Hail in Illinois, May 4, 2026

Name: Hail in Illinois, May 4, 2026
Start: 2026-05-04T17:21
End: 2026-05-04T18:10
Location: Illinois

May 4, 2026 · NWS LSX · 7 events in 2 counties and zones

During the afternoon of May 4th, a cold front was approaching the region from the northwest. As the low-level jet ramped up in the late afternoon, convection blossomed.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 7

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS LSX wrote it up.

During the afternoon of May 4th, a cold front was approaching the region from the northwest. As the low-level jet ramped up in the late afternoon, convection blossomed. One thunderstorm was able to become severe and produce large hail in Madison and Bond counties.

What forecasters said that day

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 St. Louis, MO wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 4, 1:56 PM CST, 3 hours 25 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, 1:56 PM CST, 3 hours 25 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, 2:55 PM CST, 2 hours 26 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, 4:47 PM CST, 34 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.

&&

BAH

Local storm report, May 4, 4:49 PM CST, 32 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.

&&

BAH

Local storm report, May 4, 4:50 PM CST, 31 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.

&&

BAH

Local storm report, May 4, 4:51 PM CST, 30 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.

&&

BAH

Local storm report, May 4, 4:53 PM CST, 28 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.

&&

BAH

Local storm report, May 4, 4:54 PM CST, 27 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.

&&

BAH

The radar

The St Louis radar (KLSX), 74 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:20 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Madison

When: May 4, 5:21 PM CST
Where: Madison County, 1.61 mi W of Worden
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.930, -89.880

Hail, Madison

When: May 4, 5:23 PM CST
Where: Madison County, 1.28 mi ENE of Prairietown
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 38.980, -89.900

Hail, Madison

When: May 4, 5:33 PM CST
Where: Madison County, 2.33 mi SSE of De Camp
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 38.940, -89.800

Hail, Madison

When: May 4, 5:39 PM CST
Where: Madison County, 0.54 mi E of Livingston
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 38.970, -89.760

Hail, Madison

When: May 4, 5:44 PM CST
Where: Madison County, New Douglas
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.970, -89.670

Hail, Madison

When: May 4, 5:55 PM CST
Where: Madison County, 7.02 mi ENE of Grantfork
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 38.870, -89.550

Hail, Bond

When: May 4, 6:10 PM CST
Where: Bond County, 0.88 mi NW of Greenville
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.900, -89.420

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Illinois in 2026 Every state in 2026 This day in weather history Warnings in Illinois, May 2026

Sources

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: 1334094, 1334096, 1334097, 1334099, 1334100, 1334101, 1334102.