Alert archive / Illinois / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 140, NWS St. Louis, MO

May 4, 2026Bond County, Fayette County, Marion County, Illinois

NWS St. Louis, MO issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 4, 2026, 7:10 PM CDT for Bond County, Fayette County, Marion County, Illinois. It was in force for 80 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
May 4, 2026, 7:10 PM CDT (00:10 UTC)
Expired
May 4, 2026, 8:30 PM CDT
In force
80 min
Issued by
NWS St. Louis, MO
Area
Storm-based polygon
Damage threat
Considerable
Hail
1.75 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Bond County, IL, Fayette County, IL, Marion County, IL

The radar

The Evansville,IN radar (KVWX), 133 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:12 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 4, 7:10 PM CDTHAIL 1.751 Nw Greenville, IL
May 4, 7:45 PM CDTHAIL 0.883 Wnw Saint Paul, ILTime estimated from radar.

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 one storm report to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 0 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 00:00Z, 0.2 hours before the alert went out and 153 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 2026-05-05Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 731 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 2026-05-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 123 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
731 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-56 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1674 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
41 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
123 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
163 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.2
Supercell composite
4.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

646 
WUUS53 KLSX 050010
SVRLSX
ILC005-051-121-050130-
/O.NEW.KLSX.SV.W.0140.260505T0010Z-260505T0130Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service St Louis MO
710 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026

The National Weather Service in St Louis has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Eastern Bond County in south central Illinois...
  Southern Fayette County in south central Illinois...
  Northern Marion County in south central Illinois...

* Until 830 PM CDT.

* At 710 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Greenville,
  moving east at 35 mph.

  HAZARD...Golf 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.

* Locations impacted include...
  Greenville, Woburn, Smithboro, Pleasant Mound, Mulberry Grove,
  Tamalco, Pittsburg, Vandalia, Shobonier, Patoka, Brownstown, Avena,
  Alma, St. Elmo, St. Peter, Kinmundy, Farina, Omega, Stephen Forbes
  Station and La Clede.

This includes the following State Parks...
Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area.

This includes the following highways...
Interstate 70 in Illinois between exits 45 and 76. Interstate 57 in
Illinois between exits 127 and 135.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Anyone outdoors should move to shelter inside a well-built structure
and stay away from windows. This storm is capable of producing
dangerous hail and damaging winds.

&&

LAT...LON 3879 8943 3900 8945 3903 8881 3891 8881
      3891 8869 3864 8870 3873 8914 3874 8914
      3874 8917
TIME...MOT...LOC 0010Z 276DEG 32KT 3886 8939

THUNDERSTORM DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

Kimble
3 follow-up statements
129 
WWUS53 KLSX 050041
SVSLSX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service St Louis MO
741 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026

ILC005-050051-
/O.CAN.KLSX.SV.W.0140.000000T0000Z-260505T0130Z/
Bond IL-
741 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR EASTERN BOND
COUNTY...

The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled. To report severe weather,
contact your nearest law enforcement agency. They will send your
report to the National Weather Service office.

&&

LAT...LON 3892 8926 3903 8881 3891 8881 3891 8869
      3864 8870 3873 8914 3874 8914 3874 8917
      3876 8925
TIME...MOT...LOC 0010Z 276DEG 32KT 3886 8938

$$


ILC051-121-050130-
/O.CON.KLSX.SV.W.0140.000000T0000Z-260505T0130Z/
Fayette IL-Marion IL-
741 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 830 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHERN FAYETTE AND NORTHERN MARION COUNTIES IN SOUTH CENTRAL
ILLINOIS...

At 741 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Shobonier, or
10 miles south of Vandalia, moving east at 35 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

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

Locations impacted include...
  Pittsburg, Vandalia, Shobonier, Patoka, Vernon, Brownstown, St.
  Paul, Alma, St. James, St. Elmo, St. Peter, Loogootee, Brubaker,
  Kinmundy, Farina, Omega, Stephen Forbes Station and La Clede.

This includes the following State Parks...
Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area.

This includes the following highways...
Interstate 70 in Illinois between exits 68 and 76. Interstate 57 in
Illinois between exits 127 and 135.

