Alert archive / Oklahoma / Tornado Warnings in 1986
Tornado Warning 9, NWS Norman, OK
NWS Norman, OK issued this tornado warning at May 8, 1986, 6:00 PM CDT for Cotton County, Tillman County, Oklahoma. It was in force for 45 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.
The facts
- Issued
- May 8, 1986, 6:00 PM CDT (23:00 UTC)
- Expired
- May 8, 1986, 6:45 PM CDT
- In force
- 45 min
- Issued by
- NWS Norman, OK
- Area
- Whole counties
Counties Cotton County, OK, Tillman County, OK
The radar
The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 6:13 PM CDT | Hail 1 | Tillman, OK |
NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in. Storm Data before 1996 records only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail.
The nearest sounding before it
Fort Sill, OK (KFSI), launched 12:00Z, 11.0 hours before the alert went out and 42 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
- 746 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -141 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 886 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 23 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 236 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 248 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.2
- Supercell composite
- 5.1
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 TTAA00 KOKC 082301 TOROKC OKC141-033-082345- BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OKLAHOMA CITY OK 600 PM CDT THU MAY 8 1986 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS EXTENDED THE TORNADO WARNING FOR PERSONS IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES OF SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA UNTIL 645 PM CDT... SOUTHEASTERN TILLMAN AND WESTERN COTTON THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM HAS BUILT SOUTHWESTWARD BACK INTO THE GRANDFIELD AREA. DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUES TO SHOW A CIRCULATION IN SOUTHEASTERN TILLMAN COUNTY. ROTATION HAS ALSO BEEN OBSERVED BY SPOTTERS NORTHEAST OF GRANDFIELD AND 6 MILES WEST OF THE WALTERS EXIT OF INTERSTATE 44. PERSONS IN THE AREA BETWEEN GRANDFIELD AND WALTERS SHOULD REMAIN IN A SAFE PLACE UNTIL THE ALL CLEAR IS GIVEN.
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 8, 2:48 PM CDT, 3 hours 12 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA FALLS TX
245PM CDT THU MAY 8 1986
...THUNDERSTORM JUST SOUTH OF VERNON...
AN ISOLATED BUT VERY HEAVY THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 15 MILES SOUTH
OF VERNON. MOVEMENT WAS NORTH NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH. THIS THUNDERSTORM
WILL BE MOVING INTO THE VERNON VICINITY IN THE NEXT 30 MINUTES. AREA
RESIDENTS SHOULF BE ALERT FOR DANGEROUS LIGHTNING..GUSTY WINDS..AND
POSSIBLE SMALL HAIL.
ELSEWHERE...THUNDERSTORMS HAVE INTENSIFIED IN EXTREME SOUTHWEST
OKLAHOMA. OUTFLOW WINDS FROM THUNDERSTORMS CLOSE TO THE RED RIVER
MAY CAUSE STRONG GUSTY WINDS. RESIDENTS IN EXTREME NORTHERN HARDEMAN
COUNTY SHOULD BE ALERT FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT.
