Alert archive / Illinois / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 40, NWS St. Louis, MO

May 16, 1990Calhoun County, Jersey County, Madison County, Illinois; Saint Charles County, Missouri

NWS St. Louis, MO issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 16, 1990, 1:14 AM CDT for Calhoun County, Jersey County, Madison County, Illinois; Saint Charles County, Missouri. It was in force for 46 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
May 16, 1990, 1:14 AM CDT (06:14 UTC)
Expired
May 16, 1990, 2:00 AM CDT
In force
46 min
Issued by
NWS St. Louis, MO
Area
Whole counties

Counties Calhoun County, IL, Jersey County, IL, Madison County, IL, Saint Charles County, MO

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
May 16, 1:18 AM CDTHail 1Jersey, IL
May 16, 1:25 AM CDTHail 0.75St. Charles, MO

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, 6.2 hours before the alert went out and 258 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°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 160620
SVRSTL
ILC013-083-119-MOC183-160700-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
114 AM CDT WED MAY 16 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ST LOUIS HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  200 AM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
 
IN SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS
          ...CALHOUN...JERSEY...MADISON
IN EAST CENTRAL MISSOURI
          ...ST CHARLES
 
AT 115 PM...CDT...A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM 25
MILES NORTHWEST TO 20 MILES NORTH OF ST LOUIS. THE STORMS WERE MOVING
EAST AT 35 MPH.
 
AT 1245...HAIL TO 1 INCH DIAMETER WAS REPORTED IN LINCOLN
COUNTY...MISSOURI...NEAR TROY ABOUT 45 MILES NORTHWEST OF ST LOUIS.
 
 
A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA.  REMEMBER
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES
WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING.  REMAIN CALM BUT BE ALERT TO
RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS.
TUCKER

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, 11:38 PM CDT, 1 hour 36 minutes before
MOZ003-006-007-010-011-012-014-017-018-ILZ009-011-160530-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
1140 PM CDT TUE MAY 15 1990

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

AT 1129 PM CDT...THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN STRETCHED FROM
JUST SOUTHWEST OF COLUMBIA MISSOURI TO QUINCY  TO SPRINGFIELD ILLINOIS
...ALSO NEAR TROY MISSOURI.  THESE STORMS COULD PRODUCE STRONG WINDS
AND HAIL ALONG WITH THE VERY HEAVY RAIN AS THEY MOVE EAST AT 40 MPH.

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

THE HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE MID SECTION OF MISSOURI THIS EVENING ALONG
WITH THE RAIN EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON HAS PRODUCED A SERIOUS FLOOD
SITUATION.  PERSON ALONG STREAMS AND RIVERS SHOULD BE ON THE ALERT FOR
RAPIDLY RISING WATER LEVELS AND BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND
QUICKLY.  TAKE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES FOR A POSSIBLE EMERGENCY DURING
THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.

DYER
Special weather statement, May 16, 12:40 AM CDT, 34 minutes before
MOZ010-011-012-014-017-018-IL009-011-160630-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
1230 AM CDT WED MAY 9 1990

...TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 AM CDT WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR
PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND EAST CENTRAL MISSOURI INTO CENTRAL ILLINOIS...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 AM FOR THE
ILLINOIS COUNTIES OF CALHOUN...GREENE...AND SCOTT COUNTIES OF
SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS.  AT 1230 AM...NO REPORTS aOF SEVERE WEATHER HAVE
BEEN RECEIVED AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

PERSONS IN SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS AND EAST CENTRAL MISSOURI SHOULD REMAIN
ALERT FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF SEVERE WEATHER OVERNIGHT.
Special weather statement, May 16, 12:41 AM CDT, 33 minutes before
MOZ010-011-012-014-017-018-IL009-011-160630-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
1230 AM CDT WED MAY 9 1990

...TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 AM CDT WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR
PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND EAST CENTRAL MISSOURI INTO CENTRAL ILLINOIS...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 AM FOR THE
ILLINOIS COUNTIES OF CALHOUN...GREENE...AND SCOTT COUNTIES OF
SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS.  AT 1230 AM...NO REPORTS dOF SEVERE WEATHER HAVE
BEEN RECEIVED AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

PERSONS IN SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS AND EAST CENTRAL MISSOURI SHOULD REMAIN
ALERT FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF SEVERE WEATHER OVERNIGHT.
Special weather statement, May 16, 12:45 AM CDT, 29 minutes before
MOZALL-160630-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
1235 AM CDT WED MAY 16 1990

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM CENTRAL MISSOURI TO CENTRAL
ILLINOIS UNTIL 5 AM CDT WEDNESDAY....
...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS POSTED FOR MOST OF MISSOURI INTO
CENTRAL ILLINOIS UNTIL 1 AM CDT WEDNESDAY...

