Active spring pattern across the center of our nation with several episodes of severe weather and heavy rainfall expected into next week. The potential for very large hail, long track tornadoes, severe wind gusts, frequent cloud to ground lightning strikes and flash flooding are in the outlook. Furthermore, dangerous early season heat wave continues for the Gulf Coast states into early next week. Read More >
A series of severe thunderstorms produced tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds across central Illinois on May 3rd. Preliminary information regarding the event can be found on the "Reports" tab below. The meteorological summary and event photos will be updated over the next few days.
Details regarding the tornadoes that occurred across central Illinois on May 3rd can be seen below. A list of all severe weather reports (including hail and damaging wind) is included after the damage survey information.
703
NOUS43 KILX 051252
PNSILX
ILZ027>031-036>038-040>057-061>063-066>068-071>073-060052-
Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
752 AM CDT Thu Jun 5 2025
...2 DAY PRECIPITATION REPORTS SPANNING 6/3/2025 to 6/5/2025 (Reporting times are 7:30 AM CDT)...
Location Amount Time/Date Provider
Beardstown 4.09 in 0740 AM 06/05 CWOP
3 SE Bluff Springs 3.94 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
0.8 SW Meredosia 3.83 in 0730 AM 06/05 HADS
Florence 3.58 in 0730 AM 06/05 HADS
0.8 SW Meredosia 3.18 in 0900 PM 06/04 HADS
Morton 3.14 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Illinois River 3.13 in 0645 AM 06/05 HADS
Mt Carmel Arpt 3.00 in 0735 AM 06/05 AWOS
Morton 2.96 in 0700 AM 06/05 COOP
Decatur 3.3 WSW 2.90 in 1159 PM 06/04 COCORAHS
Waynesville 2.72 in 0730 AM 06/05 CWOP
Morton 5.1 E 2.66 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Washington 2.61 in 0731 AM 06/05 CWOP
Pekin 2.61 in 0730 AM 06/05 CWOP
Browning 2.60 in 0730 AM 06/05 CWOP
Lewistown 2.58 in 0737 AM 06/05 CWOP
Lawrenceville AP 2.51 in 0631 AM 06/05 ASOS
Washington 1.7 NE 2.50 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Bloomington 2.47 in 0739 AM 06/05 CWOP
1.0 E East Peoria 2.35 in 0645 AM 06/05 HADS
Marshall 1.1 SSW 2.34 in 0615 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Le Roy 4.2 WSW 2.33 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Valley City 2.32 in 0730 AM 06/05 HADS
Henry 2.30 in 0736 AM 06/05 CWOP
2.0 W Robinson 2.30 in 0700 AM 06/05 COOP
Bryant 0.1 ENE 2.23 in 0605 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Rushville 4.1 NE 2.23 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Jacksonville 2.22 in 0700 AM 06/05 COOP
Washington 2.18 in 0731 AM 06/05 CWOP
Bloomington 2.7 NE 2.18 in 0600 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
1 NW Metamora 2.14 in 0735 AM 06/05 CWOP
2 W Riverton 2.14 in 0609 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Normal 1.7 SE 2.11 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Lincoln 2.10 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Bloomington 3.9 ESE 2.10 in 0600 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
0.6 NE Ripley 2.08 in 0645 AM 06/05 COOP
Lincoln 2.07 in 0600 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Olney 0.3 ESE 2.05 in 0600 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Warrensburg 0.6 E 2.02 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Normal 1.2 ESE 2.02 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Washington 1.99 in 0730 AM 06/05 CWOP
1 NNW Morton 1.98 in 0745 AM 06/05 AWS
Bloomington 1.6 WSW 1.95 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Petersburg 6.5 SSE 1.95 in 0600 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
1 S Bloomington 1.94 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Decatur 1 SSE 1.92 in 1200 AM 06/05 COOP
2 NW Chestnut 1.92 in 0600 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Bloomington 1.91 in 0739 AM 06/05 CWOP
