Alert archive / Illinois / Flash Flood Warnings in 1990

Flash Flood Warning 37, NWS Lincoln, IL

July 19, 19904 counties in Illinois

NWS Lincoln, IL issued this flash flood warning at Jul 19, 1990, 8:12 PM CDT for 4 counties in Illinois. It was in force for 108 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 19, 1990, 8:12 PM CDT (01:12 UTC)
Expired
Jul 19, 1990, 10:00 PM CDT
In force
108 min
Issued by
NWS Lincoln, IL
Area
Whole counties

Counties Boone County, IL, Ogle County, IL, Stephenson County, IL, Winnebago 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

Green Bay/Straub, WI (KGRB), launched 00:00Z, 1.2 hours before the alert went out and 263 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, Green Bay/Straub, WI at 00:00Z on 1990-07-20Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 228 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Green Bay/Straub, WI at 00:00Z on 1990-07-20The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 72 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
228 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-6 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
769 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
43 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
72 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
85 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.1
Supercell composite
0.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KRFD 200112
FFWRFD
ILC177-015-201-007-141-103-200415-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED/EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED 
FLASH FLOOD WARNING 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ROCKFORD IL
812 PM CDT THU JUL 19 1990

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WARNING 
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1115 PM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING 
COUNTIES

   IN THE NORTH CENTRAL PART OF ILLINOIS
      STEPHENSON...WINNEBAGO...BOONE...OGLE...LEE...

   IN THE NORTHWEST PART OF ILLINOIS
      CARROLL...

NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE OVER NORTH CENTRAL
ILLINOIS...AND WERE FORMING/MOVING BACK INTO NORTHWEST ILLINOIS
THIS EVENING AT 810 CDT. THE GROUNDS ARE SATURATED IN THE WARNED
COUNTIES AND ANY ADDITIONAL RAIN WILL BE RUNOFF.

SOME COMMUNITIES THAT ARE IN OR NEAR THE FLASH FLOOD AREA...
FREEPORT..ROCKFORD..BELVIDERE..MT CARROLL..OREGON..AND DIXON.

THIS FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS AN IMMEDIATED THREAT!
PERSONS IN LOW LYING OR FLOOD PRONE AREAS MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND..
IF YOU ARE IN AREAS WHERE YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR... BE EXTREMELY
CAUTIOUS AND CONSIDER HEADING FOR HIGHER GROUND.  IF CAMPING OR
IN A CAR WATCH FOR RAPIDLY RISING WATER THAT MAY ENDANGER YOUR
CAMPSITE OR CUT OFF ESCAPE ROUTES.  DO NOT CROSS ROADS COVERED
BY WATER... THE ROAD MAY BE WASHED OUT OR THE WATER MUCH DEEPER
THAN YOU THINK!  REMEMBER THESE FLOODS HAPPEN RAPIDLY... BE ALERT!

ATTN: ISP DIST [1..2..16                                FIELDS

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood 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, Jul 19, 5:02 PM CDT, 3 hours 10 minutes before
ILZ005>007-009-192300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEORIA IL
500 PM CDT THU JUL 19 1990

...THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS...

AT 455 PM...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS FROM NEAR MARSEILLES TO 25 MILES NORTHWEST OF ST. LOUIS.
THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE EAST OF THE ILLINOIS RIVER IN TAZEWELL AND
WOODFORD COUNTIES NEAR THE TOWNS OF MORTON...EUREKA AND MINONK...15 MILES
SOUTHEAST TO 30 MILES NORTHEAST OF PEORIA. HEAVY RAIN AND SMALL HAIL HAVE
BEEN REPORTED WITH THESE STORMS. AROUND 1.60 INCHES OF RAIN FELL IN 40
MINUTES...2 MILES WEST OF LOW POINT IN WESTERN WOODFORD COUNTY.

THESE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST NORTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR AND WILL MOVE
INTO EASTERN WOODFORD AND WESTERN MCLEAN COUNTIES DURING THE NEXT HOUR.

MILLER
Special weather statement, Jul 19, 5:30 PM CDT, 2 hours 42 minutes before
ILZ009-010-192335

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD IL
530 PM CDT THU JUL 19 1990

...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN WESTERN AND CENTRAL ILLINOIS...

AT 525PM CDT WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED SCATTERED SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN CASS...MENARD...AND LOGAN COUNTIES...10 MILES
NORTH AND 15 MILES NORTHWEST OF SPRINGFIELD.

THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED JUST TO THE NORTHEAST OF
PETERSBURG...10 MILES NORTH OF SPRINGFIELD.

HEAVY RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...HAIL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING MAY
ACCOMPANY THESE STORMS.

THE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST AT 25 MPH.

OTHER SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED NORTH OF A LINE
FROM JUST SOUTH 5OF CHICAGO TO 15 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ST LOUIS MISSOURI.

