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.
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NOUS43 KILX 301646
PNSILX
ILZ027>031-036>038-040>057-061>063-066>068-071>073-010446-
Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
1046 AM CST Sun Nov 30 2025
...SNOWFALL REPORTS - NOVEMBER 29, 2025 SNOW STORM...
Location Amount Time/Date Lat/Lon
...Illinois...
...Cass County...
3 SE Bluff Springs 6.3 in 0700 AM 11/30 39.95N/90.33W
...Champaign County...
Champaign 0.4 SSE 8.5 in 0700 AM 11/30 40.11N/88.26W
Urbana 2.2 SE 8.5 in 0700 AM 11/30 40.09N/88.17W
3 NW Willard Airport 8.3 in 0730 PM 11/29 40.07N/88.31W
Savoy 0.6 SSE 8.1 in 0700 AM 11/30 40.06N/88.25W
Sidney 0.9 N 7.5 in 0700 AM 11/30 40.04N/88.07W
Ogden 7.2 in 0630 PM 11/29 40.11N/87.96W
Homer 2.0 N 7.1 in 0700 AM 11/30 40.06N/87.96W
St. Joseph 1.1 ENE 7.0 in 0600 AM 11/30 40.12N/88.02W
2 N Homer 6.9 in 0700 PM 11/29 40.07N/87.96W
Champaign 0.3 NNE 6.3 in 0800 AM 11/30 40.12N/88.26W
Mahomet 1.6 E 6.2 in 0645 AM 11/30 40.20N/88.37W
2 SSW Champaign 5.8 in 0426 PM 11/29 40.09N/88.28W
Urbana 5.8 in 0700 AM 11/30 40.10N/88.20W
1 NE Rantoul 4.4 in 0700 AM 11/30 40.32N/88.14W
...Christian County...
Pana 12.3 in 0900 AM 11/30 39.39N/89.08W
Morrisonville 0.5 SSE 11.8 in 0730 AM 11/30 39.41N/89.45W
Edinburg 3.0 W 10.7 in 0700 AM 11/30 39.65N/89.45W
2.5 W Taylorville 6.8 in 0700 AM 11/30 39.53N/89.31W
...Clay County...
Clay City 6 SSE T in 0600 AM 11/30 38.61N/88.31W
...Coles County...
1 NW Paradise 10.5 in 0430 PM 11/29 39.42N/88.46W
Charleston 4.7 SSW 6.7 in 0800 AM 11/30 39.42N/88.19W
Charleston 5.9 in 0600 PM 11/29 39.48N/88.17W
...Cumberland County...
3 NNE Neoga 8.5 in 0446 PM 11/29 39.36N/88.44W
...De Witt County...
Lane 6.0 in 0730 PM 11/29 40.12N/88.86W
...Douglas County...
1 SW Tuscola 8.5 in 0745 PM 11/29 39.79N/88.29W
Tuscola 8.0 in 0700 AM 11/30 39.79N/88.29W
Tuscola 0.5 WSW 8.0 in 0700 AM 11/30 39.79N/88.29W
Newman 7.0 in 0600 AM 11/30 39.79N/87.98W
...Edgar County...
Brocton 5.5 in 0630 PM 11/29 39.72N/87.93W
Paris 2.0 in 0700 AM 11/30 39.62N/87.67W
...Effingham County...
2 NNW Effingham 4.3 in 0543 PM 11/29 39.15N/88.55W
Watson 3.5 in 0350 PM 11/29 39.03N/88.57W
Altamont 3.8 SSW 2.6 in 0800 AM 11/30 39.00N/88.77W
...Fulton County...
2 S Canton 9.5 in 0830 PM 11/29 40.53N/90.04W
Canton 1.2 ESE 8.4 in 0600 AM 11/30 40.56N/90.02W
Farmington 8.2 in 0500 PM 11/29 40.70N/90.01W
Bryant 0.1 ENE 8.2 in 0700 AM 11/30 40.47N/90.09W
Lewistown 7.2 in 0430 PM 11/29 40.40N/90.16W
Avon 6.6 in 0700 AM 11/30 40.66N/90.44W
...Jasper County...
1.1 W Newton 2.8 in 1200 AM 11/30 38.99N/88.18W
...Knox County...
Knoxville 8.0 in 0800 AM 11/30 40.90N/90.29W
...Logan County...
Lincoln 9.9 in 0600 PM 11/29 40.15N/89.36W
Lincoln 8.3 in 0700 AM 11/30 40.16N/89.37W
NWS Lincoln 7.8 in 0600 PM 11/29 40.15N/89.34W
Lincoln 0.6 NNW 7.7 in 0700 AM 11/30 40.16N/89.37W
New Holland 7.5 in 0700 AM 11/30 40.18N/89.58W
...Macon County...
2 N Decatur 10.2 in 0405 PM 11/29 39.87N/88.95W
Warrensburg 8.5 in 0607 PM 11/29 39.93N/89.07W
Oreana 1.3 S 8.5 in 0800 AM 11/30 39.92N/88.87W
Decatur 8.0 in 0555 PM 11/29 39.84N/88.95W
Macon 8.0 in 0645 PM 11/29 39.71N/89.00W
Illiopolis 4.4 NNE 7.0 in 0700 AM 11/30 39.91N/89.22W
3 SSW Forsyth 6.5 in 0455 PM 11/29 39.89N/88.98W
...Marshall County...
