Alert archive / Illinois / Flash Flood Warnings in 1991

Flash Flood Warning 1, NWS Lincoln, IL

May 5, 1991Morgan County, Sangamon County, Illinois

NWS Lincoln, IL issued this flash flood warning at May 5, 1991, 4:25 AM CDT for Morgan County, Sangamon County, Illinois. It was in force for 3 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 5, 1991, 4:25 AM CDT (09:25 UTC)
Expired
May 5, 1991, 7:30 AM CDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Lincoln, IL
Area
Whole counties

Counties Morgan County, IL, Sangamon County, IL

The nearest sounding before it

Paducah/Barkley, KY (KPAH), launched 00:00Z, 9.4 hours before the alert went out and 315 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 1991-05-05Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1060 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 1991-05-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 3 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
1060 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-5 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
966 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
27 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
3 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-16 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 KSPI 050927
FFWSPI
ILC137-167-051230-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED/EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SMALL STREAM AND URBAN FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD IL
425 AM CDT SUN MAY 5 1991

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SMALL STREAM AND URBAN
FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 715 AM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES

   IN THE CENTRAL PART OF ILLINOIS
      MORGAN...SANGAMON

HEAVY RAINS OF AROUND TWO INCHES OVERNIGHT HAVE BROUGHT MANY SMALL
STREAMS OUT OF THEIR BANKS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY AS REPORTED BY THE
SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT AND IN SANGAMON COUNTY IN THE CITY OF
SPRINGFIELD.
MANY ROADS NEAR STREAMS AND BRIDGE CROSSING WERE FLOODED IN MORGAN
COUNTY WHILE MANY CITY STREETS IN SPRINGFIELD WERE FLOODED...
ESPECIALLY IN FLOOD PRONE LOW AREAS.  BASEMENT FLOODING WAS ALSO
REPORTED.  ANOTHER ONE HALF INCH OF RAIN IS POSSIBLE EARLY THIS
MORNING WHICH WILL AGGRAVATE THE CURRENT PROBLEM.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREA
S WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY.  THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO
CROSS SAFELY.  TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT BELONGINGS IF BASEMENTS ARE
PRONE TO FLOODING.

 ATTN ISP DIST...9
 PALMER

NNNN

What 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 5, 2:31 AM CDT, 1 hour 54 minutes before
ILZ006-009-050830-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEORIA IL
230 AM CDT SUN MAY 5 1991

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CONTINUES FOR MASON COUNTY UNTIL 4 AM...

AT 225 AM...RADAR SHOWED A LARGE AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS COVERING
MOST OF WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS. THE PRIME AREA OF CONCERN IS A LINE OF
VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM THE SOUTHEASTERN CORNER OF MCDONOUGH
COUNTY SOUTHWARD TO ABOUT 40 MILES WEST OF ST LOUIS. THESE STORMS ARE
DEVELOPING QUITE RAPIDLY. THE MOVEMENT OF THESE STORMS IS TO THE
NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

AT 220 AM SCHUYLER COUNTY POLICE REPORTED MARBLE SIZE HAIL...HEAVY RAIN AND
GUSTY SURFACE WINDS AS THESE STORMS MOVED THROUGH THE CAMDEN AREA.

BY 3 AM THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL HAVE MOVED INTO EAST CENTRAL MCDONOUGH...
EASTERN SCHUYLER AND WESTERN FULTON COUNTIES. MARBLE SIZE HAIL...HEAVY RAINS
AND GUSTY WINDS CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS MOST OF WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS
THROUGH 330 AM.

FREQUENT LIGHTNING...HEAVY RAIN AND PONDING ON ROAD SURFACES CAN BE EXPECTED
IN MOST AREAS ACROSS WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS.

MOGGED
Special weather statement, May 5, 2:50 AM CDT, 1 hour 35 minutes before
ILZ009-010-050900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD IL
1 50 AM CDT SUN MAY 5 1991

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CONTINUES FOR MOST OF CENTRAL AND EAST
CENTRAL ILLINOIS UNTIL 4 00 AM CDT THIS MORNING...

