Alert archive / Illinois / Tornado Warnings in 2014

Tornado Warning 23, NWS Paducah, KY

April 3, 2014Union County, Williamson County, Illinois

NWS Paducah, KY issued this tornado warning at Apr 3, 2014, 8:34 PM CDT for Union County, Williamson County, Illinois. It was in force for 26 min. 3 reports 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: Apr 3, 2014, 8:34 PM CDT (01:34 UTC)
Expired: Apr 3, 2014, 9:00 PM CDT
In force: 26 min
Issued by: NWS Paducah, KY
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 0.75 in

Counties Union County, IL, Williamson County, IL

The radar

The Paducah radar (KPAH), 66 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:34 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
Apr 3, 8:45 PM CDT	FUNNEL CLOUD	2 W Jonesboro, IL	STRONG ROTATION NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF HWYS 127 AND 146.
Apr 3, 8:52 PM CDT	TORNADO	4 Ne Anna, IL	NWS STORM DAMAGE SURVEY REVEALS EF0 TORNADO WITH A PATH LENGTH OF 5 MILES. DAMAGE TO TREES. TIME ESTIMATED.
Apr 3, 9:00 PM CDT	TORNADO	9 Ne Anna, IL	NWS STORM SURVEY REVEALS EF0 TORNADO WITH A PATH LENGTH OF 4.5 MILES. DAMAGE TO TREES.

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

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 2 storm reports to this tornado warning; the first came 18 minutes after it went out.

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
Apr 3, 8:30 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 00:00Z, 1.6 hours before the alert went out and 280 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: 999 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -31 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1348 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 56 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 236 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 289 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 1.1
Supercell composite: 6.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

806 
WFUS53 KPAH 040134
TORPAH
ILC181-199-040200-
/O.NEW.KPAH.TO.W.0023.140404T0134Z-140404T0200Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
834 PM CDT THU APR 3 2014

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PADUCAH HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  UNION COUNTY IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...
  SOUTHWESTERN WILLIAMSON COUNTY IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...

* UNTIL 900 PM CDT

* AT 830 PM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A
  TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR WARE...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

  HAZARD...TORNADO.

  SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED ROTATION.

  IMPACT...FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE DANGEROUS TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT
           SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES WILL BE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. DAMAGE
           TO ROOFS...WINDOWS AND VEHICLES WILL OCCUR. TREE DAMAGE IS
           LIKELY.

* THIS DANGEROUS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  JONESBORO AROUND 840 PM CDT.
  ANNA AND COBDEN AROUND 845 PM CDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

&&

LAT...LON 3773 8904 3745 8904 3733 8937 3745 8944
      3760 8923 3760 8916 3765 8916
TIME...MOT...LOC 0135Z 235DEG 38KT 3742 8933

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$
PS

1 follow-up statement

369 
WWUS53 KPAH 040143
SVSPAH

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
843 PM CDT THU APR 3 2014

ILC181-199-040200-
/O.CON.KPAH.TO.W.0023.000000T0000Z-140404T0200Z/
UNION IL-WILLIAMSON IL-
843 PM CDT THU APR 3 2014

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWESTERN WILLIAMSON
AND UNION COUNTIES IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNTIL 900 PM CDT...

AT 838 PM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO
WAS LOCATED NEAR JONESBORO...AND MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH.

HAZARD...TORNADO.

SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED ROTATION.

IMPACT...FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE DANGEROUS TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT
         SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES WILL BE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. DAMAGE
         TO ROOFS...WINDOWS AND VEHICLES WILL OCCUR. TREE DAMAGE IS
         LIKELY.

THIS DANGEROUS STORM WILL AFFECT MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF SOUTHWESTERN
WILLIAMSON AND UNION COUNTIES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

&&

LAT...LON 3773 8904 3745 8905 3736 8933 3750 8937
      3760 8923 3760 8916 3765 8916
TIME...MOT...LOC 0143Z 252DEG 46KT 3745 8925

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$
PS

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 Apr 3, 7:10 PM CDT, 1 hour 24 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 3, 7:10 PM CDT, 1 hour 24 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
710 PM CDT Thu Apr 3 2014

.UPDATE...
Isolated severe tstms are still possible this evening in the PAH
forecast area as a mid-level cap begins to erode. The main event
will be with the approach of a cold front around midnight. Updated
aviation section.

&&

.SHORT TERM /Tonight through Saturday night/...
Issued at 250 PM CDT Thu Apr 3 2014

Main concern in the short term is severe weather and flooding
potential tonight.

Over the past 24 hours...three convective complexes have affected
parts of the forecast area. These complexes were forecast very
poorly by the models...including the high res mesoscale models.
Based on the poor track record of the models...there is not a high
degree of confidence in the evolution of convection tonight.

Widespread convection earlier today stabilized much of southern
Illinois...southwest Indiana...and northwest Kentucky. To the
south of this activity...SPC objective analysis charts indicate
surface based capes from 1000 to 2000 j/kg as of 19z...but also
some convective inhibition. NAM/RAP model soundings indicate a
warm layer around 750 to 800 mb that may be capping development.
This warm layer will erode this evening...but then lapse rates
below 850 mb become poor.

