Alert archive / Illinois / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2024

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 92, NWS Lincoln, IL

May 21, 2024Morgan County, Scott County, Illinois

NWS Lincoln, IL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 21, 2024, 8:03 PM CDT for Morgan County, Scott County, Illinois. It was in force for 27 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 21, 2024, 8:03 PM CDT (01:03 UTC)
Expired
May 21, 2024, 8:30 PM CDT
In force
27 min
Issued by
NWS Lincoln, IL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
0.75 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Morgan County, IL, Scott County, IL

The radar

The Lincoln radar (KILX), 100 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:03 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 21, 5:56 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 00:00Z, 1.1 hours before the alert went out and 157 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 00:00Z on 2024-05-22Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1222 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 00:00Z on 2024-05-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 71 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
1222 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-164 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1868 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
41 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
71 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
154 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.4

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 Lincoln, IL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 21, 6:42 PM CDT, 1 hour 21 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Strong south winds will gust up to 40 mph into early this evening. This will create blowing dust in spots where fields have recently been plowed.
  • There is a level 4 of 5 (moderate) risk for severe weather this evening west of the Illinois River, with gradually lower chances further east. While all severe hazards are in play, the greatest risks will be damaging wind gusts and brief tornadoes. A level 1 of 5 (marginal) risk will linger south of I-70 tomorrow afternoon.
  • An active pattern continues into this weekend with another risk of severe storms on Sunday.
Area forecast discussion, May 21, 6:42 PM CDT, 1 hour 21 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion...Updated Aviation
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
642 PM CDT Tue May 21 2024

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Strong south winds will gust up to 40 mph into early this
  evening. This will create blowing dust in spots where fields
  have recently been plowed.

- There is a level 4 of 5 (moderate) risk for severe weather this
  evening west of the Illinois River, with gradually lower chances
  further east. While all severe hazards are in play, the greatest
  risks will be damaging wind gusts and brief tornadoes. A level 1
  of 5 (marginal) risk will linger south of I-70 tomorrow
  afternoon.

- An active pattern continues into this weekend with another risk
  of severe storms on Sunday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 211 PM CDT Tue May 21 2024

18z surface map placed 996 mb low pressure over extreme southeast
Nebraska, which is forecast to deepen as it tracks northeast into
northern WI tonight. Well within the warm sector this afternoon,
central IL is being bathed in summertime heat and humidity with
temperatures in the upper 80s and dewpoints in the mid 60s as of 1
pm. A tight MSLP gradient will promote 30-40 mph southerly winds
gusts into early this evening. Dry top layers of soil and active
farming activity will lead to blowing dust in spots through late
afternoon.

A warm layer aloft centered near 775 mb should keep convection
suppressed in the warm sector this afternoon, and our attention is
focused on the cold front trailing south of the low, which is
forecast to fill in with convection over the next few hours. With
the better kinematic fields lifting northeast along with the
surface low, mesoanalysis suggests the more significant severe
weather potential (long track tornadoes, very large hail,
widespread wind damage) affecting areas to our northwest across
IA, far northwest IL, and southern WI into this evening. We do
maintain a risk of severe storms this evening locally,
particularly west of I-55 in a 7 to 11 pm window. As the
line of storms moves into this area, strong deep layer shear and
moderate instability will favor damaging straight line wind gusts
in the more intense line segments. While instability will decrease
with time and eastward extent, a 925-850 mb jet will strengthen
overhead, which may keep the severe threat going toward midnight
or a little later than the CAMs have been trending. The tornado
risk will mainly be tied to QLCS tornadoes, based on favorable
0-3km shear vectors northwest of the IL River.

Behind the front, a more typical May airmass will filter into most
of central later tonight and Wednesday with cooler highs in the
70s and lower humidity. The exception will be south of I-70 where
the front is slower to clear, leading to another warm day and a
few afternoon storms. The severe weather risk is much reduced in
this area from previous forecasts with higher instability (CAPEs
1000+ J/kg) suppressed near and south of the Ohio River based on
the 12z HREF. Still a couple strong afternoon storms can't be
ruled out given 30 kt deep layer shear and SPC has a Marginal risk
(level 1/5) near/south of I-70.

For Thursday through early next week an active pattern will remain
in place across the region, with shortwaves shown crossing the
Midwest every 36-48 hours. Significant uncertainty in the
forecast details exist given differences in timing and placement
of these features, however Friday and Sunday look to be the
favored periods for more widespread showers and storms and this is
where higher PoPs have been placed. For severe weather prospects,
Sunday is currently the most concerning, especially if the 21/12z
ECMWF verifies with low pressure deepening just to our northwest.
Again, widely varying solutions are noted in the ensemble
envelope, so keep updated on later forecasts as the pattern
evolves.

25

&&

.AVIATION...  (For the 00z TAFs through 00z Wednesday Evening)
Issued at 641 PM CDT Tue May 21 2024

South winds will gust 30-40 kt into this evening ahead of a cold
front. A broken line of TSRA is expected to cross the central IL
terminals this evening, and have a 3-hr tempo for IFR conditions
and gusty winds associated with the storms. Winds veer west behind
the frontal passage and lose gustiness. Patchy MVFR ceilings
could develop behind the front, primarily at KBMI-KDEC-KCMI and
have added a scattered cloud group there for the overnight hours.