FLOODING OF STREETS...UNDERPASSES AND BASEMENTS IS STILL BEING REPORTED
IN SPRINGFIELD ILLINOIS...ESPECIALLY ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF THE CITY.
RAINFALL AT CAPITAL AIRPORT HAS BEEN 1.71 INCHES TONIGHT BUT HIGHER
AMOUNTS HAVE FALLEN SOUTH OF THE AIPORT.

PEOPLE IN SUBDIVISIONS THAT ARE FLOOD PRONE DUE TO SMALL STREAMS AND
LOW ELEVATIONS SHOULD BE ALERT TO FLOODING CONDITIONS.  MOTORIST SHOULD
NOT TRY TO DRIVE THROUGH FLOODED UNDERPASSES.

AT 2 45 AM CDT...A BAND OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM BLOOMINGTON TO
25 MILES EAST AND 30 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SPRINGFIELD.  ANOTHER BAND OF
THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM JUST EAST OF MACOMB ILLINOIS TO THE ILLINOIS
RIVER AT BEARDSTOWN AND MEREDOSIA TO 25 MILES SOUTH SOUTHEAST OF
PITTSFIELD.  THESE STORMS SHOULD REACH SPRINGFIELD BY AROUND 4 AM.

A CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS OVER EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS NORTHEAST OF
CHAMPAIGN...URBANA AND JUST SOUTHEAST OF RANTOUL.  ALL OF THE SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

REMEMBER...WHEN THUNDERSTORMS ARE OCCURRING...PEOPLE SHOULD MOVE INSIDE
STRONG BUILDING.  DO NOT STAND BY WINDOWS.  DO NOT USE TELEPHONE OR
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.

ATTN ISP DISTS 6...9...10 AND 18

PALMER
Special weather statement, May 5, 2:54 AM CDT, 1 hour 31 minutes before
ILZ009-010-050900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT              ...CORRECTION TO ISSUANCE TIME...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD IL
2 50 AM CDT SUN MAY 5 1991

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CONTINUES FOR MOST OF CENTRAL AND EAST
CENTRAL ILLINOIS UNTIL 4 00 AM CDT THIS MORNING...

FLOODING OF STREETS...UNDERPASSES AND BASEMENTS IS STILL BEING REPORTED
IN SPRINGFIELD ILLINOIS...ESPECIALLY ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF THE CITY.
RAINFALL AT CAPITAL AIRPORT HAS BEEN 1.71 INCHES TONIGHT BUT HIGHER
AMOUNTS HAVE FALLEN SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT.

PEOPLE IN SUBDIVISIONS THAT ARE FLOOD PRONE DUE TO SMALL STREAMS AND
LOW ELEVATIONS SHOULD BE ALERT TO FLOODING CONDITIONS.  MOTORIST SHOULD
NOT TRY TO DRIVE THROUGH FLOODED UNDERPASSES.

AT 2 45 AM CDT...A BAND OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM BLOOMINGTON TO
25 MILES EAST AND 30 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SPRINGFIELD.  ANOTHER BAND OF
THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM JUST EAST OF MACOMB ILLINOIS TO THE ILLINOIS
RIVER AT BEARDSTOWN AND MEREDOSIA TO 25 MILES SOUTH SOUTHEAST OF
PITTSFIELD.  THESE STORMS SHOULD REACH SPRINGFIELD BY AROUND 4 AM.

A CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS OVER EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS NORTHEAST OF
CHAMPAIGN...URBANA AND JUST SOUTHEAST OF RANTOUL.  ALL OF THE SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

REMEMBER...WHEN THUNDERSTORMS ARE OCCURRING...PEOPLE SHOULD MOVE I
                                                                  NSIDE
STRONG BUILDING.  DO NOT STAND BY WINDOWS.  DO NOT USE TELEPHONE OR
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.

