Alert archive / Illinois / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1994

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 9, NWS Lincoln, IL

April 15, 1994Champaign County, Illinois

NWS Lincoln, IL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 15, 1994, 4:39 AM CDT for Champaign County, Illinois. It was in force for 46 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Apr 15, 1994, 4:39 AM CDT (09:39 UTC)
Expired
Apr 15, 1994, 5:25 AM CDT
In force
46 min
Issued by
NWS Lincoln, IL
Area
Whole counties

County Champaign County, IL

The nearest sounding before it

Dayton/James M C, OH (KDAY), launched 00:00Z, 9.7 hours before the alert went out and 342 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, Dayton/James M C, OH at 00:00Z on 1994-04-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 332 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, Dayton/James M C, OH at 00:00Z on 1994-04-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 71 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
332 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-3 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2007 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
71 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
145 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KSPI 150941
SVRSPI
ILC147-019-151045-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD IL
439 AM CDT FRI APR 15 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SPRINGFIELD HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  545 AM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS
 
   ...PIATT COUNTY
 
IN EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS
 
   ...WESTERN CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
 
AT 438 AM CDT RADAR INDICATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN PIATT
COUNTY...ABOUT 10 MILES NORTHEAST OF DECATUR NEAR CERRO GORDO. THE
STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST-NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.
 
THE STORMS WILL MOVE THROUGH THE TOWNS OF MONTICELLO...MAHOMET...
RANTOUL... AND CHAMPAIGN/URBANA BY 530 AM CDT.
 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH...
HAIL 3/4 INCH OR LARGER...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.
FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.  HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO
DON'T DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.
 
GEELHART

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, Apr 15, 3:06 AM CDT, 1 hour 33 minutes before
ILZ042-047-048-050-051-059-150905-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD IL
306 AM CDT FRI APR 15 1994

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM CDT FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
ILLINOIS...

AT 3 AM CDT...WEATHER RADAR FROM SPRINGFIELD SHOWED A LINE OF STRONG
TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM JUST EAST OF THE QUAD CITIES...TO
SOUTH OF QUINCY...AND WESTWARD TOWARD COLUMBIA MISSOURI.  THE STORMS ARE
MOVING TO THE EAST AT 45 MPH.

THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD MOVE INTO CASS AND MORGAN COUNTIES BY
4 PM...AND REACH THE SPRINGFIELD AREA AROUND 5 AM.

THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING SEVERE WEATHER
WHILE TRAVELLING ACROSS IOWA...MISSOURI...AND FAR WESTERN ILLINOIS.
PEOPLE IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL OF
DANGEROUS WEATHER THIS MORNING.  MOVE TO THE BASEMENT OR AN INTERIOR
ROOM IF SEVERE WEATHER APPROACHES.

GEELHART
Special weather statement, Apr 15, 3:41 AM CDT, 58 minutes before
ILZ043-044-051>053-150945-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD IL
341 AM CDT FRI APR 15 1994

...THUNDERSTORMS WERE QUICKLY DEVELOPING NORTHEAST OF SPRINGFIELD...

AT 330 AM CDT...SPRINGFIELD RADAR SHOWED THUNDERSTORMS HAD DEVELOPED IN
DE WITT COUNTY NEAR CLINTON...AND JUST NORTHEAST OF SPRINGFIELD.  THESE
STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST AT 45 MPH.

THE STORMS SHOULD MOVE THROUGH THE TOWNS OF FARMER CITY... DECATUR...
A$ND ILLIOPOLIS BY 445 AM CDT.

SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY CONTAIN SMALL HAIL...GUSTY WINDS...DEADLY
LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS OF RAIN.

GEELHART
Special weather statement, Apr 15, 3:48 AM CDT, 51 minutes before
ILZ017-018-025>031-034>038-040-041-150950-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEORIA IL
347 AM CDT FRI APR 15 1994

...TORNADO WATCH FOR ALL OF WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS UNTIL 9 AM CDT...

AT 350 AM CDT...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS AND SHOWERS WAS FROM 10 MILES
EAST OF MOLINE EXTENDING SOUTHWEST TO JUST NORTH OF ST LOUIS.  THE
STRONGER STORMS WITHIN THE LINE WERE IN FULTON AND KNOX COUNTY.
ANOTHER ISOLATED STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS 15 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
BLOOMINGTON NEAR LEROY.  MOVEMENT OF THE STORMS WERE NORTHEAST AT 45
MPH.