By 04z widespread convection will develop or move into the
forecast area as a potent 500 mb shortwave over the Plains lifts
northeast...producing strong deep layer forcing in a very moist
environment. RAP forecast soundings indicate the low level jet
will increase to 60 knots as it shifts east to the Mississippi
River around or shortly after 00z. In general...shear profiles and
hodographs will become more favorable for supercells by
00z...especially west of the Kentucky Lake region. The potential
limiting factor will be low to mid level lapse rates...as noted
above.

Wind fields will become more unidirectional late this
evening...as evidenced by curved hodographs becoming more straight
line. This will result in a transition to a linear /qlcs/ storm
mode...with damaging straight line winds the primary threat.
Isolated qlcs tornadoes will be possible.

Convective complexes over the past 24 hours have produced locally
heavy rainfall...leading to some isolated flash flooding. With a
strong low level jet and unseasonably moist air mass in
place...there is a potential for more heavy rain. A Flash Flood
Watch has been issued to address this potential. These complexes
have missed most of southeast Missouri...so that area was not
included in the watch.

The cold front will exit the khop/kevv areas by 12z...bringing an
end to all activity. There may be considerable instability
cu/stratocu during the day...per gfs and nam model soundings.
Temps will generally remain steady in the 50s with gusty
northwest winds.

Friday night through Saturday night will be mainly clear and cool
with some potential for frost in the early morning hours. Surface
high pressure will pass over or just north of the forecast area on
Saturday.

.LONG TERM /Sunday through Thursday/...
Issued at 250 PM CDT Thu Apr 3 2014

The next weather system takes shape to our south Sunday, and for at
least the second consecutive day, moves in with pcpn Sunday night
and extends that at least through part of early next week.

This happens as a broad long wave trof carves out across the eastern
half of the country, with us in the cool/damp flow underneath. We'll
go ahead and accept the allblended pops for the Sunday night through
Tuesday time period, focusing on the best chance time period Sunday
night as the system lifts out. Elevated instability there continues
to support the isolated mention of thunder we inherited, so we kept
it.

Temps remain in balance with consistently forecast highs in the
upper 50s to lower 60s, and lows in the upper 30s to 40s. These
represent values some 10 degrees or more below climo norms for this
time of year...though some hint at warming a little toward the end
of the period is noted.

&&

.AVIATION...
Issued at 710 PM CDT Thu Apr 3 2014

This is a tough forecast for timing of convective events. Active
convection this evening...moving in from the sw, will take VFR or
MVFR conditions to temporary IFR conditions. Isolated severe weather
is possible. Cold frontal passage tonight will mark the most
restrictive flight conditions. Somewhat variable winds early this
evening are expected to become more southerly and strengthen ahead
of the system, shifting to the west late tonight. Clouds should
eventually disperse tomorrow morning and return to VFR flight levels
in the wake of the system's departure.

&&

.PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
KY...FLASH FLOOD WATCH through Friday morning FOR KYZ001>022.

MO...FLASH FLOOD WATCH through Friday morning FOR MOZ076-087-111-112.

IL...FLASH FLOOD WATCH through Friday morning FOR ILZ075>078-080>094.

IN...FLASH FLOOD WATCH through Friday morning FOR INZ081-082-085>088.

&&

SHORT TERM...MY
LONG TERM....DH
AVIATION...DH

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 3, 9:14 AM CDT, 11 hours 20 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
914 AM CDT THU APR 3 2014

ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087-
100-107>112-114-041000-
JEFFERSON-WAYNE IL-EDWARDS-WABASH-PERRY IL-FRANKLIN-HAMILTON-
WHITE-JACKSON-WILLIAMSON-SALINE-GALLATIN-UNION IL-JOHNSON-POPE-
HARDIN-ALEXANDER-PULASKI-MASSAC-GIBSON-PIKE-POSEY-VANDERBURGH-
WARRICK-SPENCER-FULTON-HICKMAN-CARLISLE-BALLARD-MCCRACKEN-GRAVES-
LIVINGSTON-MARSHALL-CALLOWAY-CRITTENDEN-LYON-TRIGG-CALDWELL-
UNION KY-WEBSTER-HOPKINS-CHRISTIAN-HENDERSON-DAVIESS-MCLEAN-
MUHLENBERG-TODD-PERRY MO-BOLLINGER-CAPE GIRARDEAU-WAYNE MO-CARTER-
RIPLEY-BUTLER-STODDARD-SCOTT-MISSISSIPPI-NEW MADRID-
914 AM CDT THU APR 3 2014

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IS FORECAST ACROSS THE
ENTIRE REGION TODAY AND TONIGHT. LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND
TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE. THE BEST CHANCE TIME PERIOD FOR SEVERE
WEATHER IS LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT...WHEN THE COLD FRONT MAKES
ITS APPROACH AND PASSAGE.

