Alert archive / Illinois / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2018

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 80, NWS Paducah, KY

May 31, 20184 counties in Illinois

NWS Paducah, KY issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 31, 2018, 10:38 AM CDT for 4 counties in Illinois. It was in force for 52 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
May 31, 2018, 10:38 AM CDT (15:38 UTC)
Expired
May 31, 2018, 11:30 AM CDT
In force
52 min
Issued by
NWS Paducah, KY
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
0.75 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Edwards County, IL, Wabash County, IL, Wayne County, IL, White County, IL

The radar

The Evansville,IN radar (KVWX), 36 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 15:39 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 watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 31, 10:31 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 12:00Z, 3.6 hours before the alert went out and 205 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 2018-05-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 828 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 2018-05-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 140 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
828 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-54 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1157 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
140 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
111 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.4
Supercell composite
2.6

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 Paducah, KY wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 31, 6:55 AM CDT, 3 hours 43 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 31, 6:55 AM CDT, 3 hours 43 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Paducah KY
655 AM CDT Thu May 31 2018

.UPDATE...
Issued at 655 AM CDT Thu May 31 2018

The AVIATION section has been updated for the 12Z TAF issuance.

&&

.SHORT TERM...(Today through Tonight)
Issued at 327 AM CDT Thu May 31 2018

Interesting convective forecast over the next 24 hours. Cannot
disagree with SPC's Enhanced Risk for most of the area today
based on ingredients, but the mode and timing have yet to be
worked out.

Most of the 00Z and later guidance develops convection over our
region prior to sunrise and continues it through at least the
morning hours. A few showers have already developed along I-64 in
southern Illinois, but 00z GFS and NAM soundings would suggest
that if we get convective initiation it should be in the form of
elevated thunderstorms. Not sure if the surge of moisture needed
to achieve initiation will occur or not. There would be very
little shear available for the elevated parcels, but there could
be some decent instability, so there could be a few stronger cores
with some hail potential. The primary zone advertised in the
guidance is from southern Illinois southeast into west Kentucky.

The more significant potential convective event is expected at
some point this afternoon and evening, as the MCV associated with
the MCS currently over Kansas and Oklahoma lifts northeast near
KSTL by 00Z. Not sure if I have seen any CAM data that really
represents the southward extent of the current convection very
well, and that could have an impact on the placement of mesoscale
features late this afternoon. The general themes are convective
initiation along I-64/southern Illinois near 18Z as the southeast
limb of the MCV moves into that area. The second theme is for late
afternoon convective initiation near I-64 to the southwest of the
MCV, potentially along the associated outflow boundary. This
activity would likely grow upscale and move into our area as a
line of some sort.

The GFS and NAM both bring an EML into at least the southern
third of the area this afternoon on the southern periphery of the
MCV. That should provide a south/southwest edge to any afternoon
convection. Wind fields will be improving through the afternoon,
and some supercell structures will be possible with large hail and
damaging wind threats. Most of the shear is in the lowest 3km,
with winds maxing out around 45 mph from the west above 700mb. If
this activity continues or develops early in the afternoon, some
training will be possible as steep lapse rates and low-level
moisture will continually be fed into the area, roughly the
northeast half of the region. Some isolated flash flooding
concerns may develop.

Normally would be concerned with the early day convection muddling
the destabilization for late afternoon and evening convection, but
as stated above, the relatively strong westerly flow in the mid
and upper-levels should provide a continuous supply of steeper
lapse rates to work with. The bigger question is timing and
location. It looks like it will already be in the form of a line
or at least line segments as it reaches the area perhaps as late
as 00Z. This activity may be shunted farther south over the
southern half of the area depending on how much convection
persists through the afternoon over our north and northeast.

The EML should provide steep lapse rates aloft and strong heating
with steep low-level lapse rates, so a damaging wind threat will
become the greatest concern with the linear mode expected. With
the strong instability possible and the potential for embedded
rotating updrafts, large hail will also be possible. The tornado
potential is non-zero, but the 0-1km shear is not that great, so
it will be a secondary severe concern to the large hail and
damaging winds. Although this line should be moving at a decent
clip, if it goes over areas that already experienced afternoon
convection, flash flooding will be possible.

