Alert archive / Ohio / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1989

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 9, NWS Cleveland, OH

May 25, 1989Cuyahoga County, Ohio

NWS Cleveland, OH issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 25, 1989, 9:59 PM EDT for Cuyahoga County, Ohio. It was in force for 61 min. 1 report 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
May 25, 1989, 9:59 PM EDT (01:59 UTC)
Expired
May 25, 1989, 11:00 PM EDT
In force
61 min
Issued by
NWS Cleveland, OH
Area
Whole counties

County Cuyahoga County, OH

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
May 25, 10:19 PM EDTThunderstorm Wind 0Cuyahoga, OH

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

Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 00:00Z, 2.0 hours before the alert went out and 178 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, Pittsburgh, PA at 00:00Z on 1989-05-26Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1388 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, Pittsburgh, PA at 00:00Z on 1989-05-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 55 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
1388 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-17 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1095 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
24 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
55 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
37 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KCLE 260159
SVRCLE
OHC035-260300-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
959 PM EDT THU MAY 25 1989

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 
WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1100 PM EDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING 
COUNTIES

   IN THE STATE OF OHIO
      CUYAHOGA...CENTRAL AND THE ADJOINING WATERS OF LAKE-ERIE

AT 950 TREES WERE REPORTED DOWN IN ELYRIA IN CENTRAL LORAIN
COUNTY. THIS THUNDERSTORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH AND WILL
EFFECT THE WESTERN PART OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY BY 1015 AND EXIT THE
EASTERN PART BY ELEVEN TONIGHT.

WHEN THUNDERSTORMS ARE OCCURRING...PEOPLE SHOULD MOVE INSIDE A
STRONG BUILDING.  DO NOT /STAND NEAR WINDOWS.  DO NOT USE TELEPHONES
OR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.  MOTORISTS
SHOULD AVOID LOW WATER CROSSINGS.

 ECKERT

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm 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, May 25, 8:45 PM EDT, 1 hour 14 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
845 PM EDT THU MAY 25 1989

A TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR THE EASTERN TWO-THIRDS OF OHIO
UNTIL MID-NIGHT.

NO SEVERE WEATHER HAS BEEN REPORTED IN OHIO... YET THIS EVENING... BUT
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING ACROSS PART OF THE STATE.

THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE FROM JUST WEST OF MANSFIELD TO NORTH OF
COLUMBUS. THEY WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH AND HAVE BEEN PRODUCING
STRONG WINDS... HEAVY RAIN AND ALMOST CONTINUOUS LIGHTNING.

THE STORMS WILL MOVE INTO THE MANSFIELD AREA BY NINE O'CLOCK AND INTO
LORAIN AND MEDINA TOWARD TEN O'CLOCK. IF THE STORMS HOLD TOGETHER...
THEY WILL ARRIVE IN THE CLEVELAND AND AKRON METROPOLITAN AREAS JUST
AFTER TEN THIS EVENING.

OTHER VERY STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING ACROSS CENTRAL
INDIANA AND HAVE PRODUCED LARGE HAIL AND TORNADOES. THESE STORMS WILL
MOVE INTO WESTERN OHIO AROUND TEN THIS EVENING.
B
PEOPLE IN OHIO SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR WEATHER CONDITIONS DURING THE
NIGHT AS SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE UNTIL AT LEAST
MID-NIGHT. FLOODING OF SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS IS ALSO POSSIBLE WITH
THE HEAVY DOWNPOURS.

ECKERT
Special weather statement, May 25, 8:49 PM EDT, 1 hour 10 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MANSFIELD OH
847 PM EDT THU MAY 25 1989

AT 845 PM EDT WEATHER RADAR SHOWED SOME VERY HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS OVER
CRAWFORD AND MORROW COUNTIES OF NORTHCENTRAL OHIO. THE THUNDERSTORMS
WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

THE THUNDERSTORMS CONTAIN SOME HEAVY RAIN AND BRIEF GUSTY SURFACE
WINDS. THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS RICHLAND... ASHLAND AND
KNOX COUNTIES  BEWTEEN NOW AND 11 PM EDT.

IF THREATHENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOU SHOULD SEEK SAFE SHELTER.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT...

BANYAS
Special weather statement, May 25, 8:54 PM EDT, 1 hour 5 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
855 PM EDT THU MAY 25 1989

A TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR THE WESTERN TWO-THIRDS OF OHIO
UNTIL MID-NIGHT.

NO SEVERE WEATHER HAS BEEN REPORTED IN OHIO... YET THIS EVENING... BUT
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING ACROSS PART OF THE STATE.

THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE FROM JUST WEST OF MANSFIELD TO NORTH OF
COLUMBUS. THEY WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH AND HAVE BEEN PRODUCING
STRONG WINDS... HEAVY RAIN AND ALMOST CONTINUOUS LIGHTNING.