Lincoln 2.0 ENE 1.91 in 0730 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Edinburg 3.0 W 1.90 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Metamora 1.1 WNW 1.90 in 0619 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Jacksonville 2.6 SE 1.89 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Congerville 0.6 WSW 1.85 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Canton 1.79 in 0700 AM 06/05 COOP
Peoria Heights 1.73 in 0740 AM 06/05 CWOP
Farmer City 1.5 SSW 1.73 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Paris 6.0 SSW 1.73 in 0600 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
East Peoria 6.9 NNE 1.73 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Peoria Heights 1.72 in 0740 AM 06/05 AWS
Canton 1.2 ESE 1.72 in 0600 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Latham 1.8 SE 1.70 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Springfield 4.4 W 1.70 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Peoria Intl Arpt 1.69 in 0654 AM 06/05 ASOS
Hartsburg 3.2 E 1.68 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Jacksonville Arpt 1.68 in 0735 AM 06/05 AWOS
5 WSW Springfield 1.66 in 0736 AM 06/05 CWOP
Goodfield 1.64 in 0735 AM 06/05 CWOP
Bloomington 1.5 ESE 1.64 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Kansas 3.7 SSE 1.62 in 0530 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Bloomington Arpt 1.61 in 0741 AM 06/05 AWOS
Hutsonville 1.61 in 0645 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
4 NE Normal 1.60 in 0500 AM 06/05 COOP
Clay City 6 SSE 1.60 in 0600 AM 06/05 COOP
Springfield 6.3 S 1.58 in 0600 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
El Paso 5.2 NNW 1.58 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Springfield 2.6 WNW 1.56 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Paris 1.56 in 0700 AM 06/05 COOP
Carlock 2.1 NNE 1.55 in 0600 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Lane 1.52 in 0730 AM 06/05 CWOP
Petersburg 0.2 W 1.52 in 0630 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
El Paso 0.6 WNW 1.50 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
0.7 W London Mills 1.50 in 0645 AM 06/05 USGS
Galesburg 1.49 in 0700 AM 06/05 COOP
2 NNW Elwin 1.47 in 0745 AM 06/05 AWS
Spfld Capital AP 1.46 in 0652 AM 06/05 ASOS
Rushville 1.45 in 0730 AM 06/05 CWOP
Buffalo 1.44 in 0700 AM 06/05 COOP
Teutopolis 3.4 SE 1.44 in 0730 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Decatur Arpt 1.43 in 0654 AM 06/05 ASOS
Galesburg 1.42 in 0740 AM 06/05 CWOP
Pawnee 1.42 in 0730 AM 06/05 CWOP
Mahomet 1.42 in 0730 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
East Peoria 1.41 in 0731 AM 06/05 CWOP
Illiopolis 4.4 NNE 1.41 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Trivoli 0.4 E 1.41 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Normal 1.4 WNW 1.40 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Logan County Arpt 1.40 in 0735 AM 06/05 AWOS
Mount Pulaski 1.39 in 0600 AM 06/05 COOP
Saybrook 4.3 SSE 1.36 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Mahomet 3.0 NE 1.35 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Lake Springfield 1.35 in 0735 AM 06/05 COOP
2 N Panola 1.30 in 0740 AM 06/05 AWS
Altona 4.7 ESE 1.29 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Elkhart 0.7 ENE 1.28 in 0650 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Avon 1.27 in 0700 AM 06/05 COOP
Springfield 2.2 SE 1.27 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Galesburg Arpt 1.25 in 0735 AM 06/05 AWOS
3.3 N Greenview 1.24 in 0500 AM 06/05 USGS
1 SSE Grandview 1.22 in 0743 AM 06/05 AWS
Savoy 0.6 SSE 1.21 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Yates City 1.20 in 0640 AM 06/05 COOP
Mt. Pulaski 1.18 in 0730 AM 06/05 CWOP
Olney Noble AP 1.17 in 0730 AM 06/05 AWOS
Delong 1.14 in 0740 AM 06/05 CWOP
