Alert archive / Illinois / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 251, NWS St. Louis, MO
NWS St. Louis, MO issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Sep 15, 2026, 6:13 PM CDT for Adams County, Pike County, Illinois; Marion County, Missouri. It was in force for 47 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
- Sep 15, 2026, 6:13 PM CDT (23:13 UTC)
- Expired
- Sep 15, 2026, 7:00 PM CDT
- In force
- 47 min
- Issued by
- NWS St. Louis, MO
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 1.0 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Adams County, IL, Pike County, IL, Marion County, MO
The radar
The St Louis radar (KLSX), 137 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:16 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 12:00Z, 11.2 hours before the alert went out and 247 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
- 505 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -210 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1193 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 38 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 316 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 323 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 3.7
The text
As transmitted.
936 WUUS53 KLSX 152313 SVRLSX ILC001-149-MOC127-160000- /O.NEW.KLSX.SV.W.0251.260915T2313Z-260916T0000Z/ BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED Severe Thunderstorm Warning National Weather Service St Louis MO 613 PM CDT Tue Sep 15 2026 The National Weather Service in St Louis has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Southwestern Adams County in west central Illinois... Northwestern Pike County in west central Illinois... Eastern Marion County in northeastern Missouri... * Until 700 PM CDT. * At 613 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Palmyra, moving northeast at 20 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and small hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * Locations impacted include... Palmyra, Hannibal, Marblehead, Fall Creek, Seehorn, Quincy and Payson. This includes the following State Parks... Fall Creek Scenic Overlook State Natural Area. This includes the following highways... Interstate 72 near exit 4. Interstate 172 between exits 2 and 15. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Seek shelter inside a well-built structure and stay away from windows. This storm is capable of producing damaging winds. && LAT...LON 3970 9158 3980 9162 3996 9132 3973 9119 TIME...MOT...LOC 2312Z 245DEG 18KT 3977 9152 HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED MAX HAIL SIZE...<1.00 IN WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH $$ Pfahler
3 follow-up statements
261 WWUS53 KLSX 152331 SVSLSX Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service St Louis MO 631 PM CDT Tue Sep 15 2026 ILC001-149-MOC127-160000- /O.CON.KLSX.SV.W.0251.000000T0000Z-260916T0000Z/ Adams IL-Pike IL-Marion MO- 631 PM CDT Tue Sep 15 2026 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT FOR SOUTHWESTERN ADAMS AND NORTHWESTERN PIKE COUNTIES IN WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS AND SOUTHEASTERN MARION COUNTY IN NORTHEASTERN MISSOURI... At 631 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Hannibal, moving east at 25 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and small hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees. Locations impacted include... Palmyra, Hannibal, Marblehead, Fall Creek, Seehorn and Payson. This includes the following State Parks... Fall Creek Scenic Overlook State Natural Area. This includes the following highways... Interstate 72 near exit 4. Interstate 172 between exits 2 and 10. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Seek shelter inside a well-built structure and stay away from windows. This storm is capable of producing damaging winds. && LAT...LON 3970 9153 3980 9156 3993 9130 3973 9119 TIME...MOT...LOC 2313Z 254DEG 20KT 3974 9155 HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED MAX HAIL SIZE...<1.00 IN WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH $$ Pfahler
222
WWUS53 KLSX 152333
SVSLSX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service St Louis MO
633 PM CDT Tue Sep 15 2026
ILC001-149-MOC127-160000-
/O.CON.KLSX.SV.W.0251.000000T0000Z-260916T0000Z/
Adams IL-Pike IL-Marion MO-
633 PM CDT Tue Sep 15 2026
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN ADAMS AND NORTHWESTERN PIKE COUNTIES IN WEST CENTRAL
ILLINOIS AND SOUTHEASTERN MARION COUNTY IN NORTHEASTERN MISSOURI...
At 633 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Hannibal,
moving east at 25 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...
Palmyra, Hannibal, Marblehead, Fall Creek, Seehorn and Payson.
This includes the following State Parks...
Fall Creek Scenic Overlook State Natural Area.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 72 near exit 4. Interstate 172 between exits 2 and 10.
