Alert archive / Mississippi / Tornado Warnings in 1988
Tornado Warning 71, NWS Jackson, MS
NWS Jackson, MS issued this tornado warning at Dec 27, 1988, 9:51 PM CST for Sharkey County, Mississippi. It was in force for 24 min. 2 reports 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
- Dec 27, 1988, 9:51 PM CST (03:51 UTC)
- Expired
- Dec 27, 1988, 10:15 PM CST
- In force
- 24 min
- Issued by
- NWS Jackson, MS
- Area
- Whole counties
County Sharkey County, MS
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 27, 9:55 PM CST | Tornado F1 | Sharkey, MS | |
| Dec 27, 10:20 PM CST | Thunderstorm Wind 75 | Sharkey, MS |
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
Jackson, MS (KJAN), launched 00:00Z, 3.9 hours before the alert went out and 93 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
- 79 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -8 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 836 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 56 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 239 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 328 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000
TTAA00 KJAN 280351
TORJAN
MSC125-280415-
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
951 P CST TUE DEC 27 1988
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSON HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1015 PM CST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...
IN WEST CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI
...SHARKEY
AT 950 PM...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH A POSSIBLE TORNADO WAS MOVING
INTO ROLLING FORK AND CARY. THIS IS A POTENIALLYW DANGEROUS STORM AS IT
MOVES TO THE EAST AT 50 MPH.
SEEK SHELTER IN AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR HOME
OR APARTMENT. AVOID WINDOWS AND PROTECT YOUR HEAD FROM FLYING
DEBRIS WITH CUSHIONS OR PILLOWS.
<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, Dec 27, 7:39 PM CST, 2 hours 12 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY...CORRECT LINE 10 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS 735 PM CST TUE DEC 27 1988 ...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI UNTIL 1000 PM AND FOR PARTS OF NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI UNTIL MIDNIGHT... AT 730 PM...THE THUNDERSTORM IN BOLIVAR COUNTY HAS WEAKENED CONSIDERABLY AND HAD DECREASED TO A RAINSHOWER IN THE NORTHERN PORTION OF THE COUNTY. HOWEVER...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS HAS INTENSIFIED ACROSS SOUTHERN ARKANSAS AND NORTHERN LOUISIANA. THIS LINE EXTENDED FROM NEAR 10 MILES WEST OF ROSEDALE MISSISSIPPI TO WINNFIELD LOUISIANA. THE LINE IS MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH AND WILL MOVE INTO BOLIVAR COUNTY WITHIN THE HOUR AND WASHINGTON COUNTY IN ABOUT AN HOUR. THE MOST INTENSE STORM WAS LOCATED IN CENTRAL LOUISIANA NEAR WINNFIELD. THE LINE WILL MOVE INTO WEST CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI IN ABOUT 2 HOURS.
Special weather statement, Dec 27, 8:08 PM CST, 1 hour 43 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS 810 PM CST TUE DEC 27 1988 ...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI UNTIL 1000 PM AND FOR PARTS OF NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI UNTIL MIDNIGHT... AT 805 PM...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM ARKANSAS CITY TO LAKE VILLAGE ARKANSAS AND THEN SOUTHWEST INTO NORTHEAST LOUISIANA SOUTH OF MONROE. THE MOST INTENSE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED SOUTH OF MONORE. ANOTHER INTENSE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED IN SOUTHEAST ASHLEY COUNTY IN ARKANSAS. THE LINE IS MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH AND WILL MOVE INTO AND THROUGH BOLIVAR AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES DURING THE NEXT HOUR.
Special weather statement, Dec 27, 8:32 PM CST, 1 hour 19 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS 835 PM CST TUE DEC 27 1988 ...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI UNTIL 1000 PM AND FOR PARTS OF NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI UNTIL MIDNIGHT... AT 830 PM...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM WEST OF CLEVELAND TO NEAR MONROE. THESE STORMS WILL PRODUCE GUSTY NORTHWESTERLY WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH... FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN AS THE LINE MOVES EAST AT 30 MPH. THE MOST INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED IN NORTHERN LOUISIANA FROM NEAR BASTROP TO MONROE. THE LINE WILL MOVE INTO WASHINGTON COUNTY DURING THE HOUR AND INTO ISSAQUENA COUNTY IN ABOUT 1 HOUR.
