Alert archive / Illinois / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2003

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 135, NWS Lincoln, IL

May 28, 2003Macon County, Illinois

NWS Lincoln, IL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 28, 2003, 4:08 PM CDT for Macon County, Illinois. It was in force for 67 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: May 28, 2003, 4:08 PM CDT (21:08 UTC)
Expired: May 28, 2003, 5:15 PM CDT
In force: 67 min
Issued by: NWS Lincoln, IL
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Macon County, IL

The radar

The Lincoln radar (KILX), 40 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:11 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
May 28, 2:10 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 12:00Z, 9.1 hours before the alert went out and 40 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 2202 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 33 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 168 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 124 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.

082 
WUUS53 KILX 282108
SVRILX
ILC115-282215-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
408 PM CDT WED MAY 28 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LINCOLN HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  MACON COUNTY IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS

* UNTIL 515 PM CDT

* AT 408 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OVER NIANTIC...OR ABOUT 14 MILES WEST OF
  DECATUR...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH. 

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  WARRENSBURG
  HARRISTOWN
  MAROA
  FORSYTH
  DECATUR
  OREANA
  ARGENTA

THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH...
DAMAGING HAIL...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN. TAKE
SHELTER IN A STURDY BUILDING AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

LARGE HAIL IN EXCESS OF 2 INCHES WILL ACCOMPANY THIS DANGEROUS STORM.
MOVE INDOORS AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. ABANDON CARS AND MOBILE
HOMES IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNED AREA.

REPORT SEVERE WEATHER OR ANY STORM DAMAGE TO YOUR LOCAL ESDA...OR THE
NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY...FOR RELAY TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE. STAY TUNED FOR LATER STATEMENTS.

LAT...LON 4005 8911 3984 8922 3968 8886 3986 8875
          4006 8877

$$

KH

NNNN

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.

NWS Lincoln, IL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 28, 3:07 PM CDT, 1 hour 1 minute earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 28, 3:07 PM CDT, 1 hour 1 minute before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
307 PM CDT WED MAY 28 2003

MAIN FORECAST CONCERN WITH THIS PACKAGE IS TIMING OF FRONTAL PASSAGE
THIS EVENING AND SEVERE WEATHER THREAT.

DUE TO SEVERE WEATHER IN AREA...THIS WILL BE SHORT AND SWEET. SPC
HAS ISSUED A SEVERE TSTM WATCH UNTIL 8 PM TONIGHT. ALREADY RECEIVING
REPORTS OF LARGE HAIL AND BRIEF TORNADO TOUCHDOWNS. WILL WORD ZONES
ACCORDINGLY. PCPN TO COME TO AN END MOST LOCATIONS BY MIDNIGHT...AS
PER PREVIOUS FORECAST.

BRIEF BREAK IN WX FOR THU AND THURSDAY NIGHT BEFORE NEXT SYSTEM
MOVES IN ON FRIDAY. ANOTHER QUICK SHOT OF RWS/TRWS ON FRIDAY AND
FRIDAY EVENING...THEN ENDING EARLY ON SATURDAY.

STRONG AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN ON SATURDAY AND
SUNDAY...THOUGH MODELS HAVE MODIFIED AIR MASS...SO NOT AS COOL OF
CONDITIONS AS ORIGINALLY EXPECTED. RAISED HIGH TEMPS A COUPLE OF
DEGREES ON SAT AND SUN.

AS FOR REST OF EXTENDED...KEPT CHANCE MENTION OF RWS/TRWS IN FOR
LATE TUESDAY AND CONTINUE INTO WED AS FRONTAL BOUNDARY STALLS ACROSS
CWA.

ISC GRIDS SENT EARLIER.

.ILX...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 435 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT...FOR
AREAS ALONG AND EAST OF A STARK COUNTY TO CHRISTIAN COUNTY LINE.

