Alert archive / Illinois / Tornado Warnings in 2016

Tornado Warning 7, NWS Lincoln, IL

March 15, 2016Menard County, Sangamon County, Illinois

NWS Lincoln, IL issued this tornado warning at Mar 15, 2016, 7:48 PM CDT for Menard County, Sangamon County, Illinois. It was in force for 27 min. 2 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
Mar 15, 2016, 7:48 PM CDT (00:48 UTC)
Expired
Mar 15, 2016, 8:15 PM CDT
In force
27 min
Issued by
NWS Lincoln, IL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
1.25 in

Counties Menard County, IL, Sangamon County, IL

The radar

The Lincoln radar (KILX), 34 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:49 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Mar 15, 7:50 PM CDTFUNNEL CLOUD1 S Springfield, IL
Mar 15, 7:52 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG4 W Springfield, ILTWO HOUSES DAMAGED ON WEST ILES. TIME ESTIMATED.

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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Mar 15, 3:31 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 00:00Z, 0.8 hours before the alert went out and 89 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-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Lincoln, IL at 00:00Z on 2016-03-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1364 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Lincoln, IL at 00:00Z on 2016-03-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 135 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
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
1364 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-54 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1257 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
54 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
135 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
241 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.2
Supercell composite
8.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

863 
WFUS53 KILX 160048
TORILX
ILC129-167-160115-
/O.NEW.KILX.TO.W.0007.160316T0048Z-160316T0115Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
748 PM CDT TUE MAR 15 2016

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LINCOLN HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN SANGAMON COUNTY IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS...
  SOUTHEASTERN MENARD COUNTY IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS...

* UNTIL 815 PM CDT

* AT 747 PM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A
  TORNADO WAS LOCATED 7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF PLEASANT PLAINS...OR 8
  MILES WEST OF SPRINGFIELD...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

  HAZARD...TORNADO AND HALF DOLLAR SIZE HAIL. 

  SOURCE...WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED FUNNEL CLOUD. SPOTTERS REPORTED A 
           FUNNEL CLOUD SOUTHWEST OF SPRINGFIELD. 

  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...
  ATHENS AROUND 755 PM CDT.
  SHERMAN AND RIVERTON AROUND 800 PM CDT.
  WILLIAMSVILLE AROUND 805 PM CDT.

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE
CURRAN...LELAND GROVE...CLEAR LAKE...SPAULDING...CANTRALL...
SALISBURY...GRANDVIEW...DAWSON...FARMINGDALE AND FANCY PRAIRIE.

THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS...
 INTERSTATE 55 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 96 AND 110.
 INTERSTATE 72 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 89 AND 94...AND BETWEEN MILE
MARKERS 102 AND 116.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TORNADOES ARE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE AND CONFIRM AT NIGHT. DO NOT
WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR THE TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW.

&&

LAT...LON 3987 8989 4007 8958 3998 8958 3997 8949
      3996 8948 3994 8948 3994 8946 3984 8937
      3972 8980
TIME...MOT...LOC 0047Z 235DEG 45KT 3982 8979 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.25IN

$$

GEELHART
4 follow-up statements
816 
WWUS53 KILX 160052
SVSILX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
752 PM CDT TUE MAR 15 2016

ILC129-167-160115-
/O.CON.KILX.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-160316T0115Z/
SANGAMON-MENARD-
752 PM CDT TUE MAR 15 2016

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN SANGAMON AND SOUTHEASTERN MENARD COUNTIES...
    
AT 751 PM CDT...A CONFIRMED TORNADO WAS LOCATED 6 MILES WEST NORTHWEST OF
DOWNTOWN SPRINGFIELD...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

HAZARD...DAMAGING TORNADO AND HALF DOLLAR SIZE HAIL. 

SOURCE...WEATHER SPOTTERS CONFIRMED TORNADO. A TORNADO WAS REPORTED NEAR 
         LOAMI AT 747 PM. 

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 TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  SPRINGFIELD AROUND 755 PM CDT. 
  SHERMAN AROUND 800 PM CDT.
  RIVERTON AND WILLIAMSVILLE AROUND 805 PM CDT.

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE LELAND
GROVE...FANCY PRAIRIE...CLEAR LAKE...SPAULDING...CANTRALL...
GRANDVIEW...DAWSON...CAPITAL AIRPORT AND BUFFALO.

THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS...
 INTERSTATE 55 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 97 AND 110.
 INTERSTATE 72 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 103 AND 116.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TO REPEAT...A TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND. TAKE COVER NOW! MOVE TO A
BASEMENT OR AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY
BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS OR IN A VEHICLE...MOVE
TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING
DEBRIS.

IF A TORNADO OR OTHER SEVERE WEATHER IS SPOTTED...REPORT IT TO THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OR YOUR LOCAL NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
WHO WILL SEND YOUR REPORT. THIS ACT MAY SAVE LIVES OF OTHERS IN THE
PATH OF DANGEROUS WEATHER.

&&

LAT...LON 3987 8981 4007 8958 3998 8958 3997 8949
      3996 8948 3994 8948 3994 8946 3984 8937
      3976 8976
TIME...MOT...LOC 0051Z 236DEG 44KT 3984 8973 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
HAIL...1.25IN

$$

GEELHART
283 
WWUS53 KILX 160055
SVSILX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
755 PM CDT TUE MAR 15 2016

ILC129-167-160115-
/O.CON.KILX.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-160316T0115Z/
SANGAMON-MENARD-
755 PM CDT TUE MAR 15 2016

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN SANGAMON AND SOUTHEASTERN MENARD COUNTIES...
        
AT 754 PM CDT...TRAINED SPOTTERS REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD OVER 
DOWNTOWN SPRINGFIELD. THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM IS MOVING NORTHEAST 
AT 50 MPH.