Special weather statement, Dec 27, 9:00 PM CST, 51 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS 900 PM CST TUE DEC 27 1988 ...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI UNTIL 1000 PM AND FOR PARTS OF NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI UNTIL MIDNIGHT... AT 855 PM...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM NEAR BATESVILLE TO GREENVILLE TO NEAR RAYVILLE LOUISIANA. THIS LINE IS PRODUCING GUSTY NORTHWESTERLY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN AS IT MOVES EAST AT 30 MPH. THE MOST INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED FROM EAST OF BASTROP TO RAYVILLE IN NORTHEAST LOUISIANA. THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE INTO WEST CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI DURING THE NEXT 1 TO 2 HOURS. IN ADVANCE OF THE LINE ACROSS MUCH OF MISSISSIPPI...GUSTY SOUTH WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH ARE COMMON WITH HIGHER GUSTS. THESE WINDS WILL CONTINUE STRONG UNTIL A COLD FRONT IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI MOVES THROUGH THE STATE LATER TONIGHT.
Special weather statement, Dec 27, 9:38 PM CST, 13 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS 928 PM CST TUE DEC 27 1988 ...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF MISSISSIPPI UNTIL 400AM... AT 928 PM A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER BETWEEN GREENVILLE MISSISSIPPI AND DELHI LOUISIANA. THE LINE IS DRIFTING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 20 MILES AN HOUR AND WILL PRODUCE STRONG GUSTY WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MILES AN HOUR...VERY HEAVY RAIN...AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING AS IT PASSES. PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BE PREPARED TO SEEK SHELTER AS IT APPROACHES. COVERAGE AND INTENSITIES CONTINUED TO SPREAD AND INCREASE FROM THE WEST DURING THE PAST HOUR. STATE LATER TONIGHTL.
Special weather statement, Dec 27, 9:39 PM CST, 12 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS 928 PM CST TUE DEC 27 1988 ...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF MISSISSIPPI UNTIL 400AM... AT 928 PM A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER BETWEEN GREENVILLE MISSISSIPPI AND DELHI LOUISIANA. THE LINE IS DRIFTING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 20 MILES AN HOUR AND WILL PRODUCE STRONG GUSTY WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MILES AN HOUR...VERY HEAVY RAIN...AND FREQUENT LINGHTNING AS IT PASSES. PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BE PREPARED TO SEEK SHELTER AS IT APPROACHES. COVERAGE AND INTENSITIES CONTINUED TO SPREAD AND INCREASE FROM THE WEST DURING THE PAST HOUR.
The office that day
Everything else NWS Jackson, MS issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 27, 9:14 PM CST | Tornado Warning | JAN | Tallahatchie | 31 min |
| Dec 27, 9:27 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | JAN | Washington | 33 min |
| Dec 27, 9:32 PM CST | Tornado Warning | JAN | Issaquena | 28 min |
| Dec 27, 10:10 PM CST | Tornado Warning | JAN | Humphreys | 35 min |
| Dec 27, 10:15 PM CST | Tornado Warning | JAN | Issaquena, Sharkey | 45 min |
| Dec 27, 10:33 PM CST | Tornado Warning | JAN | Carroll | 27 min |
| Dec 27, 10:33 PM CST | Tornado Warning | JAN | Leflore | 13 min |
| Dec 27, 10:46 PM CST | Tornado Warning | JAN | Carroll | 29 min |
| Dec 27, 10:56 PM CST | Tornado Warning | JAN | Humphreys, Yazoo | 34 min |
| Dec 27, 11:11 PM CST | Tornado Warning | JAN | Holmes | 49 min |
| Dec 27, 11:17 PM CST | Tornado Warning | JAN | Grenada | 28 min |
| Dec 27, 11:22 PM CST | Tornado Warning | JAN | Yazoo | 38 min |
| Dec 27, 11:36 PM CST | Tornado Warning | JAN | Montgomery | 24 min |
| Dec 27, 11:47 PM CST | Tornado Warning | JAN | Calhoun | 28 min |
| Dec 28, 12:03 AM CST | Tornado Warning | JAN | Holmes, Yazoo | 27 min |
| Dec 28, 12:14 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | JAN | Hinds, Madison | 46 min |
| Dec 28, 12:59 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | JAN | Copiah | 31 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Mississippi, 1988Every tornado warning in 1988Tornadoes 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; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.