Tallula 1.13 in 0730 AM 06/05 CWOP
Marshall 1.11 in 0730 AM 06/05 CWOP
Williamsfield 1.7 NNE 1.10 in 0630 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
1 NE Rantoul 1.09 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
0.9 E Chillicothe 1.08 in 0700 AM 06/05 HADS
Champaign 0.7 SW 1.08 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Willard Arpt 1.08 in 0653 AM 06/05 ASOS
1.1 W Newton 1.08 in 1200 AM 06/05 COOP
Urbana 0.5 W 1.07 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Toulon 0.5 ESE, IL 1.07 in 0636 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Sidell 4N 1.07 in 0700 AM 06/05 COOP
Champaign 2.9 SSW 1.06 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
1.5 W Rochester 1.06 in 0645 AM 06/05 USGS
Casey 1.05 in 0730 AM 06/05 COOP
Chatham 1.05 in 0730 AM 06/05 CWOP
Champaign 2.2 NW 1.04 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
New Holland 1.02 in 0730 AM 06/05 CWOP
Farmer City 2.7 WSW 1.02 in 0600 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
2.4 NW East Peoria 1.01 in 0645 AM 06/05 USGS
3 S Henry 0.99 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Champaign 0.6 NNE 0.97 in 0600 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Urbana 0.96 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Marshall 0.95 in 0738 AM 06/05 CWOP
3.3 N Greenview 0.95 in 0645 AM 06/05 USGS
Champaign 2.5 S 0.93 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Shelbyville 0.5 NE 0.93 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Rantoul Arpt 0.93 in 0735 AM 06/05 AWOS
Champaign 2.2 SSE 0.92 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Urbana 1.9 ENE 0.92 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
UI BONDVILLE CHAMPAIGN 9 SW 0.91 in 0700 AM 06/05 HADS
2.5 W Champaign 0.90 in 0715 AM 06/05 USGS
Urbana 2.6 ENE 0.89 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Henry 1.4 SW 0.89 in 0645 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Watson 0.88 in 0736 AM 06/05 CWOP
2 ESE Urbana 0.87 in 0740 AM 06/05 AWS
Casey 0.87 in 0730 AM 06/05 CWOP
Urbana 2.2 SE 0.87 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Flora 0.86 in 0630 AM 06/05 COOP
Hoopeston 0.6 E 0.86 in 0300 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Danville 4.2 NW 0.86 in 0615 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Urbana 1.6 ESE 0.82 in 0700 AM 06/05 COCORAHS
Windsor 0.80 in 0630 AM 06/05 COOP
Effingham 1SE 0.75 in 0700 AM 06/05 COOP
Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying
equipment and exposures. We thank all volunteer weather observers
for their dedication. Not all data listed are considered official.
$$
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
1122 PM CDT MON MAY 3 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0455 PM HAIL 3 SSE BLUFF SPRINGS 39.95N 90.33W
05/03/2021 E1.50 INCH CASS IL COCORAHS
0504 PM HAIL VIRGINIA 39.95N 90.21W
05/03/2021 E1.50 INCH CASS IL PUBLIC
RELAYED BY BROADCAST MEDIA. DAMAGE TO CARS.
0505 PM TORNADO 3 S VIRGINIA 39.91N 90.21W
05/03/2021 CASS IL TRAINED SPOTTER
ON GROUND IN OPEN FIELD. DIME SIZED HAIL.
0515 PM HAIL 4 WSW NEWMANSVILLE 39.98N 90.08W
05/03/2021 E1.00 INCH CASS IL FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
RELAYED BY ASHLAND FIRE.
0527 PM TORNADO 2 WNW PLEASANT PLAINS 39.88N 89.95W
05/03/2021 SANGAMON IL STORM CHASER
CORRECTION TO PREVIOUS REPORT OF TORNADO 3 N
ASHLAND.
0532 PM HAIL 3 S PETERSBURG 39.97N 89.85W
05/03/2021 E1.00 INCH MENARD IL AMATEUR RADIO
0532 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 S PETERSBURG 39.97N 89.85W
05/03/2021 MENARD IL AMATEUR RADIO
POWER POLES BLOWN DOWN INTO FIELD.
0610 PM TORNADO 1 ESE DAWSON 39.85N 89.45W
05/03/2021 SANGAMON IL PUBLIC
BRIEF TOUCHDOWN NEAR I-72.
0612 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 N DAWSON 39.90N 89.46W
05/03/2021 SANGAMON IL TRAINED SPOTTER
POWER POLES DOWNED.
