Alert archive / Illinois / Flash Flood Warnings in 2005

Flash Flood Warning 12, NWS Lincoln, IL

May 11, 2005Moultrie County, Illinois

NWS Lincoln, IL issued this flash flood warning at May 11, 2005, 9:03 PM CDT for Moultrie County, Illinois. It was in force for 6 hr. 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 11, 2005, 9:03 PM CDT (02:03 UTC)
Expired: May 12, 2005, 3:00 AM CDT
In force: 6 hr
Issued by: NWS Lincoln, IL
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Moultrie County, IL

The radar

The Lincoln radar (KILX), 75 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:07 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 flash flood 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 nearest sounding before it

Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 00:00Z, 2.1 hours before the alert went out and 48 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: 1278 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 33 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 128 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 263 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 1.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WGUS53 KILX 120205
FFWILX
ILC139-120800-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
903 PM CDT WED MAY 11 2005

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LINCOLN HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN MOULTRIE COUNTY IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS

* UNTIL 300 AM CDT

* AT 856 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL WERE MOVING BACK INTO
  THE WARNED AREA. DOPPLER RADAR ESTIMATED 4 TO 5 INCHES OF RAINFALL
  IN LOVINGTON WEST TO THE MACON COUNTY LINE.

* SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING TORRENTIAL RAINFALL WILL MOVE
  BACK INTO THE WARNED AREA THIS AREA. RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE
  RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS
  THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...BETHANY...LOVINGTON...
  CADWELL AND LAKE CITY.

FLOODING IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT...AS DARKNESS OBSCURES THE
DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED...ACT QUICKLY.
MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT STAY IN AREAS
SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.

REPORT ANY FLOODING TO YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGER...OR THE NEAREST
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY...FOR RELAY TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

LAT...LON 3979 8849 3963 8848 3959 8880 3973 8881
      3974 8876 3979 8875

$$

BARKER

3 follow-up statements

000 
WGUS73 KILX 120445
FFSILX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
1140 PM CDT WED MAY 11 2005

ILC139-120800-
MOULTRIE IL-
1140 PM CDT WED MAY 11 2005

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR MOULTRIE COUNTY UNTIL 300 AM
CDT...

AT 1138 PM CDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS REPORTED THAT FLASH
FLOODING WAS STILL OCCURRING IN LOVINGTON.

THE MOULTRIE COUNTY SHERIFF REPORTED THAT FLOODING WAS STILL 
OCCURRING IN LOVINGTON, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HAD 
BLOCKED THE LOCAL ROADWAYS WITH BARRICADES. RAIN WAS STILL FALLING 
ACROSS THE AREA...BUT SHOULD COME TO AN END BY 1 AM. FLOODING WILL 
LIKELY CONTINUE INTO THE EARLY MORNING HOURS.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF FLOODING IS OBSERVED ACT QUICKLY. MOVE UP TO
HIGHER GROUND TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT STAY IN AREAS SUBJECT TO
FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.

REPORT ANY FLOODING TO YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGER...OR THE NEAREST
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY...FOR RELAY TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

LAT...LON 3979 8849 3963 8848 3959 8880 3973 8881
      3974 8876 3979 8875

$$
SHIMON

000 
WGUS73 KILX 120523
FFSILX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
1219 AM CDT THU MAY 12 2005

ILC139-120800-
MOULTRIE IL-
1219 AM CDT THU MAY 12 2005

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR MOULTRIE COUNTY UNTIL 300 AM
CDT...

AT 1215 AM CDT...WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED THAT FLASH FLOODING WAS 
OCCURRING IN LOVINGTON. THE SPOTTER MEASURED 3.5 INCHES OF RAIN 
SINCE THIS EVENING. THEY REPORTED THAT ROUTE 32 IN LOVINGTON HAD 
WATER STANDING ON THE CURVE, AND THAT OTHER STREETS IN LOVINGTON 
WERE CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING. ROUTE 133 HAD FIELD DEBRIS COVERING 
BOTH LANES 1 MILE EAST OF LOVINGTON. THE DEBRIS WAS FROM PREVIOUS 
FLOODING. 

THE STEADY RAIN SHOULD COME TO AN END ACROSS MOULTRIE COUNTY BEFORE 
1245 AM, BUT FLOODING WILL LIKELY BE A PROBLEM FOR ANOTHER FEW 
HOURS. 

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF FLOODING IS OBSERVED ACT QUICKLY. MOVE UP TO
HIGHER GROUND TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT STAY IN AREAS SUBJECT TO
FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.

REPORT ANY FLOODING TO YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGER...OR THE NEAREST
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY...FOR RELAY TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

LAT...LON 3979 8849 3963 8848 3959 8880 3973 8881
      3974 8876 3979 8875

$$
SHIMON

000 
WGUS73 KILX 120808
FFSILX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
303 AM CDT THU MAY 12 2005

ILC139-120813-
MOULTRIE IL-
303 AM CDT THU MAY 12 2005

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING THAT WAS IN EFFECT FOR MOULTRIE COUNTY HAS
BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE...

