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.
988
NOUS43 KILX 141458
PNSILX
ILZ027>031-036>038-040>057-061>063-066>068-071>073-150258-
Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
858 AM CST Sun Dec 14 2025
...MINIMUM WIND CHILL REPORTS FOR SUNDAY DECEMBER 14, 2025...
Location WC Temp. Time/Date Provider
...Illinois...
...Champaign County...
Bondville -35 F 0635 AM 12/14 ISWS
Thomasboro -33 F 0725 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Willard Arpt -32 F 0653 AM 12/14 ASOS
Sidney -30 F 0725 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Broadlands -29 F 0755 AM 12/14 DAVIS
3 NNE Villa Grove -28 F 0845 AM 12/14 AWS
Rantoul Arpt -28 F 0715 AM 12/14 AWOS
Homer -26 F 0645 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Longview -24 F 0745 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Rantoul -24 F 0825 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Gifford -24 F 0435 AM 12/14 DAVIS
3 WSW Homer -23 F 0645 AM 12/14 AWS
2 ESE Urbana -21 F 0845 AM 12/14 AWS
Champaign -19 F 0725 AM 12/14 ISWS
1 N Urbana -18 F 0735 AM 12/14 AWS
Sidney -9 F 1105 PM 12/13 DAVIS
...Christian County...
Taylorville Arpt -19 F 0655 AM 12/14 AWOS
...Clay County...
Flora Arpt -15 F 0555 AM 12/14 AWOS
Iola -11 F 0825 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Louisville -9 F 0525 AM 12/14 DAVIS
...Coles County...
Charleston -33 F 0755 AM 12/14 ISWS
Coles Co. Mem AP -26 F 0753 AM 12/14 ASOS
Kansas -24 F 0735 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Mattoon -22 F 0605 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Charleston -11 F 0805 AM 12/14 DAVIS
...Crawford County...
Oblong -21 F 0835 AM 12/14 AWS
Robinson Arpt -18 F 0835 AM 12/14 AWOS
Palestine -17 F 0725 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Hutsonville -16 F 0605 AM 12/14 DAVIS
...Cumberland County...
Greenup -19 F 0800 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Greenup -13 F 0825 AM 12/14 DAVIS
...Douglas County...
Tuscola -30 F 0725 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Arcola -29 F 0605 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Arcola -24 F 0625 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Camargo -23 F 0655 AM 12/14 AWS
Villa Grove -18 F 0745 AM 12/14 DAVIS
...Edgar County...
Hume -30 F 0745 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Edgar Co. Arpt -30 F 0715 AM 12/14 AWOS
Kansas -26 F 0625 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Kansas -23 F 0630 AM 12/14 DAVIS
...Effingham County...
Shumway -20 F 0545 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Altamont -18 F 0729 AM 12/14 AWS
Beecher City -18 F 0605 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Altamont -18 F 0620 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Effingham Arpt -17 F 0755 AM 12/14 AWOS
Watson -16 F 0755 AM 12/14 DAVIS
...Fulton County...
Canton -25 F 0735 AM 12/14 DAVIS
London Mills -23 F 0545 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Dunfermline -18 F 0800 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Farmington -18 F 0515 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Marietta -10 F 0415 AM 12/14 DAVIS
...Knox County...
Galesburg Arpt -26 F 0655 AM 12/14 AWOS
Delong -19 F 0615 AM 12/14 DAVIS
...Lawrence County...
Lawrenceville AP -17 F 0753 AM 12/14 ASOS
Mt Carmel Arpt -13 F 0815 AM 12/14 AWOS
Birds -12 F 0735 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Lawrenceville -12 F 0105 AM 12/14 DAVIS
...Logan County...
Mt. Pulaski -28 F 0755 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Emden -27 F 0735 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Atlanta -25 F 0715 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Logan County Arpt -20 F 0735 AM 12/14 AWOS
Mount Pulaski -19 F 0225 AM 12/14 DAVIS
...Macon County...
Dalton City -23 F 0655 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Decatur Arpt -20 F 0754 AM 12/14 ASOS
...Marshall County...
Toluca -29 F 0525 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Toluca -24 F 0130 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Varna -24 F 0805 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Lacon Arpt -21 F 0716 AM 12/14 AWOS
...Mason County...
Mason City -28 F 0605 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Mason City -25 F 0755 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Mason City -23 F 0745 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Snicarte -22 F 0815 AM 12/14 ISWS
...McLean County...
Leroy -35 F 0255 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Arrowsmith -30 F 0705 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Cropsey -28 F 0605 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Danvers -26 F 0800 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Bloomington -25 F 0305 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Bloomington Arpt -25 F 0656 AM 12/14 AWOS
Anchor -21 F 0255 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Bloomington -20 F 0345 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Bloomington -20 F 0835 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Bloomington -19 F 0805 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Normal -19 F 0245 AM 12/14 DAVIS
...Morgan County...
Jacksonville Arpt -28 F 0215 AM 12/14 AWOS
...Moultrie County...
Sullivan -21 F 0745 AM 12/14 DAVIS
...Peoria County...
Laura -23 F 0755 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Peoria -22 F 0825 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Peoria Intl Arpt -19 F 0754 AM 12/14 ASOS
Peoria -16 F 0735 AM 12/14 DAVIS
...Piatt County...
Deland -26 F 0425 AM 12/14 DAVIS
...Richland County...
Olney Noble AP -14 F 0750 AM 12/14 AWOS
Olney -9 F 0805 AM 12/14 ISWS
...Sangamon County...
Waverly -22 F 0635 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Spfld Capital AP -20 F 0652 AM 12/14 ASOS
Springfield -15 F 0825 AM 12/14 ISWS
1 SSE Grandview -12 F 1048 PM 12/13 AWS
...Scott County...
Griggsville -19 F 0800 AM 12/14 DAVIS
...Shelby County...
2 W Findlay -24 F 0720 AM 12/14 AWS
Shelbyville -23 F 0535 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Moweaqua -22 F 0615 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Stewardson -21 F 0825 AM 12/14 DAVIS
...Stark County...
Galva -15 F 0225 AM 12/14 DAVIS
...Tazewell County...
Minier -25 F 0715 AM 12/14 DAVIS
1 NNW Morton -24 F 0805 AM 12/14 AWS
Green Valley -22 F 0625 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Peoria -20 F 0645 AM 12/14 ISWS
Groveland -19 F 0825 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Morton -17 F 0630 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Armington -9 F 1135 PM 12/13 DAVIS
...Vermilion County...
Hoopeston -29 F 0655 AM 12/14 DAVIS
1 N Collison -26 F 0745 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Danville Arpt -24 F 0735 AM 12/14 AWOS
Homer -23 F 0555 AM 12/14 DAVIS
...Woodford County...
Minonk -25 F 0835 AM 12/14 DAVIS
Lowpoint -24 F 0825 AM 12/14 DAVIS
2 N Panola -18 F 0625 AM 12/14 AWS
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