a farm outbuilding
with multiple walls collapsed. Estimated
wind speed of 95 mph. Time estimated from
radar.
&&
BAHLocal storm report, May 4, 5:54 PM CDT, 14 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service St Louis MO
554 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0745 AM Tstm Wnd Dmg 7 S Madison 39.38N 92.19W
04/27/2026 Monroe MO Public
NWS Storm Survey found multiple trees
uprooted. Estimated wind speed of 80 mph.
Time estimated from radar.
&&
BAHThe office that day
Everything else NWS St. Louis, MO issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 3, 10:15 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LSX | Calhoun, Jersey | 30 min |
| May 3, 10:38 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LSX | Jersey, Macoupin, Madison | 45 min |
| May 4, 12:01 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LSX | Macoupin | 18 min |
| May 4, 2:48 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LSX | Clinton, Saint Clair, Washington | 42 min |
| May 4, 6:37 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LSX | Bond, Montgomery | 38 min |
| May 4, 6:59 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LSX | Fayette | 46 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Illinois, 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.