Alert archive / Illinois / Flash Flood Warnings in 1993

Flash Flood Warning 27, NWS Lincoln, IL

July 18, 1993DeKalb County, Illinois

NWS Lincoln, IL issued this flash flood warning at Jul 18, 1993, 7:31 PM CDT for DeKalb County, Illinois. It was in force for 119 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 18, 1993, 7:31 PM CDT (00:31 UTC)
Expired
Jul 18, 1993, 9:30 PM CDT
In force
119 min
Issued by
NWS Lincoln, IL
Area
Whole counties

County DeKalb County, IL

The nearest sounding before it

Green Bay/Straub, WI (KGRB), launched 00:00Z, 0.5 hours before the alert went out and 293 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 00:00Z on 1993-07-19Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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 00:00Z on 1993-07-19The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -25 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
1 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
547 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-25 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
15 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 KRFD 190031
FFWRFD
ILC037-190230-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED/EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED 
FLASH FLOOD WARNING 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ROCKFORD IL
731 PM CDT SUN JUL 18 1993

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WARNING 
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 930 PM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY

   IN THE NORTH CENTRAL PART OF ILLINOIS
      DEKALB

AT 7 25 PM CDT...THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAINFALL WERE MOVING INTO
DE KALB COUNTY FROM OGLE COUNTY. WITH STREAMS AND CREEKS REMAINING
HIGH...RENEWED DANGEROUS FLOODING IS ONCE AGAIN POSSIBLE.

SOME COMMUNITIES THAT ARE IN OR NEAR THE FLASH FLOOD AREA...
DE KALB...SYCAMORE AND GENOA.

IF YOU ARE IN LOW LYING...FLOOD PRONE AREA...MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND!
IF CAMPING...WATCH FOR RAPIDLY RISING WATER THAT MAY ENDANGER YOUR
CAMPSITE!  DO NOT CROSS HIGHWAYS THAT ARE COVERED BY WATER...IT MAY
BE MUCH DEEPER THAN YOU THINK!  REMEMBER...FLASH FLOODS HAPPEN VERY
RAPIDLY...BE ALERT!

 THIS EXTENRDS THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING ALREADY IN EFFECT FOR
 DE KALB COUNTY.

SANDERS

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, Jul 18, 5:28 PM CDT, 2 hours 3 minutes before
ILZ005>007-182300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEORIA IL
515 PM CDT SUN JUL 18 1993

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CANCELLED FOR MOST OF WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS...
...NEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ISSUED FOR MCLEAN COUNTY...

AT 510 PM CDT...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH THAT WAS IN EFFECT FOR
BUREAU...PUTNAM...KNOX...STARK...MARSHALL...PEORIA AND WOODFORD COUNTIES
HAS BEEN CANCELLED. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR MCLEAN
COUNTY AND WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT.

LATE THIS AFTERNOON...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP ACROSS
THE REGION. OVER WESTERN ILLINOIS...RAINFALL WAS OCCURRING ACROSS HANCOCK
...MCDONOUGH AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES WITH THE HEAVIEST PRECIPITAION NEAR
PLYMOUTH AND AUGUSTA IN EASTERN HANCOCK COUNTY. ALSO...THE BACK EDGE OF A LINE
OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WAS ALONG THE ILLINOIS RIVER WITH THE HEAVIEST
RAINFALL OVER CENTRAL WOODFORD COUNTY. MOVEMENT CONTINUED TO BE TO THE EAST
NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS.
PERSONS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT TO RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS.
BE PREPARED TO TAKE SHELTER IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROCHES. DO NOT ATTEMPT
TO CROSS WATER COVERED ROADWAYS...STAY CLEAR OF SWOLLEN RIVERS AND STREAMS.
STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION FOR LATER
STATEMENTS OR POSSBLE WARNINGS.

BREESER
Special weather statement, Jul 18, 6:04 PM CDT, 1 hour 27 minutes before
ILZ009-10-182345-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD IL
600 PM CDT SUN JUL 18 1993

...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO MOVE OVER CENTRAL
AND EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS...

AT 5 57 PM CDT...RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
ACROSS  MUCH OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS.  THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE LOCATED
FROM 10 MILES SOUTH OF BLOOMINGTON TO 30 MILES NORTHEAST OF SPRING/
FIELD.  OTHER STRONG STORMS WERE IN WESTERN MACOUPIN COUNTY BETWEEN
SPRINGFIELD AND ST. LOUIS AND IN MOULTRIE AND SHELBY COUNTIES BETWEEN
SULIVAN AND STEWARD.  THE SHOWERS AND STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT
35 MPH.

VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS MAY ACCOMPANY
THE STRONG STORMS. WHEN THUNDERSTORMS ARE OCCURRING...MOVE INSIDE A STRONG
BUILDING. DO NOT STAND NEAR WINDOWS. DO NOT USE TELEPHONES UNLESS IN AN
EMERGENCY.  STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER UPDATES.
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT FOR
MUCH OF CENTRAL AND EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS.

