Alert archive / Louisiana / Tornado Warnings in 1987

Tornado Warning 2, NWS New Orleans, LA

November 16, 1987Washington Parish, Louisiana

NWS New Orleans, LA issued this tornado warning at Nov 16, 1987, 4:37 PM CST for Washington Parish, Louisiana. It was in force for 68 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Nov 16, 1987, 4:37 PM CST (22:37 UTC)
Expired
Nov 16, 1987, 5:45 PM CST
In force
68 min
Issued by
NWS New Orleans, LA
Area
Whole counties

County Washington Parish, LA

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

Jackson, MS (KJAN), launched 12:00Z, 10.6 hours before the alert went out and 163 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, Jackson, MS at 12:00Z on 1987-11-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 166 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Jackson, MS at 12:00Z on 1987-11-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 412 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
166 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-109 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
707 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
52 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
412 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
733 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.3
Supercell composite
0.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KNEW 162237
TORNEW
LAC117-162345-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
437 PM CST MON NOV 16 1987
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING
EFFECTIVE UNTIL  545 PM CST FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING PARISH...
 
IN SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA
          ...WASHINGTON
 
CIVIL DEFENSE REPORTED A TORNADO NEAR FOLSUM AND MOVING NORTHEAST
INTO THE SOUTHWEST PORTION OF WASHINGTON PARISH.
 
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 SHELTER IN AN INTERIOR ROOM
SUCH AS A CLOSET ON THE LOWEST FLOOR.  USE BLANKETS...PILLOWS...
OR CUSH|IONS TO COVER YOUR BODY.  AVOID WINDOWS.
 
IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY REINFORCED
BUILDING.  AS A LAST RESORT...SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT...DITCH
OR LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

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, Nov 16, 1:55 PM CST, 2 hours 42 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
145 PM CST MON NOV 16 1987

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR IBERIA LOWER ST MARTIN UPPER ST MARTIN
ST MARY TANGIPAHOA AND WASHINGTON AND ADJOINING COASTAL WATERS OF THE
FOLLOWING PARISHES IBERIA AND ST MARY UNTIL 8 PM CST.

A SOLID LINE OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM VICKSBURG
MISSISSIPPI SOUTH ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO NATCHEZ AND CONTINUED
SOUTH ACROSS SOUTHERN LOUISIANA TO LAFAYETTE TO THE COASTAL WATERS
SOUTH OF LAFAYETTE. THE LINE WAS MOVING EAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR.
THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE PRODUCING STRONG GUSTY WINDS...VERY HEAVY RAIN
SMALL HAIL..DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND POSSIBLE TORNADOES AS THEY
MOVE EAST ACROSS THE AREA. PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD REMAIN ALERT
AND IF THREATENING WEATHER IS SIGHTED GO TO A SAFE PLACE IMMEDIATELY.

ELSEWHERE SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED OVER SOUTHERN
MISSISSIPPI AND SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA.
Special weather statement, Nov 16, 2:04 PM CST, 2 hours 33 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BATON ROUGE LA
205 PM CST MON NOV 16 1987

....A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF EAST CENTRAL LOUISIANA
UNTIL 8 PM THIS MONDAY EVENING...

RADAR SHOWED A VERY STRONG LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM THE LOUISIANA-
MISSISSIPPI BORDER NORTH OF BATON ROUGE...SOUTHWEST ACROSS EAST AND
WEST FELICIANA PARISHES...INTO POINTE COUPEE AND IBERVILLE PARISHES.
THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.

THE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE PRODUCE HEAVY RAINS AND DAMAGING WINDS OVER A
LARGE PART OF EAST CENTRAL LOUISIANA DURING THE PAST SEVERAL HOURS.
PEOPLE IN EAST CENTRAL LOUISIANA SHOULD BE ALERT FOR SEVERE WEATHER
UNTIL THE THUNDERSTORMS PASS YOUR AREA.

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT TODAY FOR A LARGE PART OF LOUISIANA
INCLUDING AVOYELLES...CATAHOULA...CONCORDIA...AND ST LANDRY PARISHES...
Special weather statement, Nov 16, 2:47 PM CST, 1 hour 50 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
245 PM CST MON NOV 16 1987

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR IBERIA LOWER ST MARTIN UPPER ST MARTIN
ST MARY TANGIPAHOA AND WASHINGTON AND ADJOINING COASTAL WATERS OF THE
FOLLOWING PARISHES IBERIA AND ST MARY UNTIL 8 PM CST.

A SOLID LINE OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM JUST WEST OF
JACKSON MISSISSIPPI SOUTH TO JUST WEST OF MC COMB MISSISSIPPI TO
BATON ROUGE TO MORGAN CITY TO VERMILION BAY. THE LINE WAS MOVING EAST
AT 40 MILES AN HOUR. THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE PRODUCING STRONG GUSTY
WINDS...VERY HEAVY RAIN SMALL HAIL..DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND POSSIBLE
TORNADOES AS THEY MOVE EAST ACROSS THE AREA. PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREA
SHOULD REMAIN ALERT AND IF THREATENING WEATHER IS SIGHTED GO TO A SAFE
IMMEDIATELY.

