Sweltering heat remains across the South-Central Plains, Lower/Middle Mississippi Valley, and the Southwest this week with limited nighttime relief. Thunderstorms will bring heavy rainfall leading to localized flash flooding in portions of the Desert Southwest and central Plains. Isolated strong to severe thunderstorms are possible across portions of the central Plains into the Northeast. 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.
221
NOUS43 KILX 060821
PNSILX
ILZ027>031-036>038-040>057-061>063-066>068-071>073-062021-
Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
321 AM CDT Sun Sep 6 2026
...MAXIMUM HEAT INDEX REPORTS FROM SATURDAY...
Location Temp Time/Date Provider
...Illinois...
...Cass County...
1 S Chandlerville 114 F 0140 PM 09/05 DAVIS
1 NW Bluff Springs 112 F 0130 PM 09/05 EARTH-NETWORKS
1 NW Bluff Springs 111 F 0505 PM 09/05 APRSWXNET/CWOP
...Champaign County...
Longview 117 F 0235 PM 09/05 DAVIS
Homer 116 F 1120 AM 09/05 WeatherXM
2 N Saint Joseph 115 F 0315 PM 09/05 TEMPEST
1 SW Mahomet 115 F 1110 AM 09/05 TEMPEST
1 NE Savoy 114 F 0220 PM 09/05 ISWS
2 S Champaign 114 F 0250 PM 09/05 TEMPEST
Philo 114 F 0201 PM 09/05 APRSWXNET/CWOP
3 SW Homer 113 F 0205 PM 09/05 EARTH-NETWORKS
2 SE Urbana 113 F 0340 PM 09/05 EARTH-NETWORKS
5 S Seymour 113 F 0405 PM 09/05 EARTH-NETWORKS
2 S Urbana 112 F 0240 PM 09/05 APRSWXNET/CWOP
5 N Longview 112 F 0155 PM 09/05 DAVIS
1 N Broadlands 111 F 0400 PM 09/05 DAVIS
1 NE Lake of the Woods 110 F 0236 PM 09/05 APRSWXNET/CWOP
Mahomet 110 F 0245 PM 09/05 TEMPEST
Willard Airport 108 F 0410 PM 09/05 ASOS/AWOS
Rantoul Airport 106 F 0255 PM 09/05 ASOS/AWOS
4 S Bondville 106 F 0340 PM 09/05 CRN
3 N Gifford 101 F 0130 PM 09/05 DAVIS
4 S Bondville 100 F 0400 PM 09/05 AIRNOW
...Christian County...
Morrisonville 115 F 0251 PM 09/05 APRSWXNET/CWOP
1 SW Rosamond 108 F 0155 PM 09/05 APRSWXNET/CWOP
...Clark County...
2 NE Marshall 110 F 1215 PM 09/05 APRSWXNET/CWOP
Casey 108 F 0845 AM 09/05 APRSWXNET/CWOP
...Clay County...
2 SE Clay City 115 F 1242 PM 09/05 APRSWXNET/CWOP
2 SE Oskaloosa 113 F 0300 PM 09/05 DAVIS
Flora Municipal Airport 110 F 1255 PM 09/05 ASOS/AWOS
...Coles County...
Coles County Airport 108 F 1245 PM 09/05 ASOS/AWOS
2 W Charleston 108 F 0300 PM 09/05 TEMPEST
2 W Mattoon 108 F 0400 PM 09/05 TEMPEST
3 NW Charleston 107 F 0300 PM 09/05 ISWS
2 SW Isabel 103 F 0315 PM 09/05 DAVIS
3 SE Mattoon 100 F 0210 PM 09/05 DAVIS
...Crawford County...
2 N Oblong 113 F 0345 PM 09/05 DAVIS
Robinson Municipal Airport 108 F 0255 PM 09/05 ASOS/AWOS
1 N Oblong 104 F 0215 PM 09/05 EARTH-NETWORKS
2 N Eaton 103 F 0315 PM 09/05 DAVIS
1 N Palestine 103 F 0145 PM 09/05 DAVIS
...Cumberland County...
Greenup 111 F 0415 PM 09/05 DAVIS
2 NW Hazel Dell 105 F 0320 PM 09/05 DAVIS
...De Witt County...
