Alert archive / Illinois / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2018

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 55, NWS Chicago, IL

August 6, 2018Iroquois County, Illinois; Benton County, Indiana

NWS Chicago, IL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 6, 2018, 6:27 PM CDT for Iroquois County, Illinois; Benton County, Indiana. It was in force for 48 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 6, 2018, 6:27 PM CDT (23:27 UTC)
Expired
Aug 6, 2018, 7:15 PM CDT
In force
48 min
Issued by
NWS Chicago, IL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.25 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Iroquois County, IL, Benton County, IN

The radar

The Chicago radar (KLOT), 112 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:31 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 12:00Z, 11.5 hours before the alert went out and 105 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 12:00Z on 2018-08-06Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 887 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Lincoln, IL at 12:00Z on 2018-08-06The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 136 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
887 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-148 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1423 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
22 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
136 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
92 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

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

NWS Chicago, IL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Aug 6, 5:33 PM CDT, 54 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 6, 5:33 PM CDT, 54 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville, IL
533 PM CDT Mon Aug 6 2018

.MESOSCALE DISCUSSION...
531 PM CDT

Thunderstorms rapidly intensifying in response to a shortwave trough
moving from eastern Iowa into northwest Illinois, particularly
within a convergence axis that stretches from near Valparaiso
southwest to Gibson City. These thunderstorms will continue to move
into an increasingly unstable environment with an axis of 2500 J/kg
MLCAPE immediately ahead of the line of storms. Expect continued
development and intensification as a result. Deep layer shear
continues to remain a limiting factor with respect to a better
organized severe threat, offset just north of the developing line
and highest instability. Northern end of the storms over Will,
Cook, Lake (IN), and Porter counties is nearest the better shear.
One storm in particular over Porter County has latched onto a
quasi-stationary hybrid outflow/lake breeze boundary and has the
best of any storms thus far to produce a brief tornado. Will have
to keep an eye on additional storms that latch onto these
boundaries, but otherwise flow is veered and tornado threat very
limited. Farther south, expect storms to be more pulse-like within
the weaker deep layer shear, though high DCAPE values are present
and collapsing storms do pose a damaging wind threat.

Deubelbeiss&&

.SHORT TERM...
246 PM CDT

Through Tuesday...

Reference mesoscale AFD for near term convective threat.

After this afternoon and evening's potentially active weather
should see a break in the showers and storms overnight as the
activity shifts south and east of the area. Depending on how much
clearing occurs, could see some patchy dense ground fog develop
tonight in the typically more fog prone outlying areas.

Effective surface boundary is likely to be pushed farther south by
this evening's convection, which leads to uncertainty with regards
to how far north the rain and convective threat will extend
Tuesday. Another shortwave trough is forecast to track from the
northern High Plains this afternoon to the lower Great Lakes by
Tuesday evening. This wave should result in an uptick in
convection Tuesday, but 12z NAM and GEM would tend to keep the
majority of the convection south of our CWA Tuesday. The 12z GFS
and ECMWF suggest a more significant shower and thunderstorm
threat farther north across our CWA. Suspect the farther south
GEM/NAM solution will end up panning out closer to reality, so
only carrying chance pops most areas Tuesday, but stuck with
higher end chances pops out of respect for the global models.

- Izzi

&&

.LONG TERM...
338 PM CDT

Tuesday night through Monday...

For Tuesday night into early next week, the GFS and ECMWF are in
pretty good agreement regarding the amplification of a longwave
ridge over the western CONUS and the digging of an eastern CONUS
trough, with the eventual development of an upper low over the local
area this weekend.

A weak frontal boundary lingering near the area may continue to
support some showers and thunderstorms into Tuesday evening. By
early Wednesday this boundary appears to push farther south,
bringing in drier northerly flow along with decreasing cloudiness
for Wednesday.  The reduced cloud cover relative to Tuesday also
should allow for a few more degrees of afternoon warming Wednesday.

The warming trend continues into Thursday as low level flow backs
toward the west or southwest ahead of the next shortwave trough
embedded in the generally cyclonic upper flow digging across the
eastern CONUS.  Shower and thunderstorm chances increase late
Thursday into Friday with the approach and passage of this
trough and associated frontal zone.