ELSEWHERE SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED ACROSS SOUTHERN
MISSISSIPPI AND SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA.
Special weather statement, Nov 16, 3:16 PM CST, 1 hour 21 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BATON ROUGE LA
315 PM CST MON NOV 16 1987

....THE TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR AVOYELLES...CATAHOULA...
CONCORDIA...POINTE COUPEE...ST LANDRY...AND WEST FELICIANA.  THE WATCH
REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE REMAINDER OF EAST CENTRAL LOUISIANA...

A SEVERE THUNDER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 345 PM CST FOR PEOPLE
IN ASCENSION...LIVINGSTON AND ST HELENA PARISHES.  THE LINE OF VERY
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED FROM NEAR GREENSBURG SOUTH ACROSS
LIVIMGSTON AND ASCENSION PARISHES.  THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS
MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO PRODUCE HEAVY RAINS AND DAMAGING WINDS
OVER PARTS OF EAST CENTRAL LOUISIANA DURING THE PAST SEVERAL HOURS.
PEOPLE IN EAST CENTRAL LOUISIANA SHOULD BE ALERT FOR SEVERE WEATHER
UNTIL THE THUNDERSTORMS PASS YOUR AREA.

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT TODAY FOR A LARGE PART OF LOUISIANA
INCLUDING AVOYELLES...CATA"HOULA...CONCORDIA...AND ST LANDRY.
Special weather statement, Nov 16, 3:51 PM CST, 46 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
245 PM CST MON NOV 16 1987

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR IBERIA LOWER ST MARTIN UPPER ST MARTIN
ST MARY TANGIPAHOA AND WASHINGTON AND ADJOINING COASTAL WATERS OF THE
FOLLOWING PARISHES IBERIA AND ST MARY UNTIL 8 PM CST.

...SPECIAL MARINE WARNING COASTAL WTERS FROM VERMILION BAY EAST TO
TIMVALIER BAY TIL 530 PM CST.

A SOLID LINE OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM JUST EAST OF
JACKSON MISSISSIPPI SOUTH ACROSS  MC COMB MISSISSIPPI TO BATON ROUGE
LOUISIANA TO MORGAN CITY TO VERMILION BAY. THE LINE WAS MOVING EAST
AT 35 MILES AN HOUR. THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE PRODUCING STRONG GUSTY
WINDS...VERY HEAVY RAIN SMALL HAIL..DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND POSSIBLE
TORNADOES AS THEY MOVE EAST ACROSS THE AREA. PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREA
SHOULD REMAIN ALERT AND IF THREATENING WEATHER IS SIGHTED GO TO A SAFE
IMMEDIATELY.
ELSEWHERE SCATTERED SHOWERS AND STRODNG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED FROM
JUST WEST OF LAUREL SOUTH ACROSS BOGALUSA LOUISIANA TO SLIDELL TO GRAND
ISLE LOUISIANA AND OVER THE COASTAL AREA OF SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI.
Special weather statement, Nov 16, 4:30 PM CST, 7 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BATON ROUGE LA
415 PM CST MON NOV 16 1987

....THE TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR ALL THE FOLLOWING PARISHES
IN EAST CENTRAL LOUISIANA...EAST BATON ROUGE...EAST FELICIANA...
IBERVILLE...ST HELENA...AND WEST BATON ROUGE.  THE WATCH REMAINS IN
EFFECT FOR ASCENSION AND LIVINGSTON PARISHES UNTIL 8 PM CST...

AT 430 PM CST RADARS SHOWED THE LINE OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM
SOUTH OF MC COMB MISSISSIPPI TO EAST OF GONZALES.  THIS LINE WAS MOVING
EAST AT 35. OTHER THUNDERSTORMS AND RAIN WAS LOCATED OVER THE REMAINDER
OF EAST CENTRAL.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAINS AND STRONG
GUSTY WINDS FOR THE NEXT FEW HOURS.  WIND DAMAGE TO TREES...POWER LINES
AND OTHER PROPERTY HAS BEEN WIDE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE AREA.  FLOODING
OF STREETS AND OTHER LOW AREAS WILL CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL
HOURS.  PEOPLE IN OR NEAR THE WATCH AREA SHOULD BE ALERT FOR SEVERE
WEAmTHER UNTIL THE THUNDERSTORMS PASS YOUR AREA.
...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT TODAY FOR PART OF LOUISIANA
INCLUDING AVOYELLES...CATAHOULA...CONCORDIA...AND ST LANDRY.

The office that day

Everything else NWS New Orleans, LA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Nov 15, 10:45 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLIXAvoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia60 min
Nov 16, 12:00 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLIXCatahoula, Concordia60 min
Nov 16, 8:15 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningLIXCatahoula4 hr
Nov 16, 12:20 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLIXAvoyelles, Saint Landry70 min
Nov 16, 12:40 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningLIXCatahoula, Concordia4 hr
Nov 16, 12:55 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLIXConcordia, Pointe Coupee, West Feliciana65 min
Nov 16, 12:55 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLIXIberville65 min
Nov 16, 2:15 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLIXEast Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, West Baton Rouge60 min
Nov 16, 2:52 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLIXLivingston, Saint Helena53 min
Nov 16, 2:52 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLIXAscension53 min
Nov 16, 3:02 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLIXAssumption, Iberia, Saint Martin, St. Mary58 min
Nov 16, 3:50 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLIXAscension, Livingston40 min
Nov 16, 5:52 PM CSTTornado WarningLIXLafourche, Saint Charles68 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Louisiana, 1987Every tornado warning in 1987Tornadoes in 1987

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.