Alert archive / Texas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1989

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 13, NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX

March 27, 1989Val Verde County, Texas

NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 27, 1989, 8:55 PM CST for Val Verde County, Texas. It was in force for 65 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Mar 27, 1989, 8:55 PM CST (02:55 UTC)
Expired
Mar 27, 1989, 10:00 PM CST
In force
65 min
Issued by
NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX
Area
Whole counties

County Val Verde County, TX

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

Del Rio, TX (KDRT), launched 00:00Z, 2.9 hours before the alert went out and 66 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, Del Rio, TX at 00:00Z on 1989-03-28Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1761 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, Del Rio, TX at 00:00Z on 1989-03-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 190 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
1761 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-35 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2263 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
59 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
190 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
353 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
15.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KDRT 280254
SVRDRT
TXC465-280400-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DEL RIO TX
855 PM CST MON MAR 27 1989

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1000 PM CST FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY IN

SOUTHCENTRAL TEXAS...VAL VERDE

AT 850 PM CST RADAR INDICATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS JUST SOUTH OF
COMSTOCK AND 10 MILES SOUTH OF JUNO. THESE STORMS WERE IMBEDDED IN A
LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM 25 MILES WEST OF DEL RIO NORTHWARD TO THE VAL
VERDE COUNTY LINE. THE LINE WAS MOVING TO THE EAST AT 5 MPH. HEAVY
RAIN...LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.

BOATERS ON LAKE AMISTAD SHOULD SEEK SAFE HARBOR NOW.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND 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 DONT DRIVE INTO AREAS
WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.

...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR VAL VERDE COUNTY UNTIL 1100 PM
CST TONIGHT...

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, Mar 27, 5:13 PM CST, 3 hours 42 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DEL RIO TX
515 PM CST MON MAR 27 1989

...TORANDO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM CST FOR VAL VERDE COUNTY...

AT 510 PM CST RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS FROM 25 MILES NORTHWEST OF
DEL RIO NORTHWARD TO THE VAL VERDE COUNTY LINE. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING
TO THE NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

AT 423 PM CST THE SHERIFF REPORTED THE GROUND COVERED WITH HAIL NORTH OF
LANGTRY.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES
AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. PEOPLE IN THE
WATCH AREA SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATER CONDITIONS
AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, Mar 27, 5:18 PM CST, 3 hours 37 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO TX
520 PM CST MON MAR 27 1989

...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM CST FOR THE EDWARDS
   PLATEAU AND TEXAS HILL COUNTRY...

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM CST THIS MONDAY EVENING FOR
BANDERA...EDWARDS...KENDALL...KERR...MEDINA...REAL AND UVALDE COUNTIES.

AT 515 PM CST...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDS FROM JUST NORTH OF DEL
RIO IN VAL VERDE COUNTY NORTHWARD TO SAN ANGELO.  MOVEMENT IS TOWARD
THE NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.  THIS LINE IS APPROACHING EDWARDS COUNTY.

THERE IS CURRENTLY NO THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY NEAR BEXAR COUNTY OR THE
CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.  HOWEVER...AS THE UPPER-LEVEL DISTURBANCE THAT
IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OUTBREAK OF POTENTIALLY SEVERE WEATHER MOVES
FARTHER EAST INTO SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS TONIGHT...THUNDERSTORMS COULD
INCREASE NEAR THE LOCAL AREA...SO RESIDENTS SHOULD STAY TUNED AND
CONTINUE MONITORING RADIO OR TV BROADCASTS DURING THE EVENING.

ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS OR WARNINGS WILL BE ISSUED AS CONDITIONS WARRANT.
Special weather statement, Mar 27, 6:27 PM CST, 2 hours 28 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DEL RIO TX
628 PM CST MON MAR 27 1989

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM CST FOR VAL VERDE COUNTY...

