Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 1988

Tornado Warning 20, NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX

September 17, 1988Uvalde County, Texas

NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX issued this tornado warning at Sep 17, 1988, 10:23 AM CDT for Uvalde County, Texas. It was in force for 67 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued: Sep 17, 1988, 10:23 AM CDT (15:23 UTC)
Expired: Sep 17, 1988, 11:30 AM CDT
In force: 67 min
Issued by: NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX
Area: Whole counties

County Uvalde 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

Del Rio, TX (KDRT), launched 12:00Z, 3.4 hours before the alert went out and 104 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 453 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -4 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 612 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 37 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 279 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 313 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.5
Supercell composite: 5.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KSAT 171525
TORSAT
TXC463-171630-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO TX
1023 AM CDT SAT SEP 17 1988
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SAN ANTONIO HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1130 AM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...
 
IN SOUTH TEXAS
          ...UVALDE
 
A FUNNEL CLOUD WAS REPORTED BY THE TEXAS DEPT OF PUBLIC SAFETY BETWEEN
SABINAL AND KNIPPA. THE FUNNEL CLOUD WAS MOVING NORTHWEST. TIME OF THE
REPORT WAS 1018 CDT.
 
 
 
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM...GO TO A BASEMENT SHELTER OR A
CENTRAL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR HOME OR BUILDING.
ABANDON CARS AND MOBILE HOMES FOR A REINFORCED BUILDING.
 
YOU SHOULD ASK THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY TO RELAY YOUR
SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS TO THE LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE.

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, Sep 17, 6:22 AM CDT, 4 hours 1 minute before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DEL RIO TX
622 AM CDT SAT SEP 17 1988

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM CDT TODAY FOR VAL VERDE
COUNTY...
...A FLASH FLOOD AND FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT TODAY AND TONIGHT...

A TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 5 PM CDT TODAY FOR THAT PART OF
TEXAS ALONG AND 90 STATUE MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 75 MILES
NORTHWEST OF HONDO TEXAS TO 30 MILES EAST OF BROWNSVILLE.  VAL VERDE
COUNTY AND THE CITY OF DEL RIO ARE INCLUDED IN THE WATCH AREA.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES
AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.  PERSONS IN
VAL VERDE COUNTY SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER
CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO...THE SAFEST PLACE IS A BASEMENT.
IF NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER IN AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE
LOWEST FLOOR AND AVOID WINDOWS.  DO NOT USE YOUR CAR TO TRY TO OUTRUN A
TORNADO AS THEY ARE EASILY TOSSED AROUND BY TORNADO WINDS. IF WEATHER
BECOMES THREATENING PERSONS IN MOBILE HOMES SHOULD SEEK SHELTER IN A
NEARBY REINFORCED SHELTER...SUCH AS A NEIGHBORS HOME BEFORE THE
THREATENING WEATHER ARRIVES.

A FLOOD AND FLASH FLOOD WATCH HAS ALSO BE EXTENDED AND EXPANDED TO
INCLUDE PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST TEXAS...INCLUDING THE
TEXAS HILL COUNTRY. THE WATCH IS IN EFFECT TODAY AND TONIGHT...AND IS
GENERALLY SOUTH OF A LINE FROM DEL RIO TO JUNCTION TO SAN ANTONIO TO
CORPUS CHRISTI.

THIS MEANS PERSONS IN OR NEAR THE WATCH AREA ARE URGED TO CHECK
PREPAREDNESS...KEEP INFORMED AND BE READY TO TAKE ACTION IF HEAVY RAIN
OR FLOODING IS OBSERVED OR A WARNING IS ISSUED.

TROPICAL STORM GILBERT LOCATED WELL INLAND OVER NORTHEAST MEXICO
SOUTHWEST OF BROWNSVILLE IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE MOVING WEST NORTHWEST
TODAY. AS GILBERT MOVES ON THIS TRACK TOWARD SOUTHWEST TEXAS AND THE

DEL RIO AREA...HEAVY RAINS AND FLOODING WILL SPREAD NORTHWARD.

BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF MOSITURE BEING PRODUCED...GENERAL
RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 5 TO 8 INCHES IS POSSIBLE...WITH ISOLATED TOTALS TO
10 INCHES.

PERSONS IN THE FLOOD PRONE AREAS OF DEL RIO SHOULD REMAIN ALERT TO THE
POTENTIAL DANGEROUS SITUATION AND BE POTENTIAL DANGEROUS SITUATION AND
BE PREPARED TO EVACUATE TO HIGHER GROUND OR SHELTERS IF WARNED TO DO SO
BY LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. AREA RANCHERS SHOULD CONSIDER MOVING LIVESTOCK
AWAY FROM FLOOD PRONE AREAS. PARENTS ARE URGED TO KEEP A CLOSE WATCH ON
THEIR CHILDREN AND KEEP THEM AWAY FROM DEEP DITCHES AND CREEKS IF HEAVY
RAINFALL BEGINS TO OCCUR.

AT 615 AM CDT AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM NORTH
OF DEL RIO EAST TO SAN ANTONIO AND THEN SOUTHWEST TO BELOW EAGLE PASS.
THIS AREA OF RAIN WAS MOVING TO THE NORTHWEST AT 15 MPH. THE STRONGEST
THUNDERSTORM WAS SOUTH OF EAGLE PASS.

STAY TUNED TO YOUR NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADIO...LOCAL RADIO STATIONS
AND LOCAL wTV STATION FOR ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS AND OR WARNINGS.

Local storm report, Sep 17, 7:59 AM CDT, 2 hours 24 minutes before

STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO TX
750 AM CDT SAT SEP 17 1988

TIME         EVENT

545 AM       2 TORNADOES REPORTED VICINITY MOGFORD ROAD AND US 281
             SOUTHERN BEXAR COUNTY...1 MOBILE HOME DEMOLISHED...1
             INJURY.
550 AM       TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR KARNES CITY IN KARNES COUNTY
640 AM       TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN LACKLAND AFB NEAR SOUTH GATE
645 AM       ROOFS RIPPED OFF...MARBACH AND TIMBERIDGE...WEST SA<N
             ANTONIO
700 AM       TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN KELLY AFB
735 AM       HARDY AND I37...MOBILE HOME DESTROYED BY TORNADO
750 AM       DPS CONFIRMED TORNADO NEAR 410 AND CALLAGHAN ROAD HEADED
             TOWARD MEDICAL CENTER.

Special weather statement, Sep 17, 9:45 AM CDT, 38 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN TX
945 AM CDT SAT SEPT 17 1988

TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR PORTIONS
SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS...THIS IS TO THE SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST OF AUSTIN.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SAME GENERAL AREA FOR TODAY AND
TONIGHT.

BETWEEN 7:30 AND 7:455 CDT THIS MORNING A POSSIBLE TORNADO WAS SIGHTED
IN FAYETTE COUNTY.  THERE WAS SOME MINOR DAMAGE IN THE AREA.

AT 8:45 AM CDT A MAN IN SOUTHERN TRAVIS COUNTY...NEAR ELROY... REPORTED
A POSSIBLE FUNNEL CLOUD.  THIS DID NOT TOUCHDOWN.  NO DAMAGE REPORTED.

AT 9:45 AM CDT THE AUSTIN RADAR INDICATED SEVERAL BANDS OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTHCENTRAL TEXAS.  MOST OF THE RAIN IS
LIGHT...HOWEVER THERE ARE SOME ISOLATED HEAVY SHOWERS THROUGH
THE AREA.  IN SOUTH AUSTIN NEAR CHERRY CREEK 0.52 OF RAIN WAS REPORTED
TO HAVE FALLEN IN 15 MINUTES.

THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING TO THE NORTHWEST AT ABOUT
20 MPH.

