Alert archive / Illinois / Tornado Warnings in 1988

Tornado Warning 4, NWS Lincoln, IL

May 8, 1988Carroll County, Ogle County, Illinois

NWS Lincoln, IL issued this tornado warning at May 8, 1988, 4:43 PM CDT for Carroll County, Ogle County, Illinois. It was in force for 32 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 8, 1988, 4:43 PM CDT (21:43 UTC)
Expired
May 8, 1988, 5:15 PM CDT
In force
32 min
Issued by
NWS Lincoln, IL
Area
Whole counties

Counties Carroll County, IL, Ogle County, IL

The radar

The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.

The nearest sounding before it

Peoria Regional, IL (KPIA), launched 12:00Z, 9.7 hours before the alert went out and 154 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.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Peoria Regional, IL at 12:00Z on 1988-05-08Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Peoria Regional, IL at 12:00Z on 1988-05-08The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 194 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1404 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
49 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
194 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
203 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
-0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KRFD 082143
TORRFD
ILC015-141-082215-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED/EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED 
TORNADO WARNING 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ROCKFORD IL
443 PM CDT SUN MAY 8 1988

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING 
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 515 PM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING 
COUNTIES

   IN THE NORTHWEST PART OF ILLINOIS
      EASTERN CARROLL...

   IN THE NORTH CENTRAL PART OF ILLINOIS
      WESTERN OGLE...

AT 4 35 PM CDT A TORNADO WAS REPORTED JUST TO THE SOUTH OF
MILLEDEVILLE IN SOUTHEASTERN CARROLL COUNTY. THE STORM WAS
MOVING THE NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH

SOME COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY THIS TORNADO...
MILLEDEVILLE...POLO...MT. MORRIS.

PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THIS DANGEROUS STORM TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY
IN A BASEMENT OR SMALL CENTRAL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR.
ABANDON CARS... FARM MACHINERY AND MOBILE HOMES FOR REINFORCED
BUILDING.  IF OUT-OF-DOORS GO TO A REINFORCED SHELTER OR DITCH...
CULVERT OR RAVI`NE.  THIS IS A SERIOUS SITUATION... YOUR LIFE MAY
DEPEND ON HOW QUICKLY YOU RESPOND TO THIS TORNADO WARNING!

ATTN: ISP DIST  1.                                   SANDERS

What 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, May 8, 1:45 PM CDT, 2 hours 58 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEORIA IL
145 PM CDT SUN MAY 8 1988

   ...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS...

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT FOR ALL OF WEST CENTRAL
ILLINOIS.  AT 140 PM...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER FROM MOLINE
ILLINOIS SOUTH TO QUINCY.  THESE SHOWERS AND STORMS WERE MOVING
TO THE NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

THE TORNADO WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES
AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.  PERSONS IN
THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS
AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

REVIEW SAFETY PRECAUTIONS NOW...THIS WILL SAVE TIME SHOULD TORNADOES
SUDDENLY APPEAR.
J LAST
Special weather statement, May 8, 2:00 PM CDT, 2 hours 43 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD IL
200 PM CDT SUN MAY 8 1988

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR WEST CENTRAL AND NORTHERN
ILLINOIS...

A TORNADO HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR WEST CENTRAL AND NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNTIL
900 PM CDT THIS SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

155 PM CDT RADAR INIDICATED THUNDERSTORMS IN WESTERN ILLINOIS EXTENDING
FROM 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MACOMB ILLINOIS NORTH TO THE QUAD CITIES
AREA AND NORTHWARD.  THE THUNDERSTORMS WERRE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30
MILES AN HOUR.

OTHER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED FROM JUST SOUTH OF
CHAMPAIGN AND DANVILLE ILLINOIS SOUTHWARD TO MATTOON AND CHARLESTON
ILLINOIS. THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTH AND
NORTHEAST AT 25 MILE AN HOUR.

NO SEVERE WEATHER HAS BEEN REPORTED FROM ANY OF THESE STORMS IN
ILLINOIS. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE THUNDERSTORMS AND ADVISE YOU OF ANY NEW
DEVELOPMENTS.