Lacon 8.5 in 1237 AM 11/30 41.02N/89.41W
1 NNW Hopewell 7.4 in 0501 PM 11/29 40.99N/89.46W
Henry 7.0 in 0730 PM 11/29 41.11N/89.36W
...Mason County...
Havana 7.8 in 0400 PM 11/29 40.30N/90.06W
...McLean County...
Downs 6.5 in 0824 PM 11/29 40.40N/88.87W
2 NNE Normal 6.0 in 0630 PM 11/29 40.54N/88.97W
3 ESE Central Illinois Airpo 5.8 in 0848 PM 11/29 40.46N/88.87W
Bloomington 1.6 WSW 5.5 in 0700 AM 11/30 40.47N/89.00W
4 NE Normal 5.0 in 0500 AM 11/30 40.55N/88.95W
Bloomington 2.7 NE 4.6 in 0700 AM 11/30 40.50N/88.93W
3 N Shirley 4.0 in 0715 PM 11/29 40.45N/89.06W
Bloomington 5.0 WSW 4.0 in 0700 AM 11/30 40.46N/89.06W
Carlock 2.1 NNE 3.8 in 0700 AM 11/30 40.61N/89.11W
3 N Towanda 3.2 in 0710 PM 11/29 40.60N/88.90W
...Menard County...
Athens 9.8 in 0430 PM 11/29 39.96N/89.72W
Petersburg 7.5 in 0430 PM 11/29 40.01N/89.85W
Petersburg 1.3 N 6.0 in 0700 AM 11/30 40.03N/89.85W
...Morgan County...
Jacksonville 10.0 in 0340 PM 11/29 39.73N/90.23W
Jacksonville 2.6 SE 6.0 in 0700 AM 11/30 39.71N/90.19W
...Moultrie County...
1 ENE Bethany 8.0 in 0730 PM 11/29 39.65N/88.72W
Lovington 6.4 in 0700 AM 11/30 39.71N/88.63W
...Peoria County...
1 NNW Elmwood 6.2 in 0406 PM 11/29 40.79N/89.97W
4 SSW Alta 6.0 in 0345 PM 11/29 40.77N/89.67W
Peoria Intl Airport 5.2 in 0600 PM 11/29 40.66N/89.69W
Peoria 3.4 WNW 4.7 in 0700 AM 11/30 40.77N/89.67W
...Sangamon County...
Rochester 11.5 in 0430 PM 11/29 39.75N/89.54W
Chatham 10.0 in 0430 PM 11/29 39.68N/89.70W
1 ESE Chatham 9.5 in 0600 PM 11/29 39.67N/89.69W
Capital Airport 8.9 in 0600 PM 11/29 39.84N/89.68W
2 W Riverton 8.9 in 0700 AM 11/30 39.85N/89.58W
Springfield 8.5 in 0430 PM 11/29 39.80N/89.65W
Buffalo 8.0 in 0700 AM 11/30 39.86N/89.42W
Springfield 2.2 SE 8.0 in 0700 AM 11/30 39.76N/89.61W
1 WNW Spaulding 7.8 in 0855 PM 11/29 39.87N/89.55W
Springfield 4.4 W 7.0 in 0700 AM 11/30 39.78N/89.73W
...Schuyler County...
4 E Rushville 10.0 in 0245 PM 11/29 40.12N/90.49W
Littleton 7.5 in 0450 PM 11/29 40.23N/90.62W
...Shelby County...
Windsor 9.5 in 0630 AM 11/30 39.45N/88.60W
Moweaqua 2 S 5.5 in 0600 AM 11/30 39.59N/89.02W
...Tazewell County...
Washington 7.7 in 0730 PM 11/29 40.70N/89.41W
3 W Washington 6.5 in 0824 PM 11/29 40.70N/89.46W
Morton 6.5 in 0700 AM 11/30 40.61N/89.45W
Pekin 5.0 in 0830 PM 11/29 40.57N/89.64W
Morton 1.0 S 4.2 in 0700 AM 11/30 40.60N/89.47W
Morton 4.0 in 0700 AM 11/30 40.60N/89.47W
...Vermilion County...
Westville 7.5 in 0645 PM 11/29 40.04N/87.64W
Sidell 4N 7.4 in 0700 AM 11/30 39.97N/87.82W
Danville 7.1 in 0830 PM 11/29 40.14N/87.63W
1 N Westville 7.0 in 0910 PM 11/29 40.05N/87.64W
2 S Georgetown 7.0 in 0910 PM 11/29 39.95N/87.64W
Tilton 6.7 in 0910 PM 11/29 40.10N/87.64W
Hoopeston 0.6 E 6.5 in 0600 AM 11/30 40.46N/87.66W
Fithian 0.6 NNW 6.5 in 0700 AM 11/30 40.12N/87.88W
Georgetown 6.0 in 0910 PM 11/29 39.98N/87.64W
Henning 3.4 SE 6.0 in 0700 AM 11/30 40.26N/87.67W
Georgetown 0.1 NNW 6.0 in 0700 AM 11/30 39.98N/87.64W
4 W Vermilion Regional Airpo 5.2 in 0600 AM 11/30 40.19N/87.67W
Danville 4.2 NW 5.2 in 0600 AM 11/30 40.19N/87.67W
...Woodford County...
Metamora 5.1 in 0200 PM 11/29 40.79N/89.36W
El Paso 5.2 NNW 4.0 in 0700 AM 11/30 40.81N/89.05W
Germantown Hills 0.5 SSW 3.9 in 0730 AM 11/30 40.76N/89.47W
Roanoke 3.8 in 0700 AM 11/30 40.80N/89.19W
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.
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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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