Alert archive / Oklahoma / Tornado Warnings in 1986

Tornado Warning 30, NWS Norman, OK

May 16, 1986Grady County, Oklahoma

NWS Norman, OK issued this tornado warning at May 16, 1986, 10:36 PM CDT for Grady County, Oklahoma. It was in force for 34 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 16, 1986, 10:36 PM CDT (03:36 UTC)
Expired
May 16, 1986, 11:10 PM CDT
In force
34 min
Issued by
NWS Norman, OK
Area
Whole counties

County Grady County, OK

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

Ok Cty/Will Rgrs, OK (KOKC), launched 00:00Z, 3.6 hours before the alert went out and 50 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, Ok Cty/Will Rgrs, OK at 00:00Z on 1986-05-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2930 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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, Ok Cty/Will Rgrs, OK at 00:00Z on 1986-05-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 81 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
2930 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-2 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
856 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
27 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
81 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
102 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.0
Supercell composite
5.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAAOO KOKC 170336
TOROKC
OKC051-170410-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUSTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OKLAHOMA CITY OK
1036 PM CDT FRI MAY 16 1986
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1110 PM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:
 
IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
          ..WEST CENTRAL GRADY

AT 1035 PM A TORNADO WAS REPORTED BY THE OHP BETWEEN CEMENT AND
VERDEN. THIS TORNADO WAS MOVING TOWARD THE EAST AT 15 MPH. PERSONS IN
VERDEN AND CHICKISHA SHOULD TAKE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY..
 
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO, THE SAFEST PLACE IS A
BASEMENT.  GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE.
IF NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE, SEEK SHELTER0 IN AN INTERIOR ROOM
SUCH AS A CLOSET ON THE LOWEST FLOOR.  USE BLANKETS, PILLOWS, OR
CUSHIONS TO COVER YOUR BODY.  AVOID WINDOWS.

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 16, 5:02 PM CDT, 5 hours 34 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA FALLS TX
505 PM CDT FRI MAY 16 1986

...A TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR FOARD...HARDEMAN..AND KNOX COUNTIES
UNTIL 1100 PM CDT...

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR WICHITA AND SURROUDING
COUNTIES FOR TONIGHT AND SATURDAY MORNING...

AT 505 PM CDT VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE DEVELOPING TO THE WEST
OF FOARD...HARDEMAN..AND KNOX COUNTIES FROM CHILDRESS SOUTHWEST TO
DICKENS. THESE STORMS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

ELSEWHERE RAINSHOWERS WERE DEVELOPING TO THE SOUTH OF WICHITA FALLS
OVER PORTIONS OF YOUNG AND JACK COUNTIES. MOVEMENT OF THESE SHOWERS
TO THE NORTH AT 15 MPH.

ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED THROUGHOUT THE  EVENING.
Special weather statement, May 16, 5:32 PM CDT, 5 hours 4 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA FALLS TX
530 PM CDT FRI MAY 16 1986

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR FOARD...HARDEMAN...AND KNOX
COUNTIES UNTIL 11 PM CDT...

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR WICHITA AND THE SURROUNDING
COUNTIES FOR TONIGHT AND SATURDAY MORNING...

AT 525 PM CDT STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO THE WEST OF FOARD...
HARDEMAN AND KNOX COUNTIES BETWEEN CHILDRESS AND DICKENS. MOVEMENT
OF THESE STORMS NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH

OTHER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE DEVELOPING TO THE SOUTH OF WICHITA
FALLS OVER YOUNG...JACK...ARCHER AND CLAY COUNTIES. THESE SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTH AT 20 MPH.

IN OKLAHOMA...SHOWERS AND THUNDER>STORMS WERE DEVELOPING OVER THE SOUTHWEST
CORNER OF THE STATE TO THE WEST AND SOUTHWEST OF HOBART.
Special weather statement, May 16, 6:00 PM CDT, 4 hours 36 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA FALLS TX
555 PM CDT FRI MAY 16 1986

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR FOARD...HARDEMAN...AND KNOX
COUNTIES UNTIL 11 PM CDT...

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR WICHITA AND THE SURROUNDING
COUNTIES FOR TONIGHT AND SATURDAY MORNING...