The larger-scale trough will still be in the area at 12Z Friday,
so we will keep decent PoPs in the southeast half of the area
through the night. Have emphasized the evening for the greatest
PoPs, but capped them at likely levels due to uncertainties in
timing and location.

.LONG TERM...(Friday through Wednesday)
Issued at 327 AM CDT Thu May 31 2018

Model agreement is fairly good through the period with the main
concern being thunderstorm chances later Saturday afternoon/Saturday
night.

Friday starts out with a frontal boundary pushing through west
Kentucky, with chances of showers and thunderstorms continuing at
least through the morning hours. The 00z GFS hangs it up and lingers
rain chances through the afternoon, so will maintain low chance PoPs
through the day across portions of the southeast counties. Dry
conditions take hold for the entire area by later Friday evening
through the 1st part of Saturday as upper ridging nudges into the
region.

The main system of interest for this period is associated with
shortwave energy diving out of the the Northern Plains Friday night
into Saturday. The lower Ohio Valley will reside in an instability
rich airmass with plentiful moisture (dewpoints in low to mid 70s)
and combined with decent mid level flow (500mb wind of 35-40 kts),
there looks to be enough support for the possibility of severe
thunderstorm development by late afternoon or evening. Current
thinking matches up with SPC Day 3 Outlook which has a slight risk
across the west half of the area. PWAT values also look to exceed 2
inches, so may have some flooding issues as well with very efficient
rainfall rates.

Showers and thunderstorms will gradually taper off from northwest to
southeast Saturday night into Sunday morning, with all areas
expected to be dry by midday Sunday.

A pattern change looks to take shape early next week, with much
drier air penetrating through the area. This means dewpoints
dropping into the 50s area wide by Sunday night into Monday. A
welcome change compared to the current humidity levels! At the
surface, high pressure looks to move across the area Monday and
Tuesday. The current forecast is dry, but given weak ripples in the
northwest flow aloft, rain chances appear non-zero.

Mid level flow will largely remain northwesterly across the
Heartland next week as upper ridging builds over the
central/southern Plains. This may eventually result in more of a
ring of fire type pattern affecting our area, particularly by the
mid or latter part of the week.

Temperatures will be quite warm Friday and Saturday with highs near
90 and heat index readings pushing the mid 90s in some locales. May
even be some heat index values near 100 across southeast Missouri on
Saturday afternoon.

It looks like we will finally experience temps back near normal
Sunday through Tuesday with highs in the low to mid 80s and lows
dipping into the upper 50s/lower 60s. Some slight moderation upward
is expected by mid next week.

&&

.AVIATION...
Issued at 655 AM CDT Thu May 31 2018

Complicated convective forecast today and tonight leads to a low
confidence aviation forecast this morning. One cluster of mainly
SHRA with some TSRA is heading east of KEVV at this time, and
will handle this with a VCSH. TSRA is likely by midday at KEVV
and KOWB, but it may hold off until early evening at KCGI KPAH.
Southwest winds may increase enough for some gusts into the teens
or lower 20s. A large complex of thunderstorms over Missouri early
this morning will continue east northeastward and new development
near it will likely bring a line of strong to severe storms
eastward through the entire area late this afternoon and this
evening. Did not insert any associated gusty winds, but 50kts is
not out of the question with the line. Fog or low clouds will be
possible late tonight behind the convection.

&&

.PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IL...None.
MO...None.
IN...None.
KY...None.
&&

UPDATE...DRS
SHORT TERM...DRS
LONG TERM...SP
AVIATION...DRS
Hazardous weather outlook, May 31, 3:47 AM CDT, 6 hours 51 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Paducah KY
347 AM CDT Thu May 31 2018

ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087-
100-107>112-114-011000-
Jefferson-Wayne IL-Edwards-Wabash-Perry IL-Franklin-Hamilton-
White-Jackson-Williamson-Saline-Gallatin-Union-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-
347 AM CDT Thu May 31 2018

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southern
Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast
Missouri.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms will be possible today mainly from
southern Illinois into west Kentucky and southwest Indiana. A few
severe storms with large hail will be the primary concern this
morning, but damaging winds will become an additional concern
this afternoon. There is some potential for training of storms
today which could result in some localized flash flooding
concerns.

A line of storms will move through the region from late this
afternoon through the evening hours. The potential exists for more
widespread damaging winds and large hail with the line. A few
tornadoes cannot be ruled out. Locally heavy rainfall could lead
to some more flooding concerns, especially in areas that received
heavy rain earlier in the day.

