Alert archive / Illinois / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 33, NWS St. Louis, MO

May 15, 1990Adams County, Pike County, Illinois

NWS St. Louis, MO issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 15, 1990, 11:03 PM CDT for Adams County, Pike County, Illinois. It was in force for 42 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 15, 1990, 11:03 PM CDT (04:03 UTC)
Expired
May 15, 1990, 11:45 PM CDT
In force
42 min
Issued by
NWS St. Louis, MO
Area
Whole counties

Counties Adams County, IL, Pike 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, 4.1 hours before the alert went out and 366 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 1990-05-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1196 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 1990-05-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 88 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
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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KSTL 160407
SVRSTL
ILC001-149-160445-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
1103 PM CDT TUE MAY 15 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ST LOUIS HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1145 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
 
IN WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS
          ...ADAMS...PIKE
 
AT 1000 PM CDT...GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED IN HANNIBAL
IN MARION COUNTY MISSOURI. THE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST
AROUND 40 MPH.
 
 
 
IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER FROM THE WEATHER IN A
STRONG BUILDING.  DAMAGING WIND...LARGE HAIL...VERY HEAVY RAIN...
AND DEADLY LIGHTNING ARE ALL POSSIBLE IN SEVERE THUNDERSTeORMS.
STAY INSIDE AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.

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, May 15, 9:35 PM CDT, 1 hour 28 minutes before
MOZ003-006-007-010-011-012-014-017-018-ILZ009-011-160330-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
935 PM CDT TUE MAY 15 1990

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS POSTED FOR MOST OF MISSOURI OVERNIGHT...

AT 925 PM CDT...THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN STRETCHED FROM
WELLSVILLE IN EAST CENTRAL MISSOURI TO NEAR MEREDOSIA ILLINOIS...70
MILES NORTH OF ST LOUIS.  THE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST AT 40
MPH.  OTHER SHOWERS EXTENDED SOUTHWESTWARD TO THE LAKE OF THE OZARKS.

HAIL HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THE KIRKSVILLE MISSOURI AREA AS ANOTHER
BAND OF STORMS ARE MOVING ACROSS CENTRAL MISSOURI.  HEAVY RAIN AND
STRONG WINDS MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH THESE STORMS ALSO.

BECAUSE OF THE HEAVY RAINS FROM EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON IN CENTRAL AND
EASTERN MISSOURI PERSONS ALONG STREAMS AND RIVERS SHOULD BE ALERT TO
RAPIDLY RISING WATER LEVELS AND BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.
THE HEAVY RAINS ON TOP OF THE ALREADY SATURATED SOIL IS PRODUCING A
SERIOUS THREAT FOR FLOODING...ESPECIALLY ON THE SMALL STREAMS.  ALSO...
MOTORISTS SHOULD BE ON THE ALERT FOR STANDING WATER IN UNDERPASSES AND
OTHER LOW LYING AREAS.

DYER
Special weather statement, May 15, 9:37 PM CDT, 1 hour 26 minutes before
MOZ006-009-160330-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA MO
935 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 1990

...A TORNADO WATCH FOR PETTIS...SALINE...BENTON AND HICKORY
COUNTIES UNTIL 3AM...
...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR ALL OF CENTRAL MISSOURI UNTIL
11AM WEDNESDAY...

AT 930PM A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS 10 MILES WIDE EXTENDED FROM
10 MILES SOUTH OF KIRKSVILLE TO 25 MILES WEST OF SEDALIA MOVING EAST
AT 40 MILES AN HOUR. THESE THUNDERSTORMS CONTAINED VERY HEAVY RAIN
GUSTY WINDS...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND THE POSSIBILITY OF HAIL.
THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE FALLING OVER AREAS THAT HAVE ALLREADY RECIEVED
2 TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN TODAY...SO FLASH FLOODING WILL BE A PROBLEM.

BY 1030 PM THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL STRETCH FROM 25 MILES SOUTHEAST
OF KIRKSVILLE TO ABOUT SEDALIA.
IT IS BEST TO STAY INDOORS DURING A THUNDERSTORM. DO NOT ATTEMPT
TO CROSS WATER FLOWING ACROSS A LOW SPOT IN THE ROAD.

LA GREE
Special weather statement, May 15, 10:13 PM CDT, 50 minutes before
MOZ003-006-007-010-011-012-014-017-018-ILZ009-011-160400-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
1010 PM CDT TUE MAY 15 1990

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS POSTED FOR MOST OF MISSOURI INTO
CENTRAL ILLINOIS OVERNIGHT...

AT 1005 PM CDT...THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN WERE IN WEST
CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS IN AN AREA GENERALLY BOUNDED BY
SPRINGFIELD ILLINOIS...QUINCY AND ST LOUIS.  THESE STORMS COULD
PRODUCE STRONG WINDS...HAIL AND VERY HEAVY RAIN AS THEY MOVE EAST
AT 40 MPH.

ANOTHER AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS IN CENTRAL MISSOURI...JUST EAST
OF THE COLUMBIA...JEFFERSON CITY AREA.  THESE ALSO COULD PRODUCE
STRONG WINDS...HAIL AND HEAVY RAIN AS THEY MOVE INTO EAST CENTRAL
MISSOURI BY MIDNIGHT.

A THIRD AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS IN MISSOURI EXTENDED FROM JUST SOUTHEAST
OF KIRKSVILLE INTO WEST CENTRAL MISSOURI.  SOME HAIL AND STRONG WINDS
WERE REPORTED NEAR KIRKSVILLE BETWEEN 930 AND 10 PM.

