Alert archive / Illinois / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1991

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 13, NWS Quad Cities, IA

March 27, 1991Clinton County, Iowa; Henry County, Whiteside County, Illinois

NWS Quad Cities, IA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 27, 1991, 12:51 PM CST for Clinton County, Iowa; Henry County, Whiteside County, Illinois. It was in force for 69 min. 1 report 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
Mar 27, 1991, 12:51 PM CST (18:51 UTC)
Expired
Mar 27, 1991, 2:00 PM CST
In force
69 min
Issued by
NWS Quad Cities, IA
Area
Whole counties

Counties Clinton County, IA, Henry County, IL, Whiteside County, IL

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Mar 27, 1:30 PM CSTHail 1.75Whiteside, 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

Green Bay/Straub, WI (KGRB), launched 12:00Z, 6.9 hours before the alert went out and 356 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 12:00Z on 1991-03-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Green Bay/Straub, WI at 12:00Z on 1991-03-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 59 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1516 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
42 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
59 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-11 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KMLI 271851
SVRMLI
IAC045-ILC073-195-272000-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOLINE IL
1251 PM CST WED MAR 27 1991

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 
WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 200 PM CST FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING 
COUNTIES

   IN THE EXTREME EAST PART OF IOWA
      EASTERN CLINTON...

   IN THE NORTHWEST PART OF ILLINOIS
      NORTHERN HENRY...WHITESIDE...

AT 1245 PM CST...RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
OVER EASTERN CLINTON COUNTY IOWA AND WESTERN WHITESIDE AND NORTHERN
HENRY COUNTIES IN NORTHWEST ILLINOIS...35 MILES NORTHEAST OF MOLINE

THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR.

SOME CITIES/TOWNS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE... CLINTON...
STERLING/ROCK FALLS...MORRISON...GENESEO.

FOR YOUR PROTECTION GO TO A SAFE PLACE IMMEDIATELY.  STAY INDOORS
AND AVOID WINDOWS.  IF OUTDOORS...DO NOT STAND UNDER A TREE OR IN
OPEN AREAS SUCH AS A FIELD.

A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA.  REMEMBER
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES
WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING...SO BE ON THE LOOKOUT AND BE
PREPARED TO MOVE TO A PMLACE OF SAFETY IF ONE IS SPOTTED.

IF TIME PERMITS...ASK THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY TO RELAY
YOUR REPORT OF SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

ATTN ISP 7 AND 1

FOBERT

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

Local storm report, Mar 27, 7:37 AM CST, 5 hours 14 minutes before
STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOLINE IL
7 35 AM CST   WED MAR 27 1991

INFORMATION ON THUNDERSTORMS PASSING THROUGH MERCER COUNTY THIS
MORNING BETWEEN 5 00 AND 5 15 AM, RELAYED BY MERCER COUNTY POLICE.

0500-0515 CST   MERCER COUNTY...FROM 4S TO 4E OF ALEDO

                AT RESIDENCE 1..CORN CRIB KNOCKED AGAINST ANOTHER
                   BUILDING AND DESTROYED, GARAGE DOOR BLOWN OFF,
                   POWER POLES DOWN AND TWISTED.
                AT RESIDENCE 2...METAL BUILDING TWISTED AND DESTROYED
                   FENCE DOWN.
                AT RESIDENCE 3...SHED AND GARAGE DOOR DESTROYED,
                   POWER POLES DOWN
                AT RESIDENCE 4...OLD BARN LEVELED
                AT RESIDENCE 5...OUT BUILDING DESTROYED, PART OF
                   GARAGE BLOWN OFF, HOUSE DAMAGED.
                AT RESIDENCE 6...BARN LEVELED, POWER POLES DOWN.
                AT RESIDENCE 7...HOUSE SHOOK
                AT RESIDENCE 8...TWO OUT BUILDINGS COMPLETELY DESTROYED
                   SIDING BLOWN OFF HOUSE, POWER POLES DOWN.
                AT RESIDENCE 9...SHED DOWN

DICKEY
Special weather statement, Mar 27, 10:23 AM CST, 2 hours 28 minutes before
IAC043-055-061-271730-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DUBUQUE IA
1023 AM CST WED MAR 27 1991

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING THROUGH NORTHERN TRI-STATE AREA...

AT 1015 AM CST...RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
LOCATED IN DELAWARE COUNTY...NEAR MANCHESTER AND EXTENDED NORTHEAST
INTO THE NORTHEAST PART OF DELAWARE COUNTY MOVING NORTH AROUND 40
MILES AN HOUR.  THE STORMS WERE LOCATED 35 MILES WEST THROUGH
NORTHWEST OF DUBUQUE.