AT 1227 AM CDT...INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WERE OCCURRING FROM CENTRAL
MISSOURI INTO SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS.

THIS BAND OF STORMS STRETCHED FROM NEAR COLUMBIA MISSOURI TO 30 MILES
WEST OF SPRINGFIELD ILLINOIS. THEY COULD PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE
HAIL AS WELL AS TORRENTIAL RAINS THAT MAY CAUSE SOME FLOODING. THE
STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR.

OTHER THUNDERSTORMS WERE COVERING MUCH OF THE NORTH HALF OF MISSOURI
AND ACROSS CENTRAL ILLINOIS. LIGHTER SHOWERS WERE OVER SOUTHEAST
MISSOURI AND SOUTHERN ILLINOIS.

PERSONS IN THE VICINITY OF THE STORNGER STORMS SHOULD BE ON THE
LOOKOUT FnOR ANY SEVERE WEATHER AND POSSIBLE FLOODING SITUATIONS.
DH
Special weather statement, May 16, 12:51 AM CDT, 23 minutes before
MOZALL-160630-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY...CORRECTION...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
1235 AM CDT WED MAY 16 1990

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM CENTRAL MISSOURI TO CENTRAL
ILLINOIS UNTIL 5 AM CDT WEDNESDAY....
...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS POSTED FOR MOST OF MISSOURI INTO
CENTRAL ILLINOIS UNTIL 11 AM CDT WEDNESDAY...

AT 1227 AM CDT...INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WERE OCCURRING FROM CENTRAL
MISSOURI INTO SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS.

THIS BAND OF STORMS STRETCHED FROM NEAR COLUMBIA MISSOURI TO 30 MILES
WEST OF SPRINGFIELD ILLINOIS. THEY COULD PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE
HAIL AS WELL AS TORRENTIAL RAINS THAT MAY CAUSE SOME FLOODING. THE
STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR.

OTHER THUNDERSTORMS WERE COVERING MUCH OF THE NORTH HALF OF MISSOURI
AND ACROSS CENTRAL ILLINOIS. LIGHTER SHOWERS WERE OVER SOUTHEAST
MISSOURI AND SOUTHERN ILLINOIS.

PERSONS IN THE VICINITY OF THE STORNGER STORMS SHOULDt BE ON THE
LOOKOUT FOR ANY SEVERE WEATHER AND POSSIBLE FLOODING SITUATIONS.
DH
Special weather statement, May 16, 1:11 AM CDT, 3 minutes before
MOZ009-010-011-013-014-160700-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA MO
110 AM CDT WED MAY 16 1990

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE ACROSS MID-MISSOURI AT 1 AM...

AT 1 AM STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN A LINE FROM 5 MILES SOUTH OF
SEDALIA THROUGH JEFFERSON CITY TO HERMANN.  HAIL AND STRONG WINDS MAY
ACCOMPANY THESE STORMS.  OTHER THUNDERSTORMS WERE NORTH OF THIS LINE.
ALL OF THE STORMS WILL PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING AS THEY MOVE EAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR.

IF LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING IN YOUR AREA...STAY INSIDE A BUILDING OR CAR.
IF YOU ARE DRIVING...SLOW DOWN AND WATCH FOR FLOODED SPOTS IN THE ROAD.
DO NOT CROSS WHERE WATER IS FLOWING OVER THE ROADWAY.  IF STRONG WINDS
OR HAIL ARE OCCURRING WHERE YOU ARE...GET INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING AND
STAY THERE UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.
GOEBEL

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 15, 11:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXAdams, Pike42 min
May 16, 12:13 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXGreene, Scott47 min
May 16, 12:13 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXCalhoun47 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
May 15, 11:05 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXMarion, Ralls25 min
May 15, 11:35 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXPike40 min
May 15, 11:51 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXLincoln54 min
May 16, 1:02 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXLincoln, Warren43 min
May 16, 3:33 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXJefferson27 min
May 16, 4:08 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXLincoln37 min
May 16, 4:45 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningLSXLincoln, Saint Charles, Warren4 hr
May 16, 2:26 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXFranklin, Warren43 min
May 16, 2:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXSaint Charles14 min
May 16, 2:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXSaint Louis50 min
May 16, 3:47 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningLSXLincoln, Warren7 hr
May 16, 3:47 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningLSXFranklin, Saint Louis7 hr
May 16, 3:47 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningLSXCity of Saint Louis7 hr
May 16, 4:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXCrawford, Phelps36 min
May 16, 4:56 PM CDTTornado WarningLSXSaint Louis22 min
May 16, 5:09 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXCity of Saint Louis51 min
May 16, 5:23 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXFranklin, Jefferson, Saint Louis52 min
May 16, 5:23 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXCity of Saint Louis52 min
May 16, 5:29 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXCrawford, Washington61 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Illinois, 1990Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Missouri, 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.