SKIPPER
Special weather statement, Jul 18, 6:47 PM CDT, 44 minutes before
ILZ009-10-190045-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD IL
647 PM CDT SUN JUL 18 1993

...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO MOVE OVER CENTRAL
AND EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS...

AT 6 40 PM CDT...RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
ACROSS  MUCH OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS.  THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE LOCATED
FROM MIDWAY BETWEEN BLOOMINGTON AND CHAMPAIGN THROUGH DECATUR TO 20
MILES WEST OF VANDALIA.  OTHER STRONG STORMS WERE BETWEEN CHAMPAIGN AND
MATTOON IN WESTERN DOUGLAS AND COLES COUNTIES.  ALSO...SCATTERED STRONG
STORMS WERE FROM 25 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SPRINGFIELD TO 20 SOUTH OF
CARLINVILLE.  THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT
35 TO 40 MPH.

VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS MAY ACCOMPANY
THE STRONG STORMS. WHEN THUNDERSTORMS ARE OCCURRING...MOVE INSIDE A STRONG
BUILDING. DO NOT STAND NEAR WINDOWS. DO NOT USE TELEPHONES UNLESS IN AN
EMERGENCY UNTpIL THE STORMS HAVE PASSED.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT FOR
MUCH OF CENTRAL AND EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS.

PEARSON
Special weather statement, Jul 18, 6:55 PM CDT, 36 minutes before
ILZ005>007-190100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEORIA IL
655 PM CDT SUN JUL 18 1993

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR MCLEAN COUNTY...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR ALL OF WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS...

AT 655 PM CDT... SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED MAINLY ALONG AND EAST
OF THE ILLINOIS RIVER. THE HEVIEST PRECIPITATION WAS OCCURRING OVER WESTERN
MASON COUNTY...NEAR HAVANNA...35 MILES SOUTHWEST OF PEORIA. MOVEMENT
CONTINUED TO THE EAST NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

SOME AREAS RECIEVED LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND
ADDITIONAL RAINFALL IN THOSE AREAS COULD CAUSE FLOODING. PERSONS SHOULD
REMAIN ALERT TO CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS. DO NOT TRY TO CROSS WATER
COVERED ROADWAYS. STAY CLEAR OF SWOLLEN STREAMS AND RIVERS. STAY TUNED TO
NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS FOR FURTHER
STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
BREESER
Special weather statement, Jul 18, 6:55 PM CDT, 36 minutes before
ILZ005>007-190100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEORIA IL
655 PM CDT SUN JUL 18 1993

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR MCLEAN COUNTY...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR ALL OF WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS...

AT 655 PM CDT... SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED MAINLY ALONG AND EAST
OF THE ILLINOIS RIVER. THE HEAVIEST PRECIPITATION WAS OCCURRING OVER WESTERN
MASON COUNTY...NEAR HAVANNA...35 MILES SOUTHWEST OF PEORIA. MOVEMENT
CONTINUED TO THE EAST NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

SOME AREAS RECIEVED LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND
ADDITIONAL RAINFALL IN THOSE AREAS COULD CAUSE FLOODING. PERSONS SHOULD
REMAIN ALERT TO CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS. DO NOT TRY TO CROSS WATER
COVERED ROADWAYS. STAY CLEAR OF SWOLLEN STREAMS AND RIVERS. STAY TUNED TO
NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS FOR FURTHER
STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
BREESER
Special weather statement, Jul 18, 7:00 PM CDT, 31 minutes before
ILZ005>007-190100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEORIA IL
655 PM CDT SUN JUL 18 1993

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR MCLEAN COUNTY...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR ALL OF WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS...

AT 655 PM CDT... SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED MAINLY ALONG AND EAST
OF THE ILLINOIS RIVER. THE HEAVIEST PRECIPITATION WAS OCCURRING OVER WESTERN
MASON COUNTY...NEAR HAVANNA...35 MILES SOUTHWEST OF PEORIA. MOVEMENT
CONTINUED TO THE EAST NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

SOME AREAS RECIEVED LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND
ADDITIONAL RAINFALL IN THOSE AREAS COULD CAUSE FLOODING. PERSONS SHOULD
REMAIN ALERT TO CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS. DO NOT TRY TO CROSS WATER
COVERED ROADWAYS. STAY CLEAR OF SWOLLEN STREAMS AND RIVERS. STAY TUNED TO
NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS FOR FURTHER
STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
BREESER

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 18, 7:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXChampaign34 min
Jul 18, 7:47 PM CDTTornado WarningILXShelby23 min
Jul 18, 9:55 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningILXDeKalb3 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Illinois, 1993Every flash flood warning in 1993

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.