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 3892 8926 3903 8881 3891 8881 3891 8869
      3864 8870 3873 8914 3874 8914 3874 8917
      3876 8925
TIME...MOT...LOC 0010Z 275DEG 31KT 3887 8938

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

Kimble
399 
WWUS53 KLSX 050105
SVSLSX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service St Louis MO
805 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026

ILC051-121-050130-
/O.CON.KLSX.SV.W.0140.000000T0000Z-260505T0130Z/
Fayette IL-Marion IL-
805 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 830 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN FAYETTE AND NORTHEASTERN MARION COUNTIES IN SOUTH
CENTRAL ILLINOIS...

At 805 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Kinmundy, or 15
miles north of Salem, moving east at 35 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...
  St. Paul, Loogootee, St. Peter, Kinmundy, Farina, Stephen Forbes
  Station and La Clede.

This includes the following State Parks...
Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area.

This includes Interstate 57 in Illinois between exits 127 and 135.

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 3882 8901 3890 8899 3891 8881 3891 8869
      3876 8870 3869 8870 3876 8902
TIME...MOT...LOC 0041Z 275DEG 28KT 3885 8912

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

$$

Kimble
745 
WWUS53 KLSX 050123
SVSLSX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service St Louis MO
823 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026

ILC051-121-050130-
/O.CON.KLSX.SV.W.0140.000000T0000Z-260505T0130Z/
Fayette IL-Marion IL-
823 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 830 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN FAYETTE AND NORTHEASTERN MARION COUNTIES IN SOUTH
CENTRAL ILLINOIS...

At 823 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Farina, or 19
miles northeast of Salem, moving east at 30 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...
  Farina and La Clede.

This includes Interstate 57 in Illinois near exit 135.

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 3882 8884 3888 8884 3891 8881 3891 8869
      3883 8870 3876 8870 3877 8884
TIME...MOT...LOC 0105Z 274DEG 26KT 3884 8889

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

$$

Kimble

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 4, 6:41 PM CDT, 29 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, 6:41 PM CDT, 29 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion...Updated Aviation
National Weather Service Saint Louis MO
641 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 00z TAFs through 00z Tuesday Evening)
Issued at 638 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026

Chances of showers and thunderstorms are the main concern through
tonight ahead of an approaching cold front. The best chances are
in the overnight hours, mainly at the central Missouri and metro
St. Louis terminals. IFR visibilities are possible in any storm
that directly impacts a terminal. Winds will swing to the
north/northeast behind the front, with lingering showers
continuing much of the day on/off for central MO/metro sites along
with low MVFR ceilings.

Gosselin

&&

.LSX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MO...None.
IL...None.
&&

WFO LSX
Hazardous weather outlook, May 4, 3:55 PM CDT, 3 hours 15 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, 6:43 PM CDT, 27 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service St Louis MO
643 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026

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

0638 PM     Hail             Litchfield              39.18N 89.66W
05/04/2026  E0.25 Inch       Montgomery         IL   Amateur Radio

&&

JPG
Local storm report, May 4, 6:44 PM CDT, 26 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service St Louis MO
644 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026

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

0644 PM     Hail             New Douglas             38.97N 89.67W
05/04/2026  E1.50 Inch       Madison            IL   Trained Spotter

&&

JPG
Local storm report, May 4, 6:46 PM CDT, 24 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service St Louis MO
646 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026

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

0631 PM     Hail             1 SW Butler             39.19N 89.54W
05/04/2026  E0.75 Inch       Montgomery         IL   Public

            Report from mPING: Dime (0.75 in.).

&&

JPG
Local storm report, May 4, 6:49 PM CDT, 21 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service St Louis MO
649 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026

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

0633 PM     Hail             2 E Worden              38.94N 89.80W
05/04/2026  E1.75 Inch       Madison            IL   Public

&&

JPG
Local storm report, May 4, 6:50 PM CDT, 20 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service St Louis MO
650 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026

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

0639 PM     Hail             Livingston              38.97N 89.76W
05/04/2026  E2.00 Inch       Madison            IL   Public

&&

JPG
Local storm report, May 4, 6:52 PM CDT, 18 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service St Louis MO
652 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026

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

0616 PM     Hail             Dorsey                  38.97N 90.00W
05/04/2026  E0.75 Inch       Madison            IL   Public

            Twitter report.

&&

JPG

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.