Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 1988
Tornado Warning 12, NWS Mobile, AL
NWS Mobile, AL issued this tornado warning at Sep 16, 1988, 2:10 PM CDT for Coffee County, Pike County, Alabama. It was in force for 35 min.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Sep 16, 1988, 2:10 PM CDT (19:10 UTC)
- Expired
- Sep 16, 1988, 2:45 PM CDT
- In force
- 35 min
- Issued by
- NWS Mobile, AL
- Area
- Whole counties
Counties Coffee County, AL, Pike County, AL
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
Centreville/Bibb, AL (KCKL), launched 12:00Z, 7.2 hours before the alert went out and 185 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
- 326 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -12 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 545 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 18 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 69 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 92 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 KMGM 161915
TORMGM
ALC031-109-161945-
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MONTGOMERY AL
210 PM CDT FRI SEP 16 1988
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MONTGOMERY HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 245 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
IN SOUTH ALABAMA
...COFFEE...PIKE
DOPPLER RADAR IN ENTERPRIZE GAVE STRONG INDICATIONS OF A TORNADO IN
PIKE COUNTY 10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF TROY MOVING NORTHWEST AT 15-25 MPH.
AFUNNEL CLOUD WAS ALSO REPORTED IN COFFEE COUNTY NEAR VICTORIA--NO
MOVEMENT WAS GIVEN.
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 BAlSEMENT IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER 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, Sep 16, 9:44 AM CDT, 4 hours 26 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENSACOLA FL 940 AM CDT FRI SEP 16 1988 RAIN WAS WIDESPREAD OVER THE PENSACOLA WEATHER-RADAR SURVIELLENCE AREA. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE SCATTERED IN THE RAIN AREA. A LARGE CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS AND SHOWERS...INDICATING HEAVY RAINFALL...WAS APPROACHING THE COAST OF SANTA ROSA AND ESCAMBIA COUNTIES. ALTHOUGH THESE STORMS WERE MOVING FAIRLY FAST...THE GROUND IS ALREADY WATER SOAKED AND MORE HEAVY RAIN WILL AGGRAVATE THE SITUATION AND CAUSE ADDITIONAL STREET AND LOW AREA FLOODING WHERE THEY MOVE ASHORE. MOTOTRISTS ARE URGED TO DRIVE SAFELY AND AVOID AREAS OF STANDING WATER.
Special weather statement, Sep 16, 11:02 AM CDT, 3 hours 8 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENSACOLA FL 1100 AM CDT FRI SEP 16 1988 FOLLOWING IS A SPECIAL STATEMENT FOR THE BLACKWATER RIVER WHICH RUNS THROUGH SANTA ROSA COUNTY... THESE REPORTS WERE REPORTED BY THE SANTA ROSA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE... WATER WAS 12 TO 15 INCHES DEEP ON THE DIRT ROAD GOING TO NAVY BOATDOCK. WATER WAS OVER THE BOATRAMP AT CARPENTERS PARK...1/2 MILE NORTH OF MILTON ON HWY 191. AT GARCON POINT...3 TO 5 INCHES OF WATER IN MARY KITCHENS ROAD. AT OBIE WILLIS ROAD...THE RIVER WAS UP TO 10 TO 12 INCHES OF THE BOTTOM OF THE BRIDGE. BASED UPON RAINFALL AMOUNTS RECEIVED THIS MORNING...THE BLACKWATER RIVER IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN AT OR SLIGHTLY# ABOVE BANKFULL FOR THE NEXT 2 TO 3 DAYS. ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT COULD CAUSE THE RIVER TO RISE EVEN HIGHER. ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED AS NEEDED.
Local storm report, Sep 16, 11:14 AM CDT, 2 hours 56 minutes before
ATTN SELS STORM REPORT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL 1115 AM CDT FRI SEP 16 1988 THE BALDWIN COUNTY EOC COULD FIND NO DAMAGE ASSOCIATED WITH THE POSSIBLE TORNADO REPORTED EARLIER THIS MOR6NING IN BALDWIN COUNTY. APPARANTLY IT WAS A BAD REPORT.