IN ADDITION...HIGH PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES MEANS THUNDERSTORMS
ARE VERY EFFICIENT RAIN PRODUCERS TODAY AND TONIGHT. RAINFALL
RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES AN HOUR ARE OCCURRING AND REPEATING OVER
THE SAME AREAS IN MANY INSTANCES. WITH MORE HEAVY RAIN ON THE
WAY...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH HAS BEEN POSTED FOR MUCH OF THE QUAD
STATE...INCLUDING THE SOUTHEAST MISSOURI COUNTIES ALONG THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER...AND EXTENDING EASTWARD TO INCLUDE ALL OF
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...WESTERN KENTUCKY...AND SOUTHWEST INDIANA.
THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE SUNDAY NIGHT. NO SEVERE
STORMS ARE ANTICIPATED.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

FLOOD AND SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS ARE ENCOURAGED TODAY AND TONIGHT
WITH SPOTTER ACTIVATION.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 3, 8:09 PM CDT, 25 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
809 PM CDT THU APR 03 2014

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

0803 PM     HAIL             DONIPHAN                36.62N 90.82W
04/03/2014  E1.00 INCH       RIPLEY             MO   EMERGENCY MNGR

            ALSO HAD 45 MPH WIND GUSTS.

&&

RICKS

Local storm report, Apr 3, 8:12 PM CDT, 22 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
812 PM CDT THU APR 03 2014

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

0807 PM     TORNADO          5 NE DONIPHAN           36.67N 90.76W
04/03/2014                   RIPLEY             MO   PUBLIC

&&

RICKS

Local storm report, Apr 3, 8:14 PM CDT, 20 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
814 PM CDT THU APR 03 2014

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

0811 PM     TORNADO          5 NE FAIRDEALING        36.89N 88.16W
04/03/2014                   LYON               KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

RICKS

Local storm report, Apr 3, 8:15 PM CDT, 19 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
815 PM CDT THU APR 03 2014

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

0811 PM     TORNADO          5 NE FAIRDEALING        36.71N 90.55W
04/03/2014                   BUTLER             MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

RICKS

Local storm report, Apr 3, 8:24 PM CDT, 10 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
824 PM CDT THU APR 03 2014

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

0818 PM     HAIL             JACKSON                 37.38N 89.65W
04/03/2014  E0.75 INCH       CAPE GIRARDEAU     MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            3/4 INCH HAIL IN JACKSON, MO

&&

RICKS

Local storm report, Apr 3, 8:27 PM CDT, 7 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
827 PM CDT THU APR 03 2014

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

0824 PM     HAIL             3 W MURPHYSBORO         37.77N 89.39W
04/03/2014  E1.75 INCH       JACKSON            IL   EMERGENCY MNGR

&&

RICKS

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 3, 7:19 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Gallatin, Saline, White	26 min
Apr 3, 8:01 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Jackson, Union	29 min
Apr 3, 8:15 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	PAH	Edwards, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Saline and 5 more	11 hr
Apr 3, 8:24 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Jackson, Union, Williamson	51 min
Apr 3, 8:31 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Hamilton, Saline, Williamson	44 min
Apr 3, 8:55 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	PAH	Johnson, Union, Williamson	50 min
Apr 3, 9:15 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Gallatin, Hamilton, Saline, White	45 min
Apr 3, 9:24 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Franklin, Jefferson, Perry	51 min
Apr 3, 9:27 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	PAH	Gallatin, White	33 min
Apr 3, 9:33 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Alexander	27 min
Apr 3, 9:35 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	PAH	Johnson, Saline, Williamson	40 min
Apr 3, 9:45 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Johnson, Massac, Pulaski, Union	45 min
Apr 3, 9:53 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	PAH	Alexander, Johnson, Pulaski	9 hr
Apr 3, 9:57 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	PAH	Johnson	33 min
Apr 3, 9:59 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	White	46 min
Apr 3, 10:17 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	PAH	Johnson, Pope	28 min
Apr 3, 10:32 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Gallatin, White	43 min
Apr 3, 10:39 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Jefferson, Wayne	51 min
Apr 3, 10:42 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Alexander	33 min
Apr 3, 10:45 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	PAH	Gallatin, Wabash, White	17 days
Apr 3, 11:08 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Alexander, Johnson, Union, Williamson	52 min
Apr 3, 11:32 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Gallatin, Hamilton, Johnson, Pope, Saline, White and 1 more	43 min
Apr 4, 6:32 AM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	PAH	Alexander, Edwards, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Jefferson and 8 more	24 hr
Apr 4, 10:39 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	PAH	Franklin, Williamson	6 days
Apr 4, 10:39 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	PAH	Jackson	10 days
Apr 4, 11:39 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	PAH	Alexander, Jackson, Union	3 days
Apr 4, 11:39 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	PAH	Alexander	4 days
Apr 4, 11:57 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	PAH	Gallatin, Hardin	14 days
Apr 4, 11:57 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	PAH	Hardin, Pope	11 days
Apr 4, 11:57 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	PAH	Massac, Pulaski	13 days
Apr 4, 11:57 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	PAH	Alexander, Pulaski	13 days

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Illinois, 2014 Every tornado warning in 2014 Tornadoes in 2014

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.