Alert archive / Illinois / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 71, NWS Lincoln, IL

December 27, 20085 counties in Illinois

NWS Lincoln, IL issued this tornado warning at Dec 27, 2008, 1:20 PM CST for 5 counties in Illinois. It was in force for 40 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: Dec 27, 2008, 1:20 PM CST (19:20 UTC)
Expired: Dec 27, 2008, 2:00 PM CST
In force: 40 min
Issued by: NWS Lincoln, IL
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Champaign County, IL, DeWitt County, IL, Macon County, IL, Moultrie County, IL, Piatt County, IL

The radar

The Lincoln radar (KILX), 53 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:21 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.

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Dec 27, 1:28 PM CST	TSTM WND DMG	1 N Mount Zion, IL	POLE BARN DESTROYED.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The watch it was issued in

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

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Dec 27, 10:58 AM CST	Tornado Watch	SPC	8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 12:00Z, 7.3 hours before the alert went out and 31 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: 87 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -128 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 538 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 47 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 451 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 455 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 1.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS53 KILX 271920
TORILX
ILC019-039-115-139-147-272000-
/O.NEW.KILX.TO.W.0071.081227T1920Z-081227T2000Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
120 PM CST SAT DEC 27 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LINCOLN HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  EXTREME NORTHWESTERN MOULTRIE COUNTY IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS...
  MACON COUNTY IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS...
  EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN DE WITT COUNTY IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS...
  PIATT COUNTY IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS...
  EXTREME WESTERN CHAMPAIGN COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS...

* UNTIL 200 PM CST.

* AT 120 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 5 MILES
  NORTHWEST OF MACON...OR ABOUT 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DECATUR...MOVING
  NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  DECATUR...
  LONG CREEK...
  MOUNT ZION...
  FORSYTH...
  OREANA...
  CERRO GORDO...
  ARGENTA...
  HAMMOND...

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...BEMENT...HARRISTOWN...
MONTICELLO AND WHITE HEATH.

WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED...IT MEANS THAT STRONG ROTATION HAS
BEEN DETECTED IN THE STORM...AND ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS SUPPORT THAT
ROTATION REACHING THE GROUND. A TORNADO MAY ALREADY BE ON THE
GROUND...OR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SHORTLY. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF
THIS DANGEROUS STORM...MOVE INDOORS AND TO THE LOWEST LEVEL OF THE
BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF DRIVING...DO NOT SEEK SHELTER
UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS.

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

LAT...LON 4005 8880 4020 8846 3980 8848 3976 8881
      3968 8907 3988 8917
TIME...MOT...LOC 1920Z 233DEG 53KT 3979 8900

$$

SMITH

3 follow-up statements

000 
WWUS53 KILX 271927
SVSILX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
127 PM CST SAT DEC 27 2008

ILC019-039-115-139-147-272000-
/O.CON.KILX.TO.W.0071.000000T0000Z-081227T2000Z/
CHAMPAIGN-DE WITT-MACON-MOULTRIE-PIATT-
128 PM CST SAT DEC 27 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 PM CST FOR EXTREME
WESTERN CHAMPAIGN...PIATT...EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN DE WITT...MACON AND
EXTREME NORTHERN MOULTRIE COUNTIES...

AT 126 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS CONTINUED TO
DETECT A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 2 MILES NORTHWEST OF
MOUNT ZION...OR ABOUT 4 MILES SOUTHEAST OF DECATUR...MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 60 MPH.

PEOPLE NEAR THESE LOCATIONS ARE STILL THREATENED...
  CERRO GORDO...
  LA PLACE...
  ARGENTA...
  MILMINE...
  CISCO...
  HAMMOND...
  BEMENT...
  MONTICELLO...
  DE LAND...
  WHITE HEATH...

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 72 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 129 AND 173.

WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR...IT MEANS
THAT STRONG ROTATION HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE STORM. A TORNADO MAY
ALREADY BE ON THE GROUND...OR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SHORTLY. IF YOU
ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS DANGEROUS STORM...MOVE INDOORS AND TO THE
LOWEST LEVEL OF THE BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF DRIVING...DO
NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS.

