Alert archive / Illinois / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2025

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 54, NWS St. Louis, MO

March 30, 2025Washington County, Illinois

NWS St. Louis, MO issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 30, 2025, 3:41 PM CDT for Washington County, Illinois. It was in force for 20 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: Mar 30, 2025, 3:41 PM CDT (20:41 UTC)
Expired: Mar 30, 2025, 4:01 PM CDT
In force: 20 min
Issued by: NWS St. Louis, MO
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 1.0 in
Wind: 60.0 mph

County Washington County, IL

The radar

The St Louis radar (KLSX), 117 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:43 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.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Mar 30, 12:02 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	7 hr
Mar 30, 2:35 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 12:00Z, 8.7 hours before the alert went out and 212 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 217 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -115 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 796 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 297 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 279 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

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 Mar 30, 1:04 PM CDT, 2 hours 37 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

Isolated severe thunderstorms are possible across parts of central and northeast Missouri through mid-morning with damaging winds the primary threat.
Severe thunderstorms are likely this afternoon into early evening, primarily across east-central and southeast Missouri and southwest and south-central Illinois. Large hail of 2+ inches in diameter, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes remain the severe weather threats.
Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible on Wednesday, mainly in the afternoon and evening.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 30, 1:04 PM CDT, 2 hours 37 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion...Updated Aviation
National Weather Service Saint Louis MO
104 PM CDT Sun Mar 30 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Isolated severe thunderstorms are possible across parts of
  central and northeast Missouri through mid-morning with damaging
  winds the primary threat.

- Severe thunderstorms are likely this afternoon into early
  evening, primarily across east-central and southeast Missouri
  and southwest and south-central Illinois. Large hail of 2+
  inches in diameter, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes remain
  the severe weather threats.

- Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible on Wednesday, mainly
 in the afternoon and evening.

&&

.SHORT TERM...  (Through Late Monday Afternoon)
Issued at 322 AM CDT Sun Mar 30 2025

A loosely organized QLCS was located across extreme western AR
into SW MO early this morning. This convection was associated
with a shortwave trof just to it's west across the central and
southern Plains. The consensus of the short range guidance tracks
the QLCS northeastward and into central MO around 10-11z and
rapidly moves it to the northeast and out of the CWA by 14z or so
in a weakening and decaying state. Instability will increase in
central MO in advance of it and that suggests that it will have at
least some severe weather potential in central and northeast MO
before it weakens and outruns the instability. Damaging winds
would appear to be the main threat.

The impacts of this system and presence of any residual outflow
boundary are unclear at this time, but virtually all the guidance
suggests that airmass recovery will occur in it's wake and ahead of
the advancing cold front with SBCAPE of around 1500-2500 J/KG by
midday. Another upstream short wave trof will move into the CWA this
afternoon and the combo of it along with frontal forcing are
expected to initiate the next round of storms associated with the
afternoon severe weather threat. Once again the guidance is
reasonably clustered indicating CI will occur along the advancing
cold front in a zone from around Troy to Rolla in the 16-17z time
frame. Deep layer shear vectors are strong and have a more front
parallel component along the northern extent of the front and a bit
more orthogonal component farther south. The expected mode would be
semi-discrete supercells from far east-central MO eastward where it
could be a bit messy with mergers, and then potentially more
discrete storms heading further south into the Ozarks. The threat of
large hail seems high and probably the greatest severe weather
hazard follow by wind and then tornadoes. The tornado parameter
space is not as favorable as forecast 24-48H ago with most of the
guidance currently depicting 0-1km SRH of 100-200 m2/s2 across
southwest/south-central IL and extreme east-central MO and southeast
MO. These values are supportive of a few tornadoes, especially with
strongly deviant storm motions, constructive mergers, and via
internal supercell processes. Note however they are a far cry from
the 0-1 km SRH values on 3/14 which ranged from 450-550 m2/s2.
Our thinking has changed little that SW/SC IL and SE MO have the
greatest threat of severe storms and tornado potential and this is
reflected in the adjusted position of the SPC DAY1 ENH centered
within that region. Present indications are the storms will have
exited the CWA by 23-00z.

Monday is still on track to be the coolest day of the week with
tranquil and drier conditions as post-frontal surface high pressure
moves into the MS Valley during the afternoon.

Glass

&&

.LONG TERM...  (Monday Night through Saturday)
Issued at 322 AM CDT Sun Mar 30 2025

Rising heights aloft Monday Night into early Tuesday and the
retreat of the surface high will allow for moderating temperatures
as a warm advection regime becomes established featuring low-
level SE-S flow.

Wednesday continues to look very interesting and the synoptic
pattern is coming together to support strong-severe thunderstorms
with both ample instability and strong deep layer shear indicated
in the plethora of available model guidance. A strong upper
low/trof will lift northeastward from the Rockies and into the
north-central Plains by 12z Wednesday and then into the upper MS
Valley by 00z Thursday. Strong cyclogenesis across the high Plains
of CO will occur on Tuesday with the cyclone tracking
northeastward in association with the aforementioned lifting upper
trof, and dragging a dryline/Pacific cold front into the CWA on
Wednesday afternoon. Poleward moisture transport Tuesday night
into Wednesday is impressive which results in notable SBCAPE
values by Wednesday morning across the CWA throughout the warm
sector; the conservative NBM is showing SBCAPE of 1000-1200 J/KG
at 18z. A strong southwesterly LLJ could also generate elevated
thunderstorms in advance of the main system on Tuesday night-
early Wednesday morning.