As the trough and front push south of the area, cooler and drier
northerly flow eventually becomes more established for the weekend
under the developing upper low.  Limited boundary layer instability
under the low may somewhat hinder the extent of convection that
might otherwise develop given such large scale support, but we
certainly do not expect a completely dry weekend if the low does
park overhead as advertised.  Cooler temperatures appear to be a
more confident outcome at this point, especially in locations
near the lake seeing onshore flow.

Lenning

&&

.AVIATION...
For the 18Z TAFs...

1242 pm...Main forecast concerns are wind directions this
afternoon and thunderstorm potential/location into this evening.

An upper level wave will move across the area later this afternoon
with thunderstorm development expected by mid/late afternoon.
There remains uncertainty regarding where these storms will form.
The latest short term guidance suggests ord/mdw will be on the
northern end of where storms may form and its possible that storms
could form south of ord/mdw. Too close to call so opted to
continue tempo mention and adjusted timing a few hours later in
line with current trends.

Wind directions have been slowly turning southeasterly and are
expected to become southwesterly by mid afternoon. Short term
guidance is now in good agreement with a wind shift/boundary off
the lake by late afternoon. Included this shift in the forecast
for the Chicago terminals but confidence is only medium and timing
tweaks will likely be needed. Winds are expected to become light
easterly this evening then shift light north/northwest overnight
or become light/variable with winds turning back northeast Tuesday
morning.

With the light winds some patchy fog is possible overnight into
Tuesday morning. Confidence is low with mention only at rfd/dpa
with this forecast. cms

&&

.MARINE...

150 pm...A cold front will move south down Lake Michigan tonight
into Tuesday morning shifting winds northerly. A period of
10-20kts is possible during the overnight hours. A weak ridge of
high pressure will move across the region Tuesday afternoon into
Tuesday night. Low pressure will move across Hudson Bay Wednesday.
Winds will shift southwesterly and begin to increase on Wednesday
especially over northern portions of the lake. Another cold front
is expected to move south down the lake Thursday night or Friday.
cms

&&

.LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IL...None.
IN...None.
LM...None.
&&

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Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 6, 3:44 PM CDT, 2 hours 43 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville IL
344 PM CDT Mon Aug 6 2018

ILZ003>006-008-010>014-019>023-032-033-039-INZ001-002-010-011-019-
072045-
Winnebago-Boone-McHenry-Lake IL-Ogle-Lee-DeKalb-Kane-DuPage-Cook-
La Salle-Kendall-Grundy-Will-Kankakee-Livingston-Iroquois-Ford-
Lake IN-Porter-Newton-Jasper-Benton-
344 PM CDT Mon Aug 6 2018 /444 PM EDT Mon Aug 6 2018/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of North Central
Illinois...Northeast Illinois and Northwest Indiana.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Weather hazards expected...

  Significant Thunderstorm Risk...with an associated:
     Elevated damaging wind risk...up to 65 mph.
     Limited hail risk...up to 1 inch in diameter.
     Limited Tornado risk.
  Limited Flooding Risk.
  Limited Excessive heat Risk.

DISCUSSION...

Thunderstorms are likely to develop early this evening, mainly
south of a Chicago to Peru line. Conditions appear favorable for
some of the storms to become severe, with the primary risk being
locally damaging winds, though isolated large hail and perhaps a
brief tornado cannot totally be ruled out. In addition, locally
heavy rainfall could result in some localized flooding, mainly
well south of I-80.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday.

Tuesday...
  Limited Severe Thunderstorm Risk.
  Limited Flooding Risk.
Thursday through Sunday...
  Limited Thunderstorm Risk.

DISCUSSION:

There is another chance of thunderstorms Tuesday into Tuesday
evening with some small risk of isolated strong to severe storms.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters may be needed through late this evening.

GENERAL STORM MOTION OF THE DAY:

Moving toward east at around 30 mph.

LMZ740>745-072045-
Winthrop Harbor to Wilmette Harbor-
Wilmette Harbor to Northerly Island-
Northerly Island to Calumet Harbor-Calumet Harbor to Gary-
Gary to Burns Harbor-Burns Harbor to Michigan City-
344 PM CDT Mon Aug 6 2018

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of the Illinois
nearshore waters of Lake Michigan and the Indiana nearshore
waters of Lake Michigan.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Weather hazards expected...

  Elevated Thunderstorm Risk...with an associated:
    Limited hail risk...up to nickel size.
    Limited thunderstorm wind gust risk...up to 50 knots.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday.

