This alert expired on 16 May 2026 at 22:00 UTC. It is kept here as a record.
No stronger detection stands among the 33 recorded within 20 km of this point since 15 March 2026 — 3 others scored the same. Another comparable one was recorded here earlier the same day. 3 more were recorded here in the fortnight before it.
What the source measured
NOAA reported: Tornado Warning issued May 16 at 4:47PM CDT until May 16 at 5:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
An estimated 15,087 people live within 50 km of this point.
Nearby, since 15 March 2026
- May 19, 2026 · score 34 · 9.2 km
- May 18, 2026 · score 34 · 17.5 km
How we know
Confirmed by 3 independent sources, including NOAA.
Our own score for this event is 58 out of 100, at 88 % confidence.
The score is ours, computed from intensity, exposed population and local history — not the source’s.
Event Data
| Type | Severe weather |
| Severity | critical |
| Calamity Score (ours) | 58 / 100 |
| Our confidence | 88% |
| Coordinates | 38.5880, -88.7800 |
| Nearest City | Mount Vernon (32 km) |
| Population Exposed | 15.1K within 50 km |
| Impact Tier | significant |
| Timestamp | 2026-05-16T21:47:00.000Z |
| Source | https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn:oid:2.49.0.1.840.0.33ec4f7e7fc5ba115ae03f0592d8c0d88623a12e.001.1 |
Score Breakdown
Technical Details
| Event | Tornado Warning |
| Urgency | Immediate |
| Certainty | Observed |
| AreaDesc | Marion, IL |
| Headline | Tornado Warning issued May 16 at 4:47PM CDT until May 16 at 5:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO |
| Expires | 2026-05-16T17:00:00-05:00 |
| SenderName | NWS St Louis MO |
| HasExactCoords | true |
| Iem TypeSummary | D |
| Iem City | Benton |
| Iem County | Franklin |
| Iem State | IL |
| Iem Wfo | PAH |
| Iem Remark | Several reports of dime to nickel sized hail and large branches down in the Benton vicinity. |
| MergedSources | [{"id":"iem_H_38.000_-88.920_1778958300000","source":"iem","severity":"low","severityValue":25,"timestamp":1778958300000,"latitude":38,"longitude":-88.92},{"id":"iem_D_38.010_-88.920_1778958900000","source":"iem","severity":"low","severityValue":25,"timestamp":1778958900000,"latitude":38.01,"longitude":-88.92}] |
Safety Information
If a tornado warning is issued: go to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor, away from windows. A vehicle and a mobile home are not shelter. Cover your head and neck. Wait for the official all-clear before going outside, and watch for downed power lines and gas leaks afterwards.
Series begins 10 February 2026. Comparisons refer to that period only. Collection gap: 14-26 August 2026.
This data is aggregated algorithmically from scientific sources. Not a replacement for official emergency warnings.
Want to know when something happens in this area?
Calamity.live data shows a weather event with CalamityScore 58/100 (United States), based on data from noaa. Source: Calamity.live, a platform aggregating real-time data from 185 scientific monitoring sources.