Glass

&&

.AVIATION...  (For the 18z TAFs through 18z Monday Afternoon)
Issued at 1248 PM CDT Sun Mar 30 2025

Have kept a tempo group for showers and thunderstorms in the St.
Louis metro terminals through 19Z. Any of the heavier showers or
thunderstorms could produce IFR ceilings and visibilities along
with hail and wind gusts over 35 knots. Then mainly dry weather is
expected the rest of the period with MVFR ceilings at UIN/JEF/COU
through 14-16Z before improving to VFR. There will also be a
period of VFR condition at the St. Louis area terminals this
afternoon before MVFR ceilings move into that airports tonight.
Westerly winds with gusts to 25 knots will turn to the northwest
tonight.

Britt

&&

.LSX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MO...None.
IL...None.
&&

WFO LSX

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 30, 3:12 PM CDT, 29 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service St Louis MO
312 PM CDT Sun Mar 30 2025

ILZ058>060-064-065-069-070-074-079-095>102-MOZ018-019-026-027-
034>036-041-042-047>052-059>065-072>075-084-085-099-312015-
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-
312 PM CDT Sun Mar 30 2025

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

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Severe thunderstorms remain like into this early evening, primarily
across east- central and southeast Missouri and southwest and south-
central Illinois. Large hail of 2+ inches in diameter, damaging
winds, and a few tornadoes remain the severe weather threats.

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

There is another chance of thunderstorms for parts of the area
Tuesday night through Saturday. Strong to severe thunderstorms are
possible on Tuesday night and again Wednesday afternoon and evening.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will likely be needed through this evening.

Britt

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 30, 3:15 PM CDT, 26 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service St Louis MO
315 PM CDT Sun Mar 30 2025

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

0314 PM     Hail             Evansville              38.09N 89.94W
03/30/2025  E1.75 Inch       Randolph           IL   Public

            report of golf balls falling in evansville.

&&

LSJ

Local storm report, Mar 30, 3:20 PM CDT, 21 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service St Louis MO
320 PM CDT Sun Mar 30 2025

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

0258 PM     Hail             2 N Bismarck            37.80N 90.63W
03/30/2025  E1.00 Inch       St. Francois       MO   Public

            quarter sized hail in Bismarck.

&&

LSJ

Local storm report, Mar 30, 3:27 PM CDT, 14 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service St Louis MO
327 PM CDT Sun Mar 30 2025

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

0253 PM     Hail             Addieville              38.39N 89.49W
03/30/2025  E1.00 Inch       Washington         IL   Public

            photos of hailstones compared to a quarter
            as well as wind driven hail damage to siding
            of a buiding. siding has multiple quarter
            sized holes.

&&

LSJ

Local storm report, Mar 30, 3:37 PM CDT, 4 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service St Louis MO
337 PM CDT Sun Mar 30 2025

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

0331 PM     Hail             2 NNW Cartter           38.58N 88.92W
03/30/2025  E1.75 Inch       Marion             IL   Emergency Mngr

            quarter to golf ball sized hail south and
            east of Salem IL.

&&

LSJ

Local storm report, Mar 30, 3:39 PM CDT, 2 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service St Louis MO
339 PM CDT Sun Mar 30 2025

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

0336 PM     Hail             Nashville               38.34N 89.38W
03/30/2025  M1.25 Inch       Washington         IL   Emergency Mngr

            Via Slack with picture of stones next to
            ruler - measured half dollar sized hail.

&&

LSJ

Local storm report, Mar 30, 3:41 PM CDT, 0 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service St Louis MO
341 PM CDT Sun Mar 30 2025

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

0334 PM     Hail             2 WSW Cartter           38.53N 88.94W
03/30/2025  E1.00 Inch       Marion             IL   Public

            Via Twitter.

&&

LSJ

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Mar 30, 6:04 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LSX	Marion, Monroe, Shelby	41 min
Mar 30, 1:23 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LSX	Crawford, Washington	52 min
Mar 30, 1:50 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	LSX	Jefferson, Saint Francois, Washington	40 min
Mar 30, 1:58 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LSX	Jefferson	62 min
Mar 30, 2:06 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	LSX	Franklin, Saint Charles, Saint Louis, Warren	3 hr
Mar 30, 2:27 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LSX	Jefferson, Sainte Genevieve, Saint Francois	48 min
Mar 30, 2:38 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LSX	Sainte Genevieve, Saint Francois, Washington	39 min
Mar 30, 2:54 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LSX	Reynolds	51 min
Mar 30, 3:16 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	LSX	Sainte Genevieve	44 min
Mar 30, 3:27 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LSX	Iron, Madison, Saint Francois	48 min
Mar 30, 3:55 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LSX	Madison, Sainte Genevieve, Saint Francois	35 min
Mar 30, 4:22 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LSX	Reynolds	38 min
Mar 30, 12:17 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LSX	Bond, Clinton, Fayette, Marion, Montgomery, Washington	43 min
Mar 30, 1:35 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LSX	Monroe, Saint Clair	40 min
Mar 30, 2:07 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LSX	Washington	23 min
Mar 30, 2:32 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LSX	Clinton, Saint Clair, Washington	43 min
Mar 30, 2:44 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LSX	Marion	31 min
Mar 30, 2:53 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	LSX	Washington	19 min
Mar 30, 3:11 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LSX	Clinton, Marion, Washington	49 min
Mar 30, 3:59 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	LSX	Marion	3 hr

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Illinois, 2025 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2025

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.