Alert archive / Illinois / Tornado Warnings in 2004

Tornado Warning 12, NWS Paducah, KY

May 26, 2004Saline County, Illinois

NWS Paducah, KY issued this tornado warning at May 26, 2004, 11:23 AM CDT for Saline County, Illinois. It was in force for 37 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 26, 2004, 11:23 AM CDT (16:23 UTC)
Expired: May 26, 2004, 12:00 PM CDT
In force: 37 min
Issued by: NWS Paducah, KY
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Saline County, IL

The radar

The Paducah radar (KPAH), 68 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 16:25 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 tornado 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 26, 8:50 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 12:00Z, 4.4 hours before the alert went out and 277 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: 1078 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 58 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -20 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 43 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.

607 
WFUS53 KPAH 261623
TORPAH
ILC165-261700-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1123 AM CDT WED MAY 26 2004

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PADUCAH KENTUCKY HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SALINE COUNTY IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

* UNTIL NOON CDT

* AT 1120 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO OVER CARRIER
  MILLS...OR ABOUT 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF HARRISBURG...MOVING EAST
  AT 40 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE STONEFORT.

NOW IS THE TIME TO TAKE ACTION SEEK SHELTER...BY MOVING INTO A
BASEMENT...OR INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING.
ABANDON MOBILE HOMES AND VEHICLES. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

LAT...LON 3763 8841 3761 8846 3761 8871 3770 8871
          3770 8861 3771 8846

$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Paducah, KY wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at May 26, 2:56 AM CDT, 8 hours 27 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 26, 2:56 AM CDT, 8 hours 27 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
256 AM CDT WED MAY 26 2004

.DISCUSSION...
MAIN QUESTIONS THIS MORNING ARE FLOOD WATCH TIMING AND ATTEMPTS TO
CLARIFY PRECIPITATION TIMING AND LOCATION.

WILL GO WITH FFA OVER THE ENTIRE AREA THROUGH 6AM THURSDAY FOR
SEVERAL REASONS. OVER THE NORTHERN SECTIONS...RAINFALL FROM TUESDAY
EVENING CONVECTION HAS SATURATED THE SOIL IN MANY AREAS. SOME
LOCATIONS RECEIVED 3 INCHES IN 1 HOUR. ANY ADDITIONAL ORGANIZED
CONVECTION WILL INITIATE MORE FLOODING. SOME FLOOD WARNINGS STILL
GOING BASED ON REPORTS OF CLOSED ROADS. OVER THE REST OF THE
CWA...HIGH PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES OF OVER 1.5 INCHES...RELATIVELY
SLOW STORM SPEEDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH AND TRAINING OF ECHOES POSSIBLE
NEAR THE BOUNDARY. COORDINATED WITH HPC AND SURROUNDING OFFICES ON
FFA AS HPC HAS US IN ISOLATED EXCESSIVE RAINFALL. DIFFICULT TO
DETERMINING EXACT LOCATION OF BOUNDARY WHICH MAY BE DRIVEN MORE BY
CONVECTION THAN SYNOPTIC PATTERN...SO WENT WITH ENTIRE FORECAST
AREA.

ETA SEEMS TO BE THE MODEL TO GO WITH AS IT HAS A BETTER HANDLE ON
INITIAL FRONTAL LOCATION...HAS HIGHER QPF AMOUNTS...WHICH HPC
SUGGESTS IS THE BEST CONSIDERING PAST COUPLE OF DAYS. GFS ALSO MAY
BE SUFFERING FROM CONVECTIVE FEEDBACK.

04Z SURFACE ANALYSIS HAD FRONT EXTENDING FROM NEAR SBN TO POF TO
WEAK SURFACE LOW NEAR PBF. ETA HAS THIS FRONT EXTENDING EAST TO WEST
OVER NORTHERN PART OF CWA BY 18Z WEDNESDAY...THEN SLOWLY SINKING
SOUTH TO KENTUCKY/TENNESSEE BORDER BY 06Z. WILL FOCUS POPS NEAR
BOUNDARY. AFTER THAT...THINGS GET A BIT MORE CONFUSING AS FRONT
APPEARS TO WASH OUT.

