Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 1986
Tornado Warning 74, NWS Fort Worth, TX
NWS Fort Worth, TX issued this tornado warning at May 17, 1986, 12:04 PM CDT for Limestone County, Robertson County, Texas. It was in force for 56 min.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- May 17, 1986, 12:04 PM CDT (17:04 UTC)
- Expired
- May 17, 1986, 1:00 PM CDT
- In force
- 56 min
- Issued by
- NWS Fort Worth, TX
- Area
- Whole counties
Counties Limestone County, TX, Robertson County, TX
The radar
The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.
The nearest sounding before it
Stephenville/Cla, TX (KSEP), launched 12:00Z, 5.1 hours before the alert went out and 180 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 2509 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -1 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 611 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 43 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 73 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 116 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 1.5
- Supercell composite
- 10.2
The text
The text of this product is not in the archive. The NWS text archive before 2002 is incomplete.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 17, 7:38 AM CDT, 4 hours 26 minutes before
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX 745 AM CDT SAT MAY 17 1986 A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF NORTH TEXAS UNTIL 9 AM THIS MORNING. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT TODAY FOR ALL OF NORTH TEXAS..EXCEPT THE SOUTHEAST PART..GENERALLY NORTHWEST OF A LAMPASAS..LONGVIEW LINE. THE TORNADO AND FLASH FLOOD WATCH DOES INCLUDE THE DALLAS/FORT WORTH METROPLEX..PARIS..SHERMAN AREAS AND THE TYLER..LONGVIEW VICINITIES. AT 745 AM...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A SCATTERED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM JUST NORTH OF GRANDBURY..TO FORT WORTH..AND CONTINUING NORTHEAST TO SULPHUR SPRINGS. THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEEN PRODUCING SMALL HAIL..HEAVY RAIN AND GUSTY WINDS. RAPID RUNOFF OF RAINFALL IN URBAN AREAS CAN PRODUCE LOCAL AREAS OF HIGH WATER. ELSEWHERE RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE OCCURING IN A 50 TO 100 MILE WIDE BAND FROM TEXARKANA TO ABILENE. THE INDIVIDUAL THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH WHILE THE ENTIRE AREA CONTINUED TO SHIFT SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH. REMEMBER A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA AND A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT HEAVY RAINS COULD CAUSE FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO..LOCAL RADIO OR TV FOR UPDATES ON THE PRESENT WEATHER SITUATION.
Special weather statement, May 17, 7:40 AM CDT, 4 hours 24 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WACO TX 735 AM CDT SAT MAY 17 1986 ...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR BOSQUE AND HILL COUNTIES OF CENTRAL TEXAS UNTIL 900 AM THIS MORNING... ...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR BOSQUE..CORYELL..HILL.. LIMESTONE AND MCLENNAN COUNTIES OF CENTRAL TEXAS TODAY... AT 730 AM CDT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS..SOME PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAINFALL..WERE OCCURRING OVER A LARGE SECTION OF NORTH TEXAS. THE AREA WAS LOCATED NORTH OF A LINE FROM WEST OF BROWNWOOD TO 20 MILES NORTH OF WACO TO TYLER. THE HEAVIEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE OCCURRING FROM SOUTHEAST OF STEPHENVILLE TO NEAR WEATHERFORD TO FORT WORTH TO NORTHEAST OF DALLAS. THE AREA WAS MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR. THE HEAVIER THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEEN PRODUCING STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL. PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREAS SHOULD BE ALERT TO POSSIBLITY OF STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND SUSTAINED HEAVY RAIN THAT COULD PR%ODUCE FLASH FLOODING. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR TO LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, May 17, 9:09 AM CDT, 2 hours 55 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WACO TX 855 AM CDT SAT MAY 17 1986 ...A TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR BELL..BOSQUE..CORYELL.. FALLS..HILL..LEON..LIMESTONE..MCLENNAN AND ROBERTSON COUNTIES OF CENTRAL TEXAS UNTIL 300 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON... ...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR BOSQUE..CORYELL..HILL.. LIMESTONE AND MCLENNAN COUNTIES OF CENTRAL TEXAS FOR TODAY... AT 850 AM CDT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS..SOME PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAINFALL..WERE OCCURRING OVER A LARGE SECTION OF NORTH TEXAS. THE AREA EXTENDED 80 MILES NORTH OF A LINE FROM NEAR BRADY TO BROWNWOOD TO WACO TO SOUTHEAST OF TYLER. THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL IS OCCURRING IN BOSQUE AND HILL COUNTIES OF CENTRAL TEXAS. MOVEMENT WAS TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR. THE HEAVIER THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEEN PRODUCING STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND VERY HEAVY RAINS. PERSONS IN HILL AND BOSQUE COUNTIES SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THE POSSIBLITY OF FLASH FLOODING OF FLOOD PRONE AND LOW LYING AREAS. SOME OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE CAPABLE OF STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND SMALL HAIL. PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREAS SHOULD STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR TO LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS PAND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, May 17, 9:30 AM CDT, 2 hours 34 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX 930 AM CDT SAT MAY 17 1986 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IN EASTLAND AND COMANCHE COUNTIES... AT 925 AM CDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING THROUGH EASTLAND AND COMANCHE COUNTIES. THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM JUST SOUTH OF EASTLAND SOUTHWARD TO JUST WEST OF COMANCHE. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TOWARD THE EAST AT ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR. THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE PRODUCED WIND GUSTS OF NEAR 45 MILES AN HOUR AND BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL. SOME SMALL HAIL MAY ALSO BE EXPECTED. THE AREA OF STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE MOVING INTO ERATH AND HAMILTON COUNTIES DURING THE 30 MINUTES. A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTHERN PART OF NORTH TEXAS UNTIL 3 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON. THE WATCH IS FOR THAT AREA OF NORTH TEXAS GENERALLY SOUTH OF A LINE FROM EASTLAND TO DALLAS/FORT WORTH TO NEAR MOUNT PLEASANT..AND THEN EASTWAwRD INTO SOUTHERN ARKANSAS. IN ADDITION A FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR ALL BUT THE SOUTHEAST PART OF NORTH TEXAS. THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS GENERALLY NORTH OF A LAMPASAS..LONGVIEW LINE.