KEEP TUNED TO YOUR FAVORITE RADIO OR TV STATIONS OR NOAA WEATHER
RADIO FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NOW IS THE TIME TO REVIEW WEATHER SAFETY RULES AND PRECAUTIONS.
THIS WILL SAVE PRECIOUS TIME SHOULD SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OR TORNADOES
DEVELOP LATER THIS AFTERNOON OR EVENING.

HUGHES
Special weather statement, May 8, 2:06 PM CDT, 2 hours 37 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD IL
200 PM CDT SUN MAY 8 1988

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR WEST CENTRAL AND NORTHERN
ILLINOIS...

A TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR WEST CENTRAL AND NORTHERN ILLINOIS
UNTIL 900 PM CDT THIS SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

155 PM CDT RADAR INIDICATED THUNDERSTORMS IN WESTERN ILLINOIS EXTENDING
FROM 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MACOMB ILLINOIS NORTH TO THE QUAD CITIES
AREA AND NORTHWARD.  THE THUNDERSTORMS WERRE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30
MILES AN HOUR.

OTHER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED FROM JUST SOUTH OF
CHAMPAIGN AND DANVILLE ILLINOIS SOUTHWARD TO MATTOON AND CHARLESTON
ILLINOIS. THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTH AND
NORTHEAST AT 25 MILE AN HOUR.
NO SEVERE WEATHER HAS BEEN REPORTED FROM ANY OF THESE STORMS IN
ILLINOIS. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE THUNDERSTORMS AND ADVISE YOU OF ANY NEW
DEVELOPMENTS.

KEEP TUNED TO YOUR FAVORITE RADIO OR TV STATIONS OR NOAA WEATHER
RADIO FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NOW IS THE TIME TO REVIEW WEATHER SAFETY RULES AND PRECAUTIONS.
THIS WILL SAVE PRECIOUS TIME SHOULD SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OR TORNADOES
DEVELOP LATER THIS AFTERNOON OR EVENING.

HUGHES
Special weather statement, May 8, 2:57 PM CDT, 1 hour 46 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEORIA IL
255 PM CDT SUN MAY 8 1988

   ...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS...

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT FOR ALL OF WEST CENTRAL
ILLINOIS.  AT 250 PM...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A RAINSHOWER
NEAR MOLINE ILLINOIS.  A LARGER AREA OF SHOWERS AND HEAVY THUNDER/
STORMS WAS LOCATED OVER NORTHEAST MISSOURI AND SOUTHEAST IOWA.
A SECOND AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED IN EAST CENTRAL
MISSOURI.  THIS AREA WILL MOVE INTO WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS WITHIN THE
NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS.

THE TORNADO WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES
AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.  PERSONS IN
THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS
AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

J LAST

The office that day

Everything else NWS Lincoln, IL issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 8, 3:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXHancock, Henderson37 min
May 8, 4:22 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXKnox, Warren23 min
May 8, 4:47 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXCass, Morgan58 min
May 8, 4:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXFulton, Mason63 min
May 8, 5:05 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXStephenson40 min
May 8, 5:21 PM CDTTornado WarningILXLee, Ogle39 min
May 8, 5:22 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXPeoria, Tazewell, Woodford38 min
May 8, 5:27 PM CDTTornado WarningILXOgle, Winnebago33 min
May 8, 5:46 PM CDTTornado WarningILXMenard29 min
May 8, 5:47 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXMcLean, Woodford58 min
May 8, 5:51 PM CDTTornado WarningILXMorgan39 min
May 8, 5:51 PM CDTTornado WarningILXDeKalb, Lee54 min
May 8, 5:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXLogan, Menard, Sangamon64 min
May 8, 5:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXMacoupin, Montgomery64 min
May 8, 6:05 PM CDTTornado WarningILXMenard, Sangamon25 min
May 8, 6:12 PM CDTTornado WarningILXMontgomery33 min
May 8, 6:16 PM CDTTornado WarningILXBoone, Winnebago44 min
May 8, 6:24 PM CDTTornado WarningILXChristian, DeWitt, Macon, Shelby66 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.