Alert archive / Illinois / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2024

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 251, NWS St. Louis, MO

May 26, 2024Macoupin County, Montgomery County, Illinois

NWS St. Louis, MO issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 26, 2024, 5:03 PM CDT for Macoupin County, Montgomery County, Illinois. It was in force for 42 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 26, 2024, 5:03 PM CDT (22:03 UTC)
Expired
May 26, 2024, 5:45 PM CDT
In force
42 min
Issued by
NWS St. Louis, MO
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.5 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Macoupin County, IL, Montgomery County, IL

The radar

The St Louis radar (KLSX), 104 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:03 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 nearest sounding before it

Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 12:00Z, 10.1 hours before the alert went out and 138 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 2024-05-26Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 394 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 12:00Z on 2024-05-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 251 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
394 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-126 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
637 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
24 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
251 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
239 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
4.6

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 St. Louis, MO wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 26, 3:21 PM CDT, 1 hour 42 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • -Significant severe thunderstorms are likely through this evening, along and south of I-70. The main threats are very large hail (2"+), damaging winds (70-80+ mph), and strong tornadoes (EF2 or higher). -Locally heavy rainfall, up to 2-5 inches, is possible with this round of storms. -Dry and mild weather expected through the work week with temperatures near normal.
Area forecast discussion, May 26, 3:21 PM CDT, 1 hour 42 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Saint Louis MO
321 PM CDT Sun May 26 2024

.KEY MESSAGES...

-Significant severe thunderstorms are likely through this evening,
along and south of I-70. The main threats are very large hail (2"+),
damaging winds (70-80+ mph), and strong tornadoes (EF2 or higher).

-Locally heavy rainfall, up to 2-5 inches, is possible with this
round of storms.

-Dry and mild weather expected through the work week with
 temperatures near normal.

&&

.SHORT TERM...  (Through Late Monday Night)
Issued at 316 PM CDT Sun May 26 2024

Latest visible satellite and radar imagery indicates that a cu
field is developing between I-70 and I-44, as well as scattered
storms as of 20z. In the meantime, strong heating is occurring in
this area with steep LR (8-8.5C/km), MU CAPEs 2000-3000 J/kg, as
well as decent deep layer shear (50-60kts). So thunderstorms will
continue to develop in this area within the strongly sheared
environment. Supercells will be the dominant convective mode then
transition to a more linear structure as the activity exits the
forecast area later this evening. There is a risk for all severe
hazards including very large hail (2"+), damaging winds (70-80+
mph) and strong tornadoes (EF2 or higher), especially along and
south of I-70.

Otherwise, there is still the possibility of locally heavy rainfall
as the storms move through. With west-east shear parallel to the
outflow boundary, could see training storms through this evening.
The latest HREF probability matched mean indicates the potential for
rainfall up to 2" over a 3 hour period. Areas that have already seen
modest rainfall in the past two days will be at higher risk for
flash flooding. So the Flood Watch remains in effect until 06z
Monday.

Surface ridge will build in behind the cold front late tonight with
dry and pleasant weather returning on Monday. Lows tonight will be
in the mid 50s to low 60s. In the meantime, a secondary shortwave
will rotate around the system and sink southeast through the
forecast area during the day on Monday. Will see increasing cu
field, but the best chances for showers will be just north of the
forecast area. Highs will be in the upper 70s to mid 80s.

Byrd
&&

.LONG TERM...  (Tuesday through Next Sunday)
Issued at 316 PM CDT Sun May 26 2024

Upper level ridge will build over the western CONUS while
troughing lingers over the eastern half. Therefore the forecast
area will be in northwest flow aloft with temperatures a bit below
normal through the end of the work week. Otherwise, the pattern
begins to change late in the work week with chances of rain
returning by next weekend.

Byrd
&&

.AVIATION...  (For the 18z TAFs through 18z Monday Afternoon)
Issued at 1234 PM CDT Sun May 26 2024

Morning activity now well east of TAF sites. Still expect another
round of showers and storms will develop, mainly along and south
of I-70. So kept KUIN dry and VFR. Otherwise, for TAF sites along
I-70 have vicinity thunderstorm mention. For KCOU and KJEF it
will be between 18z Sunday and 01z Monday, then for St. Louis
metro area TAFs between 21z Sunday and 03z Monday, tapering off
once cold front moves through region.

As for the winds, gusty south to southwest winds will veer to the
northwest behind the cold front and diminish.

Byrd
&&

.LSX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MO...Flood Watch until 1 AM CDT Monday for Audrain MO-Boone MO-
     Callaway MO-Cole MO-Crawford MO-Franklin MO-Gasconade MO-
     Iron MO-Jefferson MO-Lincoln MO-Madison MO-Moniteau MO-
     Montgomery MO-Osage MO-Pike MO-Reynolds MO-Saint Charles MO-
     Saint Francois MO-Saint Louis City MO-Saint Louis MO-Sainte
     Genevieve MO-Warren MO-Washington MO.

IL...Flood Watch until 1 AM CDT Monday for Bond IL-Calhoun IL-Clinton
     IL-Fayette IL-Greene IL-Jersey IL-Macoupin IL-Madison IL-
     Marion IL-Monroe IL-Montgomery IL-Randolph IL-Saint Clair
     IL-Washington IL.

