Alert archive / Missouri / Tornado Warnings in 1988

Tornado Warning 2, NWS Paducah, KY

July 25, 1988Cape Girardeau County, Scott County, Missouri

NWS Paducah, KY issued this tornado warning at Jul 25, 1988, 6:40 PM CDT for Cape Girardeau County, Scott County, Missouri. It was in force for 20 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
Jul 25, 1988, 6:40 PM CDT (23:40 UTC)
Expired
Jul 25, 1988, 7:00 PM CDT
In force
20 min
Issued by
NWS Paducah, KY
Area
Whole counties

Counties Cape Girardeau County, MO, Scott County, MO

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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jul 25, 6:45 PM CDTThunderstorm Wind 0Scott, MO
Jul 25, 7:00 PM CDTThunderstorm Wind 0Scott, MO

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

Salem-Leckrone, IL (KSLO), launched 12:00Z, 11.7 hours before the alert went out and 171 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, Salem-Leckrone, IL at 12:00Z on 1988-07-25Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1238 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Salem-Leckrone, IL at 12:00Z on 1988-07-25The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 20 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
1238 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-59 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
931 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
20 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
100 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KPAH 252341
TORPAH
MOC031-201-260000-

BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
640 PM CDT MON JUL 25 1988

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE
UNTIL  700 PM CDT FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES OF

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI...SOUTHERN CAPE GIRADREAU AND NORTHERN SCOTT

AT 635 PM...A TORNDAO WAS SIGHTED 5 MILES WEST OF CAPE GIRADEAU
MISSOURI BY AN AIRCRAFT.  NUMEROUS REPORTS OF FUNNEL CLOUDS
HAVE ALSO BEEN RECIEVDED FROM THIS AREA.

RADAR INDICATED THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM ABOUT MID-WAY BETWEEN
DELTA AND CAPE GIRARDEAU MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

PERSONS IN  DELTA AND CAPE GIRARDEAU MISSOURI SHOULD TAKE COVER
IMMEDIATELY.

GO TO A BASEMENT SHELTER IF AVAILABLE. OTHERWISE...GO TO A CENTRAL
INTERIOR ROOM OR CLOSET ON THE LOWEST FLOOR POSSIBLE. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR STURDY FURNITURE. COVER YOUR BODY WITH
BLANKETS...PILLOWS OR CUSHIONS. AVOID WINDOWS. ABANDON CARS AND
MOBILE HOMES FOR A REINFORCED BUILDING.

SHANKLIN

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, Jul 25, 3:35 PM CDT, 3 hours 5 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EVANSVILLE IN
330 PM CDT MON JUL 25 1988

AT 325 PM CDT THERE WERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN IN
SOUTHWEST INDIANA...SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS AND JUST MOVING INTO PARTS
OF NORTHWEST KENTUCKY.

THE LEADING EDGE OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS WAS ALONG THE OHIO RIVER FROM
JUST WEST OF LOUISVILLE KENTUCKY TO NEAR EVANSVILLE THEN INTO SOUTHERN
ILLINOIS TO NEAR MT VERNON.

TORRENTIAL RAINS WERE REPORTED IN MT CARMEL ILLINOIS IN WABASH COUNTY
CAUSING SOME URBAN FLOODING OF STREETS. ALSO SEVERE AND FREQUENT
LIGHTNING HAVE ALSO BEEN REPORTED WITH THESE STORMS.

AS THEY MOVE THROUGH THE TRI STATE AREA VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL CAUSE SOME
FLOODING AND RESIDENTS SHOULD TAKE PRECAUTIONS AGAINST LIGHTNING BY
STAYING INDOORS AND DO NOT USE ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES OR TELEPHONES
DURING THE STORMS.
.
THE STORM AREA WAS MOVING SOUTH SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH AND SPREAD THROUGH
NORTHWEST KENTUCKY DUfRING THE EVENING.
BLOCK
Special weather statement, Jul 25, 3:45 PM CDT, 2 hours 55 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
344 PM CDT MON JUL 25 1988

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM CDT FOR
A LARGE PART OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN MISSOURI AND MOST OF SOUTHERN
ILLINOIS...

AT 335 PM CDT NATIONAL WETAHER SERVICE RADAR AT PADUCAH KENTUCKY
INDICATED SEVERAL DANGEROUS THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM NEAR ST
LOUIS SOUTHEAST TO EVANSVILLE INDIANA.

ONE VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED ABOUT 25 MILES NORTHWEST OF
MT VERNON ILLINOIS.  ANOTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS JUST NORTH OF
MCLEANSBORO ILLINOIS.

THESE STORMS WERE MOVING SOUTH AT 30 MPH.

REMEMBER A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE
HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN ARE POSSIBLE IN AND
CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.