MUNDY
Special weather statement, Jul 19, 5:55 PM CDT, 2 hours 17 minutes before
ILZ005>007-009-192355-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEORIA IL
555 PM CDT THU JUL 19 1990

...THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN CONTINUE IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS...

AT 550 PM...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS FROM NORTHEAST ILLINOIS NEAR CHICAGO...TO CENTRAL ILLINOIS
NEAR SPRINGFIELD. THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN AND BRIEF GUSTY WINDS
WERE LOCATED NEAR EL PASO IN EXTREME EASTERN WOODFORD COUNTY...35 MILES
EAST OF PEORIA AND NEAR MACKINAW IN EASTERN TAZEWELL COUNTY...25 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF PEORIA. RAINFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES AN HOUR HAVE BEEN
REPORTED WITH THE STORM IN WOODFORD COUNTY ALONG WITH STANDING WATER ON
SOME ROADWAYS AND MIN%OR STREET FLOODING IN ROANOKE.

THESE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST NORTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR AND WILL MOVE
THROUGH MOST OF MCLEAN COUNTY DURING THE NEXT HOUR.

MILLER
Special weather statement, Jul 19, 6:36 PM CDT, 1 hour 36 minutes before
ILZ009-010-200035

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD IL
630 PM CDT THU JUL 19 1990

...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN WESTERN AND CENTRAL ILLINOIS...

AT 625PM CDT WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED SCATTERED SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN MACOUPIN COUNTY...40 MILES SOUTH SOUTHWEST OF
SPRINGFIELD.

THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED JUST NORTH OF BUNKER HILL
ILLINOIS...45 MILES SOUTH SOUTHWEST OF OF SPRINGFIELD.

HEAVY RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...HAIL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING MAY
ACCOMPANY THESE STORMS.

THE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST AT 25 MPH.

OTHER SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED NORTH OF A LINE
FROM 35 MILES SOUTH OF CHICAGO TO 20[ MILES SOUTHEAST OF ST LOUIS
MISSOURI.

MUNDY
Special weather statement, Jul 19, 7:03 PM CDT, 1 hour 9 minutes before
ILZ005>007-009-200100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEORIA IL
700 PM CDT THU JUL 19 1990

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR BUREAU AND PUTNAM COUNTIES TONIGHT...

AT 655 PM...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS EXXTENDING FROM NORTHERN ILLINOIS NEAR ROCKFORD TO NORTHWEST
ILLINOIS 25 MILES EAST OF MOLINE. THE STRONGEST STORM IN NORTH CENTRAL
ILLINOIS WAS NEAR WALNUT IN NORTHERN BUREAU COUNTY...50 MILES EAST OF
MOLINE. MOVEMENT WAS SOUTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR. HEAVY RAIN...GUSTY
WINDS...HAIL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING MAY OCCUR WITH THIS LINE OF STORMS
AS IT MOVES THROUGH BUREAU COUNTY AND INTO PUTNAM COUNTY DURING THE NEXT HOUR.

IN ADDITION...A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM NORTHWEST
INDIANA INTO CENTRAL ILLINOIS NEAR BLOOMINGTON. MOVEMENT WAS TO THE EAST
AT 30 MILES AN HOUR. THIS LINE OF SHOWERS AND STORMS SHOULD EXIT MCLEAN
COUNTY AFTER 800 PM.
                         |             MILLER
Special weather statement, Jul 19, 7:05 PM CDT, 1 hour 7 minutes before
ILZ005-007-200100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEORIA IL
700 PM CDT THU JUL 19 1990

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR BUREAU AND PUTNAM COUNTIES TONIGHT...

AT 655 PM...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM NORTHERN ILLINOIS NEAR ROCKFORD TO NORTHWEST
ILLINOIS 25 MILES EAST OF MOLINE. THE STRONGEST STORM IN NORTH CENTRAL
ILLINOIS WAS NEAR WALNUT IN NORTHERN BUREAU COUNTY...50 MILES EAST OF
MOLINE. MOVEMENT WAS SOUTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR. HEAVY RAIN...GUSTY
WINDS...HAIL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING MAY OCCUR WITH THIS LINE OF STORMS
AS IT MOVES THROUGH BUREAU COUNTY AND INTO PUTNAM COUNTY DURING THE NEXT HOUR.

IN ADDITION...A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM NORTHWEST
INDIANA INTO CENTRAL ILLINOIS NEAR BLOOMINGTON. MOVEMENT WAS TO THE EAST
AT 30 MILES AN HOUR. THIS LINE OF SHOWERS AND STORMS SHOULD EXIT MCLEAN
COUNTY AFTER 800 PM.
                          }            MILLER

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 19, 8:12 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningILXLee108 min
Jul 19, 8:12 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningILXCarroll108 min
Jul 20, 5:50 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXClark55 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Illinois, 1990Every flash flood warning in 1990

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.