WEAK SYSTEM EXPECTED TO MOVE ACROSS THE NORTHEAST SECTIONS ON
THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THIS WILL BRING ANOTHER WEAK FRONT
INTO THE REGION...REACHING PAH AROUND 18Z FRIDAY...HANG UP OVER
TENNESSEE BY SATURDAY...THEN RETREAT NORTH AS A WARM FRONT BY
SUNDAY. WILL KEEP THE CHANCE OR SLIGHT CHANCE POPS GOING FROM
THURSDAY INTO SATURDAY.

DAY 1 OUTLOOK FROM SPC EXPECTS MAIN STORM INITIATION TO BE IN
SOUTHERN MISSOURI THIS AFTERNOON AND FOCUS ALONG FRONT ACROSS THE
CENTRAL PORTION OF CWA.

WILL GENERALLY RAISE TEMPERATURES OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF
DAYS...CLOSER TO MET NUMBERS TODAY AND THEN A COMBINATION OF MAV/MET
AND LOCAL TEMPERATURE COMPUTATIONS.

&&

.PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
KY...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 6AM THURSDAY.
MO...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 6AM THURSDAY.
IL...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 6AM THURSDAY.
IN...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 6AM THURSDAY.

&&

SPODEN

Hazardous weather outlook, May 26, 5:03 AM CDT, 6 hours 20 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
503 AM CDT WED MAY 26 2004

ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087-100-
107>112-114-271000-
ALEXANDER IL-BALLARD KY-BOLLINGER MO-BUTLER MO-CALDWELL KY-
CALLOWAY KY-CAPE GIRARDEAU MO-CARLISLE KY-CARTER MO-CHRISTIAN KY-
CRITTENDEN KY-DAVIESS KY-EDWARDS IL-FRANKLIN IL-FULTON KY-
GALLATIN IL-GIBSON IN-GRAVES KY-HAMILTON IL-HARDIN IL-HENDERSON KY-
HICKMAN KY-HOPKINS KY-JACKSON IL-JEFFERSON IL-JOHNSON IL-
LIVINGSTON KY-LYON KY-MARSHALL KY-MASSAC IL-MCCRACKEN KY-MCLEAN KY-
MISSISSIPPI MO-MUHLENBERG KY-NEW MADRID MO-PERRY MO-PERRY IL-PIKE IN-
POPE IL-POSEY IN-PULASKI IL-RIPLEY MO-SALINE IL-SCOTT MO-SPENCER IN-
STODDARD MO-TODD KY-TRIGG KY-UNION KY-UNION IL-VANDERBURGH IN-
WABASH IL-WARRICK IN-WAYNE MO-WAYNE IL-WEBSTER KY-WHITE IL-
WILLIAMSON IL-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SIKESTON...POPLAR BLUFF...PERRYVILLE...
CAPE GIRARDEAU...PADUCAH...OWENSBORO...MURRAY...MAYFIELD...
MADISONVILLE...HOPKINSVILLE...HENDERSON...EVANSVILLE...HERRIN...
HARRISBURG...CARMI...CARBONDALE AND CAIRO
503 AM CDT WED MAY 26 2004

...FLOOD WATCH TODAY AND TONIGHT FOR THE ENTIRE QUAD STATE AREA...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST MISSOURI...SOUTHERN
ILLINOIS...SOUTHWEST INDIANA AND WESTERN KENTUCKY.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

HEAVY RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE TODAY AND TONIGHT AS A SLOW MOVING FRONT
PUSHES THROUGH THE REGION. NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE
EXPECTED TODAY AND TONIGHT...SOME OF THEM WILL PRODUCE HEAVY
RAINFALL. PLEASE SEE THE LATEST FLOOD WATCH PRODUCT FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION.