IF THREATNING WEATHER APPROACHES YOU SHOULD QUICKLY MOVE TO A SAFE
INDOOR SHELTER.

SHANKLIN
Special weather statement, Jul 25, 4:55 PM CDT, 1 hour 45 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
455 PM CDT MON JUL 25 1988

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI...SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AND WESTERN KENTUCKY...

AT 450 PM CDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT PADUCAH KENTUCKY
INDICATED SEVERAL DANGEROUS THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM NEAR ST
LOUIS SOUTHEAST THROUGH BENTON ILLINOIS TO NEAR MADISONVILLE KY.

THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORM WAS 22 MILES NORTHWEST OF MURPHYBORO
ILLINOIS JUST NORTH OF THE PERRY...JACKSON COUNTY LINE.

THESE STORMS WERE MOVING SOUTH AT 30 MPH.

REMEMBER A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE
HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN AREP POSSIBLE IN AND
CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.

IF THREATNING WEATHER APPROACHES YOU SHOULD QUICKLY MOVE TO A SAFE
INDOOR SHELTER.

SHANKLIN
Local storm report, Jul 25, 5:44 PM CDT, 56 minutes before
STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EVANSVILLE IN
545 PM CDT MON JUL 25 1988

STORM REPORT FOR SEVERE WEATHER EVENT JUL 25 1988

440 PM CDT....NEAR MORGANFIELD...UNION COUNTY KENTUCKY...LARGE LIMBS
              AND POWER LINES DOWN. LIMBS BLOCKING ROAD. REPORTED
              BY MORGANFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT.
442 PM CDT....SLAUGHTERS...WEBSTER COUNTY KENTUCKY...LARGE LIMBS AND
              POWER LINES DOWN. REPORTED BY SPOTTERS.
500 PM CDT....OWENSBORO...DAVIESS COUNTY KENTUCKY...NUMEROUS TREES DOWN
              INCLUDING ONE DAMAGING A HOUSE. REPORTED BY OWENSBORO
              POLICE DEPARTMENT.
RUNNELS
Special weather statement, Jul 25, 5:45 PM CDT, 55 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EVANSVILLE IN
530 PM CDT MON JUL 25 1988

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTILL 10 PM FOR THE SOUTH END OF ILLINOIS
AND THE WEST ON THIRD OF KENTUCKY.

AT 530 PM CDT STRONG THUNDERSTORMS COVERED MOST OF THE SOUTH END OF
INDIANA...THE SOUTH END OF ILLINOIS AND THE PART OF WEST KENTUCKY...
BETWEEN THE WESTERN KENTUCKY PARKWAY AND THE OHIO RIVER.

THE STRONGEST STORMS IN THIS AREA HAVE BEEN DUMPING AROUND 2 INCHES OF
RAIN IN LESS THAN ONE HOUR AS THEY PASS BY. EVANSVILLE INDIANA HAD 2.05
INCHES OF RAIN IN 40 MINUITS.

THE LARGEST GROUP OF STRONG STORMS WERE 30 TO 60 MILES SOUTHEST OF
AND EAST OF EVANSVILLE INDIANA...BETWEEN MORGANTOWN KENTUCKY AND TELL
CITY INDIANA.

THE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR.
BETWEEN 430 AND 530 PM CDT THE AREA COVERED DID NOT CHANGE AND THE
INTENSITY REMAINED DANGEROUSLY STRONG.
BURNS
Special weather statement, Jul 25, 5:48 PM CDT, 52 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EVANSVILLE IN
530 PM CDT MON JUL 25 1988

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTILL 10 PM FOR THE SOUTH END OF ILLINOIS
AND THE WEST ONE THIRD OF KENTUCKY.

AT 530 PM CDT STRONG THUNDERSTORMS COVERED MOST OF THE SOUTH END OF
INDIANA...THE SOUTH END OF ILLINOIS AND THE PART OF WEST KENTUCKY...
BETWEEN THE WESTERN KENTUCKY PARKWAY AND THE OHIO RIVER.

THE STRONGEST STORMS IN THIS AREA HAVE BEEN DUMPING AROUND 2 INCHES OF
RAIN IN LESS THAN ONE HOUR AS THEY PASS BY. EVANSVILLE INDIANA HAD 2.05
INCHES OF RAIN IN 40 MINUITS.

THE LARGEST GROUP OF STRONG STORMS WERE 30 TO 60 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
AND EAST OF EVANSVILLE INDIANA...BETWEEN MORGANTOWN KENTUCKY AND TELL
CITY INDIANA.

THE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR.
.
BETWEEN 430 AND 530 PM CDT THE AREA COVERED DID NOT CHANGE AND THE
INTENSITY REMAINED DANGEROUSLY STRONG.
BURNS

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Missouri, 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.