Shimon

&&

.ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&
Hazardous weather outlook, May 21, 3:08 PM CDT, 4 hours 55 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
308 PM CDT Tue May 21 2024

ILZ027>031-036-037-040-041-047>050-222015-
Knox-Stark-Peoria-Marshall-Woodford-Fulton-Tazewell-Schuyler-Mason-
Cass-Menard-Scott-Morgan-
308 PM CDT Tue May 21 2024

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Illinois and west
central Illinois.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Severe thunderstorms are likely across the area this evening. Wind
gusts over 70 mph, large hail, and tornadoes are all possible.

Ahead of the storms, south winds will gust up to 40 mph, creating
blowing dust into early this evening.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

Chances for thunderstorms return Thursday night, and persist through
the holiday weekend. The severe weather threat is uncertain at this
time.

Minor flooding will linger on the Illinois River near Havana and
Beardstown for several days.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will likely be needed between 7 pm and 10 pm.

Expected storm motion is toward the northeast around 45 mph.

ILZ038-042-043-051>053-222015-
McLean-Logan-De Witt-Sangamon-Christian-Macon-
308 PM CDT Tue May 21 2024

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Illinois.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Severe thunderstorms are likely to move across the area this
evening. Wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph and hail are possible, along
with a tornado or two.

Ahead of the storms, south winds will gust up to 40 mph, creating
blowing dust into early this evening.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

Chances for thunderstorms return Thursday night, and persist through
the holiday weekend. The severe weather threat is uncertain at this
time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will likely be needed between 8 pm and 11 pm.

Expected storm motion is toward the east around 45 mph.

ILZ044>046-054>057-061>063-066-067-071-222015-
Piatt-Champaign-Vermilion-Moultrie-Douglas-Coles-Edgar-Shelby-
Cumberland-Clark-Effingham-Jasper-Clay-
308 PM CDT Tue May 21 2024

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Illinois, east
central Illinois and southeast Illinois.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Thunderstorms are expected to move into the area late this evening.
Some may be severe, with damaging winds around 60 mph the main
concern.

Ahead of the storms, south winds will gust up to 40 mph, creating
blowing dust into early this evening.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

Thunderstorm chances remain in the forecast much of this period. The
severe weather threat is uncertain at this time, but would be more
favored on Sunday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed between 10 pm and 1 am.

Expected storm motion is toward the east around 45 mph.

ILZ068-072-073-222015-
Crawford-Richland-Lawrence-
308 PM CDT Tue May 21 2024

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Illinois.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Scattered thunderstorms will begin moving into the area late this
evening, with better chances after midnight. A few may be strong to
locally severe, though this is more likely north of I-70.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

Thunderstorms are possible again on Wednesday, and a few of them may
contain strong winds. However, the greater severe weather threat
will be further south.

Chances for storms will continue into the holiday weekend. The best
chance for severe weather currently appears to be on Sunday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed after midnight.

25

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 21, 2:20 PM CDT, 5 hours 43 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
220 PM CDT Tue May 21 2024

ILZ027>031-036>038-040>057-061-212200-
Knox-Stark-Peoria-Marshall-Woodford-Fulton-Tazewell-McLean-Schuyler-
Mason-Logan-De Witt-Piatt-Champaign-Vermilion-Cass-Menard-Scott-
Morgan-Sangamon-Christian-Macon-Moultrie-Douglas-Coles-Edgar-Shelby-
Including the cities of Galesburg, Toulon, Peoria, Lacon, Eureka,
Canton, Pekin, Bloomington, Normal, Rushville, Havana, Lincoln,
Clinton, Monticello, Champaign, Urbana, Danville, Beardstown,
Petersburg, Winchester, Jacksonville, Springfield, Taylorville,
Decatur, Sullivan, Tuscola, Charleston, Mattoon, Paris,
and Shelbyville
220 PM CDT Tue May 21 2024

...Gusty South Winds And Blowing Dust This Afternoon...

South winds will gust up to 40 mph this afternoon. This will create
difficult travel for high profile, lightweight vehicles, especially
on east west roads. In addition, dry topsoil and recently plowed
fields will lead to areas of blowing dust. This can create sharply
reduced visibility over short distances in rural areas.

25
Local storm report, May 21, 7:08 PM CDT, 55 minutes before
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Local storm report, May 21, 7:59 PM CDT, 4 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 21, 8:15 PM CDTBlowing Dust WarningILXChampaign, DeWitt, Logan, McLean, Macon, Piatt and 1 more4 hr
May 21, 9:32 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementILXChristian13 min
May 21, 9:50 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementILXChampaign, Clark, Coles, Cumberland, DeWitt, Douglas and 7 more55 min
May 21, 10:22 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILXChampaign, Coles, Douglas, Edgar, Vermilion38 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Illinois, 2024Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2024

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.