0614 PM TORNADO 1 NW MECHANICSBURG 39.82N 89.41W
05/03/2021 UF1 SANGAMON IL TRAINED SPOTTER
CORRECTS PREVIOUS TORNADO REPORT FROM 1 NW
MECHANICSBURG.
0718 PM HAIL 1 S MACON 39.70N 89.00W
05/03/2021 E1.00 INCH MACON IL PUBLIC
0728 PM HAIL 5 WSW ROSAMOND 39.35N 89.25W
05/03/2021 E2.00 INCH CHRISTIAN IL TRAINED SPOTTER
0824 PM TSTM WND DMG CHARLESTON 39.48N 88.18W
05/03/2021 COLES IL EMERGENCY MNGR
TREE BLOWN DOWN.
&&
$$
The following is a technical overview of the meteorological conditions that occurred during the May 3rd severe weather event across central Illinois.
On Monday, May 3rd, thunderstorms developed along a cold front in north central Missouri and progressed into west central Illinois by mid-afternoon. Widespread cloud cover was in place across central Illinois through much of the morning and afternoon, but clouds diminished ahead of the cold front. In areas where the sun came out ahead of the front, temperatures climbed into the upper 70s. Dew point temperatures were in the mid-60s, resulting in a moderately unstable environment with around 1500 J/kg of mixed-layer convective available potential energy (MLCAPE). This instability combined with 35-45 knots of deep layer wind shear was supportive of severe weather. The angle between the shear vectors and the cold front was greater than 45 degrees, allowing for the development of supercells. The first image below shows the surface observations as of 22z/5pm, with the cold front pushing into west central Illinois. The second image shows the MLCAPE as of 22z/5pm. Note the lack of blue shading across central Illinois indicating the atmosphere is unstable and ready for thunderstorm development in the presence of a forcing mechanism (in this case, the forcing mechanism was the cold front). The second image shows the shear vectors at the same time.
The tornado threat was enhanced by a mesoscale convective vortex (MCV), an area of spin in the atmosphere that formed as a result of thunderstorms the previous day across Kansas/Nebraska, which tracked across north-central Missouri then northeastward across the Illinois River Valley. This MCV contributed to a surface wind shift, from southwesterly to southeasterly, ahead of the cold front. This localized wind shift increased the low-level wind shear, which increased the tornado potential.
Several severe thunderstorms developed along the cold front and moved through central Illinois. The strongest storm tracked from Cass County east-southeastward towards Coles County. That storm produced at least four tornadoes and up to 2" hail (hen egg sized). (See the "Reports" tab for complete details regarding the location of tornadoes). All four tornadoes occurred primarily in open fields, and a tornado rating could not be assigned due to the lack of damage. The other severe thunderstorms produced large hail, but did not produce tornadoes. Overall, damage reports from the event were fairly limited. Power poles were blown down in Sangamon County, however, it is believed this damage was caused by straight line winds. Ping pong ball sized hail caused damage to vehicles in Virginia, IL. An observer five miles north of Buffalo, IL, reported that enough half-inch sized hail stones fell to cover the ground in hail.
Satellite Loop
Visible and IR satellite loop showing storm initiation in north-central Missouri during the late morning hours of May 3rd. As it moves eastward, a line of thunderstorms quickly develops and strengthens upon reaching the Illinois border with cold cloud tops (orange colors) indicating persistent updrafts. Additional cells develop southward into the favorable storm environment while the line progresses across the state. After sunset, storms begin to lose energy and weaken as they approach the Indiana border.
.gif)
Closer Look at Tornadic Storm
The loop below is a base reflectivity animation focusing on the supercell that went on to produce 5 tornados in central Illinois. This radar loop shows the early stages of this storm and spans 16 minutes from 4:41-4:57 PM local time. In this loop, red boxes indicate a severe thunderstorm warning and the purple box indicates a tornado warning.
Photos of the thunderstorms across central Illinois. This section will be updated. If you have photos of the storms that you would like for us to include in the event summary, send us a tweet at @NWSLincolnIL with your picture, location, and permission to use your photo.
.jpg/Diego Garcia, 8S Virginia (2)__360x480.jpg)
.jpg/Diego Garcia, 8S Virginia (3)__360x480.jpg)
Follow us on X
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on YouTube
ILX RSS Feed