Alert archive / Illinois / Flash Flood Warnings in 1990
Flash Flood Warning 5, NWS Lincoln, IL
NWS Lincoln, IL issued this flash flood warning at May 16, 1990, 3:07 AM CDT for Macon County, Sangamon County, Illinois. It was in force for 6 hr.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- May 16, 1990, 3:07 AM CDT (08:07 UTC)
- Expired
- May 16, 1990, 9:15 AM CDT
- In force
- 6 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Lincoln, IL
- Area
- Whole counties
Counties Macon 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.
The nearest sounding before it
Paducah/Barkley, KY (KPAH), launched 00:00Z, 8.1 hours before the alert went out and 309 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
- 1196 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -25 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1228 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 35 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 88 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 286 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.8
- Supercell composite
- 7.5
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000
TTAA00 KSPI 160807
FFWSPI
ILC167-115-161415-
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED/EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD IL
307 AM CDT WED MAY 16 1990
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WARNING
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 915 AM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES
IN THE CENTRAL PART OF ILLINOIS
SANGAMON...MACON
AT 300AM THE SANGAMON RIVER AT ROCHESTER...JUST SOUTHEAST OF
SPRINGFIELD WAS 4 FEET ABOVE FLOOD STAGE...AND THE RIVER AT
DECATUR HAD RISEN 4 FEET IN THE PAST THREE HOURS.
ALMOST 4 INCHES OF RAIN HAS BEEN REPORTED AT CAPITAL AIRPORT IN
THE PAST 24 HOURS...AND MANY VIADUCTS AND LOW LYING AREAS ARE
REPORTED FLOODED.
IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNED COUNTY IN AN AREA SUBJECT TO FLOODING
MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE OVER ROADS COVERED BY FLOOD WATERS.
ATTN ISP DIST...9...10...
WAGNERWhat 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, May 15, 10:52 PM CDT, 4 hours 15 minutes before
ILZ009-010-160450- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD IL 1050 PM CDT TUE MAY 15 1989 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS... AT 1045 PM CDT...THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED OVER CENTRAL ILLINOIS FROM SOUTH OF PEORIA TO NEAR BLOOMINGTON TO CHAMPAIGN SOUTHWEST TO ST. LOUIS TO QUINCY BACK TO SOUTH OF PEORIA. STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER LOGAN COUNTY NORTHWEST OF SPRINGFIELD NEAR ATLANTA ILLINOIS AND JUST NORTH OF MT. PULASKI. OTHER STRONG STORMS WERE 35 MILES WEST AND 30 MILES SOUTHWEST OF SPRINGFIELD. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. THESE STORMS ARE PRODUCING DANGEROUS FREQUENT TO CONTINUOUS LIGHTNING HEAVY RAINS...SMALL HAIL AND BRIEF GUSTY WINDS TO 45 MPH. IF A THUNDERSTORM IS NEARBY...TAKE SHELTER IN A SUBSTANTIAL BUILDING. DO NOT USE THE TELEPHONE OF ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED TO PREVENT POSSIBLE ELECTROCUTION BY LIGHTNING. ATTN ISP DISTS 6...9..10..AND 18 PALMER
Special weather statement, May 15, 10:54 PM CDT, 4 hours 13 minutes before
ILZ009-010-160450- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT................CORRECTION TO YEAR.... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD IL 1050 PM CDT TUE MAY 15 1990 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS... AT 1045 PM CDT...THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED OVER CENTRAL ILLINOIS FROM SOUTH OF PEORIA TO NEAR BLOOMINGTON TO CHAMPAIGN SOUTHWEST TO ST. LOUIS TO QUINCY BACK TO SOUTH OF PEORIA. STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER LOGAN COUNTY NORTHWEST OF SPRINGFIELD NEAR ATLANTA ILLINOIS AND JUST NORTH OF MT. PULASKI. OTHER STRONG STORMS WERE 35 MILES WEST AND 30 MILES SOUTHWEST OF SPRINGFIELD. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. THESE STORMS ARE PRODUCING DANGEROUS FREQUENT TO CONTINUOUS LIGHTNING HEAVY RAINS...SMALL HAIL AND BRIEF GUSTY WINDS TO 45 MPH. IF A THUNDERSTORM IS NEARBY...TAKE SHELTER IN A SUBSTANTIAL BUILDING. DO NOT USE THE TELEPHONE OF ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED TO PREVENT POSSIBLE ELECTROCUTION BY LIGHTNING. ATTN ISP DISTS 6...9..10..AND 18 PALMER
Special weather statement, May 15, 11:57 PM CDT, 3 hours 10 minutes before
