Alert archive / Illinois / Flash Flood Warnings in 2020

Flash Flood Warning 3, NWS Lincoln, IL

May 16, 2020Morgan County, Sangamon County, Illinois

NWS Lincoln, IL issued this flash flood warning at May 16, 2020, 3:50 PM CDT for Morgan County, Sangamon County, Illinois. It was in force for 4 hr. 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
May 16, 2020, 3:50 PM CDT (20:50 UTC)
Expired
May 16, 2020, 7:45 PM CDT
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Lincoln, IL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Morgan County, IL, Sangamon County, IL

The radar

The Lincoln radar (KILX), 72 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:52 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
May 16, 6:35 PM CDTFLOODFranklin, ILEXTENSIVE FLOODING ON AREA ROADS FROM EARLIER RAINFALL OF 2.50 TO 3.00 INCHES.

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

The nearest sounding before it

Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 12:00Z, 8.8 hours before the alert went out and 125 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 2020-05-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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 12:00Z on 2020-05-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 25 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
818 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
13 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
25 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
71 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

444 
WGUS53 KILX 162050
FFWILX
ILC137-167-170045-
/O.NEW.KILX.FF.W.0003.200516T2050Z-200517T0045Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
350 PM CDT Sat May 16 2020

The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  West central Sangamon County in central Illinois...
  Eastern Morgan County in west central Illinois...

* Until 745 PM CDT.

* At 345 PM CDT, emergency management reported thunderstorms 
  producing heavy rain across the warned area. Two cars were 
  stranded 2 miles northwest of Franklin at Rees Corner on IL route 
  104 from flood waters. Up to 2 to 3 inches of rain have already 
  fallen in past hour. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to 
  begin shortly. An additional 1.5 to 2 inches of rain is possible 
  through 5 pm and may lead to more flash flooding. 

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Emergency management.

  IMPACT...Flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, 
           highways, streets and underpasses as well as other 
           drainage and low lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flooding include...
  Alexander, New Berlin, Waverly, Loami, Franklin, Berlin,
  Nortonville, Sinclair and Farmingdale.

This includes Interstate 72 between mile markers 72 and 89.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood 
deaths occur in vehicles. Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will 
cause flooding of small creeks and streams, country roads, farmland, 
and other low lying spots.

&&

LAT...LON 3983 8974 3952 8996 3952 9016 3983 9012

FLASH FLOOD...OBSERVED
EXPECTED RAINFALL...2-3 INCHES IN 1 HOUR

$$

07
2 follow-up statements
242 
WGUS73 KILX 162221
FFSILX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
521 PM CDT Sat May 16 2020

ILC137-167-170045-
/O.CON.KILX.FF.W.0003.000000T0000Z-200517T0045Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Sangamon-Morgan-
521 PM CDT Sat May 16 2020

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM CDT FOR
WEST CENTRAL SANGAMON AND EASTERN MORGAN COUNTIES...

At 515 PM CDT, doppler radar indicated that the heaviest rain has 
moved out of the warned area. Emergency management in Morgan County 
reported flooding on Illinois Route 104 at Rees Corner, 2 miles 
northwest of Franklin. Radar estimates and observer reports 
indicated 1.50 to 3.00 inches rain from 10 miles southwest of 
Franklin through Franklin to New Berlin.

HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by heavy rain.

SOURCE...Emergency management.

IMPACT...Flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, 
         highways, streets and underpasses as well as other drainage 
         and low lying areas.

Some locations that will experience flooding include...
Alexander, Franklin, and New Berlin.

Additional rainfall amounts of 0.50 to 1.00 inch are possible in the 
warned area between 530 pm and 730 pm.

This includes Interstate 72 between mile markers 72 and 89.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of small
creeks and streams, country roads, farmland, and other low lying
spots.

&&

LAT...LON 3983 8974 3952 8996 3952 9016 3983 9012

FLASH FLOOD...OBSERVED

$$

Miller
295 
WGUS73 KILX 170044
FFSILX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
744 PM CDT Sat May 16 2020

ILC137-167-170052-
/O.EXP.KILX.FF.W.0003.000000T0000Z-200517T0045Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Sangamon-Morgan-
744 PM CDT Sat May 16 2020

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR WEST CENTRAL SANGAMON AND EASTERN
MORGAN COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 745 PM CDT...

The heavy rain has ended, therefore the flash flood warning will be 
allowed to expire. However, portions of Morgan County south of I-72 
have an Areal Flood Warning in effect due to continued flooding from 
earlier heavy rains. Please continue to heed any remaining road 
closures.

LAT...LON 3983 8974 3952 8996 3952 9016 3983 9012

$$

37

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 16, 2:26 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementILXMorgan, Scott49 min
May 16, 2:45 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningILXMorgan, Scott4 hr
May 16, 3:14 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementILXMorgan46 min
May 16, 3:34 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementILXMorgan41 min
May 16, 6:49 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningILXMorgan, Scott12 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Illinois, 2020Every flash flood warning in 2020

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.