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 3970 9153 3980 9156 3993 9130 3973 9119
TIME...MOT...LOC 2331Z 254DEG 20KT 3977 9142
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
Pfahler845
WWUS53 KLSX 152348
SVSLSX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service St Louis MO
648 PM CDT Tue Sep 15 2026
MOC127-152358-
/O.CAN.KLSX.SV.W.0251.000000T0000Z-260916T0000Z/
Marion MO-
648 PM CDT Tue Sep 15 2026
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR SOUTHEASTERN MARION
COUNTY IN NORTHEASTERN MISSOURI...
The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
&&
LAT...LON 3976 9136 3978 9137 3979 9136 3980 9137
3982 9137 3984 9125 3973 9119 3971 9135
3972 9136
TIME...MOT...LOC 2333Z 254DEG 20KT 3977 9141
$$
ILC001-149-160000-
/O.CON.KLSX.SV.W.0251.000000T0000Z-260916T0000Z/
Adams IL-Pike IL-
648 PM CDT Tue Sep 15 2026
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT FOR
SOUTH CENTRAL ADAMS AND NORTHWESTERN PIKE COUNTIES IN WEST CENTRAL
ILLINOIS...
At 648 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Fall Creek, or
5 miles east of Hannibal, moving east at 15 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...
Fall Creek, Seehorn and Payson.
This includes the following State Parks...
Fall Creek Scenic Overlook State Natural Area.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 72 near exit 4. Interstate 172 near exit 2.
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 3976 9136 3978 9137 3979 9136 3980 9137
3982 9137 3984 9125 3973 9119 3971 9135
3972 9136
TIME...MOT...LOC 2333Z 264DEG 14KT 3973 9138
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
PfahlerWhat 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 Sep 15, 2:41 PM CDT, 3 hours 32 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- A late season heat wave with peak heat index values of 100-105F+ will continue through at least Friday along/south of I-70.
- Widespread showers and thunderstorms are forecast tonight, mainly across northeast Missouri and west-central Illinois where locally heavy rainfall is possible. A few may also be strong to severe with damaging winds the main threat through this evening.
Area forecast discussion, Sep 15, 2:41 PM CDT, 3 hours 32 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service St Louis MO
241 PM CDT Tue Sep 15 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- A late season heat wave with peak heat index values of
100-105F+ will continue through at least Friday along/south
of I-70.
- Widespread showers and thunderstorms are forecast tonight,
mainly across northeast Missouri and west-central Illinois
where locally heavy rainfall is possible. A few may also be
strong to severe with damaging winds the main threat through
this evening.
&&
.SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
Issued at 240 PM CDT Tue Sep 15 2026
Regional radar imagery shows an outflow boundary from morning
convection oriented from southwest to northeast across central
Missouri into west-central Illinois. This boundary is moving
southeast, and extrapolation would put it near a Jefferson City
to Carlinville line around 2100 UTC. This area may be where
storms initiate later this afternoon, though CAMs also suggest
additional development within the broad warm sector to the
southeast too. Given building cumulus on GOES-19 visible
satellite imagery, this has merit and have isolated thunderstorm
wording to the southeast, with scattered thunderstorms more
likely near the aforementioned outflow boundary. Additional
storms are also forecast to develop late this afternoon into
early this evening along/behind the synoptic cold front. This
boundary is currently located near a KMCI>>KIRK line and is also
slowly moving to the southeast. There is better shear near the
actual cold front (30+ knots), and this is where the risk for
severe weather is primarily located this evening (northeast
Missouri into west-central Illinois). Damaging winds gusts are
the primary threat in multicellular clusters/mini bowing
segments, though marginally severe hail may be possible in any
transient supercells. Further to the southeast this
afternoon/early evening, much weaker effective shear (<20 knots)
strongly suggests pulse convection. Most storms will long last
long as rain-cooled downdrafts quickly extinguish parent
updrafts. However, the latest SPC mesoanalysis does show steep
low-level lapse rates and high DCAPE values, so a microburst or
two with gusts as high as 60 mph are possible.
The coverage of showers and thunderstorms should increase late this
evening into the early overnight hours as the low-level jet
strengthens. Widespread showers and thunderstorms are forecast
across northeast Missouri and west-central Illinois north of the
frontal boundary through early to mid morning on Wednesday. While
the severe threat should diminish by late this evening, there is a
threat for locally heavy rainfall given anomalous precipitable water
values (~1.9", >95th percentile of climatology), deep warm cloud
depths, and the possibility of training. The signal for the heaviest
rainfall (2-4+") is across northwest Missouri, which is also where
the strongest low-level moisture convergence is forecast overnight.