&&

WFO LSX
Hazardous weather outlook, May 26, 4:19 PM CDT, 44 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service St Louis MO
419 PM CDT Sun May 26 2024

ILZ058>060-064-065-069-070-074-079-095>102-MOZ018-019-026-027-
034>036-041-042-047>052-059>065-072>075-084-085-099-272130-
Greene IL-Macoupin IL-Montgomery IL-Bond IL-Fayette IL-Clinton IL-
Marion IL-Washington IL-Randolph IL-Adams IL-Brown IL-Pike IL-
Calhoun IL-Jersey IL-Madison IL-Saint Clair IL-Monroe IL-Knox MO-
Lewis MO-Shelby MO-Marion MO-Monroe MO-Ralls MO-Pike MO-Boone MO-
Audrain MO-Moniteau MO-Cole MO-Osage MO-Callaway MO-Montgomery MO-
Lincoln MO-Gasconade MO-Warren MO-Saint Charles MO-Franklin MO-
Saint Louis MO-Saint Louis City MO-Jefferson MO-Crawford MO-
Washington MO-Saint Francois MO-Sainte Genevieve MO-Iron MO-
Madison MO-Reynolds MO-
419 PM CDT Sun May 26 2024

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of eastern and
central Missouri as well as west central and southwest Illinois.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Thunderstorms are expected through this evening with significant
severe storms possible. Damaging winds up to 80 mph, large hail up to
two inches in diameter, strong tornadoes, and flash flooding are the
primary hazards.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday.

There is a chance of thunderstorms Friday through Saturday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will be needed. Spotters are encouraged to
report any severe weather, if observed, to the National Weather
Service.

Byrd

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 26, 4:52 PM CDT, 11 minutes before
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Local storm report, May 26, 4:57 PM CDT, 6 minutes before
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Local storm report, May 26, 4:59 PM CDT, 4 minutes before
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Local storm report, May 26, 5:00 PM CDT, 3 minutes before
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Local storm report, May 26, 5:01 PM CDT, 2 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service St Louis MO
501 PM CDT Sun May 26 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0501 PM     Hail             2 ESE Saint Charles     38.78N 90.48W
05/26/2024  E1.50 Inch       St. Charles        MO   Public

&&

AE
Local storm report, May 26, 5:02 PM CDT, 1 minute before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service St Louis MO
502 PM CDT Sun May 26 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0500 PM     Hail             2 E Saint Charles       38.79N 90.48W
05/26/2024  M2.50 Inch       St. Charles        MO   Trained Spotter

&&

MAB

The office that day

Everything else NWS St. Louis, MO issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 26, 12:31 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXMoniteau29 min
May 26, 12:57 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXBoone, Callaway, Cole, Moniteau33 min
May 26, 5:37 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXReynolds38 min
May 26, 5:59 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXIron46 min
May 26, 6:15 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXMadison, Saint Francois45 min
May 26, 6:40 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLSXBoone, Callaway3 hr
May 26, 11:50 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningLSXPerry, Sainte Genevieve4 days
May 26, 3:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXBoone, Callaway, Cole, Moniteau43 min
May 26, 3:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXFranklin, Gasconade, Montgomery, Osage, Warren45 min
May 26, 3:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXCallaway, Gasconade, Montgomery, Osage45 min
May 26, 3:46 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningLSXReynolds65 hr
May 26, 4:06 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXCole, Osage39 min
May 26, 4:09 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatLSXFranklin, Gasconade, Warren51 min
May 26, 4:14 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLSXCole, Osage3 hr
May 26, 4:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXSaint Charles, Saint Louis38 min
May 26, 4:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXGasconade, Osage51 min
May 26, 4:47 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXFranklin, Jefferson, Saint Charles, Saint Louis, Warren43 min
May 26, 4:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXFranklin, Warren35 min
May 26, 5:01 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLSXSaint Charles, Saint Louis3 hr
May 26, 5:05 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLSXFranklin, Gasconade, Montgomery, Saint Charles, Warren3 hr
May 26, 5:09 PM CDTTornado WarningLSXFranklin, Jefferson, Saint Louis51 min
May 26, 5:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatLSXSaint Charles, Saint Louis, City of Saint Louis38 min
May 26, 5:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatLSXSaint Charles, Saint Louis35 min
May 26, 5:43 PM CDTTornado WarningLSXSaint Louis, City of Saint Louis47 min
May 26, 5:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXSaint Charles, Saint Louis15 min
May 26, 5:49 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXCrawford, Franklin, Jefferson, Washington41 min
May 26, 6:06 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXCrawford39 min
May 26, 6:09 PM CDTTornado WarningLSXReynolds51 min
May 26, 6:14 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXJefferson, Sainte Genevieve, Saint Francois46 min
May 26, 6:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXIron, Washington44 min
May 26, 6:26 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXSainte Genevieve49 min
May 26, 6:30 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLSXCity of Saint Louis3 hr
May 26, 6:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatLSXIron, Sainte Genevieve, Saint Francois, Washington46 min
May 26, 6:46 PM CDTTornado WarningLSXReynolds27 min
May 26, 6:51 PM CDTTornado WarningLSXIron, Madison, Reynolds39 min
May 26, 4:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXCalhoun, Greene, Jersey45 min
May 26, 5:29 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXMadison61 min
May 26, 6:09 PM CDTTornado WarningLSXSaint Clair51 min
May 26, 6:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXBond, Clinton, Fayette, Madison59 min
May 26, 6:34 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLSXMadison3 hr
May 26, 6:38 PM CDTTornado WarningLSXClinton, Randolph, Saint Clair, Washington67 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.