ILZ009-010-160550- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD IL 1155 PM CDT TUE MAY 15 1990 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS... AT 1145 PM CDT...THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED OVER CENTRAL ILLINOIS FROM PONTIAC TO CHAMPAIGN TO VANDALIA TO ST. LOUIS TO 15 MILES EAST OF QUINCY ILLINOIS TO JUST SOUTH OF PEORIA. STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE 10 MILES EAST SOUTHEAST OF SPRINGFIELD ILLINOIS AND A LINE OF STRONG STORMS EXTENDED FROM JUST SOUTH OF MACOMB ILLINOIS TO 15 MILES SOUTHEAST OF QUINCY ON SOUTHWEST INTO MISSOURI. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. THESE STORMS ARE PRODUCING DANGEROUS FREQUENT TO CONTINUOUS LIGHTNING HEAVY RAINS...SMALL HAIL AND BRIEF GUSTY WINDS TO 45 MPH. RAINFALL AT CAPITAL AIRPORT IN THE PAST HOUR HAS BEEN 2.25 INCHES FROM 1130 PM TO MIDNIGHT. ATTN ISP DISTS 6...9..10..AND 18 PALMER
Special weather statement, May 16, 12:39 AM CDT, 2 hours 28 minutes before
ILZ009-010-160700- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD IL 1235 AM CDT WED MAY 16 1990 ...SMALL STREAM AND URBAN FLOODING STATEMENT... AT 1230 AM CDT...THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED ACROSS MUCH OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. THE HEAVIEST STORMS WERE EXTENDING FROM DECATUR TO VANDALIA... AND ANOTHER LINE OF VERY HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS WAS ALONG THE ILLINOIS RIVER FROM 40 MILES SOUTHWEST OF PEORIA..TO 30 MILES NORTH OF ST. LOUIS. THESE STORMS ARE PRODUCING EXTREMELY HEAVY RAIN...AND WITH THE GROUND ALREADY SATURATED FROM PREVIOUS RAINS...SMALL STREAM FLOODING IS POSSIBLE...IF NOT ALREADY OCCURRING. MANY VIADUCTS AND LOW LYING STREETS IN THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD ARE UNDERWATER. DO NOT DRIVE INTO AREAS OF STANDING WATER. THE WATER MAY BE DEEPER THAN IT APPEARS...AND CAN VERY EASILY CAUSE AN AUTO TO LOSE CONTACT WITH THE ROAD SURFACE. ANY TRAVEL NOT ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY SHOULD BE HELD OFF UNTIL THE WATER HAS TIME TO RUN OFF. ATTN ISP DISTS 6...9..10..AND 18 WAGNER
Special weather statement, May 16, 1:54 AM CDT, 1 hour 13 minutes before
ILZ009-010-160800- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD IL 155 AM CDT WED MAY 16 1990 ...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL ILLINOIS UNTIL 5AM CDT... ...LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS CENTRAL ILLINOIS... AT 145 AM CDT...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS FROM BLOOMINGTON ILLINOIS TO 10 MILES WEST OF DECATUR TO PANA TO JUST SOUTHEAST OF STAUNTON ILLINOIS TO ST. LOUIS. THE LINE OF STRONG STORMS WAS MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. THESE STORMS ARE PRODUCING BRIEF GUSTY WINDS TO AROUND 55 MPH... FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND BRIEF DOWNPOURS OF RAIN. THIS LINE OF STORMS IS IN A LARGER AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THAT WERE IN AN AREA FROM PEORIA TO DANVILLE TO VANDALIA TO ST. LOUIS TO QUINCY ILLINOIS BACK TO PEORIA. EXTENSIVE FLOODING OF ROADWAYS...UNDERPASSES...VIADUCTS...BASEMENTS AND SMALL STREAMS IS OCCURRING IN MANY AREAS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS DUE TO 2 TO 4 INCHES OF RAIN IN THE PAST 24 HOURS. TRAVEL IS NOT RECOMMENDED UNLESS NECESSARY TONIGHT DUE TO THE FLOODING CONDITIONS. ATTN ISP DISTS 6..9..10..12 AND 18 PALMER
Special weather statement, May 16, 2:52 AM CDT, 15 minutes before
ILZ009-010-160900- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD IL 255 AM CDT WED MAY 16 1990 ...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL ILLINOIS UNTIL 5AM CDT... ...LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS... AT 245 AM CDT...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS FROM 30 MILES NORTHEAST OF CHAMPAIGN NEAR HOOPESTON ILLINOIS TO JUST EAST OF CHAMPAIGN AND CHARLESTON TO 20 MILES SOUTHEAST OF VANDALIA TO BELLEVILE ILLINOIS. THE LINE OF STRONG STORMS WAS MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. THESE STORMS ARE PRODUCING BRIEF GUSTY WINDS TO AROUND 55 MPH... FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND BRIEF DOWNPOURS OF RAIN. THIS LINE OF STORMS IS IN A LARGER AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THAT WERE IN AN AREA FROM PONTIAC TO DANVILLE TO ST. LOUIS TO 55 MILES WEST OF SPRINGFIELD ILLINOIS TO 20 MILES SOUTH OF PEORIA TO PONTIAC. EXTENSIVE FLOODING OF ROADWAYS...UNDERPASSES...VIADUCTS...BASEMENTS AND SMALL STREAMS IS OCCURRING IN MANY AREAS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS DUE TO 2 TO 4 INCHES OF RAIN IN THE PAST 24 HOURS. TRAVEL IS NOT RECOMMENDED UNLESS NECESSARY TONIGHT DUE TO THE FLOODING CONDITIONS. ATTN ISP DISTS 6..9..10..12 AND 18 PALMER
The office that day
Everything else NWS Lincoln, IL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 15, 8:44 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ILX | Douglas | 31 min |
| May 15, 11:35 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Christian, Macon, Sangamon | 40 min |
| May 16, 1:12 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Christian, Macon, Sangamon | 48 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.