ALTHOUGH HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE MID SECTION OF MISSOURI HAS BEEN
MORE SCATTERED SO FAR TONIGHT THAN EARLIER TODAY...FLOODING WILL
PERSIST IN MUCH OF THAT PART OF THE STATE OVERNIGHT...ESPECIALLY THE
WEST CENTRAL SECTIONS BETWEEN KANSAS CITY AND COLUMBIA.  PERSONS
ALONG RIVERS AND STREAMS AND IN OTHER FLOOD PRONE AREAS SHOULD
REMAIN ALERT.

MCCARTHY
Special weather statement, May 15, 10:25 PM CDT, 38 minutes before
MOZ009-010-160415-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA MO
1020 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 1990

...A TORNADO WATCH FOR PETTIS...SALINE...BENTON AND HICKORY
COUNTIES UNTIL 3AM...
...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR ALL OF CENTRAL MISSOURI UNTIL
11AM WEDNESDAY...

A LINE OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM 25 MILES EAST OF
KIRKSVILLE NEAR BETHEL TO 25 MILES WEST OF SEDALIA. THE STRONGEST
THUNDERSTORM IN THIS LINE WAS 10 MILES NORTH OF SEDALIA. ANOTHER
INTENSE THUNDERSRORM WAS OCCURRING BETWEEN IN CALLAWAY COUNTY FROM
JUST NORTHEAST OF JEFFERSON CITY TO 25 MILES EAST OF COLUMBIA.
THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE HEAVY RAIN...GUSTY WIND...FREQUENT
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND HAIL. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST
AT 40 MILES AN HOUR.
THE STORMS WERE PASSING OVER ALREADY SATURATED GROUND FROM PREVIOUS
RAIN EARLIER TODAY...SO FLOODING WILL REMAIN A PROBLEM OVER CENTRAL
MISSOURI THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS. PERSONS IN FLOOD PRONE A/REAS
NEED TO REMAIN ALERT TONIGHT AND LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR THE
LATEST UPDATED ON THIS THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY

LA GREE
Special weather statement, May 15, 10:29 PM CDT, 34 minutes before
MOZ009-010-160415-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA MO
1020 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 1990

...A TORNADO WATCH FOR PETTIS...SALINE...BENTON AND HICKORY
COUNTIES UNTIL 3AM...
...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR ALL OF CENTRAL MISSOURI UNTIL
11AM WEDNESDAY...

A LINE OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM 25 MILES EAST OF
KIRKSVILLE NEAR BETHEL TO 25 MILES WEST OF SEDALIA. THE STRONGEST
THUNDERSTORM IN THIS LINE WAS 10 MILES NORTH OF SEDALIA. ANOTHER
INTENSE THUNDERSRORM WAS OCCURRING IN CALLAWAY COUNTY FROM
JUST NORTHEAST OF JEFFERSON CITY TO 25 MILES EAST OF COLUMBIA.
THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE HEAVY RAIN...GUSTY WIND...FREQUENT
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND HAIL. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST
AT 40 MILES AN HOUR.
THE STORMS WERE PASSING OVER ALREADY SATURATED GROUND FROM PREVIOUS
RAIN EARLIER TODAY...SO FLOODING WILL REMAIN A PROBLEM OVER CENTRAL
MISSOURI THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS. PERSONS IN FLOO3D PRONE AREAS
NEED TO REMAIN ALERT TONIGHT AND LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR THE
LATEST UPDATES ON THIS THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY.

LA GREE
Special weather statement, May 15, 10:40 PM CDT, 23 minutes before
MOZ003-006-007-010-011-012-014-017-018-ILZ009-011-160430-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
1040 PM CDT TUE MAY 15 1990

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS POSTED FOR MOST OF MISSOURI INTO
CENTRAL ILLINOIS OVERNIGHT...

AT 1032 PM CDT...THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN WERE BETWEEN
SEDALIA AND GLASGOW IN CENTRAL MISSOURI AND JUST NORTHEAST OF
JEFFERSON CITY NEAR MOKANE MISSOURI.  THESE STORMS COULD PRODUCE
STRONG WINDS...HAIL AND VERY HEAVY RAIN AS THEY MOVE EAST AT 40 MPH.

OTHER THUNDERSTORMS WERE COVERING MUCH OF THE NORTHEAST QUARTER OF
MISSOURI INTO CENTRAL ILLINOIS.  THESE ALSO COULD PRODUCE STRONG
WINDS...HAIL AND HEAVY RAIN.

ALTHOUGH HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE MID SECTION OF MISSOURI HAS BEEN
MORE SCATTERED SO FAR TONIGHT THAN EARLIER TODAY...FLOODING WILL
PERSIST IN MUCH OF THAT PART OF THE STATE OVERNIGHT...ESPECIALLY THE
WEST CENTRAL SECTIONS BETWEEN KANSAS CITY AND COLUMBIA.  PERSONS
ALONG RI?VERS AND STREAMS AND IN OTHER FLOOD PRONE AREAS SHOULD
REMAIN ALERT.

DYER

The office that day

Everything else NWS St. Louis, MO issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 15, 7:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXJefferson, Marion60 min
May 16, 12:13 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXGreene, Scott47 min
May 16, 12:13 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXCalhoun47 min
May 16, 1:14 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXCalhoun, Jersey, Madison46 min
May 16, 4:45 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningLSXCalhoun4 hr
May 16, 3:47 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningLSXCalhoun, Jersey, Madison7 hr
May 16, 5:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXMonroe, Saint Clair51 min
May 16, 5:52 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXClinton, Washington53 min
May 16, 6:07 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXRandolph53 min
May 16, 6:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXJefferson, Perry51 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.