Alert archive / Illinois / Tornado Warnings in 2021

Tornado Warning 7, NWS Lincoln, IL

May 3, 20214 counties in Illinois

NWS Lincoln, IL issued this tornado warning at May 3, 2021, 6:16 PM CDT for 4 counties in Illinois. It was in force for 29 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
May 3, 2021, 6:16 PM CDT (23:16 UTC)
Expired
May 3, 2021, 6:45 PM CDT
In force
29 min
Issued by
NWS Lincoln, IL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Observed
Hail
1.75 in

Counties Christian County, IL, Logan County, IL, Macon County, IL, Sangamon County, IL

The radar

The Lincoln radar (KILX), 34 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:20 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 3, 2:47 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 12:00Z, 11.3 hours before the alert went out and 69 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.

660 
WFUS53 KILX 032316
TORILX
ILC021-107-115-167-032345-
/O.NEW.KILX.TO.W.0007.210503T2316Z-210503T2345Z/

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

The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southeastern Logan County in central Illinois...
  North central Christian County in central Illinois...
  Northeastern Sangamon County in central Illinois...
  Southwestern Macon County in central Illinois...

* Until 645 PM CDT.

* At 615 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located near Mechanicsburg,
  or 15 miles east of Springfield, moving east at 35 mph.

  HAZARD...Damaging tornado and golf 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.

* The tornado will be near...
  Illiopolis and Mount Auburn around 625 PM CDT.
  Niantic around 635 PM CDT.
  Harristown around 640 PM CDT.

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

This includes Interstate 72 between mile markers 112 and 132.
 
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 3982 8947 3994 8944 3993 8904 3972 8910
TIME...MOT...LOC 2315Z 280DEG 29KT 3985 8936 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
HAIL...1.75IN

$$

37
2 follow-up statements
243 
WWUS53 KILX 032335
SVSILX

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

ILC021-107-115-167-032345-
/O.CON.KILX.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-210503T2345Z/
Logan-Christian-Sangamon-Macon-
635 PM CDT Mon May 3 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN LOGAN...NORTH CENTRAL CHRISTIAN...EAST CENTRAL SANGAMON
AND SOUTHWESTERN MACON COUNTIES...
    
At 635 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located over Niantic, or 11
miles west of Decatur, moving east at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Damaging tornado and golf 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...
  Harristown around 640 PM CDT.

This includes Interstate 72 between mile markers 118 and 132.
 
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 3982 8937 3994 8929 3993 8904 3972 8910
TIME...MOT...LOC 2335Z 280DEG 29KT 3982 8915 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
HAIL...1.75IN

$$

37
815 
WWUS53 KILX 032349
SVSILX

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

ILC021-107-115-167-032358-
/O.EXP.KILX.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-210503T2345Z/
Logan-Christian-Sangamon-Macon-
649 PM CDT Mon May 3 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN LOGAN...NORTH CENTRAL
CHRISTIAN...EAST CENTRAL SANGAMON AND SOUTHWESTERN MACON COUNTIES HAS
EXPIRED...
    
The Tornado Warning that was previously in effect has been reissued 
for Macon County and is in effect until 715 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 
Macon County.

LAT...LON 3982 8937 3994 8929 3993 8904 3972 8910
TIME...MOT...LOC 2348Z 280DEG 29KT 3981 8905 

$$

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, 5:52 PM CDTTornado WarningILXLogan, Menard, Sangamon23 min
May 3, 6:02 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementILXLogan43 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.