Alert archive / Illinois / Tornado Warnings in 2021

Tornado Warning 6, NWS Lincoln, IL

May 3, 2021Logan County, Menard County, Sangamon County, Illinois

NWS Lincoln, IL issued this tornado warning at May 3, 2021, 5:52 PM CDT for Logan County, Menard County, Sangamon County, Illinois. It was in force for 23 min. 4 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, 5:52 PM CDT (22:52 UTC)
Expired
May 3, 2021, 6:15 PM CDT
In force
23 min
Issued by
NWS Lincoln, IL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
1.75 in

Counties Logan County, IL, Menard County, IL, Sangamon County, IL

The radar

The Lincoln radar (KILX), 34 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:53 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, 6:10 PM CDTTORNADO1 Ese Dawson, ILBRIEF TOUCHDOWN NEAR I-72.
May 3, 6:12 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG3 N Dawson, ILPOWER POLES DOWNED.
May 3, 6:14 PM CDTTORNADO 11 Nw Mechanicsburg, ILCORRECTS PREVIOUS TORNADO REPORT FROM 1 NW MECHANICSBURG.
May 3, 6:14 PM CDTTORNADO1 Nw Mechanicsburg, 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, 10.9 hours before the alert went out and 87 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.

288 
WFUS53 KILX 032252
TORILX
ILC107-129-167-032315-
/O.NEW.KILX.TO.W.0006.210503T2252Z-210503T2315Z/

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

The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southeastern Menard County in central Illinois...
  Southwestern Logan County in central Illinois...
  Northeastern Sangamon County in central Illinois...

* Until 615 PM CDT.
    
* At 551 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located over Sherman, or 8 miles north of Springfield, moving
  east at 35 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and golf ball size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  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...
  Riverton and Williamsville around 600 PM CDT.
  Mechanicsburg and Cornland around 610 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Dawson, Spaulding, Cantrall and Buffalo.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 55 between mile markers 101 and 112.
 Interstate 72 between mile markers 108 and 119.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3987 8972 3998 8974 4001 8932 3979 8932
TIME...MOT...LOC 2251Z 269DEG 32KT 3990 8963 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.75IN

$$

37
2 follow-up statements
736 
WWUS53 KILX 032309
SVSILX

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

ILC129-032318-
/O.CAN.KILX.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-210503T2315Z/
Menard-
609 PM CDT Mon May 3 2021

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

LAT...LON 3987 8970 3991 8970 4001 8932 3979 8932
TIME...MOT...LOC 2308Z 269DEG 32KT 3990 8943 

$$

ILC107-167-032315-
/O.CON.KILX.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-210503T2315Z/
Logan-Sangamon-
609 PM CDT Mon May 3 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CDT FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL LOGAN AND NORTHEASTERN SANGAMON COUNTIES...
    
At 608 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Cornland, or 14 miles northeast of Springfield,
moving east at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and golf ball size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

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
south central Logan and northeastern Sangamon Counties, including the
following locations... Dawson, Spaulding and Buffalo.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 55 between mile markers 101 and 108.
 Interstate 72 between mile markers 108 and 119.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3987 8970 3991 8970 4001 8932 3979 8932
TIME...MOT...LOC 2308Z 269DEG 32KT 3990 8943 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.75IN

$$

37
214 
WWUS53 KILX 032321
SVSILX

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

ILC107-167-032330-
/O.EXP.KILX.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-210503T2315Z/
Logan-Sangamon-
621 PM CDT Mon May 3 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL LOGAN AND NORTHEASTERN
SANGAMON COUNTIES HAS EXPIRED...
    
The Tornado Warning that was previously in effect has been reissued 
for Logan, Christian, and Sangamon Counties and is in effect until 
645 PM. Please refer to that bulletin for the latest severe weather 
information. However small hail and gusty winds are still possible 
with this thunderstorm.

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

Remember, a Tornado Warning still remains in effect for portions of 
Logan, Christian, and Sangamon Counties.
LAT...LON 3987 8970 3991 8970 4001 8932 3979 8932
TIME...MOT...LOC 2319Z 269DEG 32KT 3990 8932 

$$

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, 5:30 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedILXMenard, Sangamon30 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.