Alert archive / Illinois / Tornado Warnings in 1988
Tornado Warning 17, NWS Lincoln, IL
NWS Lincoln, IL issued this tornado warning at Nov 15, 1988, 9:46 PM CST for Logan County, Menard County, Sangamon County, Illinois. It was in force for 29 min. 3 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.
The facts
- Issued
- Nov 15, 1988, 9:46 PM CST (03:46 UTC)
- Expired
- Nov 15, 1988, 10:15 PM CST
- In force
- 29 min
- Issued by
- NWS Lincoln, IL
- Area
- Whole counties
Counties Logan County, IL, Menard County, IL, Sangamon County, IL
The radar
The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 15, 10:00 PM CST | Thunderstorm Wind 0 | Logan, IL | |
| Nov 15, 10:00 PM CST | Thunderstorm Wind 0 | Logan, IL | |
| Nov 15, 10:00 PM CST | Thunderstorm Wind 0 | Sangamon, IL |
NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in. Storm Data before 1996 records only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail.
The nearest sounding before it
Peoria Regional, IL (KPIA), launched 00:00Z, 3.8 hours before the alert went out and 78 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 144 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -181 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 643 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 45 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 311 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 373 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.8
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000
TTAA00 KSPI 160346
TORSPI
ILC129-167-107-160415-
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED/EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD IL
946 PM CST TUE NOV 15 1988
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1015 PM CST FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES
IN THE CENTRAL PART OF ILLINOIS
SOUTHEAST MENARD...NORTHERN SANGAMON...LOGAN
AT 939 PM CST THE PUBLIC REPORTED A LOAD ROARING NOISE AS A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM PASSED OVER THE TOWNS OF LOAMI AND PLEASANT PLAINS
ILLINOIS. THESE TOWN ARE ABOUT 15 MILES WEST OF SPRINGFLED ILLINOIS
THE SPRINGFIELD WEATHER RADAR ALSO INDICATED A POSSIBLE TORNADO AT
940 PM CST. THE STORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MILES AN HOUR.
THIS WARNING INCLUDES THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD ILLINOIS. OTHER
TOWNS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM ARE SHERMAN...WILLIAMSVILLE...
ELKHART...AND LINCOLN.
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO...GO TO A BASEMENT SHELTER
IFu AVAILABLE...OTHERWISE TO A CENTRAL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR. ABANDON CARS AND MOBILE HOMES FOR A REINFORCED BUILDING.
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY.
ATTN ISP DIST...9
HUGHESWhat forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Nov 15, 6:58 PM CST, 2 hours 48 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEORIA IL 655 PM CST TUE NOV 15 1988 ...TORNADO WATCH FOR ALL OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS UNTIL 1 AM... AT 650 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED THE LEADING EDGE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM BURLINGTON IOWA SOUTH TO VICHY MISSOURI. SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS IN MISSOURI HAVE PRODUCED STRONG WINDS AND TORNADOES IN THE PAST HOUR. THE LINE OF SHOWERS AND STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR AND WILL BE AFFECTING HENDERSON AND HANCOCK COUNTIES DURING THE NEXT HOUR. THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF VERY DAMAGING THUNDERSTORMS AND TORNADOES. STAY TUNED TO LOCAL TELEVISION...RADIO...OR NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. J LAST
Special weather statement, Nov 15, 7:44 PM CST, 2 hours 2 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEORIA IL 740 PM CST TUE NOV 15 1988 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO SOUTHERN HANCOCK COUNTY... AT 735 PM CST...WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM NEAR SUTTER ILLINOIS...30 MILES NORTH OF QUINCY...SOUTH THROUGH QUINCY INTO MISSOURI. THE THUNDERSTORM NEAR QUINCY ILLINOIS HAS PRODUCED WINDS OF 50 MILES AN HOUR AND VERY HEAVY RAINS. MOVEMENT OF THE STORMS WERE NORTHEAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR. PERSONS LIVING IN SOUTHEAST HANCOCK AND WESTERN SCHUYLER COUNTIES SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR STONG WINDS...HEAVY RAINS...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...AND HAIL AS THESE STORMS MOVE THROUGH. REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM FOR ALL OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. J LAST ATTN ISP DIST...14 AND 20
