Alert archive / Illinois / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 74, NWS Lincoln, IL

August 29, 1990McLean County, Illinois

NWS Lincoln, IL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 29, 1990, 1:57 AM CDT for McLean County, Illinois. It was in force for 63 min. 2 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
Aug 29, 1990, 1:57 AM CDT (06:57 UTC)
Expired
Aug 29, 1990, 3:00 AM CDT
In force
63 min
Issued by
NWS Lincoln, IL
Area
Whole counties

County McLean 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Aug 29, 2:10 AM CDTHail 0.75Mclean, IL
Aug 29, 2:30 AM CDTThunderstorm Wind 78Mclean, 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

Paducah/Barkley, KY (KPAH), launched 00:00Z, 7.0 hours before the alert went out and 381 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, Paducah/Barkley, KY at 00:00Z on 1990-08-29Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1355 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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, Paducah/Barkley, KY at 00:00Z on 1990-08-29The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 75 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
1355 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-80 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1963 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
75 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
107 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KPIA 290657
SVRPIA
ILC113-290800-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEORIA IL
157 AM CDT WED AUG 29 1990

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 
WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 300 AM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING 
COUNTY

   IN THE CENTRAL PART OF ILLINOIS
      WESTERN CENTRAL MCLEAN

AT 0150 AM RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM MOVING OUT OF
WOODFORD COUNTY INTO MCLEAN COUNTY. THIS STORM IS A HAIL PRODUCER
WITH STRONG WINDS. MOVEMENT CONTINUES TO BE TO THE SOUTHEAST.

IF YOU ARE IN AN AREA THREATENED BY THE STORM..GO TO A REINFORECED
SHELTER AND PREPARE FOR DAMAGING WIND...LARGE HAIL...VERY HEAVY
RAIN AND LIGHTNING.

REMEMBER...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE
A TORNADO WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING SO BE ON THE LOOKOUT.

THIS SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORM MAY CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL STREAMS
AND UNDERPASSES.

INTENSE LIGHTNING IS REPORTEDn WITH THIS STORM.  IF OUTDOORS...
STAY AWAY FROM HIGH OBJECTS.  MOVE INDOOR IF POSSIBLE.  WHEN
INDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID USING
TELEPHONES AND ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT.

ATTN ISP 6

MOGGED

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm 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, Aug 28, 9:13 PM CDT, 4 hours 44 minutes before
ILZ005-006-007-009-290315-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEORIA IL
915 PM CDT TUE AUG 28 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 1AM FOR WOODFORD AND MCLEAN COUNTIES...

AT 810 PM CDT...RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN
CENTRAL ILLINOIS. THE AREA EXTENDED FROM CAMBRIDGE IN HENRY COUNTY...25
MILES SOUTHEAST OF MOLINE TO CHILLICOTHE 15 MILES NORTH OF PEORIA. THE
STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE FROM GALVA...30 MILES NORTHWEST OF PEORIA
TO TOULON...25 MILES NORTH NORTHWEST OF PEORIA AND IN STARK COUNTY NEAR
WYOMING...20 MILES NORTH NORTHWEST OF PEORIA. MOVEMENT WAS TO THE SOUTHEAST
AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

THE THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL...SMALL HAIL AND FREQUENT
LIGHTNING. STAY TUNED TO TV...RADIO OR NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER
STATEMENTS.

NELSON
Special weather statement, Aug 28, 9:50 PM CDT, 4 hours 7 minutes before
ILZ009-010-290330-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD ILLINOIS
945 PM CDT TUE AUG 28 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND ALL
   OF EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS UNTIL 1 AM CDT..

AT 9:30 PM CDT...RADAR INDICATED AN AREA THUNDERSTORMS TO THE NORTH
OF PEORIA. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING SOUTH AT 30 MPH. NO THUNDERSTORM
ACTIVITY WAS CURRENTLY PRESENT BETWEEN SPRINGFIELD AND CHAMPAIGN.

THE COLD FRONT THAT WAS HELPING TO TRIGGER THUNDERSTORMS STILL LAY
OVER NORTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS. THIS FRONT IS FORECAST TO MOVE THROUGH
CENTRAL ILLINOIS LATER TONIGHT. AS IT MOVES THROUGH IT WILL BE
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING THUNDERSTORMS.

PERSONS IN CENTAL AND EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS ARE STILL URGER TO BE
ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND BE ALERT TO
FURTHER UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

ATTN ISP DIST...6  9  10

FENLEY
Special weather statement, Aug 28, 10:18 PM CDT, 3 hours 39 minutes before
ILZ005-006-007-009-290415-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEORIA IL
1015 PM CDT TUE AUG 28 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 1AM FOR WOODFORD AND MCLEAN COUNTIES...