BRIEF HEAVY RAINS...STRONG WINDS AND SOME SMALL HAIL MAY OCCOMPANY
THESE STORMS AS THEY PASS THROUGH THE NORTHEAST PART OF DELAWARE
COUNTY...SOUTHEAST CLAYTON COUNTY AND THE NORTHWEST PART OF DUBUQUE
COUNTY.

SOME CITIES IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS ARE...COLESBURG...LUXENBURG
AND NEW VIENNA.

PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR THE STORMS AND IF
THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES...TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY.
KOWALSKI

NNNN
Special weather statement, Mar 27, 10:46 AM CST, 2 hours 5 minutes before
IAZ008-WIZ018-271745-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DUBUQUE IA
1046 AM CST WED MAR 27 1991

...STRONG STORMS CONTINUE OVER THE TRI-STATE AREA...

AT 1043 AM CST...RADAR AND SURFACE REPORTS INDICATED SMALL
HAIL...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAINS AND STRONG WINDS IN THE NORTHERN TIER OF
THE TRI-STATE AREA.

THE STRONGER STORMS WERE IN NORTHERN GRANT COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST
WISCONSIN...30 MILES NORTH OF DUBUQUE AND WERE MOVING NORTH AT 40
MILES AN HOUR.

AS THE STORMS MOVED THROUGH BLOOMINGTON AND BEETOWN...THEY PRODUCED
HEAVY RAINS AND PEA SIZED HAIL.

PERSONS IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE TRI-STATE AREA SHOULD BE ALERT FOR
THESE STORMS AND IF THREATENING WEATHER IS SIGHTED...TAKE COVER
IMMEDIATELY.

ANOTHER AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE ENTERING THE SOUTHWEST PART OF
JONES COUNTY...45 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DUBUQUE.  THESE STORMS MAY ALSO
PRODUCE SOME HAIL...STRONG WINDS AND HEAVY RAINS AS THEY MOVE
NORTHEAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR.
KOWALSKI

NNNN
Special weather statement, Mar 27, 11:27 AM CST, 1 hour 24 minutes before
IAZ008-WIZ018-ILZ001-271827-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DUBUQUE IA
1127 AM CST WED MAR 27 1991

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS STILL CONTINUE OVER THE TRI-STATE AREA...

AT 1120 AM CST AREAS OF THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO RUMBLE THROUGH
CLAYTON...GRANT...DUBUQUE AND JONES COUNTIES IN THE TRI-STATE.

THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR PATCH GROVE IN JONES COUNTIOWA OR 30 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DUBUQUE.  THIS STORM COULD PRODUCE HEAVY
RAIN...SMALL HAIL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.  THE STORM PRODUCED SMALL
HAIL OVER ANAMOSA AND MARTELL IN JONES COUNTY.

ANOTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 5 MILES SOUTH OF BOSCOBEL IN
GRANT COUNY WISCONSIN OR 40 MILES NORTH OF DUBUQYUE.  THIS STORM COULD
PRODUCE HEAVY RAIN AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

PERSONS IN THE TRI-STATE SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING
WEATHER AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE COVER IF THREATENING WEATHER
APPROACHES.

HINNERS

NNNN
Special weather statement, Mar 27, 11:37 AM CST, 1 hour 14 minutes before
IAZ008-WIZ018-271845-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DUBUQUE IA
1137 AM CST WED MAR 27 1991

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS STILL CONTINUE OVER THE TRI-STATE AREA...

AT 1120 CST AM CST AREAS OF THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO RUMBLE THROUGH
CLAYTON...GRANT...DUBUQUE AND JONES COUNTIES IN THE TRI-STATE.

THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR SCOTCH GROVE IN JONES
COUNTY IOWA 30 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DUBUQUE.  THIS STORM COULD PRODUCE
HEAVY RAIN...SMALL HAIL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.  THE STORM PRODUCED
SMALL HAIL OVER ANAMOSA AND MARTELL IN JONES COUNTY.

ANOTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 5 MILES SOUTH OF BOSCOBEL IN
GRANT COUNTY WISCONSIN OR 40 MILES NORTH OF DUBUQUEr.  THIS STORM
COULD PRODUCE HEAVY RAIN AND DANGEROUS LIGHTINING.

PERSONS IN THE TRI-STATE SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING
WEATHER AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE COVER IF THREATENING WEATHER
APPROACHES YOUR AREA.

HINNERS

NNNN

The office that day

Everything else NWS Quad Cities, IA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 26, 10:15 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNDes Moines, Henry, Lee30 min
Mar 27, 12:06 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNDubuque, Jackson39 min
Mar 27, 12:13 PM CSTTornado WarningDVNDubuque, Jackson32 min
Mar 27, 12:24 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNHenry36 min
Mar 27, 5:48 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNHenry27 min
Mar 27, 1:26 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNHenry54 min
Mar 27, 1:26 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNMercer64 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Illinois, 1991Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Iowa, 1991Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1991

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.