5 SW Heyworth 110 F 0200 PM 09/05 APRSWXNET/CWOP
...Douglas County...
3 N Tuscola 117 F 0340 PM 09/05 DAVIS
1 E Villa Grove 117 F 0415 PM 09/05 DAVIS
2 SW Chesterville 115 F 0315 PM 09/05 APRSWXNET/CWOP
4 N Arcola 115 F 0220 PM 09/05 DAVIS
1 W Camargo 113 F 0150 PM 09/05 TEMPEST
...Edgar County...
Edgar County Airport 108 F 0315 PM 09/05 ASOS/AWOS
2 S Isabel 104 F 0330 PM 09/05 DAVIS
3 S Borton 102 F 0240 PM 09/05 DAVIS
1 W Hume 100 F 0220 PM 09/05 DAVIS
...Effingham County...
2 N Effingham 115 F 0445 PM 09/05 APRSWXNET/CWOP
1 SW Watson 114 F 1210 PM 09/05 DAVIS
3 E Shumway 112 F 0510 PM 09/05 DAVIS
Teutopolis 110 F 0115 PM 09/05 APRSWXNET/CWOP
Altamont 107 F 0519 PM 09/05 EARTH-NETWORKS
1 W Beecher City 105 F 0325 PM 09/05 DAVIS
4 N Altamont 104 F 1230 PM 09/05 DAVIS
Effingham County Airport 103 F 1255 PM 09/05 ASOS/AWOS
...Fulton County...
3 E London Mills 118 F 0125 PM 09/05 DAVIS
2 E Marietta 116 F 0355 PM 09/05 DAVIS
...Jasper County...
5 SE Ste. Marie 113 F 0530 PM 09/05 DAVIS
1 S Newton 111 F 0146 PM 09/05 APRSWXNET/CWOP
1 SW Newton 108 F 0500 PM 09/05 APRSWXNET/CWOP
...Knox County...
1 N Galesburg 119 F 1250 PM 09/05 APRSWXNET/CWOP
Delong 118 F 0355 PM 09/05 APRSWXNET/CWOP
Delong 118 F 0146 PM 09/05 DAVIS
1 W Galesburg 114 F 0428 PM 09/05 APRSWXNET/CWOP
Galesburg Airport 108 F 1255 PM 09/05 ASOS/AWOS
...Lawrence County...
4 S Chauncey 117 F 1110 AM 09/05 DAVIS
Lawrenceville Airport 109 F 0325 PM 09/05 ASOS/AWOS
Mount Carmel Airport 107 F 1135 AM 09/05 ASOS/AWOS
Lawrenceville 105 F 0245 PM 09/05 DAVIS
Birds 104 F 0230 PM 09/05 DAVIS
...Logan County...
1 S New Holland 112 F 0219 PM 09/05 DAVIS
Logan County Airport 111 F 0315 PM 09/05 ASOS/AWOS
2 W Atlanta 104 F 0325 PM 09/05 DAVIS
...Macon County...
2 NW Mount Zion 116 F 0210 PM 09/05 TEMPEST
2 SW Decatur Airport 112 F 0335 PM 09/05 WeatherXM
1 SW Decatur Airport 108 F 0145 PM 09/05 ASOS/AWOS
4 S Mount Zion 103 F 0315 PM 09/05 DAVIS
...Marshall County...
2 NW Rutland 109 F 1255 PM 09/05 DAVIS
1 SW Varna 106 F 0155 PM 09/05 DAVIS
Marshall County Airport 103 F 0335 PM 09/05 ASOS/AWOS
...Mason County...
2 SE Topeka 113 F 0200 PM 09/05 SCAN
3 SE Snicarte 111 F 0250 PM 09/05 ISWS
2 W Mason City 108 F 0125 PM 09/05 DAVIS
6 N Mason City 102 F 0235 PM 09/05 DAVIS
...McLean County...