Special weather statement, Sep 16, 12:47 PM CDT, 1 hour 23 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENSACOLA FL 1240 PM CDT FRI SEP 16 1988 AT 1230PM CDT...RAIN WAS WIDESPREAD OVER LAND AND HAD CONTINUED TO LESSEN IN COVERAGE OVER THE GULF. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...A FEW INDICATING HEAVY RAIN...WERE SCATTERED UP TO 50 MILES INLAND FROM MISSISSIPPI TO PANAMA CITY FLORIDA. MOVEMENTS WERE NORTHWESTERLY AROUND 35 MILES AN HOUR. DURING THE MORNING...HEAVY RAINS OVER THE WESTERN PANHANDLE HAVE CAUSED STREET AND LOW AREA FLOODING. WATER RETENTION POOLS HAVE BEEN REPORTED FULL. ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINS OVER THE AREA COULD EASILY CAUSE THE FLOODING TO WORSEN. HOWEVER...RADAR PRESENTLY INDICATES A POSSIBLE DECREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF RAIN MOVING IN FROM THE GULF. PERSONS LIVING IN LOW AREAS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR RISING WATERS AND BE PREPARED TO PROTECT MOVEABLE PROPERTY. BASED UPON RAINFALL AMOUNTS RECEIVED THIS MORNING...THE BLACKWATER RIVER IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN AT OR SLIGHTLY ABOVE BANKFULL FOR THE NEXT 2 TO 3 DAYS. ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT COULD CAUSE THE RIVER TO RISE EVEN HIGHER. ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED AS NEEDED.
Special weather statement, Sep 16, 12:51 PM CDT, 1 hour 19 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENSACOLA FL 1240 PM CDT FRI SEP 16 1988 AT 1230PM CDT...RAIN WAS WIDESPREAD OVER LAND AND HAD CONTINUED TO LESSEN IN COVERAGE OVER THE GULF. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...A FEW INDICATING HEAVY RAIN...WERE SCATTERED UP TO 50 MILES INLAND FROM MISSISSIPPI TO PANAMA CITY FLORIDA. MOVEMENTS WERE NORTHWESTERLY AROUND 35 MILES AN HOUR. DURING THE MORNING...HEAVY RAINS OVER THE WESTERN PANHANDLE HAVE CAUSED STREET AND LOW AREA FLOODING. WATER RETENTION POOLS HAVE BEEN REPORTED FULL. ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINS OVER THE AREA COULD EASILY CAUSE THE FLOODING TO WORSEN. HOWEVER...RADAR PRESENTLY INDICATES A POSSIBLE DECREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF RAIN MOVING IN FROM THE GULF. PERSONS LIVING IN LOW AREAS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR RISING WATERS AND BE PREPARED TO PROTECT MOVEABLE PROPERTY. 2 TO 3 DAYS. ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT COULD CAUSE THE RIVER TO RISE EVEN HIGHER. ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED AS NEEDED.
Special weather statement, Sep 16, 12:53 PM CDT, 1 hour 17 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENSACOLA FL 1240 PM CDT FRI SEP 16 1988 AT 1230PM CDT...RAIN WAS WIDESPREAD OVER LAND AND HAD CONTINUED TO LESSEN IN COVERAGE OVER THE GULF. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...A FEW INDICATING HEAVY RAIN...WERE SCATTERED UP TO 50 MILES INLAND FROM MISSISSIPPI TO PANAMA CITY FLORIDA. MOVEMENTS WERE NORTHWESTERLY AROUND 35 MILES AN HOUR. DURING THE MORNING...HEAVY RAINS OVER THE WESTERN PANHANDLE HAVE CAUSED STREET AND LOW AREA FLOODING. WATER RETENTION POOLS HAVE BEEN REPORTED FULL. ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINS OVER THE AREA COULD EASILY CAUSE THE FLOODING TO WORSEN. HOWEVER...RADAR PRESENTLY INDICATES A POSSIBLE DECREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF RAIN MOVING IN FROM THE GULF. PERSONS LIVING IN LOW AREAS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR RISING WATERS AND BE PREPARED TO PROTECT MOVEABLE PROPERTY.
The office that day
Everything else NWS Mobile, AL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 16, 8:07 AM CDT | Tornado Warning | MOB | Baldwin | 38 min |
| Sep 16, 1:10 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | MOB | Dale | 35 min |
| Sep 16, 1:50 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | MOB | Dale | 40 min |
| Sep 16, 2:37 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | MOB | Macon | 38 min |
| Sep 16, 3:56 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | MOB | Tallapoosa | 49 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Alabama, 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.