Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 1986

Tornado Warning 28, NWS Midland/Odessa, TX

October 2, 1986Upton County, Texas

NWS Midland/Odessa, TX issued this tornado warning at Oct 2, 1986, 6:33 PM CDT for Upton County, Texas. It was in force for 57 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Oct 2, 1986, 6:33 PM CDT (23:33 UTC)
Expired
Oct 2, 1986, 7:30 PM CDT
In force
57 min
Issued by
NWS Midland/Odessa, TX
Area
Whole counties

County Upton 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

Midland Regional, TX (KMAF), launched 12:00Z, 11.6 hours before the alert went out and 66 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, Midland Regional, TX at 12:00Z on 1986-10-02Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Midland Regional, TX at 12:00Z on 1986-10-02The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -38 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 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
1174 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
32 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-38 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
3 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAAOO KMAF 022333
TORMAF
TXC461-030030-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND TX
633 PM CDT THU OCT  2 1986
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING
EFFECTIVE UNTIL  730 PM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:
 
IN SOUTHWEST TEXAS
          ..SOUTHERN UPTON

AT 631 PM CDT THE UPTON COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE REPORTED THAT A
POSSIBLE TORNADO HIT THE NORTHEAST PART OF RANKIN TEXAS. A METAL
STORAGE BUILDING WAS BLOWN INTO TWO CARS..A POWER POLE WAS DOWN AND
TWO LARGE TREES WERE DOWN.
 
AT 632 PM CDT RADAR SHOWED A THUNDERSTORM WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN NEAR
RANKIN TEXAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.
 
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM SITUATION.  ACT QUICKLY.  IF YOU ARE IN
THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO MOVE TO A SHELTER BELOW GROUND IF
AVAILABLE.  OTHERWISE, GO TO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR POSSIBLE.  AVOID WINDOWS.  ABANDON CARS AND MOBILE HOMES
FOR A REINFORCED BUILDING OR GET INTO A DITCH OR CULVERT.

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, Oct 2, 1:35 PM CDT, 4 hours 58 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND TX
135 PM CDT THU OCT 2 1986

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR PORTION OF THE PERMAIN BASIN..
SOUTH PLAINS AND THE CONCHO VALLEY THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...

AT 125 PM CDT..SOME VERY HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS WERE SOUTH OF LUCCOCK TO
NORTH OF LAMESA. OTHER SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS  WERE IN
SOUTNEAST NEW MEXICO AND THE SOUTH PLAINS. A NEW AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS
HAVE DEVELOPED NEAR SANDERSON.

MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

VERY HEAVY RAIN..FREQUENT LIGHTNING..STRONG GUSTY WINDS..AND SOME SMALL
HAIL CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THE HEAVIER THUNDERSTORMS. STREET FLOODING
CAN BE EXPECTED I!N MANY LOCAL AREAS.

MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO USE CAUTION THIS MORNING DURING TO HIGH WATER
IN LOW LYING AREAS.
Special weather statement, Oct 2, 2:31 PM CDT, 4 hours 2 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND TX
235 PM CDT THU OCT 2 1986

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE PERMAIN BASIN..SOUTH PLAINS..
THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...AND FOR THE CONCHO VALLEY..FAR WEST TEXAS..
AND THE PECOS VALLEY TONIGHT..

AT 225 PM CDT..SCATTERED VERY HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN THE SOUTH
PLAINS JUST SOUTH AND EAST OF LUBBOCK. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN
SOUTHWEST TEXAS BETWEEN FORT STOCKTON AND SANDERSON.

MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

VERY HEAVY RAIN..FREQUENT LIGHTNING..STRONG GUSTY WINDS..AND SOME SMALL
HAIL CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THE HEAVIER THUNDERSTORMS. STREET FLOODING
CAN BE EXPECTED IN MANY, LOCAL AREAS.

MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO USE CAUTION THIS MORNING DURING TO HIGH WATER
IN LOW LYING AREAS.
Special weather statement, Oct 2, 2:41 PM CDT, 3 hours 52 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND TX
235 PM CDT THU OCT 2 1986

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE PERMAIN BASIN..SOUTH PLAINS..
THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...AND FOR THE CONCHO VALLEY..FAR WEST TEXAS..
AND THE PECOS VALLEY TONIGHT..

AT 225 PM CDT..SCATTERED VERY HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN THE SOUTH
PLAINS JUST SOUTH AND EAST OF LUBBOCK. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN
SOUTHWEST TEXAS BETWEEN FORT STOCKTON AND SANDERSON.

MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

VERY HEAVY RAIN..FREQUENT LIGHTNING..STRONG GUSTY WINDS..AND SOME SMALL
HAIL CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THE HEAVIER THUNDERSTORMS. STREET FLOODING
CAN BE EXPECTED IN 6MANY LOCAL AREAS.

MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO USE CAUTION DUE TO HIGH WATER IN LOW LYING AREAS.
Special weather statement, Oct 2, 3:29 PM CDT, 3 hours 4 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND TX
335 PM CDT THU OCT 2 1986

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE PERMAIN BASIN..SOUTH PLAINS..
THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...AND FOR THE CONCHO VALLEY..FAR WEST TEXAS..
AND THE PECOS VALLEY TONIGHT..

AT 325 PM CDT..SCATTERED VERY HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN THE SOUTH
PLAINS IN THE LUBBOCK AREA. OTHER VERY HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS WERE JUST
WEST OF GOLDSMITH AND BETWEEN FORT STOCKTON AND SANDERSON.

MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.

VERY HEAVY RAIN..FREQUENT LIGHTNING..STRONG GUSTY WINDS..AND SOME SMALL
HAIL CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THE HEAVIER THUNDERSTORMS. STREET FLOODING
CAN BE EXPECTED IN MANY LOCAL AREAS.

MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO USE CAUTION DUE TO HIGH WATER IN LOW LYING AREAS.
Special weather statement, Oct 2, 4:37 PM CDT, 1 hour 56 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND TX
436 PM CDT THU OCT 2 1986

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE PERMAIN BASIN..SOUTH PLAINS..
THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...AND FOR THE CONCHO VALLEY..FAR WEST TEXAS..
AND THE PECOS VALLEY TONIGHT..

AT 427 PM CDT..SCATTERED VERY HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED ACROSS PARTS
OF THE SOUTH PLAINS FROM NORTHEAST OF LUBBOCK AND EXTENDED INTO SOUTHEAST
NEW MEXICO NORTH OF HOBBS. OTHER SCATTERED VERY HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS WERE
NOTED OVER THE PERMIAN BASIN AND SOUTHWEST TEXAS FROM NORTHWEST OF MIDLAND
TO GUADALUPE PASS EXTENDING ALONG THE PECOS RIVER TO IRAAN. THE HEAVIEST
STORMS WERE NORTH OF GOLDSMITH AND NORTH OF KERMIT. MOVEMENT WAS TO THE
NORTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

VERY HEAVY RAIN..FREQUENT LIGHTNING..STRONG GUSTY WINDS..AND SOME SMALL
HAIL CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THE HEAVIER THUNDERSTORMS. STREET FLOODING
CAN BE EXPECTED IN MANY LOCAL AREAS.
O
MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO USE CAUTION DUE TO HIGH WATER IN LOW LYING AREAS.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Midland/Odessa, TX issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 2, 5:09 PM CDTTornado WarningMAFAndrews, Gaines66 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.