Alert archive / Illinois / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1995

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 69, NWS St. Louis, MO

May 16, 1995Randolph County, Illinois

NWS St. Louis, MO issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 16, 1995, 7:48 AM CDT for Randolph County, Illinois. It was in force for 42 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 16, 1995, 7:48 AM CDT (12:48 UTC)
Expired
May 16, 1995, 8:30 AM CDT
In force
42 min
Issued by
NWS St. Louis, MO
Area
Whole counties

County Randolph County, IL

The radar

The St Louis radar (KLSX), 104 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 12:49 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 12:00Z, 0.8 hours before the alert went out and 256 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, Lincoln, IL at 12:00Z on 1995-05-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 65 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, Lincoln, IL at 12:00Z on 1995-05-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 218 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
65 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-362 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
907 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
46 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
218 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
266 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
3.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KSTL 161251
SVRSTL
ILC157-161330-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
748 AM CDT TUE MAY 16 1995
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ST LOUIS HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  830 AM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS
 
   ...RANDOLPH COUNTY
 
AT 750 AM CDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM NEAR PRAIRIE DU ROCHER...OR ABOUT 12 MILES WEST OF SPARTA
ILLINOIS. THIS STORM WAS MOVING TO THE EAST AT 35 MPH.
 
COMMUNITIES IN THE PATH OF THIS STORMS INCLUDE...SPARTA..HOUSTON...
AND WALSH ILLINOIS.
 
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM! BE PREPARED FOR DAMAGINGf WINDS...HAIL
AND DEADLY LIGHTNING. STAY INSIDE AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
 
PEDIGO

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 16, 3:07 AM CDT, 4 hours 41 minutes before
MOZALL-160900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
304 AM CDT TUE MAY 16 1995

...THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DEVELOPED RAPIDLY IN THE METRO AREA...

A NORTH-SOUTH LINE OF SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS HAS DEVELOPED RAPIDLY
AND IS MOVING TO THE EAST AT 35 MPH.

AT 300 AM THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED JUST NORTH OF ALTON ILLINOIS...
IN FLORISSANT AND ADJACENT NORTH COUNTY COMMUNITIES NEAR I-270...
AND JUST SOUTH OF ARNOLD EASTWARD TO NEAR WATERLOO ILLINOIS.

PEA SIZED HAIL WAS REPORTED AT HAZELWOOD.  THESE STORMS WILL
MOVE OFF TO THE EAST...THEN AS RUSH HOUR BEGINS...ANOTHER MORE GENERAL
AREA OF RAIN AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE IN...PROBABLY LASTING
THROUGH THE MORNING RUSH HOUR.

PEDIGO
Special weather statement, May 16, 4:05 AM CDT, 3 hours 43 minutes before
MOZ055-056-068-069-161005-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA MISSOURI
403 AM CDT TUE MAY 16 1995

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR BENTON AND MORGAN
   COUNTIES UNTIL 8AM...

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR CAMDEN AND HICKORY
   COUNTIES UNTIL 9AM...

AT 4AM A 35 MILE WIDE BAND OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM 20
MILES WEST OF COLUMBIA...THROUGH SEDALIA...TO 65 MILES SOUTH OF KANSAS
CITY NEAR OSCEOLA.

MOVEMENT WAS TO THE SOUTHEAST AROUND 40 MILES PER HOUR.

THIS BAND OF STORMS WILL BE MOVING INTO HICKORY AND BENTON COUNTIES
BEFORE 415AM...AND HICKORY...MILLER...AND CAMDEN COUNTIES BETWEEN 430AM
AND 445AM.

STRONG GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...VERY HEAVY RAINFALL AND
SMALL HAIL MAY ACCOMPANY THE STRONGER STORMS.

IF SEVERE WEATHER IS OBSERVED...CONTACT YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY AND ASK THEM TO RELAY YOUR INFORMATION TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE.

REAUGH
Special weather statement, May 16, 5:19 AM CDT, 2 hours 29 minutes before
MOZ052-061-063-064-060-161115-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
517 AM CDT TUE MAY 16 1995

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING THROUGH THE ST LOUIS AREA...

AT 515 AM...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED NUMEROUS STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
ACROSS ST CHARLES...LINCOLN...AND EASTERN WARREN COUNTIES IN EAST
CENTRAL MISSOURI.  THESE STORMS WERE PRODUCING TORRENTIAL RAIN...
DEADLY LIGHTNING...GUSTY WINDS...AND POSSIBLY PEA-SIZE HAIL.  THE STORMS
WERRE MOVING TO THE EAST AT 35 MPH.

MOTORISTS THIS MORNING SHOULD USE CAUTION WHEN TRAVELING AS THE HEAVY
RAIN WILL LIMIT VISIBILITY AND ALSO RESULT IS PONDING OF WATER ON
ROADWAYS.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 AM. PEOPLE
ACROSS EAST CENTRAL MISSOURI INCLUDING THE ST LOUIS AREA SHOULD KEEP AN
EYE TO THE SKY AND BE PREPARED FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER.