SEVERAL REPORTS OF PEA SIZE HAIL HAVE BEEN REPORTED WITH SOME OF THESE
STORMS ALONG WITH BRIEF PERIODS OF GUSTY WINDS...HEAVY RAINFALL AND
FREQUENT LIGHTNING.

REMENBER...TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE IN AND CLOSE
TO THE WATCH AREA.  PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT
FOR THREATENING WEATHER AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.

STUMETZ
Special weather statement, Apr 15, 4:25 AM CDT, 14 minutes before
ILZ042-047-048-050-051-052-059-060-151030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD IL
424 AM CDT FRI APR 15 1994

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING THROUGH SPRINGFIELD...

AT 423 AM CDT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS HAD REACHED THE SPRINGFIELD
AREA...AND WERE PRODUCING PEA-SIZE HAIL AT CAPITAL AIRPORT.
THIS WAS PART OF A LARGER AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING
FROM LA SALLE TO NORTHWEST OF ST LOUIS.  THE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE
EAST-NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

RESIDENTS OF LOGAN...EASTERN SANGAMON...MACOUPIN...CHRISTIAN... AND
MONTGOMERY COUNTIES SHOULD PREPARE FOR DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...GUSTY
WINDS...AND POSSIBLE HAIL.

GEELHART

&
Special weather statement, Apr 15, 4:33 AM CDT, 6 minutes before
ILZ017-018-025>031-034>038-040-041-151035-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEORIA IL
432 AM CDT FRI APR 15 1994

...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM CDT FOR ALL OF WEST
CENTRAL ILLINOIS...

AT 330 AM CDT...NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING THROUGH MAINLY EAST
OF THE ILLINOIS RIVER.  NUMEROUS REPORTS OF PEA SIZE HAIL ALONG WITH
BRIEF PERIODS OF GUSTY WINDS...HEAVY AINFALL AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING
HAVE BEEN REPORTED WITH THE STRONGER STORMS.  MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT
45 MPH.  WIND GUST OF 38 MPH WAS OBSERVED AS ONE OF THESE STORMS PASSED
OVER THE WEATHER OFFICE.

A LARGE AREA OF RAIN AND SHOWERS EXTENDED ALL THE WAY WEST TO THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE OVER MUCH OF
WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS THROUGH 6 AM.

REMENBER...TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE IN AND CLOSE
TO THE WATCH AREA. PERSONS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA SHOULD BE ON
THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENINGX WEATHER AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND
POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

STUMETZ
Special weather statement, Apr 15, 4:35 AM CDT, 4 minutes before
ILZ017-018-025>031-034>038-040-041-151035-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEORIA IL
432 AM CDT FRI APR 15 1994

...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM CDT FOR ALL OF WEST
CENTRAL ILLINOIS...

AT 430 AM CDT...NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING THROUGH MAINLY EAST
OF THE ILLINOIS RIVER.  NUMEROUS REPORTS OF PEA SIZE HAIL ALONG WITH
BRIEF PERIODS OF GUSTY WINDS...HEAVY AINFALL AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING
HAVE BEEN REPORTED WITH THE STRONGER STORMS.  MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT
45 MPH.  WIND GUST OF 38 MPH WAS OBSERVED AS ONE OF THESE STORMS PASSED
OVER THE WEATHER OFFICE.

A LARGE AREA OF RAIN AND SHOWERS EXTENDED ALL THE WAY WEST TO THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE OVER MUCH OF
WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS THROUGH 6 AM.

REMENBER...TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE IN AND CLOSE
TO THE WATCH AREA. PERSONS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA SHOULD BE ON
THE LOOKOU^T FOR THREATENING WEATHER AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND
POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

STUMETZ
/TYPO/

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 14, 11:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXCarroll, Stephenson41 min
Apr 15, 12:05 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXWinnebago27 min
Apr 15, 3:13 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXCarroll32 min
Apr 15, 3:37 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXLee, Ogle53 min
Apr 15, 4:01 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXWinnebago34 min
Apr 15, 4:06 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXMenard39 min
Apr 15, 4:39 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXPiatt45 min
Apr 15, 4:59 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXMcLean61 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Illinois, 1994Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1994

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.