A surface low lifted northeastward across Missouri towards the Illinois-Iowa border during the afternoon and evening of February 19th. A warm front extended east from the low into southeast Illinois.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS ILX wrote it up.
A surface low lifted northeastward across Missouri towards the Illinois-Iowa border during the afternoon and evening of February 19th. A warm front extended east from the low into southeast Illinois. In response to this system, scattered supercell thunderstorms developed across central and southeast Illinois, with the greatest coverage being in the general vicinity of the I-70 corridor. Environmental conditions supported all severe hazards, including large hail up to 2.5 inches in diameter, damaging winds, and tornadoes, with a total of eight tornadoes occurring in the NWS Lincoln coverage area. Most of these tornadoes were brief, and none were stronger than EF-1, but one serious injury occurred in Crawford County as a result of a tornado. Another indirect injury occurred on I-57 in Effingham County when thunderstorm winds contributed to a multi-vehicle accident.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Lincoln, IL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 19, 2:46 PM CST, 30 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 246 PM CST Thu Feb 19 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - The primary focus for severe weather this afternoon will be along and south of a Shelbyville to Paris line where there is a greater than 10% chance for tornadoes. - Strong westerly winds will develop tonight into Friday morning. Peak gusts will generally range from 35-45mph: however, there is a 30-40% chance of gusts exceeding 45mph. && .SHORT TERM... (Tonight through Friday) Issued at 246 PM CST Thu Feb 19 2026 20z/2pm surface analysis shows a 995mb low east of Kansas City...with a pronounced dryline arcing southeastward into the Ozarks. Convection that fired ahead of the system in the Saint Louis metro earlier today has weakened as it has tracked E/NE along/south of I-70 over the past few hours. Still need to keep an eye on these cells for the balance of the afternoon as the atmosphere across southeast Illinois is moderately unstable (1000-1500J/kg SBCAPEs) and highly sheared (0-6km bulk shear of 60-80kt): however, weak capping/warm air aloft has so far kept the storms at bay. Once mid-level cooling associated with an approaching short-wave trough arrives, scattered thunderstorms will develop along the advancing dryline between 23z/5pm and 03z/9pm. A tornado risk will still be present along/south of I-70 where deep-layer shear is strongest: however, the overall severe weather threat further north across the remainder of central Illinois will be less due to weaker shear and diurnal instability decreasing after sunset. Think the main risk for locations north of I-70 will be scattered damaging wind gusts through mid-evening before the cells lift E/NE out of the area. After a period of dry weather later this evening, a few rain and snow showers may wrap back into the Illinois River Valley overnight. The general trend has been to shift this precip area a bit further N/NW than previously anticipated. As a result, am only carrying 30-50 PoPs along/north of a Macomb to Minonk line overnight. With the precip expected to be quite light and surface temps staying above freezing until after daybreak, little to no snow accumulation is expected. Once the dryline passes, winds will veer to the W/SW and increase greatly later this evening toward midnight. Significant pressure rises in the wake of the passing low suggest gusts may become higher than models are advertising. 19z HRRR indicates a swath of 35-45mph gusts advancing across much of central Illinois along/west of I-57 late this evening through Friday morning. In addition, the 12z HREF shows a 30-40% chance of gusts exceeding 45mph. Given the clear signal for strong winds, have issued a Wind Advisory for gusts of 35-45mph with a few gusts reaching 50mph. The strongest winds will lift into northern Illinois and the Great Lakes by mid-morning Friday:however, gusts of over 30mph will remain common through the afternoon. Low temperatures tonight will range from the lower 30s in the Illinois River Valley to the upper 30s near the Indiana border. Highs on Friday will range from the upper 30s north of the Peoria area to the upper 40s south of I-70. Barnes .LONG TERM... (Saturday through Next Thursday) Issued at 246 PM CST Thu Feb 19 2026 After a dry and seasonably cool day on Saturday with highs in the upper 30s and lower 40s, a re-enforcing surge of cold air will drop readings back below normal by early next week. Models continue to advertise a western CONUS ridge/eastern CONUS trough pattern that will ensure the