GLASS
Special weather statement, May 16, 5:42 AM CDT, 2 hours 6 minutes before
MOZ055>058-068>070-161145-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA MISSOURI
540 AM CDT TUE MAY 16 1995

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9AM FOR CAMDEN AND
   HICKORY COUNTIES...

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11AM FOR MARIES...
   PULASKI...AND MILLER COUNTIES...

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE REGION TODAY..

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH THAT HAD BEEN IN EFFECT FOR BENTON AND
   MORGAN COUNTIES HAS BEEN CANCELLED...

AT 535AM THE LEADING EDGE OF AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS REACHED
FROM 15 MILES SOUTHEAST OF JEFFERSON CITY...TO 35 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
JEFFERSON CITY NEAR OSAGE BEACH...TO 55 MILES NORTH OF SPRINGFIELD NEAR
HERMITAGE.

MOVMENT WS TO THE EAST AT 40 MILES PER HOUR.

THE STORMS WILL BE ENTERING HICKORY...CAMDEN..AND MARIES COUNTIES BY
6AM AND PULASKI COUNTY BEFORE 615AM. THEY ARE CAPABLE OF SMALL HAIL...
STRONG WINDS...AND TORRENTIAL RAIN.

IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...MOVE TO A PLACE OF SHELTER IMMEDIATELY IF A
STORM APPROACHES.  MOTORISTS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR REDUCED
VISIBILITIES DURING DOWNPOURS OF RAIN.  STREETS MAY FLOOD QUICKLY.

IF SEVERE WEATHER IS OBSERVED...CONTACT YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY AND ASK THEM TO RELAY YOUR INFORMATION TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE.

MOST FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES.  DO NOT ATTEMPT TO
CROSS BRIDGES...DIPS...OR LOW SPOTS IF WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY.
NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM...EVEN A SMALL ONE...ON FOOT.
TO ESCAPE RISING WATER MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.

REAUGH
Special weather statement, May 16, 5:58 AM CDT, 1 hour 50 minutes before
MOZALL-161200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
555 AM CDT TUE MAY 16 1995

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PARTS OF NORTHWEST AND WEST
CENTRAL MISSOURI HAS BEEN CANCELLED...

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH THAT WAS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM FOR
PARTS OF NORTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL MISSOURI HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
THE THUNDERSTORMS THAT CAUSED THE SEVERE WEATHER EARLIER THIS
MORNING HAVE MOVED OUT OF THE AREA.

DLF
Special weather statement, May 16, 6:58 AM CDT, 50 minutes before
MOZ055>058-068>070-161300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA MISSOURI
655 AM CDT TUE MAY 16 1995

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 AM FOR CAMDEN AND
   HICKORY COUNTIES...
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 AM FOR MARIES...
   PULASKI...AND MILLER COUNTIES...
...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF SOUTH PORTIONS OF
   CENTRAL MISSOURI FOR TODAY...

AT 645 AM CDT...NWS RADAR CONTINUED TO SHOW A LARGE AREA OF
THUNDERSTORMS AND MODERATE RAIN COVERING ALL OF SOUTH PORTIONS OF
CENTRAL MISSOURI.  SOME OF THE STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN A LINE
EXTENDING FROM 40 MILES NORTHEAST OF ROLLA TO 20 MILES NORTHEAST OF
SPRINGFIELD.  THIS LINE WAS MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR
AND SHOULD MOVE OUT OF CENTRAL MISSOURI BY 8 AM.

BEHIND THE STORMS...AN EXTENSIVE AREA OF LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN SHOWERS
AND EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED TO THE NORTHWEST INTO THE MACON
AND MARSHALL AREAS.  THIS AREA WAS ALSO MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 30
MILES AND HOUR.

DUE TO THE PREVIOUSLY SATURATED SOILS AND LARGE AMOUNTS OF RAINFALL
OVERNIGHT...SOME FLOODING OF SMALL STREAMS AND ROADS IS POSSIBLE THIS
MORNING.

STRONG GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...VERY HEAVY RAINFALL AND
SMALL HAIL MAY ACCOMPANY THE STRONGER STORMS.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY.  THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO
CROSS SAFELY.  VEHICLES CAUGHT IN RISING WATER SHOULD BE ABANDONED
QUICKLY.  MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TV STATION
FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.

SEARCY

The office that day

Everything else NWS St. Louis, MO issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 16, 4:25 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXClinton, Marion50 min
May 16, 5:24 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXMadison51 min
May 16, 5:59 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningLSXMadison6 hr
May 16, 6:21 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXSaint Clair112 min
May 16, 6:38 AM CDTTornado WarningLSXClinton, Saint Clair67 min
May 16, 6:20 PM CDTTornado WarningLSXAdams25 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Illinois, 1995Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1995

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.