AT 623 PM CST GLASSCOCK RANCH...12 MILES NORTHEAST OF JUNO REPORTED PEA
SIZE HAIL. RADAR INDICATED AN INTENSE THUNDERSTORM IN THE SAME AREA.
HEAVY RAIN...LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
OTHER THUNDERSTORMS WERE INDICATED 30 MILES EAST OF DEL RIO AND FROM 25
MILES NORTHWEST OF DEL RIO NORTHWARD TO THE VAL VERDE COUNTY LINE. ALL
STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

AT 548 PM CST HUDSPETH RANCH...9 MILES SOUTHWEST OF JUNO REPORTED PEA
SIZE HAIL.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAPVORABLE FOR TORNADOES
AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. PEOPLE IN THE
WATCH AREA SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS
AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, Mar 27, 7:10 PM CST, 1 hour 45 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN TX
705 PM CST MON MAR 27 1989

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM THIS MONDAY EVENING FOR
BLANCO...BURNET...GILLESPIE...LLANO...LAMPASAS...MILLS AND SAN SABA
COUNTIES IN THE HILL COUNTRY OF CENTRAL TEXAS.

AT 7 PM WEATHER RADAR INDICATED NO THUNDERSTORMS IN THESE COUNTIES...
HOWEVER A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM NORTHWEST OF DEL RIO NORTHWARD
THROUGH THE AREA JUST EAST OF SAN ANGELO TO NORTH OF ABILENE CONTINUES
TO NOVE SLOWLY EASTWARD WHILE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST
AT NEAR 35 MPH. THUNDERSTORMS IN THIS LINE HAVE PRODUCED GOLFBALL
SIZE HAIL NEAR JUNO AND SOUTHWEST OF SONORA.

PERSONS IN THESE COUNTIES SHOULD CONTINUE TO KEEP A WATCHFUL EYE ON
THE WEATHER AND IF SEVERE WEATHER THREATENS MOVE TO A SAFE PLACE.
Special weather statement, Mar 27, 7:16 PM CST, 1 hour 39 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO TX
720 PM CST MON MAR 27 1989

...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM CST FOR THE EDWARDS
   PLATEAU AND TEXAS HILL COUNTRY...

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM CST THIS MONDAY EVENING FOR
BANDERA...EDWARDS...KENDALL...KERR...MEDINA...REAL AND UVALDE COUNTIES.

AT 715 PM CST...HONDO RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING
FROM JUST NORTH OF DEL RIO IN VAL VERDE COUNTY NORTHWARD TO NORTH OF
SAN ANGELO.  THE LINE IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHEAST AT 30 TO 35 MPH.
GOLF-BALL SIZED HAIL HAS BEEN REPORTED IN SEVERAL OF THE STORMS DURING
THE PAST HOUR IN VAL VERDE COUNTY AND NORTHWARD.

OTHER ACTIVITY IS INDICATED NEAR THE KINNEY-UVALDE-MAVERICK COUNTY
LINE.

THERE IS CURRENTLY NO THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY NEAR BEXAR COUNTY OR THE
CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.  HOWEVER...AS THE UPPER-LEVEL DISTURBANCE THAT
IS PRODUCING THE SEVERE WEATHER MOVES EASTWARD INTO SOUTH CENTRAL
TEXAS LATER TONIGHT...ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS OR WARNINGS WILL BE ISSUED
AS CONDITIONS WARRANT...INFORMING YOU OF THE VERY LATEST IN WEATHER
INFORMATION...SO PLEASE STAY TUNED TO LOCAL RADIO...TV OR NOAA WEATHER
RADIO.
Special weather statement, Mar 27, 7:37 PM CST, 1 hour 18 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DEL RIO TX
740 PM CST MON MAR 27 1989

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM CST FOR VAL VERDE COUNTY...

AT 735 PM CST RADAR INDICATED AN INTENSE THUNDERSTORM JUST WEST OF JUNO.
HEAVY RAIN...LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
OTHER THUNDERSTORMS WERE INDICATED 30 MILES EAST OF DEL RIO AND FROM 30
MILES NORTHWEST OF DEL RIO NORTHWARD TO THE VAL VERDE COUNTY LINE. ALL
STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES
AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. PEOPLE IN THE
WATCH AREA SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS
AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 27, 6:38 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXVal Verde52 min
Mar 27, 7:45 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXVal Verde60 min
Mar 27, 10:09 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXKinney, Maverick66 min
Mar 27, 10:09 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXEdwards66 min
Mar 27, 11:18 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXKinney, Maverick57 min
Mar 27, 11:18 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXEdwards57 min
Mar 28, 12:45 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXMilam, Williamson45 min
Mar 28, 4:25 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXVal Verde60 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Texas, 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.