.Special weather statement, May 8, 2:54 PM CDT, 3 hours 6 minutes before
OKLAHOMA THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OKLAHOMA CITY OK 300 PM CDT THU MAY 8 1986 A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM FOR MUCH OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL OKLAHOMA. OTHERWISE THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT OVER MOST OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL OKLAHOMA. THE RISK AREA IS WEST OF A LINE FROM BARTLESVILLE TO ARDMORE.. BUT EXCLUDES THE OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE. A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXISTS LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT OVER THE REST OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA. A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS HAS MOVED INTO EXTREME WESTERN OKLAHOMA THIS AFTERNOON, WITH OTHER THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OVER THE NORTHWEST PART OF THE STATE. THE GREATEST NEAR-TERM CONCERN IS WITH THE LINE OF STORMS NEAR THE WESTERN BORDER. SPOTTER NETWORKS IN WESTERN OKLAHOMA SHOULD BE ACTIVATED OR ON STANDBY AT THIS TIME. THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS IS ASSOCIATED WITH A DRY LINE MOVING SLOWLY EASTWARD THROUGH THE EASTERN TEXAS PANHANDLE. AHEAD OF THE FRONT, THE AIR REMAINS VERY MOIST AND VERY UNSTABLE OVER OKLAHOMA. ALOFT, A LARGE UPPER LOW CENTER LIES OVER THE CENTRAL ROCKIES. WINDS ALOFT MOVING AROUND THIS LOW HAVE BACKED TO A MORE SOUTHERLY DIRECTION OVER WESTERN OKLAHOMA, WHILE REMAINING SOUTHWESTERLY OVER EASTERN PARTS OF THE STATE. THIS PATTERN OF DIVERGING WINDS ALOFT IS FAVORABLE FOR ENHANCING THE LIFTING OF THE AIR NEEDED TO TRIGGER AND MAINTAIN STRONG THUNDERSTORMS. A DISTURBANCE IN THE UPPER FLOW IS MOVING NORTHEASTWARD FROM NEW MEXICO, AND WILL SERVE TO FURTHER ENHANCE THE LIFTING PROCESS OVER WESTERN OKLAHOMA THROUGH THIS EVENING. THIS DISTURBANCE WL ALSO ASSIST IN PUSHING THE DRY LINE SLOWLY EASTWARD, WITH SEVERE WEATHER MOVING EASTWARD INTO CENTRAL OKLAHOMA LATER THIS EVENING. SEVERE WEATHER COULD CONTINUE INTO TONIGHT AND SPREAD INTO EASTERN OKLAHOMA, BUT THE SEVERE POTENTIAL WILL DECREASE WITH THE LOSS OF AFTERNOON HEATING. SPOTTER NETWORKS IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED BY EARLY EVENING, WHILE THOSE IN EASTERN OKLAHOMA MAY BE NEEDED LATER TONIGHT. ALL INTERESTS ARE ADVISED TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, May 8, 3:15 PM CDT, 2 hours 45 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT..CORRECTION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA FALLS TX 315PM CDT THU MAY 8 1986 A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT FOR THE FOLLOWING NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNTIES...ARCHER..BAYLOR..CLAY JACK..MONTAGUE.. WICHITA..WILBARGER AND YOUNG. SHORTLY AFTER 3PM CDT THE WICHITA FALLS RADAR SHOWED A SMALL AREA OF VERY HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS FROM EAST OF SEYMOUR TO JUST WEST OF ELECTRA. ELSEWHERE..THUNDERSTORMS IN EXTREME SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA WERE BUILDING ACROSS THE RED RIVER INTO THE QUANAH VICINITY OF HARDEMAN COUNTY. MOVEMENT OF ALL THUNDERSTORMS WAS NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH. RESIDENTS IN AND NEAR THESE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING CONDITIONS WHICH INCLUDE GUSTY WINDS..HEAVY RAIN..FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND SMALL HAIL.
Special weather statement, May 8, 4:02 PM CDT, 1 hour 58 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA FALLS TX 500 PM CDT THU MAY 8 1986 ...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR A LARGE PART OF NORTHCENTRAL TEXAS UNTIL 10 PM INCLUDING WICHITA AND THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES... AT 450 PM A VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORM HAD DEVELOPED IN EXTREME SOUTH WESTERN YOUNG COUNTY...12 MILES SOUTHWEST OF NEWCASTLE. VERY HEAVY RAINS DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND SMALL HAIL CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. RESIDENTS IN SOUTHWESTERN AND CENTRAL PORTIONS OF YOUNG COUNTY SHOULD BE ALERT TO THIS THUNDERSTORM. ELSEWHERE A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN WAS LOCATED OVER THE RED RIVER IN EXTREME NORTHWESTERN WICHITA COUNTY. THIS THUNDERSTORM WILL MOVE OUT OF THE COUNTY DURING THE NEXT 10 MINUTES. OTHER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE SCATTERED BETWEEN JACKSBORO AND SEYMOUR. IN WESTERN AND SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS SOME SEVERE STRETCHED FROM CAMARGO SOUTH TO THE RED RIVER NEAR ELDORADO. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITHIN THIS LINE WAS LOCATED JUST WEST OF ALTUS. GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL HAS BEEN REPORTED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THIS THUNDER STORM. ALL PRECIPITATION MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 TO 35 MPH.