AT 1010 PM CDT...RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN
CENTRAL ILLINOIS. THE AREA EXTENDED FROM JUST EAST OF BRIMFIELD...15 MILES
NORTHWEST OF PEORIA TO LONG POINT IN LIVINGSTON COUNTY...35 MILES
NORTHEAST OF PEORIA. THE STONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE 5 MILES NORTH OF
PEORIA. MOVEMENT WAS TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR. THE STRONGEST
PORTION SHOULD JUST PASS THE NORTHERN PORTIONS OF PEORIA CITY AND MOVE
INTO WOODFORD COUNTY IN THE NEXT HOUR.

A CONTINUED DECREASE IN STRENGTH OF T!HE STORMS IS LIKELY.

NELSON
Special weather statement, Aug 28, 11:11 PM CDT, 2 hours 46 minutes before
ILZ010-290500-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD ILLINOIS
1110 PM CDT TUE AUG 28 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS
   UNTIL 1 AM CDT..

AT 1100 PM CDT...RADAR INDICATED AN AREA THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTHWEST
CHAMPAIGN AND NORTH PIATT COUNTY. THE STORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AND
WILL MOVE INTO CHAMPAIGN WITHIN THE HOUR.

LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND SOME HAIL ARE POSSmIBLE
AS THESE STORMS MOVE THOUGH CHAMPAIGN.

PERSONS IN EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS ARE STILL URGER TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT
FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITINS AND SEEK SHELTER IF THREATENING
WEATHER APPEARS LIKELY.

ATTN ISP DIST...10

FENLEY
Special weather statement, Aug 28, 11:19 PM CDT, 2 hours 38 minutes before
ILZ005-006-007-009-290515-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEORIA IL
1117 PM CDT TUE AUG 28 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 1AM FOR WOODFORD AND MCLEAN COUNTIES...

AT 1110 PM CDT...MOST OF THE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY HAD DISSIPATED TO JUST
SHOWERS ACROSS CENTRAL ILLINOIS. A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS HAS DEVELOPED FROM
15 MILES NORTHEAST OF OTTUMWA IOWA TO MOLINE. THESE STORMS ARE MOVING EAST
SOUTHEAST AND WILL AFFECT THE PEOvRIA AREA BETWEEN 2 AND 3 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING.

THESE STORMS ARE RAPIDLY DEVELOPING AND INCREASING IN INTENSITY.

MOGGED
Special weather statement, Aug 29, 1:48 AM CDT, 9 minutes before
ILZ009-010-290745-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD ILLINOIS
145 AM CDT WED AUG 29 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL ILLINOIS
   UNTIL 7 AM CDT..

AT 135 AM CDT...RADAR INDICATED AN AREA THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTH CENTRAL
ILLINOIS...NORTH OF A LINE FROM 15 MILES SOUTH OF BURLINGTON IOWA
EASTWARD TO 35 MILES NORTH OF SPRINGFIELD ONTO THE INDIANA BORDER.

THESE STORMS HAVE PRODUCED LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND
SOME HAIL AS WELL AS DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.  BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
CONTINUALLY CHANGING WEATHER AND FUTURE STATEMENTS...WATCHES OR
WARNINGS.

THE STORMS WILL BE ENTERING THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES WITHIN THE NEXT 30
MINUTESa TO AN HOUR...LOGAN...MENARD...CASS...DEWITT...CHAMPAIGN AND
VERMILION COUNTIES.

THE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

ATTN ISP DISTS 9...6...10

MUNDY

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 29, 1:06 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXFulton, Knox, Peoria69 min
Aug 29, 1:33 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXMason, Tazewell57 min
Aug 29, 2:26 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXDeWitt, Logan, Macon, Piatt64 min
Aug 29, 2:40 AM CDTTornado WarningILXDeWitt, Macon35 min
Aug 29, 3:11 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXChampaign, Douglas64 min
Aug 29, 3:11 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXMoultrie64 min
Aug 29, 3:20 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXVermilion55 min
Aug 29, 3:29 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXCass, Morgan, Sangamon61 min
Aug 29, 3:29 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXMenard61 min
Aug 29, 4:18 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXChristian, Shelby57 min
Aug 29, 4:47 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXHancock, McDonough58 min
Aug 29, 5:01 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXSchuyler59 min
Aug 29, 5:23 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXCass, Morgan67 min
Aug 29, 5:30 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXMacon, Moultrie, Shelby60 min
Aug 29, 6:05 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXLogan, Menard, Sangamon27 min
Aug 29, 6:34 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXMcDonough, Schuyler26 min
Aug 29, 6:34 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXFulton, Mason56 min
Aug 29, 7:28 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXColes, Douglas32 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Illinois, 1990Every severe thunderstorm 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; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.