AT 550 PM CDT A VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS MOVING ACROSS THE FOARD
COUNTY LINE 17 MILES WEST OF CROWELL. THIS STORM COULD PRODUCE ALONG
WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN...STRONG WINDS AND POSSIBLE SMALL HAIL. THIS
STORM WAS INCREASING IN INTENSITY. MOVEMENT...NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

ELSEWHERE ANOTHER VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 10 MILES NORTH
WEST OF JACKSBORO OVER THE YOUNG...JACK COUNTY LINE. THIS STORM IS
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN...STRONG WINDS AND HAIL. THIS
STORM MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.
THE POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY RAINS AND SEVERE WEATHER EXISTS ACROSS NORTH
CENTRAL TEXAS FOR TONIGHT AND RESIDENTS ARE URGED TO STAY TUNEDZ TO
NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR THE LASTEST ON THIS DEVELOPING WEATHER
SITUATION.
Special weather statement, May 16, 6:37 PM CDT, 3 hours 59 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA FALLS TX
635 PM CDT FRI MAY 16 1986

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR FOARD...HARDEMAN...AND KNOX
COUNTIES UNTIL 11 PM CDT...

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR WICHITA AND THE SURROUNDING
COUNTIES FOR TONIGHT AND SATURDAY MORNING...

AT 630 PM THE WICHITA FALLS RADAR SHOWED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
SOME PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN SCATTERED OVER CLAY AND MONTAGUE COUNTIES
TO THE EAST OF WICHITA FALLS. HEAVIEST RAINS WERE FALLING SOUTHEAST
OF WINDTHORST AND NORTHWEST OF BOWIE.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED WEST OF FOARD COUNTY NEAR
PADUCAH.

IN OKLAHOMA...A VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED TO THE NORTHWEST
OF LAWTON. ALL PRECIPITATION MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Norman, OK issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 16, 7:10 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNWoodward50 min
May 16, 7:10 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNRoger Mills60 min
May 16, 7:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNDewey33 min
May 16, 7:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNMajor, Woodward50 min
May 16, 8:16 PM CDTTornado WarningOUNBeckham, Custer, Washita29 min
May 16, 8:31 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNDewey44 min
May 16, 8:54 PM CDTTornado WarningOUNWashita36 min
May 16, 9:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCleveland, McClain52 min
May 16, 9:35 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNComanche55 min
May 16, 9:50 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCaddo, Canadian55 min
May 16, 9:50 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCleveland, Oklahoma55 min
May 16, 9:50 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNKingfisher55 min
May 16, 10:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNJackson, Tillman59 min
May 16, 10:18 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNGrady42 min
May 16, 10:26 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNLogan, Oklahoma64 min
May 16, 10:32 PM CDTTornado WarningOUNCaddo28 min
May 16, 10:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCanadian, Cleveland, Oklahoma45 min
May 16, 10:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNGrady, McClain45 min
May 16, 10:45 PM CDTTornado WarningOUNTillman30 min
May 16, 11:10 PM CDTTornado WarningOUNCotton, Tillman50 min
May 16, 11:12 PM CDTTornado WarningOUNLogan, Noble, Payne33 min
May 16, 11:20 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningOUNLogan, Oklahoma3 hr
May 16, 11:20 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningOUNCleveland, McClain3 hr
May 16, 11:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNLincoln, Logan, Oklahoma60 min
May 16, 11:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCleveland, Grady, McClain60 min
May 16, 11:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNPayne50 min
May 16, 11:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNStephens45 min
May 16, 11:47 PM CDTTornado WarningOUNGarvin28 min
May 16, 11:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNPottawatomie48 min
May 17, 12:08 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningOUNCaddo, Grady112 min
May 17, 12:09 AM CDTTornado WarningOUNLincoln31 min
May 17, 12:52 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNChoctaw, Pushmataha68 min
May 17, 1:05 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCarter, Johnston55 min
May 17, 1:05 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNPontotoc55 min
May 17, 1:30 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNAtoka, Coal60 min
May 17, 1:30 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNHughes60 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Oklahoma, 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.