BYRD

Hazardous weather outlook, May 28, 11:00 AM CDT, 5 hours 8 minutes before

ILZ027>031-036>038-040>057-061>063-066>068-071>073-291100-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
1100 AM CDT WED MAY 28 2003

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND
SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND
EARLY THIS EVENING ACROSS EASTERN ILLINOIS...EAST OF I-55. A COLD
FRONT WILL MOVE EAST ACROSS CENTRAL ILLINOIS THIS AFTERNOON AND EXIT
SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS BY SUNSET. THIS FRONT WILL PRODUCE SCATTERED
THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON. THE PRIMARY THREAT WITH
THESE STORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. THUNDERSTORMS
WILL SHIFT EAST OF ILLINOIS BY SUNSET.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

ANOTHER FAST MOVING COLD FRONT WILL SWEEP ACROSS THE MIDWEST ON FRIDAY
BRINGING A THREAT FOR MORE STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TO PARTS OF
CENTRAL ILLINOIS. THE THREAT FOR THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE INTO
FRIDAY EVENING. CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS WILL INCREASE ONCE AGAIN
OVER CENTRAL ILLINOIS ON TUESDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED ACROSS EASTERN ILLINOIS THIS
AFTERNOON...ESPECIALLY ALONG AND EAST OF I-57. THE PRIMARY THREAT
FOR SEVERE WEATHER WILL OCCUR BETWEEN 1 AND 7 PM.

THIS PRODUCT...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGIC AND CLIMATE
INFORMATION...IS AVAILABLE ON THE WEB AT:

HTTP://WWW.CRH.NOAA.GOV/ILX. THIS ADDRESS IS ALL
IN LOWER CASE.

SMITH/HUETTL

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 28, 3:22 PM CDT, 46 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN, IL
322 PM CDT WED MAY 28 2003

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0255 PM    WASHINGTON                IL   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/28/03   TAZEWELL                       REPORTED BY SPOTTER

BAK

Local storm report, May 28, 3:31 PM CDT, 37 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN, IL
331 PM CDT WED MAY 28 2003

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0329 PM    DANVERS                   IL   .75 INCH HAIL
05/28/03   MC LEAN                        REPORTED BY ESDA

BAK

Local storm report, May 28, 3:47 PM CDT, 21 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN, IL
347 PM CDT WED MAY 28 2003

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0341 PM    1 SE ARMINGTON            IL   TORNADO
05/28/03   TAZEWELL                       REPORTED BY LOGAN COUNTY
                                          SPOTTERS

MILLER

Local storm report, May 28, 3:53 PM CDT, 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN, IL
353 PM CDT WED MAY 28 2003

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0349 PM    MOUNT PULASKI             IL   .75 INCH HAIL
05/28/03   LOGAN                          REPORTED BY COOP OBSERVER

BAK

Local storm report, May 28, 4:02 PM CDT, 6 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN, IL
402 PM CDT WED MAY 28 2003

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0356 PM    4 SE ATLANTA              IL   TORNADO
05/28/03   LOGAN                          REPORTED BY WAYNESVILLE
                                          FIRE DEPARTMENT

0359 PM    2 E BEASON                IL   TORNADO
05/28/03   LOGAN                          REPORTED BY STORM SPOTTER

BAK

Local storm report, May 28, 4:08 PM CDT, 0 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN, IL
408 PM CDT WED MAY 28 2003

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0403 PM    MIDLAND CITY              IL   TORNADO
05/28/03   DEWITT                         REPORTED BY STORM SPOTTER

0405 PM    CLINTON                   IL   1.00 INCH HAIL
05/28/03   DE WITT                        REPORTED BY COUNTY SHERIFF

BAK

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 28, 1:53 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	Marshall, Stark	52 min
May 28, 2:15 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	Peoria, Woodford	60 min
May 28, 2:41 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	ILX	Tazewell, Woodford	49 min
May 28, 3:20 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	ILX	McLean, Tazewell	40 min
May 28, 3:25 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	Logan	50 min
May 28, 3:47 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	ILX	Logan	28 min
May 28, 3:58 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	ILX	DeWitt	62 min
May 28, 4:38 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	Moultrie, Piatt, Shelby	52 min
May 28, 4:45 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	ILX	Christian, Shelby	45 min
May 28, 5:29 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	Effingham, Shelby	46 min
May 28, 6:08 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	Champaign, Vermilion	82 min
May 28, 6:14 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	Champaign, Vermilion	76 min
May 28, 6:25 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	ILX	Champaign, Vermilion	65 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Illinois, 2003 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2003

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.