3 W Towanda 115 F 0125 PM 09/05 WeatherXM
2 S Cooksville 114 F 1231 PM 09/05 APRSWXNET/CWOP
3 S Congerville 114 F 0200 PM 09/05 DAVIS
5 SW Congerville 114 F 0130 PM 09/05 TEMPEST
1 E Normal 112 F 0130 PM 09/05 WeatherXM
Arrowsmith 111 F 0100 PM 09/05 APRSWXNET/CWOP
3 W Towanda 110 F 0130 PM 09/05 APRSWXNET/CWOP
3 SW Towanda 110 F 0145 PM 09/05 TEMPEST
2 N Central Illinois Airport 109 F 0215 PM 09/05 DAVIS
Central Illinois Airport 108 F 1210 PM 09/05 ASOS/AWOS
1 S Bloomington 108 F 0210 PM 09/05 DAVIS
6 S Arrowsmith 107 F 0320 PM 09/05 DAVIS
3 N Central Illinois Airport 107 F 0140 PM 09/05 TEMPEST
1 SE Normal 107 F 0100 PM 09/05 TEMPEST
1 NW Normal 101 F 0210 PM 09/05 DAVIS
3 NW Normal 100 F 0410 PM 09/05 WeatherXM
...Morgan County...
Jacksonville Airport 108 F 0335 PM 09/05 ASOS/AWOS
...Moultrie County...
1 S Sullivan 116 F 0220 PM 09/05 WeatherXM
3 NW Kirksville 113 F 0255 PM 09/05 APRSWXNET/CWOP
...Peoria County...
1 SE West Peoria 115 F 0114 PM 09/05 APRSWXNET/CWOP
4 N Norwood 113 F 1221 PM 09/05 DAVIS
4 S Alta 112 F 0115 PM 09/05 WeatherXM
2 NE Alta 111 F 0410 PM 09/05 TEMPEST
1 E Alta 110 F 0415 PM 09/05 TEMPEST
1 E Alta 109 F 0100 PM 09/05 DAVIS
Peoria Intl Airport 108 F 0255 PM 09/05 ASOS/AWOS
1 NE Laura 101 F 0220 PM 09/05 DAVIS
...Piatt County...
Monticello 112 F 0320 PM 09/05 DAVIS
1 E De Land 102 F 0125 PM 09/05 DAVIS
...Richland County...
1 NW Olney 116 F 0230 PM 09/05 ISWS
3 SW Dundas 112 F 0200 PM 09/05 APRSWXNET/CWOP
Olney Noble Airport 107 F 1215 PM 09/05 ASOS/AWOS
...Sangamon County...
2 NE Rochester 117 F 0440 PM 09/05 TEMPEST
4 NE Mechanicsburg 115 F 0225 PM 09/05 DAVIS
3 S Clear Lake 114 F 0405 PM 09/05 TEMPEST
2 S Grandview 113 F 0344 PM 09/05 EARTH-NETWORKS
2 S Grandview 112 F 0330 PM 09/05 NGLO
3 SE Southern View 111 F 0425 PM 09/05 ISWS
3 SE Farmingdale 111 F 0225 PM 09/05 TEMPEST
Capital Airport 110 F 0420 PM 09/05 ASOS/AWOS
3 NE Curran 110 F 0406 PM 09/05 APRSWXNET/CWOP
3 SE Farmingdale 109 F 0215 PM 09/05 APRSWXNET/CWOP
Lowder 101 F 0220 PM 09/05 DAVIS
...Schuyler County...
2 NW Browning 116 F 0230 PM 09/05 APRSWXNET/CWOP
1 E Rushville 115 F 0400 PM 09/05 APRSWXNET/CWOP
...Scott County...
2 W Oxville 121 F 0355 PM 09/05 DAVIS
Winchester 119 F 1240 PM 09/05 APRSWXNET/CWOP
...Shelby County...
1 E Clarksburg 108 F 0255 PM 09/05 DAVIS
3 W Findlay 101 F 0215 PM 09/05 EARTH-NETWORKS
...Tazewell County...