However, some streaks of 2-3+" may occur in our area given the
chance of training in a favorable environment for efficient rainfall
processes.
&&
.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
Issued at 240 PM CDT Tue Sep 15 2026
(Wednesday - Monday)
There is still some uncertainty with the exact location of the front
on Wednesday morning, but the most likely location is near the I-
44/I-55 corridors in Missouri and Illinois respectively. Widespread
showers and thunderstorms should continue to percolate during the
morning hours along/poleward of this boundary. A gradual decrease in
coverage is expected as the low-level jet and associated moisture
convergence slowly wanes with time. There will be a pretty sharp
temperature difference across the front Wednesday afternoon. North
of the boundary across parts of northeast Missouri and west-central
Illinois, low clouds and lingering rain will really hamper
temperatures. Highs may not get much higher than the mid 70s to near
80 degrees. To the southeast on the warm side of the front,
widespread mid 90s are forecast though this may be a bit too warm if
outflow and/or clouds linger. Regardless, dewpoints pooling near the
front should result in 100F+ heat index values within the advisory
area on Wednesday so the heat advisory was extended in time all the
way through Friday. The chances for outflow or thicker clouds are
less across that area later this week as the front moves back to the
north as a warm front. There is now pretty high confidence that near-
record highs will continue at least through Saturday. Once the
boundary does retreat northward, dewpoints should come down each day
Thursday through Saturday. In other words, a bit of a transition to
a "drier" heat. Heat index values on Saturday may not even be much,
if at all, above the ambient air temperature. That is the reason the
heat advisory was not extended all the way through Saturday. If
dewpoints are a bit higher than forecast, more widespread ~100F heat
index values would occur so it is possible that another day could be
required.
In the more bad news if you don't like heat department, there has
been a pretty substantial change for late this weekend into early
next week. The mid/upper level trough on both the GEFS/EPS has
trended more cutoff and slower as it moves across the northern
Plains/Upper Midwest. That means a shift toward a slower cold
frontal passage. Sunday looks most likely to be a continuation of
this very late season heat wave with another day topping out in the
90s for most locations. This more prolonged period of anomalous
warmth should equate to one of the warmest first 20 days of
September at all 3 of our climate stations, and probably THE warmest
at KSTL. Monday is the day with the most uncertainty now, and high
temperatures will depend on the exact timing of the front. If the
front is delayed further, you can likely book another day of
anomalous warmth with highs in the 90s. If the front does make it
through, highs closer to normal (70s/80s) would be expected.
(Monday Night - Next Tuesday)
There is still a strong signal that the cold front will finally make
it through by Tuesday, though the closed mid/upper level low and
overall "blockiness" of the pattern does shred at least some minor
doubts. There still remains differences on the strength of the air
mass behind the front early/mid next week, with the EPS still quite
a bit cooler than the GEFS. A safe bet is for temperatures to
finally get back closer to normal, though whether it ends up a bit
below or slightly above normal is still uncertain.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 1211 PM CDT Tue Sep 15 2026
A cold front will slowly move southeast this afternoon/tonight
and stall out across the area, likely near the St. Louis metro.
This front and points northward is where the best chances of
showers and thunderstorms are tonight into Wednesday morning.
KUIN should be most heavily impacted, with more persistent
showers and on/off thunderstorms. Also behind the front, look
for low MVFR ceilings. The best chances for these low ceilings
are also at KUIN, followed by KCOU and then KJEF. The metro
sites may tend to stay just far enough southeast. However, I did
add a SCT015 group to account for this possibility.
&&
.CLIMATE...
Issued at 231 PM CDT Mon Sep 14 2026
Daily record high temperatures may be threatened for both St. Louis
(KSTL) and Columbia (KCOU) this week. NOTE: Records at Quincy (KUIN)
are not shown below due to cooler temperatures forecast:
9/15 9/16 9/17 9/18 9/19
KSTL 101/1939 98/1954 97/1931 97/1925 96/1955
KCOU 101/1893 99/1954 98/1895 98/1893 98/2022
&&
.LSX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MO...Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT Friday for MOZ047>049-059>065-
072>075-084-085-099.
IL...Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT Friday for ILZ064-069-070-074-079-
100>102.
&&
SHORT TERM...Gosselin
LONG TERM...Gosselin
AVIATION...Gosselin
CLIMATE...GosselinThe office that day
Everything else NWS St. Louis, MO issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 15, 6:50 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LSX | Adams, Pike | 36 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.