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND
TONIGHT ACROSS THE ENTIRE QUAD STATE REGION. THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE
DAMAGING WINDS AND SOME LARGE HAIL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

THERE IS A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY.

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS BOTH THURSDAY AND
FRIDAY. THE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDS INTO SATURDAY AS
WELL.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUESTED MAINLY DURING THE AFTERNOON AND
EVENINGS FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGERS
SHOULD KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST FORECASTS AND STATEMENTS THROUGH THE
PERIOD. ANY REPORTS OF FLOODING OR HEAVY RAINFALL WOULD BE
APPRECIATED TODAY AND TONIGHT.

SPODEN

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 26, 10:23 AM CDT, 1 hour before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1023 AM CDT WED MAY 26 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1019 AM     HAIL             CARBONDALE              37.72N 89.22W
05/26/2004  1.00 INCH        JACKSON            IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

MJN

Local storm report, May 26, 10:26 AM CDT, 57 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1026 AM CDT WED MAY 26 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

&&

MJN

Local storm report, May 26, 10:32 AM CDT, 51 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1032 AM CDT WED MAY 26 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1020 AM     HAIL             MCLEANSBORO             38.09N 88.53W
05/26/2004  1.75 INCH        HAMILTON           IL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            THE HAIL WAS REPORTED BETWEEN MCLEANSBORO AND WAYNE CITY
            IN HAMILTON COUNTY AND REPORTED BY AN OFF DUTY DEPUTY
            SHERIFF.

&&

MJN

Local storm report, May 26, 10:41 AM CDT, 42 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1041 AM CDT WED MAY 26 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1034 AM     HAIL             9 W HARRISBURG          37.74N 88.71W
05/26/2004  1.00 INCH        WILLIAMSON         IL   EMERGENCY MNGR

&&

MJN

Local storm report, May 26, 10:42 AM CDT, 41 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1042 AM CDT WED MAY 26 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1037 AM     HAIL             HERRIN                  37.80N 89.03W
05/26/2004  1.75 INCH        WILLIAMSON         IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

1038 AM     HAIL             HERRIN                  37.80N 89.03W
05/26/2004  1.25 INCH        WILLIAMSON         IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

MJN

Local storm report, May 26, 11:09 AM CDT, 14 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1109 AM CDT WED MAY 26 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1108 AM     HEAVY RAIN       BENTON                  38.01N 88.92W
05/26/2004  0.00 INCH        FRANKLIN           IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            CREEKS AND STREAMS HIGH...WATER STANDING ON MANY ROADS
            BETWEEN WEST FRANKFORT AND BENTON

&&

MJN

The office that day

Everything else NWS Paducah, KY issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 25, 7:31 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	PAH	Hamilton, White	119 min
May 25, 10:11 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Johnson	34 min
May 25, 10:26 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Pope	49 min
May 26, 9:54 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Jefferson	36 min
May 26, 9:59 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Hamilton, Wayne	46 min
May 26, 10:15 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Jackson, Williamson	45 min
May 26, 10:19 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	White	41 min
May 26, 10:34 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Saline	41 min
May 26, 10:39 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Franklin	36 min
May 26, 11:00 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Williamson	45 min
May 26, 11:12 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Gallatin, Saline	63 min
May 26, 11:41 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	PAH	Hardin	49 min
May 26, 1:52 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Jackson, Perry	38 min
May 26, 2:16 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Franklin	29 min
May 26, 2:37 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	PAH	Franklin	83 min
May 26, 2:40 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Hamilton, Saline	50 min
May 26, 3:08 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Gallatin	37 min
May 26, 3:57 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Pulaski	33 min
May 26, 4:00 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	PAH	Gallatin, Saline	2 hr
May 26, 4:04 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Massac	41 min
May 26, 6:06 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Wayne	29 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Illinois, 2004 Every tornado warning in 2004 Tornadoes in 2004

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.