1 NE Powerton 118 F 0400 PM 09/05 TEMPEST
3 SE South Pekin 115 F 0235 PM 09/05 DAVIS
Pekin 114 F 0155 PM 09/05 DAVIS
3 E East Peoria 113 F 0350 PM 09/05 TEMPEST
1 S Goodfield 112 F 0131 PM 09/05 APRSWXNET/CWOP
1 E Groveland 112 F 0155 PM 09/05 DAVIS
Pekin 112 F 0100 PM 09/05 APRSWXNET/CWOP
1 NW Morton 111 F 0120 PM 09/05 EARTH-NETWORKS
1 NW Washington 111 F 0116 PM 09/05 APRSWXNET/CWOP
1 SE Armington 110 F 1135 AM 09/05 DAVIS
2 NW Washington 110 F 0100 PM 09/05 TEMPEST
4 SE Peoria Heights 109 F 0315 PM 09/05 ISWS
3 SW Washington 108 F 0225 PM 09/05 TEMPEST
3 SW Minier 105 F 0250 PM 09/05 DAVIS
...Vermilion County...
1 NE Hoopeston 117 F 0140 PM 09/05 TEMPEST
4 E Royal 116 F 0130 PM 09/05 APRSWXNET/CWOP
4 NW Pence 116 F 0120 PM 09/05 DAVIS
Georgetown 116 F 0445 PM 09/05 TEMPEST
2 E Homer 114 F 0131 PM 09/05 DAVIS
1 N Collison 111 F 0150 PM 09/05 DAVIS
...Woodford County...
1 NW Congerville 114 F 0135 PM 09/05 TEMPEST
1 N Eureka 111 F 0300 PM 09/05 APRSWXNET/CWOP
2 E Minonk 111 F 1255 PM 09/05 DAVIS
2 SE Low Point 110 F 0305 PM 09/05 DAVIS
1 SW Germantown Hills 108 F 0231 PM 09/05 APRSWXNET/CWOP
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.
$$
Geelhart
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
1122 PM CDT MON MAY 3 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0455 PM HAIL 3 SSE BLUFF SPRINGS 39.95N 90.33W
05/03/2021 E1.50 INCH CASS IL COCORAHS
0504 PM HAIL VIRGINIA 39.95N 90.21W
05/03/2021 E1.50 INCH CASS IL PUBLIC
RELAYED BY BROADCAST MEDIA. DAMAGE TO CARS.
0505 PM TORNADO 3 S VIRGINIA 39.91N 90.21W
05/03/2021 CASS IL TRAINED SPOTTER
ON GROUND IN OPEN FIELD. DIME SIZED HAIL.
0515 PM HAIL 4 WSW NEWMANSVILLE 39.98N 90.08W
05/03/2021 E1.00 INCH CASS IL FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
RELAYED BY ASHLAND FIRE.
0527 PM TORNADO 2 WNW PLEASANT PLAINS 39.88N 89.95W
05/03/2021 SANGAMON IL STORM CHASER
CORRECTION TO PREVIOUS REPORT OF TORNADO 3 N
ASHLAND.
0532 PM HAIL 3 S PETERSBURG 39.97N 89.85W
05/03/2021 E1.00 INCH MENARD IL AMATEUR RADIO
0532 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 S PETERSBURG 39.97N 89.85W
05/03/2021 MENARD IL AMATEUR RADIO
POWER POLES BLOWN DOWN INTO FIELD.
0610 PM TORNADO 1 ESE DAWSON 39.85N 89.45W
05/03/2021 SANGAMON IL PUBLIC
BRIEF TOUCHDOWN NEAR I-72.
0612 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 N DAWSON 39.90N 89.46W
05/03/2021 SANGAMON IL TRAINED SPOTTER
POWER POLES DOWNED.
0614 PM TORNADO 1 NW MECHANICSBURG 39.82N 89.41W
05/03/2021 UF1 SANGAMON IL TRAINED SPOTTER
CORRECTS PREVIOUS TORNADO REPORT FROM 1 NW
MECHANICSBURG.
0718 PM HAIL 1 S MACON 39.70N 89.00W
05/03/2021 E1.00 INCH MACON IL PUBLIC
0728 PM HAIL 5 WSW ROSAMOND 39.35N 89.25W
05/03/2021 E2.00 INCH CHRISTIAN IL TRAINED SPOTTER
0824 PM TSTM WND DMG CHARLESTON 39.48N 88.18W
05/03/2021 COLES IL EMERGENCY MNGR
TREE BLOWN DOWN.
&&
$$
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.
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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)
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