return of more winter-like temps for a couple of days before the pattern begins to break down and things warm back up by the middle and end of next week. Highs on Sunday and Monday will only reach the lower to middle 30s, but will bounce back well into the 50s by next Wednesday and Thursday. Barnes && .AVIATION... (For the 18z TAFs through 18z Friday Afternoon) Issued at 1133 AM CST Thu Feb 19 2026 IFR/MVFR ceilings linger at the central Illinois terminals late this morning: however, with the warm frontal boundary lifting N/NW of the area and all guidance suggesting the low clouds will scatter over the next couple of hours...have opted to raise all sites to VFR after 19z/20z. While a band of showers will track along and south of I-72 this afternoon, the primary strong to severe convection will focus further south along/south of I-70. Most CAMs suggest scattered cells forming along an advancing cold/occluded front late this afternoon into early evening for all locations north of I-70. As such, have included a TEMPO group for thunder at all TAF sites between 23z and 03z. Winds will initially be S/SE at around 10kt this afternoon, then will veer to W/SW and increase markedly after frontal passage this evening. Latest guidance indicates gusts of 25-35kt tonight through Friday morning. As cold advection commences tonight, MVFR ceilings will pivot back into the area from west to east between 07z and 11z. Barnes && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory from 10 PM this evening to 9 AM CST Friday for ILZ027>031-036>038-040>056-061. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Lincoln IL 1135 AM CST Thu Feb 19 2026 ILZ027>031-036-037-040-041-047-049-050-201200- Knox-Stark-Peoria-Marshall-Woodford-Fulton-Tazewell-Schuyler-Mason- Cass-Scott-Morgan- 1135 AM CST Thu Feb 19 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. A few strong to severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and early evening, with damaging winds and isolated large hail the primary concerns. The best chances of this will be in west central Illinois. Strong west winds gusting up to 45 mph are expected to develop toward midnight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Strong west winds gusting up to 45 mph will continue into Friday morning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed early to mid afternoon near the I-72 corridor, and from 5 to 9 pm near the I-74 corridor. Expected storm motion is toward the northeast around 45 mph. ILZ038-042-043-048-051>053-201200- McLean-Logan-De Witt-Menard-Sangamon-Christian-Macon- 1135 AM CST Thu Feb 19 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Scattered thunderstorms are expected this afternoon, exiting by mid evening. A few storms may contain damaging winds and perhaps some hail, though a tornado cannot be ruled out. Strong west winds gusting up to 45 mph will develop late this evening, continuing overnight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Strong west winds gusting up to 45 mph will continue into Friday morning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed between noon and 7 pm. Expected storm motion is toward the northeast around 45 mph. ILZ044>046-054-055-057-201200- Piatt-Champaign-Vermilion-Moultrie-Douglas-Edgar- 1135 AM CST Thu Feb 19 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Illinois. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and early evening. Damaging wind gusts and a few tornadoes are the main concern, although isolated large hail is possible as well. Strong west winds gusting up to 45 mph will develop after midnight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Strong west winds gusting up to 45 mph will continue into Friday morning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed between 3 pm and 9 pm. Expected storm motion is toward the northeast around 45 mph. ILZ056-061>063-066>068-071>073-201200- Coles-Shelby-Cumberland-Clark-Effingham-Jasper-Crawford-Clay- Richland-Lawrence- 1135 AM CST Thu Feb 19 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Illinois. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. There is an enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. Tornadoes, some of which may be strong, and damaging winds are the primary concerns, though some large hail is also possible. Strong west winds gusting up to 45 mph will develop after midnight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Strong west winds gusting up to 40 mph will continue into early Wednesday morning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will likely be needed, with the most likely time frame between noon and 8 pm. Expected storm motion is toward the northeast around 45 mph. Geelhart
The Evansville,IN radar (KVWX), 106 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:14 UTC.