Heat index values may reach 100 this afternoon near the confluence
of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and southward to the Missouri
Bootheel.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

A chance of thunderstorms is forecast for portions of the area on
Friday, particularly across western Kentucky. Locally heavy rain
and lightning will be the main hazards.

Another chance of thunderstorms is forecast Saturday afternoon
through the night. Some of these storms may be severe with damaging
winds and large hail along with torrential rainfall and lightning.

Afternoon heat index readings may approach 100 degrees on Saturday
afternoon across portions of southeast Missouri.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters should be prepared for activation throughout the area
this afternoon and evening, and again Saturday afternoon and
evening.

DRS/SP

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 31, 5:49 AM CDT, 4 hours 49 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Paducah KY
549 AM CDT THU MAY 31 2018

INZ081-085-311115-
Posey IN-Gibson IN-
549 AM CDT THU MAY 31 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN GIBSON AND NORTHERN
POSEY COUNTIES UNTIL 615 AM CDT...

At 548 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Poseyville, or 13 miles west of Fort Branch, moving east at 35 mph.

Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Poseyville, New Harmony, Cynthiana and Griffin.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
office in Paducah.

&&

LAT...LON 3826 8768 3811 8770 3807 8795 3807 8796
      3810 8796 3809 8801 3811 8799 3811 8797
      3813 8797 3813 8795 3816 8791 3817 8792
      3816 8793 3819 8796 3823 8793
TIME...MOT...LOC 1048Z 260DEG 32KT 3820 8782

SMITH
Special weather statement, May 31, 9:35 AM CDT, 1 hour 3 minutes before
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Local storm report, May 31, 9:57 AM CDT, 41 minutes before
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Local storm report, May 31, 10:10 AM CDT, 28 minutes before
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Local storm report, May 31, 10:35 AM CDT, 3 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 31, 10:51 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHHenderson, Union54 min
May 31, 11:07 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHHenderson53 min
May 31, 11:08 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPAHDaviess, Henderson, McLean, Union, Webster3 hr
May 31, 11:26 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHHenderson, Union34 min
May 31, 11:36 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHDaviess69 min
May 31, 11:55 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHHenderson35 min
May 31, 12:10 PM CDTTornado WarningPAHDaviess33 min
May 31, 12:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHDaviess15 min
May 31, 1:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHMarshall32 min
May 31, 2:10 PM CDTFlash Flood WatchPAHDaviess, Henderson, McLean, Union13 hr
May 31, 2:36 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHBallard39 min
May 31, 3:00 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningPAHBallard, McCracken3 hr
May 31, 3:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHBallard, McCracken62 min
May 31, 3:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHLivingston, McCracken60 min
May 31, 4:05 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHLivingston, Marshall55 min
May 31, 4:08 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementPAHChristian52 min
May 31, 4:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHChristian, Trigg30 min
May 31, 4:33 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningPAHChristian, Muhlenberg, Todd117 min
May 31, 4:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHBallard, McCracken26 min
May 31, 4:47 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHMcCracken28 min
May 31, 4:51 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementPAHMuhlenberg39 min
May 31, 4:55 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningPAHChristian, Muhlenberg, Todd3 hr
May 31, 5:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHChristian, Todd27 min
May 31, 5:05 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHMuhlenberg25 min
May 31, 5:37 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementPAHTodd23 min
May 31, 9:35 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementPAHFranklin, Jackson, Perry, Union, Williamson40 min
May 31, 9:55 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHFranklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Perry50 min
May 31, 10:02 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHFranklin, Hamilton, Saline, Williamson28 min
May 31, 10:18 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHHamilton, Wayne42 min
May 31, 10:24 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHGallatin, White36 min
May 31, 10:30 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHHamilton, Saline30 min
May 31, 10:46 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHJefferson14 min
May 31, 10:58 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHWayne32 min
May 31, 6:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHWhite34 min
May 31, 8:50 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHCape Girardeau, Perry17 min
May 31, 4:49 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHCarter41 min
May 31, 5:14 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningPAHCarter3 hr
May 31, 5:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHCarter48 min
May 31, 6:10 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementPAHButler50 min
May 31, 6:28 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementPAHButler17 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Illinois, 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.