Alert archive / Wyoming / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1989

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 13, NWS Cheyenne, WY

May 12, 1989Laramie County, Wyoming

NWS Cheyenne, WY issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 12, 1989, 3:54 PM MDT for Laramie County, Wyoming. It was in force for 46 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 12, 1989, 3:54 PM MDT (21:54 UTC)
Expired
May 12, 1989, 4:40 PM MDT
In force
46 min
Issued by
NWS Cheyenne, WY
Area
Whole counties

County Laramie County, WY

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

Denver, CO (KDEN), launched 12:00Z, 9.9 hours before the alert went out and 202 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, Denver, CO at 12:00Z on 1989-05-12Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Denver, CO at 12:00Z on 1989-05-12The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -19 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
2104 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
36 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-19 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-13 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KCYS 122154
SVRCYS
WYC021-122300-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
354 PM MDT FRI MAY 12 1989

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 
WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 500 PM MDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING 
COUNTY

   IN THE SOUTHEAST PART OF WYOMING
      EXTREME EASTERN LARAMIE COUNTY

THIS INCLUDES THE TOWNS OF PINE BLUFFS AND ALBIN.

AT 345 PM MDT RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM ABOUT 5 MILES
SOUTH OF PINE BLUFFS...OR ABOUT 38 MILES EAST OF CHEYENNE. THIS
STORM WAS MOVING NORTH AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH...
DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.  FOR YOUR
PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR HOME
OR BUSINESS.  HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO DO NOT DRIVE INTO
AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.

A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA.  REMEMBER...
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES
WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING.

MENTZER

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 12, 2:00 PM MDT, 1 hour 54 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
155 PM MDT FRI MAY 12 1989

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF EASTERN WYOMING TIL 700 PM
MDT...

A TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES FOR MUCH OF EASTERN WYOMING TIL 700 PM
MDT THIS EVENING. THIS WATCH MEANS THAT TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE WITH
ANY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS DURING THAT TIME.

AS OF 145PM MDT AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED FROM WEST OF
LARAMIE TO NEAR NEWCASTLE. AT 1140 AM MDT A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED
ONE HALF INCH DIAMETER HAIL AT LARAMIE. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING
TO THE NORTH AT 25 MPH.

A FEW THUNDERSTORMS OVER MUCH OF EASTERN WYOMING THROUGH 700 PM WILL
PRODUCE BRIEF HEAVY RAIN...HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING
AND THE POSSIBILITY OF TORNADOES. IF A THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES YOUR
AREA...TAKE IMMEDIATE AND APPROPRIATE SHELTER.
COX
Special weather statement, May 12, 2:06 PM MDT, 1 hour 48 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SCOTTSBLUFF NE
205 PM MDT FRI MAY 12 1989

...TORNADO WATCH 209 IN EFFECT FOR NEBRASKA PANHANDLE UNTIL 7PM MDT...

AN ISOLATED THUNDERSHOWER HAS DEVELOPED ALONG THE WYOMING/NEBRASKA
STATELINE...22 MILES WEST OF SCOTTSBLUFF NEBRASKA JUST SOUTH OF THE
NORTH PLATTE RIVER NEAR HENRY NEBRASKA. NO MOVEMENT WAS NOTED BUT THE
STORM IS EXPECTED TO MOVE GRADUALLY TO THE NORTH BY 230 PM MDT.

OTHER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE DEVELOPING IN EASTERN WYOMING NEAR
THE LARAMIE RANGE...AND IN NORTHEAST COLORADO SOUTH OF THE TWIN PAWNEE
BUTTES ABOUT 45 MILES SOUTHWEST OF KIMBALL NEBRASKA.

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 209 REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE NEBRASKA
PANHANDLE UNTIL 7PM MDT THIS FRIDAY EVENING.
PFEIFFER
Special weather statement, May 12, 2:44 PM MDT, 1 hour 10 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SCOTTSBLUFF NE
243 PM MDT FRI MAY 12 1989

...TORNADO WATCH 209 IN EFFECT FOR NEBRASKA PANHANDLE UNTIL 7PM MDT...

THUNDERSTORMS HAVE MOVED INTO THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THE NEBRASKA
PANHANDLE...14 MILES SOUTHWEST OF KIMBALL NEBRASKA IN KIMBALL COUNTY.
THESE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTH AROUND 20 MILES AN HOUR. PERSONS IN
WESTERN KIMBALL COUNTY...ESPECIALLY THE TOWNS OF KIMBALL AND BUSHNELL...
SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR HEAVY RAIN..STRONG SHIFTING WINDS..AND POSSIBLE
HAIL UNTIL 3PM MDT.

OTHER THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED IN NORTHEAST COLORADO NEAR STERLING
AND NORTH OF AKRON COLORADO. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTH AT 2O TO 25
MILES AN HOUR.

THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALSO IN EASTERN WYOMING ALONG THE LARAMIE RANGE WITH
A VERY STRONG STORM SOUTHEAST OF DOUGLAS WYOMING. THESE STORMS WERE
MOVING NORTH AROUND 20 MILES AN HOUR.
<
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 209 REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7PM FOR THE ENTIRE
NEBRASKA PANHANDLE.
PFEIFFER
Special weather statement, May 12, 3:10 PM MDT, 44 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SCOTTSBLUFF NE
308 PM MDT FRI MAY 12 1989

...TORNADO WATCH 209 IN EFFECT FOR NEBRASKA PANHANDLE UNTIL 7PM MDT...

THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED IN THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THE NEBRASKA
PANHANDLE...10 MILES WEST OF KIMBALL NEBRASKA IN KIMBALL COUNTY. THESE
STORMS WERE MOVING NORTH AROUND 20 MILES AN HOUR. PERSONS IN WESTERN
KIMBALL AND WESTERN BANNER COUNTIES SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR HEAVY RAIN..
STRONG SHIFTING WINDS..AND POSSIBLE HAIL UNTIL 415PM MDT.

OTHER STORMS HAVE DEVELOPED ALONG THE WYOMING/NEBRASKA STATELINE...45
MILES NORTHWEST OF SCOTTSBLUFF NEBRASKA. THEY SHOULD ALSO MOVE NORTH.

OTHER THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED IN NORTHEAST COLORADO 19 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF KIMBALL NEBRASKA..AND NEAR AKRON COLORADO. THESE STORMS
WERE MOVING NORTH AT 2O TO 25 MILES AN HOUR.

THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALSO IN EASTERN WYOMING ALONG THE LARAMIE RANGE WITH
A VERY STRONG STORM SOUTHEAST OF DOUGLAS WYOMING. THESE STORMS WERE
MOVING NORTH AROUND 20 MILES AN HOUR.

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 209 REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7PM FOR THE ENTIRE
NEBRASKA PANHANDLE.
PFEIFFER
Special weather statement, May 12, 3:24 PM MDT, 30 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
320 PM MDT FRI MAY 12 1989

...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF EASTERN WYOMING TIL
700 PM MDT...

A TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES FOR MUCH OF EASTERN WYOMING TIL 700 PM
MDT THIS EVENING. THIS WATCH MEANS THAT TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE WITH
ANY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS DURING THAT TIME.

AT 310 PM MDT THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED IN AN AREA FROM WEST OF LARAMIE
TO NEAR NEWCASTLE. STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AT THAT TIME WERE 25 MILES
EAST OF DOUGLAS...AND NEAR ALBIN WHICH IS 41 MILES NORTHEAST OF
CHEYENNE. THESE STRONGER STORMS WERE PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN...HAIL AND
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. PEA SIZED HAIL WAS REPORTED AT WENDOVER..19 MILES
NORTH OF WHEANTLAND AT 115 PM MDT.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP WITHIN THE WATCH AREA THROUGH
THE EARLY EVENING HOURS. SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY PRODUCE SEVERE
WEATHER...SUCH AS LARGE HAIL...STRONG WIND GUSTS OR TORNADOES. THE
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOST LIKELY OCCUR OVER EXTREME WYOMING.

IF A THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE IMMEDIATE AND
APPROPRIATE SHELTER.
WEILAND
Special weather statement, May 12, 3:31 PM MDT, 23 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT         CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
320 PM MDT FRI MAY 12 1989

...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF EASTERN WYOMING TIL
700 PM MDT...

A TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES FOR MUCH OF EASTERN WYOMING TIL 700 PM
MDT THIS EVENING. THIS WATCH MEANS THAT TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE WITH
ANY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS DURING THAT TIME.

AT 310 PM MDT THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED IN AN AREA FROM WEST OF LARAMIE
TO NEAR NEWCASTLE. STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AT THAT TIME WERE 25 MILES
EAST OF DOUGLAS...AND NEAR ALBIN WHICH IS 41 MILES NORTHEAST OF
CHEYENNE. THESE STRONGER STORMS WERE PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN...HAIL AND
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. PEA SIZED HAIL WAS REPORTED AT WENDOVER..19 MILES
NORTH OF WHEATLAND AT 115 PM MDT.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP WITHIN THE WATCH AREA THROUGH
THE EARLY EVENING HOURS. SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY PRODUCE SEVERE
WEATHER...SUCH AS LARGE HAIL...STRONG WIND GUSTS OR TORNADOES. THE
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOST LIKELY OCCUR OVER EXTREME EASTERN
WYOMING.

IF A THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE IMMEDIATE AND
APPROPRIATE SHELTER.
WEILAND

The office that day

Everything else NWS Cheyenne, WY issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 12, 4:32 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCYSGoshen43 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Wyoming, 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.