THE STORMS WILL MOVE INTO THE MANSFIELD AREA BY NINE O'CLOCK AND INTO
LORAIN AND MEDINA TOWARD TEN O'CLOCK. IF THE STORMS HOLD TOGETHER...
THEY WILL ARRIVE IN THE CLEVELAND AND AKRON METROPOLITAN AREAS JUST
AFTER TEN THIS EVENING.

OTHER VERY STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING ACROSS CENTRAL
INDIANA AND HAVE PRODUCED LARGE HAIL AND TORNADOES. THESE STORMS WILL
MOVE INTO WESTERN OHIO AROUND TEN THIS EVENING.

PEOPLE IN OHIO SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR WEATHER CONDITIONS DURING THE
NIGHT AS SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE UNTIL AT LEAST
MID-NIGHT. FLOODING OF SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS IS ALSO POSSIBLE WITH
THE HEAVY DOWNPOURS.

ECKERT
...CO\RRECTED EASTERN TO WESTERN IN FIRST SENTENCE...
Special weather statement, May 25, 9:11 PM EDT, 48 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOLEDO OH
910 PM EDT THU MAY 25 1989

THUNDERSTORMS WERE DEVELOPING IN WILLIAMS, FULTON, AND LUCAS COUNTIES
OF NORTHWEST OHIO.

AT 905 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED DEVELOPING
THUNDERSTORMS IN THESE COUNTIES. THESE THUNDERSTORMS CAN PRODUCE HEAVY
RAIN..HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST NORTHEAST.

PERSONS LIVING IN THESE COUNTIES SHOULD BE ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHAzNGING
WEATHER CONDITIONS AND BE READY TO SEEK SHELTER.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTHWEST OHIO UNTIL
MIDNIGHT.

SPICER
Special weather statement, May 25, 9:26 PM EDT, 33 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MANSFIELD OH
925 PM EDT THU MAY 25 1989

AT 920 PM WEATHER RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF VERY HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS
EXTENDING FROM NORWALK...ACROSS THE MANSFIELD AREA TO ABOUT
ZANESVILLE OHIO. THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 35 MPH.

AT ABOUT 9PM EDT THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED SMALL HAIL IN EASTERN
CRAWFORD COUNTY. SOME SMALL TREE LIMBS WERE KNOCKED TO THE
GROUND AT GALION..IN EASTERN CRAWFORD COUNTY. THE LIGHTNING HAS
BEEN FREQUENT AND VERY INTENSE WITH A LOT OF CLOUD TO GROUND
STRIKES. HEAVY RAIN HAS CASUED SOME PONDING OF WATER IN LOW LYING
AREAS AND ON SOME ROADWAYS.

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOU SHOULD SEEK SAFE SHELTER.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT...

BANYAS
Special weather statement, May 25, 9:38 PM EDT, 21 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
837 PM EDT THU MAY 25 1989

A TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR THE WESTERN TWO-THIRDS OF OHIO
UNTIL MID-NIGHT.

A LINE OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED FROM JUST SOUTH OF
SANDUSKY TO NEAR COSHOCTON. MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

THESE STORMS PRODUCED STRONG WINDS... PEA SIZE HAIL AND VERY HEAVY RAIN
WHEN THEY MOVED ACROSS HURON COUNTY. ALMOST CONTINUOUS LIGHTNING ALSO
WAS OCCURRING.

AS THESE STORMS MOVED THROUGH GALION... IN EASTERN CRAWFORD COUNTY...
SMALL HAIL FELL AND A FEW SMALL LIMBS WERE BLOWN DOWN. IN SOUTWEST
LORAIN COUNTY PEA SIZE HAIL FELL IN WELLINGTON AND WINDS GUSTED TO 55
MPH.

THESE STORMS WILL MOVE INTO THE CLEVELAND AND ARKON METROPOLITAN AREAS
AROUND TEN O'CLOCK THIS EVENING.

OTHER VERY STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING OUT OF EASTERN
INDIANA INTO WESTERN OHIO. THESE WILL MOVE ACROSS THE STATE DURING THE
REST OF TONIGHT.

PEOPLE IN OHIO SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR WEATHER CONDITIONS DURING THE
NIGHT AS SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE UNTIL AT LEAST
MID-NIGHT. FLOODING OF SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS IS ALSO POSSIBLE WITH
THE HEAVY DOWNPOURS.

ECKERT

The office that day

Everything else NWS Cleveland, OH issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 25, 10:24 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCLELake51 min
May 25, 10:27 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCLEStark, Summit48 min
May 25, 10:35 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCLEPortage40 min
May 26, 12:02 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCLEHuron, Lorain4 hr
May 26, 1:56 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCLEAshtabula, Geauga, Lake3 hr
May 26, 1:56 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCLECuyahoga3 hr

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Ohio, 1989Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1989

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.