Special weather statement, Nov 15, 7:54 PM CST, 1 hour 52 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD IL 7 50PM CST TUE NOV 15 1988 ...TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR A LARGE PART OF ILLINOIS UNTIL 1 00 AM CST WEDNESDAY... AT 745 PM CST...RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER EXTREME WESTERN ILLINOIS EXTENDING FROM NEAR NAUVOO ILLINOIS.. ABOUT 30 MILES SOUTH OF BURLINGTON IOWA...TO QUINCY ILLINOIS TO JUST EAST OF HANNIBAL MISSOURI TO 20 MILES WEST AND SOUTHWEST OF ST LOUIS MISSOURI. THE LINE WAS ABOUT 15 MILES WIDE AND WAS MOVING TOWARD THE EAST AND NORTHEAST AT 45 MILES AN HOUR. AT 730 PM CST STRONG GUSTY WINDS DOWNED TREES IN THE HANNIBAL MISSOURI AREA AS THIS LINE OF STORMS PASSED THROUGH. AT THE PRESENT RATE OF MOVEMENT...THE LINE OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD REACH THE JACKSONVILLE ILLINOIS AREA BETWEEN 9 00 PM AND 9 30 PM CST AND SHOULD BE AFFECTING THE SPRINGFIELD AREA AROUND 10 00 PM [ AND 10 30 PM CST. LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR STAY TUNED TO YOUR FAVORITE RADIO OR TV STATION FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. NOW IS THE TIME TO REVIEW YOUR TORNADO AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORN SAFETY RULES AND BE PREPARE TO TAKE SHELTER IF SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS DEVELOP IN THE NEXT FEW HOURS. HUGHES
Special weather statement, Nov 15, 8:42 PM CST, 1 hour 4 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD IL 8 40 PM CST TUE NOV 15 1988 TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR A LARGE PART OF ILLINOIS UNTIL 1 00 PM CST... AT 8 30 PM CST RADAR INDICATED AN INTENSE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN WESTERN ILLINOIS EXTENDING FROM NEAR MACOMB ILLINOIS TO PITTSFIELD ILLINOIS TO NEAR ALTON ILLINOIS. THE LINE OF STORMS WAS ABOUT 15 MILES WIDE AND WAS MOVINE EAST AND NORTHEAST AT 45 MILES AN HOUR. 60 MILES WIND GUSTS WERE REPORTED AT QUINCY ILLINOIS AROUND 8 00 PM CST. NUMEROUS OTHER REPORTS OF 50 TO 55 MILES AN HOUR WIND GUSTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THIS LINE OF STORMS SINCE 8 00 PM CST. SOME HAIL HAS ALSO BEEN REPORTED NORTHWEST OF ST. LOUIS SINCE 8 00 PM CST. LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS OVER NOAA WEATHER [ RADIO OR YOUR FAVORITE RADIO ORTV STATION. THIS IS A POTENTIAL DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION. REVIEW YOUR TORNADO AND SEVERE THUN-DERSTORM SAFETY RULES NOW. BE PREPARED TO GO TO A SAFE PLACE IF THREATENING WEATHER DEVELOPS IN YOUR AREA IN THE NEXT FEW HOURS. HUGHES
Special weather statement, Nov 15, 8:46 PM CST, 1 hour before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT..CORRECTION...EFFECTIVE TIME OF TORNADO WATCH NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD IL 8 40 PM CST TUE NOV 15 1988 TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR A LARGE PART OF ILLINOIS UNTIL 1 00 AM CST... AT 8 30 PM CST RADAR INDICATED AN INTENSE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN WESTERN ILLINOIS EXTENDING FROM NEAR MACOMB ILLINOIS TO PITTSFIELD ILLINOIS TO NEAR ALTON ILLINOIS. THE LINE OF STORMS WAS ABOUT 15 MILES WIDE AND WAS MOVINE EAST AND NORTHEAST AT 45 MILES AN HOUR. 60 MILES WIND GUSTS WERE REPORTED AT QUINCY ILLINOIS AROUND 8 00 PM CST. NUMEROUS OTHER REPORTS OF 50 TO 55 MILES AN HOUR WIND GUSTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THIS LINE OF STORMS SINCE 8 00 PM CST. SOME HAIL HAS ALSO BEEN REPORTED NORTHWEST OF ST. LOUIS SINCE 8 00 PM CST. LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS OVER NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR FAVORITE RADIO ORTV STATION. THIS IS A POTENTIAL DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION/. REVIEW YOUR TORNADO AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORM SAFETY RULES NOW. BE PREPARED TO GO TO A SAFE PLACE IF THREATENING WEATHER DEVELOPS IN YOUR AREA IN THE NEXT FEW HOURS. HUGHES
The office that day
Everything else NWS Lincoln, IL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 15, 8:00 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Hancock, McDonough, Schuyler | 60 min |
| Nov 15, 8:28 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | McDonough, Schuyler | 42 min |
| Nov 15, 8:58 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Fulton | 47 min |
| Nov 15, 9:02 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Cass, Morgan | 58 min |
| Nov 15, 9:02 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Macoupin | 58 min |
| Nov 15, 9:27 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Logan, Menard, Sangamon | 63 min |
| Nov 15, 9:32 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Mason | 43 min |
| Nov 15, 9:57 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Peoria | 33 min |
| Nov 15, 9:57 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Tazewell, Woodford | 48 min |
| Nov 15, 9:59 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Christian, Montgomery | 61 min |
| Nov 15, 10:20 PM CST | Tornado Warning | ILX | Tazewell | 45 min |
| Nov 15, 10:21 PM CST | Tornado Warning | ILX | DeWitt, Logan, Macon | 39 min |
| Nov 15, 10:21 PM CST | Tornado Warning | ILX | Sangamon | 39 min |
| Nov 15, 10:52 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | McLean, Woodford | 53 min |
| Nov 15, 11:01 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Boone, DeKalb, Ogle | 44 min |
| Nov 15, 11:01 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Woodford | 44 min |
| Nov 15, 11:01 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Lee | 44 min |
| Nov 15, 11:36 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Coles, Douglas | 69 min |
| Nov 15, 11:36 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Champaign | 69 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Illinois, 1988Every tornado warning in 1988Tornadoes in 1988
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.