Special weather statement, May 8, 4:05 PM CDT, 1 hour 55 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT ...CORRECTION... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA FALLS TX 400 PM CDT THU MAY 8 1986 ...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR A LARGE PART OF NORTHCENTRAL TEXAS UNTIL 10 PM INCLUDING WICHITA AND THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES... AT 350 PM A VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORM HAD DEVELOPED IN EXTREME SOUTH WESTERN YOUNG COUNTY...12 MILES SOUTHWEST OF NEWCASTLE. VERY HEAVY RAINS DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND SMALL HAIL CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. RESIDENTS IN SOUTHWESTERN AND CENTRAL PORTIONS OF YOUNG COUNTY SHOULD BE ALERT TO THIS THUNDERSTORM. ELSEWHERE A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN WAS LOCATED OVER THE RED RIVER IN EXTREME NORTHWESTERN WICHITA COUNTY. THIS THUNDERSTORM WILL MOVE OUT OF THE COUNTY DURING THE NEXT 10 MINUTES. OTHER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE SCATTERED BETWEEN JACKSBORO AND SEYMOUR. IN WESTERN AND SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS SOME SEVERE STRETCHED FROM CAMARGO SOUTH TO THE RED RIVER NEAR ELDORADO. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITHIN THIS LINE WAS LOCATED JUST WEST OF ALTUS. GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL HAS BEEN REPORTED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THIS THUNDER STORM. ALL PRECIPITATION MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 TO 35 MPH.
Special weather statement, May 8, 5:59 PM CDT, 1 minute before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA FALLS TX 600 PM CDT THU MAY 8 1986 ...A TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR WICHITA AND THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES UNTIL 10 PM CDT... AT 555 PM RADAR INDICATED ONLY A FEW LIGHT RAINSHOWERS OCCURRING OVER THIS PORTION OF NORTHCENTRAL TEXAS. THIS ACTIVITY WAS FALLING OVER NORTHERN WICHITA AND NORTHERN CLAY COUNTIES AS WELL AS PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN JACK AND SOUTHERN MONTAGUE COUNTIES. HOWEVER VERY INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED IN SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA TO THE NORTH OF WICHITA FALLS. THE STRONGEST WAS LOCATED BETWEEN HOLLISTER AND DEVOL. THIS THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED A TORNADO TO THE WEST OF GRANDFIELD EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON. ANOTHER VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITHIN THIS AREA WAS LOCATED 5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF DEVOL. MOVEMENT OF ALL THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY TO THE NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.
The office that day
Everything else NWS Norman, OK issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 2:28 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Ellis, Roger Mills | 62 min |
| May 8, 2:36 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Harmon, Jackson | 54 min |
| May 8, 3:25 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Greer, Jackson | 65 min |
| May 8, 3:40 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Kiowa, Washita | 50 min |
| May 8, 4:11 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Kiowa, Washita | 49 min |
| May 8, 4:11 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Greer, Jackson | 49 min |
| May 8, 4:38 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Woods | 37 min |
| May 8, 4:44 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Caddo, Comanche | 61 min |
| May 8, 5:00 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Woods | 45 min |
| May 8, 5:10 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Cotton, Tillman | 50 min |
| May 8, 6:19 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Caddo, Canadian, Grady, Kingfisher | 56 min |
| May 8, 6:19 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Comanche | 56 min |
| May 8, 6:24 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Oklahoma | 51 min |
| May 8, 6:40 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Logan, Oklahoma | 35 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; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.