Special weather statement, May 17, 10:49 AM CDT, 1 hour 15 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX 1050 AM CDT SAT MAY 17 1986 THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR HAMILTON COUNTY EXPIRED AT 10:30 AM. A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR SMITH COUNTY UNTIL 1:15 PM.. AMD FOR HENDERSON COUNTY UNTIL 1:30 PM. A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTHERN PART OF NORTH TEXAS UNTIL 3 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON. THE WATCH IS FOR THAT AREA OF NORTH TEXAS GENERALLY SOUTH OF A LINE FROM EASTLAND TO DALLAS/FORT WORTH TO NEAR MOUNT PLEASANT..AND THEN EASTWARD TO SOUTHERN ARKANSAS. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT TODAY FOR ALL BUT THE SOUTHEAST PART OF NORTH TEXAS. AT 1050 AM..WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IN JOHNSON COUNTY EXTENDING SOUTH TO BOSQUE. MOVEMENT WAS TO THE EAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS AND SHOWERS ABOUT 50 MILES WIDE WERE FROM NEAR LONGVIEW WEST TO NEAR WAXAHAXIE. MOVEMENT WAS TO THE EAST AT 20 MILES AN HOUR. REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADO AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT HEAVY RAINS COULD CAUSE FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS. FOR PEOPLE IN FLASH FLOOD WARNING AREAS...MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IF YOU ARE IN A LOW LYING AREA..DO NOT CROSS OR DRIVE THRU FLOODED ROADS.
Special weather statement, May 17, 11:44 AM CDT, 20 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX 1145 AM CDT SAT MAY 17 1986 A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR SMITH COUNTY UNTIL 1:15 PM.. AND FOR HENDERSON COUNTY UNTIL 1:30 PM. A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTHERN PART OF NORTH TEXAS UNTIL 3 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON. THE WATCH IS FOR THAT AREA OF NORTH TEXAS GENERALLY SOUTH OF A LINE FROM EASTLAND TO DALLAS/FORT WORTH TO NEAR MOUNT PLEASANT..AND THEN EASTWARD TO SOUTHERN ARKANSAS. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT TODAY FOR ALL BUT THE SOUTHEAST PART OF NORTH TEXAS. AT 1140 AM..WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING HEAVY RAINFALL BETWEEN PALESTINE AND LONGVIEW MOVING EAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR. ALSO..NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS WERE INDICATED FROM HAMILTON COUNTY SOUTHWEST TO CHEROKEE IN SAN SABA COUNTY. MOVEMENT WAS TO THE EAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR. REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADO AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT HEAVY RAINS COULD CAUSE FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS. FOR PEOPLE IN FLASH FLOOD WARNING AREAS...MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IF YOU ARE IN A LOW LYING AREA. DO NOT CROSS OR ;DRIVE THRU FLOODED ROADS. STAY TUNED TO YOUR LOCAL RADIO..TELEVISION..OR NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS OR IF NEEDED..WARNINGS.
The office that day
Everything else NWS Fort Worth, TX issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 16, 7:00 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | FWD | Foard, Hardeman | 60 min |
| May 16, 8:00 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | FWD | Foard, Hardeman | 60 min |
| May 16, 9:00 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | FWD | Foard, Hardeman, Wilbarger | 60 min |
| May 16, 9:50 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | FWD | Foard, Wilbarger | 60 min |
| May 16, 9:50 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | FWD | Hardeman | 35 min |
| May 16, 10:48 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | FWD | Wilbarger | 62 min |
| May 16, 11:10 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FWD | Wichita | 45 min |
| May 16, 11:20 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | FWD | Wichita | 60 min |
| May 16, 11:50 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FWD | Clay | 60 min |
| May 17, 12:50 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FWD | Wichita | 30 min |
| May 17, 2:30 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FWD | Baylor | 60 min |
| May 17, 6:04 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FWD | Eastland, Stephens | 56 min |
| May 17, 6:39 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FWD | Palo Pinto, Stephens | 66 min |
| May 17, 9:10 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FWD | Bosque, Coryell | 2 hr |
| May 17, 9:15 AM CDT | Tornado Warning | FWD | Brown | 60 min |
| May 17, 9:52 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FWD | Hamilton | 38 min |
| May 17, 10:00 AM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | FWD | Bosque, Hill | 3 hr |
| May 17, 10:20 AM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | FWD | Smith | 3 hr |
| May 17, 10:45 AM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | FWD | Henderson | 3 hr |
| May 17, 11:05 AM CDT | Tornado Warning | FWD | McLennan | 55 min |
| May 17, 11:28 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FWD | Bell | 32 min |
| May 17, 11:55 AM CDT | Tornado Warning | FWD | Falls | 35 min |
| May 17, 1:05 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FWD | Brazos | 55 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Texas, 1986Every tornado warning in 1986Tornadoes in 1986
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.