Tuesday...
  Limited Severe Thunderstorm Risk.
Thursday through Saturday...
  Limited Thunderstorm Risk.

LMZ080-261-362-364-366-563-565-567-669-671-673-675-777-779-868-
870-872-874-876-878-072045-
Lake Michigan from Michigan City IN to St. Joseph MI 5 NM
offshore to Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Seul Choix Point to Rock Island Passage 5 NM
offshore to Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan South of a line from Seul Choix Point to the
Mackinac Bridge and north of a line from Charlevoix MI to South
Fox Island 5 NM offshore-
Lake Michigan from Charlevoix to Point Betsie MI 5 NM offshore to
Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Point Betsie to Manistee MI 5 NM offshore to
Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Rock Island Passage to Sturgeon Bay WI-
Lake Michigan from Sturgeon Bay to Two Rivers WI 5 NM offshore to
Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Two Rivers to Sheboygan WI 5 NM offshore to
Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Sheboygan to Port Washington WI 5 NM offshore
to Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Port Washington to North Point Light WI 5 NM
offshore to Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from North Point Light to Wind Point WI 5 NM
offshore to Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Wind Point WI to Winthrop Harbor IL 5 NM
offshore to Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Winthrop Harbor to Wilmette Harbor IL 5 NM
offshore to Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Wilmette Harbor IL to Michigan City IN 5 NM
offshore to Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan Holland to Whitehall MI 5 nm off shore to mid-
line of lake-
Lake Michigan from Whitehall to Pentwater MI 5 NM offshore to Mid
Lake-
Lake Michigan from Grand Haven to Whitehall MI 5 NM offshore to
Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Holland to Grand Haven MI 5 NM offshore to Mid
Lake-
Lake Michigan from South Haven to Holland MI 5 NM offshore to Mid
Lake-
Lake Michigan from St. Joseph to South Haven MI 5 NM offshore to
Mid Lake-
344 PM CDT Mon Aug 6 2018

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of the open waters
of Lake Michigan.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Weather hazards expected...

  Elevated Thunderstorm Risk...with an associated:
     Limited hail risk...up to nickel size.
     Limited thunderstorm wind gust risk...up to 50 knots.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday.

Tuesday...
  Limited Severe Thunderstorm Risk.
Wednesday through Saturday...
  Limited Thunderstorm Risk.

- Izzi

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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 6, 5:31 PM CDT, 56 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Aug 6, 5:40 PM CDT, 47 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Aug 6, 5:52 PM CDT, 35 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville Il
552 PM CDT MON AUG 6 2018

INZ002-011-062315-
Porter IN-Jasper IN-
552 PM CDT MON AUG 6 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN PORTER AND NORTHERN
JASPER COUNTIES UNTIL 615 PM CDT...

At 552 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Hebron to De Motte. Movement was east at
30 mph.

Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with these storms.

Strong thunderstorms will be near...
  Kouts around 705 PM EDT.
  Dunns Bridge around 715 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by these storms include Wheatfield.

LAT...LON 4132 8694 4114 8693 4114 8722 4130 8716
TIME...MOT...LOC 2252Z 255DEG 24KT 4126 8714 4117 8719

IZZI
Special weather statement, Aug 6, 5:58 PM CDT, 29 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville Il
558 PM CDT MON AUG 6 2018

ILZ033-062315-
Iroquois IL-
558 PM CDT MON AUG 6 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN IROQUOIS COUNTY
UNTIL 615 PM CDT...

At 557 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Watseka to near Milford. Movement was east
at 35 mph.

Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with these storms.

Strong thunderstorms will be near...
  Sheldon around 610 PM CDT.
  Stockland around 615 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by these storms include Woodland and
Wellington.

LAT...LON 4083 8753 4056 8753 4055 8787 4077 8779
TIME...MOT...LOC 2257Z 260DEG 31KT 4072 8771 4062 8777

IZZI

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 5, 7:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLOTOgle, Winnebago31 min
Aug 5, 8:15 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLOTBoone, DeKalb, Ogle, Winnebago30 min
Aug 6, 12:13 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLOTWinnebago47 min
Aug 6, 5:58 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLOTIroquois17 min
Aug 6, 5:19 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLOTPorter23 min
Aug 6, 5:31 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLOTNewton14 min
Aug 6, 5:40 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLOTNewton20 min
Aug 6, 5:52 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLOTJasper23 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Illinois, 2018Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Indiana, 2018Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2018

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.