ATTN ISP DISTS 6...9...10 AND 18

PALMER
Special weather statement, May 5, 3:42 AM CDT, 43 minutes before
ILZ006-009-050905-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEORIA IL
340 AM CDT SUN MAY 5 1991

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CONTINUES FOR MASON COUNTY UNTIL 4 AM...

AT 330 AM...RADAR SHOWED A LARGE AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS COVERING
MOST OF WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS. A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM
NEAR CANTON SOUTHWARD THROUGH HAVANA INTO THE ST LOUIS AREA. THESE STORMS
CONTINUED TO MOVE NORTHEAST AT AROUND 20 MPH.

NO NEW REPORTS OF HAIL OR HEAVY RAINS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED AT PEORIA HOWEVER
THE POTENTIAL FOR SMALL HAIL AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING EXITS IN MASON AND
FULTON COUNTIES THROUGH 430 AM.

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS ALL OF WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS
THROUGH 430 AM. THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL HAVE MOVED INTO EASTERN MASON
AND WESTERN TAZEWELL. SMALL HAIL IS POSSIBLE IN THESE COUNTIES WHILE THE REST
OF WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS WILL SEE SOME HEAVY RAINS AND OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING.
WITH THE HEAVY RAINS...PONDING ON ROAD SURFACES WILL EXIST ACROSS
MOST OF THE AREA.

MOGGED
Special weather statement, May 5, 4:05 AM CDT, 20 minutes before
ILZ009-010-051000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD IL
4 00 AM CDT SUN MAY 5 1991

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR CENTRAL AND EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS
EXPIRED AT 4 00 AM CDT.

HOWEVER...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED OVER PARTS OF THE AREA.
AT 355 AM...A BAND OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM BETWEEN MASON CITY AND
LINCOLN TO 25 MILES WEST OF SPRINGFIELD THEN SOUTH TO NEAR ST. LOUIS.

A SECOND BAND OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM 30 MILES EAST OF BLOOMINGTON
ILLINOIS NEAR GIBSON CITY TO DECATUR.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN A LARGER AREA OF RAIN FROM BETWEEN SPRINGFIELD
AND QUINCY.  ALL OF THE THUNDERSTORMS AND RAIN WERE MOVING EAST NORTHEAST
AT 25 MPH.

REMEMBER...WHEN THUNDERSTORMS ARE OCCURRING...PEOPLE SHOULD MOVE INSIDE
A STRONG BUILDING.  DO NOT STAND BY WINDOWS.  DO NOT USE THE TELEPHONE
OR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.

ATTN ISP DISTS 6...9...10 AND 18

PALMER
Special weather statement, May 5, 4:08 AM CDT, 17 minutes before
ILZ006-009-050905-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEORIA IL
405 AM CDT SUN MAY 5 1991

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR MASON COUNTY HAS EXPIRED...

AT 400 AM...RADAR CONTINUED TO SHOW SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS MOST OF
WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS. THE NORTHERN EDGE OF A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS THAT
EXTENDED FROM EASTERN MASON COUNTY TO THE ST LOUIS AREA...HAS WEAKENED TO
WHERE THE STRONGEST STORMS ARE SOUTHWEST OF SPRINGFIELD. THE ENTIRE AREA
OF THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO MOVE NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS ALL OF WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS
THROUGH 500 AM. THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL HAVE MOVED OUT OF MASON COUNTY
DURING THE PERIOD.

HEAVY RAINS...OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING AND PONDING ON ROAD SURFACES WILL BE WIDE
SPREAD ACROSS THE HEART OF ILLINOIS.
MOGGED

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 4, 7:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXSchuyler62 min
May 4, 8:19 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXCass, Morgan56 min
May 4, 9:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXCass, Morgan37 min
May 4, 9:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXMacoupin, Sangamon60 min
May 4, 9:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXMenard60 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Illinois, 1991Every flash flood 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.