Alert archive / Illinois / Tornado Warnings in 2021

Tornado Warning 5, NWS Lincoln, IL

May 3, 2021Menard County, Sangamon County, Illinois

NWS Lincoln, IL issued this tornado warning at May 3, 2021, 5:30 PM CDT for Menard County, Sangamon County, Illinois. It was in force for 30 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
May 3, 2021, 5:30 PM CDT (22:30 UTC)
Expired
May 3, 2021, 6:00 PM CDT
In force
30 min
Issued by
NWS Lincoln, IL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Observed
Hail
2.0 in

Counties Menard County, IL, Sangamon County, IL

The radar

The Lincoln radar (KILX), 52 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:30 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 3, 5:32 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG3 S Petersburg, ILPOWER POLES BLOWN DOWN INTO FIELD.
May 3, 5:32 PM CDTHAIL 13 S Petersburg, IL

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
May 3, 2:47 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 12:00Z, 10.5 hours before the alert went out and 110 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 2021-05-03Temperature 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 2021-05-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 44 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
460 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
11 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
44 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
56 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

473 
WFUS53 KILX 032230
TORILX
ILC129-167-032300-
/O.NEW.KILX.TO.W.0005.210503T2230Z-210503T2300Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
530 PM CDT Mon May 3 2021

The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southern Menard County in central Illinois...
  Northwestern Sangamon County in central Illinois...

* Until 600 PM CDT.

* At 529 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located over Pleasant
  Plains, or 15 miles northwest of Springfield, moving east at 30
  mph.

  HAZARD...Damaging tornado and hail up to two inches in diameter.

  SOURCE...Weather spotters confirmed 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.

* The tornado will be near...
  Athens around 550 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Salisbury, Lincolns New Salem, Cantrall and Capital Airport.

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, in a mobile home, or in
a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect
yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3986 8998 3997 8999 4000 8962 3980 8965
TIME...MOT...LOC 2229Z 267DEG 26KT 3990 8990 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
HAIL...2.00IN

$$

37
2 follow-up statements
857 
WWUS53 KILX 032237
SVSILX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
537 PM CDT Mon May 3 2021

ILC129-167-032300-
/O.CON.KILX.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-210503T2300Z/
Menard-Sangamon-
537 PM CDT Mon May 3 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN MENARD AND NORTHWESTERN SANGAMON COUNTIES...
    
At 536 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located near Pleasant Plains,
or 12 miles northwest of Springfield, moving east at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Damaging tornado and tennis ball size hail.

SOURCE...Weather spotters confirmed 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 tornado will be near...
  Athens around 545 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Salisbury, Lincolns New Salem, Cantrall and Capital Airport.

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, in a mobile home, or in
a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect
yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3988 8988 3997 8989 4000 8962 3980 8965
TIME...MOT...LOC 2236Z 267DEG 26KT 3990 8983 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
HAIL...2.50IN

$$

37
010 
WWUS53 KILX 032259
SVSILX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
559 PM CDT Mon May 3 2021

ILC129-167-032308-
/O.EXP.KILX.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-210503T2300Z/
Menard-Sangamon-
559 PM CDT Mon May 3 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN MENARD AND NORTHWESTERN
SANGAMON COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 600 PM CDT...
        
The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.  However hail and 
strong gusty winds are still possible in this area. A tornado 
warning continues to the east of the warned area.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM CDT for
central Illinois.

LAT...LON 3988 8988 3997 8989 4000 8962 3980 8965
TIME...MOT...LOC 2258Z 267DEG 26KT 3991 8963 

$$

37

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 3, 3:31 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementILXKnox29 min
May 3, 3:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXCass, Morgan, Schuyler46 min
May 3, 4:10 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementILXSchuyler35 min
May 3, 4:30 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementILXFulton30 min
May 3, 4:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXCass, Menard, Morgan, Sangamon, Schuyler47 min
May 3, 4:50 PM CDTTornado WarningILXCass, Morgan25 min
May 3, 5:00 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementILXMason, Menard30 min
May 3, 5:08 PM CDTTornado WarningILXCass, Menard, Morgan, Sangamon37 min
May 3, 5:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXCass, Logan, Mason, Menard43 min
May 3, 5:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXMorgan, Scott33 min
May 3, 5:52 PM CDTTornado WarningILXLogan, Menard, Sangamon23 min
May 3, 6:02 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementILXLogan43 min
May 3, 6:16 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedILXChristian, Logan, Macon, Sangamon29 min
May 3, 6:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXChristian, Macon, Sangamon53 min
May 3, 6:42 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedILXMacon33 min
May 3, 6:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXChristian, Sangamon51 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Illinois, 2021Every tornado warning in 2021Tornadoes in 2021

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.