DO NOT USE YOUR CAR TO TRY TO OUTRUN A TORNADO. CARS ARE EASILY
TOSSED AROUND BY TORNADO WINDS. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN THE PATH OF A
TORNADO...LEAVE THE CAR AND GO TO A STRONG BUILDING. IF NO SAFE
STRUCTURE IS NEARBY...SEEK SHELTER IN A DITCH OR LOW SPOT AND COVER
YOUR HEAD.

LAT...LON 4005 8880 4020 8846 3980 8848 3976 8881
      3968 8907 3988 8917
TIME...MOT...LOC 1928Z 233DEG 53KT 3982 8887

$$

SMITH

000 
WWUS53 KILX 271934
SVSILX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
134 PM CST SAT DEC 27 2008

ILC019-039-115-139-147-272000-
/O.CON.KILX.TO.W.0071.000000T0000Z-081227T2000Z/
CHAMPAIGN-DE WITT-MACON-MOULTRIE-PIATT-
134 PM CST SAT DEC 27 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 PM CST FOR EXTREME
WESTERN CHAMPAIGN...PIATT...EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN DE WITT...MACON AND
EXTREME NORTHERN MOULTRIE COUNTIES...

AT 131 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR LONG CREEK...OR
ABOUT 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF DECATUR...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.

PEOPLE NEAR THESE LOCATIONS ARE STILL THREATENED...
  CERRO GORDO...
  HAMMOND...
  MILMINE...
  BEMENT...
  CISCO...
  MONTICELLO...
  DE LAND...
  WHITE HEATH...
  LODGE...
  GALESVILLE...

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 72 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 129 AND 173.

DO NOT USE HIGHWAY OVERPASSES FOR SHELTER. OVERPASSES DO NOT PROVIDE
PROTECTION FROM TORNADIC WINDS. VEHICLES STOPPED UNDER BRIDGES BLOCK
TRAFFIC AND PREVENT PEOPLE FROM GETTING OUT OF THE STORMS PATH AND
TO SHELTER. IF YOU CANNOT DRIVE AWAY FROM THE TORNADO...GET OUT OF
YOUR VEHICLE AND LIE FLAT IN A DITCH AS A LAST RESORT.

LAT...LON 4005 8880 4020 8846 3980 8848 3976 8881
      3968 8907 3988 8917
TIME...MOT...LOC 1934Z 233DEG 53KT 3984 8879

$$

SMITH

000 
WWUS53 KILX 271959
SVSILX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
159 PM CST SAT DEC 27 2008

ILC019-039-115-139-147-272006-
/O.EXP.KILX.TO.W.0071.000000T0000Z-081227T2000Z/
CHAMPAIGN-DE WITT-MACON-MOULTRIE-PIATT-
159 PM CST SAT DEC 27 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EXTREME WESTERN CHAMPAIGN...PIATT...
EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN DE WITT...MACON AND EXTREME NORTHERN MOULTRIE
COUNTIES EXPIRES AT 200 PM CST...

AT 159 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THAT
THE THUNDERSTORM THAT HAD PROMPTED THE WARNING HAD MOVED OUT OF THE
AREA...THUS THE WARNING HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