EXCESS RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAIN HAS DIMINISHED OVER THE WARNED AREA. 
DITCHES AND DRAINS IN THE WARNED AREA WERE BEGINNING TO RECEDE OR 
PASS WATER...ENDING THE FLASH FLOOD THREAT. ROADWAYS IN AND NEAR 
LOVINGTON ARE MOST LIKELY STILL UNDER SHALLOW WATER, ESPECIALLY 
ROUTE 32 IN LOVINGTON NEAR THE CURVE. TRAVEL IS STILL DIFFICULT, SO 
BE EXTRA CAUTIOUS OF ANY FLOODED ROADS. NEVER DRIVE THROUGH A 
FLOODED ROADWAY. TURN AROUND, DONT DROWN.

REPORT ANY FLOODING TO YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGER...OR THE NEAREST
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY...FOR RELAY TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

LAT...LON 3979 8849 3963 8848 3959 8880 3973 8881
      3974 8876 3979 8875

$$

SHIMON

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.

NWS Lincoln, IL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at May 11, 2:00 PM CDT, 7 hours 3 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 11, 2:00 PM CDT, 7 hours 3 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
2 PM CDT WED MAY 11 2005

.DISCUSSION...

WILL BE ISSUING ZONES AND GRIDS A BIT EARLY TODAY WITH ISSUANCE OF
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 247.

SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY...
ABUNDANT MESOSCALE CONCERNS REGARDING POTENTIAL CONVECTION THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING. OUTFLOW BOUNDARY FROM LAST NIGHTS CONVECTION
IS NOW IN PLACE FROM NEAR DANVILLE TO TAYLORVILLE AND IS PRODUCING
LOCALLY POOLING DEWPOINTS INTO THE 70S. THE 18Z KILX SOUNDING STILL
SHOWS THE SHALLOW COLD POOL ASSOCIATED WITH THIS BOUNDARY...HOWEVER
WINDS HAVE NOW BECOME SOUTHEAST AT PIA AND GBG AND 18Z SURFACE OBS
INDICATE THAT THE COOLER AIR HAS VIRTUALLY MIXED OUT ALLOWING THE
MAIN BOUNDARY TO REORGANIZE ITSELF NEAR I-80.  IN ADDITION...A
REINFORCEMENT OF THE COOL AIR IS SPEEDING SOUTHWARD THROUGH NORTHERN
ILLINOIS AT THIS TIME AND SHOULD PUSH SOUTH THROUGH AFTERNOON AND
EVENING.

THE COMBINATION OF BOUNDARIES AND POOLING OF MOISTURE HAS ALREADY
PRODUCED MUCAPE VALUES >3000 J/KG SOUTHEAST OF THE ORIGINAL OUTFLOW
WITH LITTLE OR NO CAPE.  WOULD EXPECT SCATTERED DEVELOPMENT ALONG
THIS BOUNDARY THIS AFTERNOON. THIS EVENING...MCS NOW DEVELOPING OVER
NORTHWEST MISSOURI WILL LIKELY TRACK NORTHEAST AND THEN EAST
SOUTHEAST ALONG PLUNGING FRONTAL BOUNDARY.  WOULD EXPECT THAT MUCH
OF THE AREA SHOULD SEE STORMS AT SOME POINT OVERNIGHT GIVEN THE
BOUNDARIES...THE APPROACHING MCS...AND AN INCREASING LLJ.  ONLY
QUESTION IS LACK OF SIGNIFICANT DYNAMICS WITH THE BEST FORCING NORTH
AND WEST OF THE AREA.

SOMEWHAT OF A LULL IS LIKELY ON THURSDAY WITH ONLY SCATTERED
ACTIVITY LIKELY OVER THE CENTRAL AND NORTH.  OF COURSE THAT DEPENDS
ON THE BOUNDARY PLACEMENT IN THE WAKE OF TONIGHTS MCS.

NEXT LIKELY POPS CAN BE EXPECTED ON FRIDAY AS DYNAMICS OF MAIN LOBE
ASSOCIATED WITH UPPER LOW OVER NORTHERN PLAINS REACHES AREA WITH
ASSOCIATED FRONT. COOLER TEMPS ALOFT WILL ENHANCE INSTABILITY
BRINGING ANOTHER POTENTIAL ROUND OF SEVERE WEATHER.

PRECIP WILL LIKELY LINGER INTO SATURDAY UNTIL MAIN TROUGH PASSES
THROUGH.

LONG TERM...SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...
NORTHWEST FLOW SHOULD KEEP FORECAST AREA COOL AND DRY INTO NEXT
WEEK.  NEXT SYSTEM APPROACHES THE AREA LATE TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY.

&&

.ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IL...NONE.

