Weather Service Details Flood Risks for 16 Illinois Counties
Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall could flood rivers, creeks, and urban areas through early August 20.
2 reports on this incident · first at Aug 19, 2026, 3:56 a.m. ET
Earlier reports
Aug 19, 2026, 3:56 a.m. ETFirst report
Flood Watch Up for Peoria, Champaign, Knox and 13 More Central Illinois Counties
A Flood Watch is in force for 16 counties across central, east central and west central Illinois, according to the flood watch product issued by National Weather Service Lincoln IL at 2:35 AM CDT on Aug. 19, 2026 and distributed through the National Weather Service raw text product feed.
The watch begins at 1:00 PM CDT on Aug. 19, 2026 and expires at 1:00 AM CDT on Aug. 20, 2026 — described in the product as "From 1 PM CDT this afternoon through late tonight."
The hazard, in the weather service's words: "Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible."
The product covers, in central Illinois, De Witt, Logan, Macon, Marshall, Mason, McLean, Menard, Peoria, Piatt, Stark, Tazewell and Woodford counties; in east central Illinois, Champaign and Vermilion; and in west central Illinois, Fulton and Knox — 16 zones in all.
Cities listed under the watch are Havana, Peoria, Monticello, Champaign, Eureka, Lacon, Normal, Canton, Urbana, Clinton, Petersburg, Decatur, Galesburg, Pekin, Danville, Toulon, Bloomington and Lincoln.
On expected impacts, National Weather Service Lincoln IL said excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks, and flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas.
The office's precautions are stated directly: "You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop."
A watch is the alert level assigned in this product; it is not a Flood Warning.
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Revision history
- Version 119 Aug 2026, 07:57current
First published.
- Version 119 Aug 2026, 07:56current
First published.
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