HAZARD...TORNADO AND HALF DOLLAR SIZE HAIL. 

SOURCE...WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD. 

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...
  SPRINGFIELD AT 755 PM CDT.
  SHERMAN AROUND 800 PM CDT.
  RIVERTON AND WILLIAMSVILLE AROUND 805 PM CDT.

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE LELAND
GROVE...FANCY PRAIRIE...CLEAR LAKE...SPAULDING...CANTRALL...
GRANDVIEW...DAWSON...CAPITAL AIRPORT AND BUFFALO.

THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS...
 INTERSTATE 55 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 97 AND 110.
 INTERSTATE 72 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 103 AND 116.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

IF A TORNADO OR OTHER SEVERE WEATHER IS SPOTTED...REPORT IT TO THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OR YOUR LOCAL NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
WHO WILL SEND YOUR REPORT. THIS ACT MAY SAVE LIVES OF OTHERS IN THE
PATH OF DANGEROUS WEATHER.

&&

LAT...LON 3987 8981 4007 8958 3998 8958 3997 8949
      3996 8948 3994 8948 3994 8946 3984 8937
      3976 8976
TIME...MOT...LOC 0054Z 236DEG 44KT 3985 8970 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.25IN

$$

GEELHART
987 
WWUS53 KILX 160102
SVSILX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
802 PM CDT TUE MAR 15 2016

ILC129-160111-
/O.CAN.KILX.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-160316T0115Z/
MENARD-
802 PM CDT TUE MAR 15 2016

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN MENARD COUNTY IS CANCELLED...
    
THE TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED 
OUT OF THE WARNED AREA. THEREFORE THE WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM CDT FOR CENTRAL
ILLINOIS.

LAT...LON 3993 8966 3994 8964 3998 8957 3997 8949
      3996 8948 3994 8948 3994 8946 3986 8939
      3982 8959
TIME...MOT...LOC 0101Z 235DEG 47KT 3991 8958 

$$

ILC167-160115-
/O.CON.KILX.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-160316T0115Z/
SANGAMON-
802 PM CDT TUE MAR 15 2016

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN SANGAMON COUNTY...
    
AT 801 PM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO
WAS LOCATED OVER SHERMAN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

HAZARD...TORNADO AND HALF DOLLAR SIZE HAIL. 

SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED ROTATION. STORM SPOTTERS CONTINUE TO REPORT
         ROTATION WITH THIS STORM...AND IT HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING
         FUNNEL CLOUDS AND A TORNADO. 

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 TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WILL REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF
NORTHEASTERN SANGAMON COUNTY...INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
DAWSON AND SPAULDING.

THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS...
 INTERSTATE 55 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 99 AND 110.
 INTERSTATE 72 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 107 AND 109.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

IF A TORNADO OR OTHER SEVERE WEATHER IS SPOTTED...REPORT IT TO THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OR YOUR LOCAL NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
WHO WILL SEND YOUR REPORT. THIS ACT MAY SAVE LIVES OF OTHERS IN THE
PATH OF DANGEROUS WEATHER.

&&

LAT...LON 3993 8966 3994 8964 3998 8957 3997 8949
      3996 8948 3994 8948 3994 8946 3986 8939
      3982 8959
TIME...MOT...LOC 0101Z 235DEG 47KT 3991 8958 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.25IN

$$

GEELHART
143 
WWUS53 KILX 160111
SVSILX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
811 PM CDT TUE MAR 15 2016

ILC167-160121-
/O.EXP.KILX.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-160316T0115Z/
SANGAMON-
811 PM CDT TUE MAR 15 2016

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN SANGAMON COUNTY WILL EXPIRE
AT 815 PM CDT...
        
THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE AREA.
THEREFORE THE WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

THE TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN EXTENDED UNTIL 1100 PM CDT FOR CENTRAL
ILLINOIS.

REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING STILL REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR
NORTHEAST SANGAMON COUNTY UNTIL 830 PM. 

LAT...LON 3993 8966 3994 8964 3998 8957 3997 8949
      3996 8948 3994 8948 3994 8946 3986 8939
      3982 8959
TIME...MOT...LOC 0108Z 235DEG 45KT 3991 8958 

$$

GEELHART

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 15, 7:00 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedILXFulton, Knox30 min
Mar 15, 7:01 PM CDTTornado WarningILXMorgan29 min
Mar 15, 7:09 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXFulton, Knox, Peoria36 min
Mar 15, 7:14 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXCass, Menard, Morgan, Sangamon31 min
Mar 15, 7:26 PM CDTTornado WarningILXMorgan, Sangamon34 min
Mar 15, 7:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXKnox32 min
Mar 15, 7:38 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXFulton, Marshall, Peoria, Stark, Tazewell, Woodford37 min
Mar 15, 7:43 PM CDTTornado WarningILXPeoria32 min
Mar 15, 7:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXCass, Fulton, Mason, Menard, Tazewell47 min
Mar 15, 8:05 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXLogan, Sangamon25 min
Mar 15, 8:05 PM CDTTornado WarningILXPeoria, Tazewell, Woodford25 min
Mar 15, 8:14 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXPeoria, Tazewell, Woodford46 min
Mar 15, 8:33 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXLogan, McLean, Mason, Tazewell, Woodford42 min
Mar 15, 8:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXDeWitt, Logan, McLean23 min
Mar 15, 8:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXMarshall, Woodford36 min
Mar 15, 9:11 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementILXMcLean34 min
Mar 15, 9:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXClark, Edgar30 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Illinois, 2016Every tornado warning in 2016Tornadoes in 2016

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.