&&

BARKER

Hazardous weather outlook, May 11, 11:30 AM CDT, 9 hours 33 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
1130 AM CDT WED MAY 11 2005

ILZ027>031-036>038-040>057-061>063-066>068-071>073-121100-
CASS-CHAMPAIGN-CHRISTIAN-CLARK-CLAY-COLES-CRAWFORD-CUMBERLAND-
DE WITT-DOUGLAS-EDGAR-EFFINGHAM-FULTON-JASPER-KNOX-LAWRENCE-LOGAN-
MACON-MARSHALL-MASON-MCLEAN-MENARD-MORGAN-MOULTRIE-PEORIA-PIATT-
RICHLAND-SANGAMON-SCHUYLER-SCOTT-SHELBY-STARK-TAZEWELL-VERMILION-
WOODFORD-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BLOOMINGTON...CHAMPAIGN...DANVILLE...
DECATUR...EFFINGHAM...FLORA...GALESBURG...HAVANA...JACKSONVILLE...
LAWRENCEVILLE...LINCOLN...MATTOON...PEORIA...SHELBYVILLE...
SPRINGFIELD AND TAYLORVILLE
1130 AM CDT WED MAY 11 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS CENTRAL AND
SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO THIS EVENING. THE BEST
CHANCES FOR SEVERE STORMS WILL BE FROM PEORIA SOUTHWARD BETWEEN
3 AND 9 PM. LARGE HAIL IS THE MAIN SEVERE WEATHER THREAT. GUSTY
WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN WITH SOME PONDING OF WATER IN URBAN AREAS CAN
ALSO BE EXPECTED.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

A CONTINUED CHANCE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ON
THURSDAY NORTHWEST OF THE ILLINOIS RIVER. THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE
OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS FROM
THE ILLINOIS RIVER SOUTHEAST ON FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT AS A COLD
FRONT MOVES THROUGH ILLINOIS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED BETWEEN 3 AND 9 PM THIS AFTERNOON
AND EARLY EVENING.

&&

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

HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/LINCOLN. THIS ADDRESS IS ALL IN LOWER CASE.

HUETTL/SHIMON

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 11, 6:47 PM CDT, 2 hours 16 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
647 PM CDT WED MAY 11 2005

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

0642 PM     FLASH FLOOD      BLUE MOUND              39.70N 89.12W
05/11/2005                   MACON              IL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            STATE HIGHWAY 48 UNDER WATER SW OF BLUE MOUND. IN
            ADDITION...A FEW COUNTY ROADS IN SW MACON COUNTY UNDER
            WATER.

&&

KELLY

Local storm report, May 11, 6:58 PM CDT, 2 hours 5 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
658 PM CDT WED MAY 11 2005

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

0656 PM     FLASH FLOOD      LOVINGTON               39.71N 88.63W
05/11/2005                   MOULTRIE           IL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            WATER COVERING ROADS IN LOVINGTON.

&&

KELLY

Local storm report, May 11, 7:09 PM CDT, 1 hour 54 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
709 PM CDT WED MAY 11 2005

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

0553 PM     HAIL             CHATHAM                 39.67N 89.70W
05/11/2005  0.75 INCH        SANGAMON           IL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            FROM COUNTY SHERIFF.

&&

KELLY

Local storm report, May 11, 7:58 PM CDT, 1 hour 5 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
758 PM CDT WED MAY 11 2005

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

0552 PM     HAIL             BLUE MOUND              39.70N 89.12W
05/11/2005  1.75 INCH        MACON              IL   AMATEUR RADIO

            HAM RADIO REPORT.

0754 PM     FLASH FLOOD      BLUE MOUND              39.70N 89.12W
05/11/2005                   MACON              IL   AMATEUR RADIO

            THREE FEET OF WATER STILL OVER ILLINOIS ROUTE 48 JUST
            SOUTHWEST OF BLUE MOUND. WATER HAS BEEN FLOWING OVER THE
            ROAD FOR OVER AN HOUR.

&&

KELLY

Local storm report, May 11, 8:15 PM CDT, 48 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
815 PM CDT WED MAY 11 2005

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

0730 PM     TSTM WND DMG     WOODSON                 39.63N 90.22W
05/11/2005                   MORGAN             IL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            POWERLINES BLOWN DOWN.

&&

KELLY

Local storm report, May 11, 8:23 PM CDT, 40 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
823 PM CDT WED MAY 11 2005

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

0730 PM     FLASH FLOOD      2 W ARTHUR              39.72N 88.51W
05/11/2005                   MOULTRIE           IL   CO-OP OBSERVER

            WATER OVER ILLINOIS HIGHWAY 133...WATER AT THE SHALLOWEST
            POINT WAS 6 TO 8 INCHES. REPORTED BY LOVINGTON
            COOPERATIVE OBSERVER.

&&

KELLY

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 11, 7:07 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	Moultrie, Shelby	53 min
May 11, 7:15 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	Morgan, Scott	39 min
May 11, 8:14 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	Christian	45 min
May 11, 8:56 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	ILX	Edgar	6 hr
May 11, 9:00 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	ILX	Christian, Macon	6 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Illinois, 2005 Every flash flood warning in 2005

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.