Local storm report, Sep 17, 9:50 AM CDT, 33 minutes before

STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO TX
940 AM CDT SAT SEP 17 1988

TIME         EVENT

545 AM       2 TORNADOES REPORTED VICINITY MOGFORD ROAD AND US 281
             SOUTHERN BEXAR COUNTY...1 MOBILE HOME DEMOLISHED...1
             INJURY.
550 AM       TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR KARNES CITY IN KARNES COUNTY
640 AM       TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN LACKLAND AFB NEAR SOUTH GATE
645 AM       ROOFS RIPPED OFF...MARBACH AND TIMBERIDGE...WEST SAN
             ANTONIO
700 AM       TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN KELLY AFB
735 AM       HARDY AND I37...MOBILE HOME DESTROYED BY TORNADO
750 AM       DPS CONFIRMED TORNADO NEAR 410 AND CALLAGHAN ROAD HEADED
             TOWARD MEDICAL CENTER.
800 AM       TORNADO REPORTED NEAR THE MEDICAL COMPLEX ON THE NORTHWEST
             SIDE OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. THE MURPHY VA HOSPITAL HAD
             WINDOWS BLOWN OUT. ALSO JUST NORTH OF THE HOSPITAL...ROOFS
             WERE BLOWN OFF SOME APT COMPLEXES. ONE CAR OVERTURNED IN
             IN THE AREA. APPARENTLY THE SAME TORNADO HIT THE OXBOW AREA
             WHICH IS AT BABCOCK AND DE ZAVALA. HOMES WERE UNROOFED IN
             THAT AREA WITH DAMAGE TO CARS.
803 AM       TORNADO HEADED NORTH ON HWY TO DEVINE
840 AM       TORNADO NEAR JOURDANTON IN ATASCOSA COUNTY MOVG NORTH.
841 AM       TORNADO JUST NORTH OF CANYON LAKE DAMAGE NOT REPORTED
850 AM       TORNADO REPORTED BY THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS AT CAYON LAKE
850 AM       TORNADO HIT ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF THE CITY NEAR HEB
             FOOD STORE AT 5400MBLK OF BABCOCK AT 8 AM.
853 AM       TORNADO REPORTED IN THE NORTHWEST PART OF BEXAR COUTNFY
855 AM       TORNADO REPORTED AT NEAR DEVINE IN WESTERN BEXAR CO
859 AM       SEVERAL FUNNEL CLUDS OBSRVED AT KELLY AFB.
930 AM       FUNNEL CLOUD ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE CITY AT THE
             INTERSECTION OF HWY 90 AND 1604.
940 AM       A TORNADO REPORTED SEEN BY KELLY AFB PERSONNEL TWO AND ONE
             HALF MILES NORTHWEST OF THE BASE.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Sep 17, 5:51 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	EWX	Bexar	69 min
Sep 17, 6:03 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	EWX	Karnes, Wilson	57 min
Sep 17, 7:34 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	EWX	Bandera, Bexar, Medina	41 min
Sep 17, 7:34 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	EWX	Karnes, Wilson	41 min
Sep 17, 8:08 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	EWX	Atascosa, Medina	67 min
Sep 17, 8:44 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	EWX	Comal	46 min
Sep 17, 8:57 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	EWX	Bexar	48 min
Sep 17, 9:42 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	EWX	Bexar	63 min
Sep 17, 10:16 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	EWX	Kendall, Kerr	59 min
Sep 17, 11:01 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	EWX	Edwards	59 min
Sep 17, 11:09 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	EWX	Bandera, Medina, Uvalde	3 hr
Sep 17, 11:15 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	EWX	Val Verde	60 min
Sep 17, 12:20 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	EWX	Kinney	55 min
Sep 17, 12:40 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	EWX	Val Verde	80 min
Sep 17, 1:44 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	EWX	Kendall	46 min
Sep 17, 2:20 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	EWX	Val Verde	55 min
Sep 17, 2:45 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	EWX	Val Verde	60 min
Sep 17, 4:10 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	EWX	Val Verde	50 min
Sep 17, 5:14 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	EWX	Bexar	31 min
Sep 17, 5:40 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	EWX	Val Verde	60 min
Sep 17, 6:40 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	EWX	Val Verde	60 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Texas, 1988 Every tornado warning in 1988 Tornadoes in 1988

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.