LAT...LON 4005 8880 4020 8846 3980 8848 3976 8881
      3968 8907 3988 8917
TIME...MOT...LOC 1956Z 233DEG 53KT 4003 8845

$$

SMITH

SMITH

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Dec 26, 6:11 PM CST	River Flood Warning	ILX	Fulton	6 days
Dec 27, 3:47 AM CST	Wind Advisory	ILX	Champaign, Christian, Clark, Clay, Coles, Crawford and 16 more	12 hr
Dec 27, 3:47 AM CST	Wind Advisory	ILX	Champaign, Christian, Clark, Clay, Coles, Crawford and 16 more	35 min
Dec 27, 3:52 AM CST	Flash Flood Warning	ILX	Schuyler	3 hr
Dec 27, 10:55 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	Cass, Fulton, Mason, Menard, Morgan, Schuyler and 1 more	65 min
Dec 27, 11:19 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	Fulton, Knox, Peoria, Stark	56 min
Dec 27, 11:24 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	Cass, Menard, Morgan, Sangamon, Scott	66 min
Dec 27, 11:51 AM CST	Tornado Warning	ILX	Fulton, Peoria	24 min
Dec 27, 12:02 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	DeWitt, Fulton, Logan, McLean, Mason, Menard and 3 more	58 min
Dec 27, 12:06 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	McLean, Marshall, Peoria, Stark, Tazewell, Woodford	54 min
Dec 27, 12:12 PM CST	Tornado Warning	ILX	Marshall, Peoria, Stark, Woodford	48 min
Dec 27, 12:15 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	Christian, DeWitt, Logan, Macon, Menard, Sangamon and 1 more	60 min
Dec 27, 12:37 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	Champaign, DeWitt, Logan, McLean, Macon, Piatt and 3 more	38 min
Dec 27, 12:39 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	Christian, Moultrie, Sangamon, Shelby	66 min
Dec 27, 12:41 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	Champaign, DeWitt, Logan, McLean, Macon, Piatt and 3 more	34 min
Dec 27, 12:44 PM CST	Tornado Warning	ILX	DeWitt, Logan, Macon, Sangamon	31 min
Dec 27, 12:53 PM CST	Tornado Warning	ILX	Christian, Logan, Macon, Sangamon	37 min
Dec 27, 12:57 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	Shelby	63 min
Dec 27, 12:59 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	Marshall, Woodford	31 min
Dec 27, 1:10 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	Champaign, Coles, Douglas, Edgar, Macon, Moultrie and 3 more	65 min
Dec 27, 1:12 PM CST	Tornado Warning	ILX	Champaign, DeWitt, McLean, Macon, Piatt	33 min
Dec 27, 1:16 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	DeWitt, Macon, Piatt	44 min
Dec 27, 1:19 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	Champaign, DeWitt, Macon, Moultrie, Piatt	41 min
Dec 27, 1:26 PM CST	Flash Flood Warning	ILX	Fulton	3 hr
Dec 27, 1:35 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	Christian, Macon, Moultrie, Shelby	25 min
Dec 27, 1:45 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	Coles, Cumberland, Moultrie, Shelby	60 min
Dec 27, 1:49 PM CST	River Flood Warning	ILX	McLean, Tazewell, Woodford	22 hr
Dec 27, 2:03 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	Vermilion	41 min
Dec 27, 2:16 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	Champaign, Coles, Douglas, Edgar, Moultrie, Vermilion	34 min
Dec 27, 2:32 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	Christian, Coles, Cumberland, Effingham, Moultrie, Shelby	43 min
Dec 27, 2:51 PM CST	Flash Flood Warning	ILX	Stark	3 hr
Dec 27, 3:11 PM CST	Flash Flood Warning	ILX	Schuyler	3 hr
Dec 27, 3:11 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	Champaign, Coles, Douglas, Edgar, Moultrie, Piatt and 1 more	49 min
Dec 27, 3:15 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	Clark, Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Effingham	45 min
Dec 27, 3:21 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	Moultrie, Shelby	24 min
Dec 27, 3:35 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	Edgar, Vermilion	27 min
Dec 27, 4:28 PM CST	Areal Flood Warning	ILX	Fulton	12 hr
Dec 27, 5:17 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILX	Clay	43 min
Dec 27, 5:22 PM CST	Areal Flood Warning	ILX	Champaign, Vermilion	11 hr
Dec 27, 5:44 PM CST	Areal Flood Warning	ILX	Stark	6 hr
Dec 27, 5:55 PM CST	Areal Flood Warning	ILX	Stark	6 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Illinois, 2008 Every tornado warning in 2008 Tornadoes in 2008

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.