Tornado Warning Issued for Jackson, Union, and Williamson Counties in Southern Illinois
This alert is no longer in effect.
NOAA issued it on April 3, 2026, 4 months ago. Warnings of this kind stay in effect for hours to a few days, so this page is a historical record of what was issued, not a current warning. For conditions where you are right now, check weather.gov (US), weather.gc.ca (Canada), the Met Office (UK), or the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia).
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The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Warning for parts of Southern Illinois until 7:30 PM CDT after radar indicated a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Tornado Warning
- Affected area
- Southern Illinois
- Issued
- April 3, 2026
- Issuing authority
- NWS Paducah KY
Tornado warnings are short-window notices for the named area. The issuing office is the authority on whether the warning remains active or has been replaced.
Record status: historical. It was issued 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in Southern Illinois.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Paducah, KY, has issued a Tornado Warning for Northwestern Union County, Western Williamson County, and Southeastern Jackson County in southern Illinois. This alert is effective immediately and will remain in place until 7:30 PM CDT.
Affected Areas
The warning covers several regions in Southern Illinois, including:
- Northwestern Union County
- Western Williamson County
- Southeastern Jackson County
Specific locations in the path of this storm include Carbondale, Murphysboro, Marion, Herrin, Carterville, Cambria, Crainville, Energy, Grand Tower, and the Lake Of Egypt Area. Other impacted areas include Colp, Gorham, Makanda, Alto Pass, and the Williamson County Regional Airport. This also affects Interstate 57 in Illinois between Mile Markers 44 and 58.
What You Should Do
TAKE COVER NOW! Residents in the warning area should move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Stay away from windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter immediately to protect yourself from flying debris.
Expected Conditions
At 6:42 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Altenburg, moving east at 55 mph. The National Weather Service indicates that radar has detected rotation. Hazards include dangerous flying debris, which can be life-threatening to those without shelter. Mobile homes may be damaged or destroyed, and damage to roofs, windows, vehicles, and trees is likely.
Timeline
- Issued: 6:42 PM CDT, March 15
- Effective: 6:42 PM CDT, March 15
- Expires: 7:30 PM CDT, March 15
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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