19 hail, 10 tornado, 2 funnel cloud, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A brief tornado was confirmed via storm chaser video. No damage occurred, so an intensity rating could not be assigned.
Thunderstorm winds contributed to a multi-vehicle accident on I-57 southwest of Watson, resulting in one indirect injury.
Video from a storm chaser showed a tornado develop about one mile southeast of Wheeler. The tornado caused minor damage to trees as it travelled northeast across Highway 33 before dissipating just east of N 500th St.
A short-lived tornado developed in a field three miles southwest of Yale. It moved northeast and dissipated shortly after crossing N 1675 St. The tornado resulted in tall field grass being blown over and matted down.
Storm chaser video showed a well-defined funnel cloud extending at least half way to the ground approximately four miles west of Chauncey. However, no evidence of a tornado was found in this area. This thunderstorm went on to produce a tornado in Crawford County four minutes after this funnel cloud was sighted.
A storm chaser provided video of a brief tornado occurring at this location. No damage occurred, so an intensity rating could not be assigned.
The tornado began about three miles southeast of Hardinville, where it damaged several trees near the intersection of East 350th Avenue and North 825th Street. It then intensified to EF-1 as it moved northeast, severely damaging two homes including one mobile home that was thrown off its foundation and wrapped around a tree. An elderly woman in that mobile home was hospitalized with serious injuries. The tornado continued northeast, crossing several tree lines and damaging additional homes and farm buildings along 1125th Street and East 465th Avenue. After that, the tornado only produced minor tree damage. It eventually crossed State Highway 1 and dissipated about 2.5 miles north-northeast of Flat Rock.
A storm chaser provided video of a brief tornado occurring in an open field. No damage occurred, so an intensity rating could not be assigned.
A tornado developed just south of the Clay-Effingham county line, producing damage at a farmstead along the county line east of 1800th Street. At this location, metal from the top of a silo was blown off, and a barn was damaged with roof pieces blown off to the northeast for about a half mile. The tornado was in Clay County for less than a minute, before continuing northeast into Effingham County. This tornado had a maximum intensity of EF-0, and its total duration was 11 minutes.
A tornado developed just south of the Clay-Effingham county line, producing damage at a farmstead along the county line east of 1800th Street. At this location, metal from the top of a silo was blown off, and a barn was damaged with roof pieces blown off to the northeast for about a half mile. The tornado was in Clay County for less than a minute, before continuing northeast into Effingham County where it produced tracks through corn stubble in fields. It dissipated northwest of the intersection of East 200th Avenue and County Road 2200. This tornado had a maximum intensity of EF-0, and its total lifespan was 11 minutes.
A tornado developed near Scooter Drive in Clay County. It tracked northeast, moving into Effingham County and tracking east of Edgewood. The maximum intensity of this tornado was EF-0, with damage limited to tree branches. The total duration of this tornado was four minutes, one minute in Clay County and three minutes in Effingham County.
A tornado developed near Scooter Drive in Clay County. It tracked northeast, moving into Effingham County and tracking east of Edgewood. It dissipated near the intersection of East 100th Avenue and County Road 880. The maximum intensity of this tornado was EF-0, with damage limited to tree branches. The total duration of this tornado was four minutes, one minute in Clay County and three minutes in Effingham County.
A storm chaser reported a funnel cloud west of Newton.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Illinois, 2026Warnings in Illinois, February 2026
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1317774, 1317775, 1317778, 1317780, 1317776, 1317777, 1317779, 1317782, 1317783, 1317781, 1317785, 1317784, 1317786, 1317787, 1317788, 1317790, 1317789, 1317791, 1317793, 1317792, 1317794, 1317795, 1317796, 1317797, 1317799, 1317798, 1317800, 1317801, 1317802, 1317803, 1317805, 1317804.