Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 1989

Tornado Warning 21, NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX

May 17, 1989Kinney County, Texas

NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX issued this tornado warning at May 17, 1989, 12:00 AM CDT for Kinney County, Texas. It was in force for 45 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 17, 1989, 12:00 AM CDT (05:00 UTC)
Expired
May 17, 1989, 12:45 AM CDT
In force
45 min
Issued by
NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX
Area
Whole counties

County Kinney County, TX

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 17, 12:08 AM CDTTornado F4Kinney, TX

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

Del Rio, TX (KDRT), launched 00:00Z, 5.0 hours before the alert went out and 41 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 1989-05-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 3533 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 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 1989-05-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 55 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
3533 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-8 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1141 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
56 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
55 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
175 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.0
Supercell composite
4.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KSAT 170502
TORSAT
TXC271-170545-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO TX
MIDNIGHT CDT WED MAY 17 1989
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SAN ANTONIO HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1245 AM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...
 
IN SOUTH TEXAS
          ...KINNEY
 
AT 1200 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A POSSIBLE
TORNADO ABOUT 6 MILES SOUTH SOUTHWEST OF THE CITY OF BRACKETVILLE.
THIS STORM IS MOVING EAST NORTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR AND MAY
THREATEN THE CITY OF BRACKETVILLE IN THE NEXT FEW MINUTES.
 
 
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM...GO TO A BASEMENT SHELTER OR A
CENTRAL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR HOME OR BUILDING.
ABANDON CARS AND MOBILE HOMES FOR A REINFORCED BUILDING.
 
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM SITUATION.  ACT QUICKLY.
 
LARGE HAIL...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL LIKELY
ACCOMPANY THIS STORM.
 
YOU SHOULD AS~K THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY TO RELAY YOUR
SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS TO THE LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE.

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, May 16, 6:10 PM CDT, 5 hours 50 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO TX
610 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 1989

...A TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 11 PM TONIGHT FOR THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY AND
ADJACENT PORTIONS OF THE EDWARDS PLATEAU...
...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH TONIGHT FOR THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY AND ADJACENT
AREAS OF THE SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS...

NO SEVERE WEATHER NOR HEAVY RAINS HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN THE WATCH AREAS
SO FAR THIS EVENING.  SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEEN FORMING OVER THE
EASTERN SLOPES OF THE MEXICAN PLATEAU AND MOVING EASTNORTHEASTWARD
TOWARD THE RIO GRANDE RIVER.  MOST OF THE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEEN
DECREASING AS THEY APPROACHED THE RIVER.

VERY MOIST UNSTABLE AIR CONTINUES OVER THE WATCH AREAS AND THUNDERSTORMS
MAY CONTINUE TO DEVELOP OVER THE REGION DURING THE EVENING HOURS.

PERSONS IN THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY AND ADJACENT AREAS OF SOUTH CENTRAL
TEXAS AND THE EDWARDS PLATEAU ARE URGED TO REMAIN AWARE OF THE THREAT OF
SEVERE WEATHER AN-D HEAVY RAINS TONIGHT AND LISTEN FOR ANY REQUIRED
WEATHER UPDATES AND WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, May 16, 6:28 PM CDT, 5 hours 32 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DEL RIO TX
630 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 1989

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR VAL VERDE COUNTY FROM 4 PM TO
11 PM THIS EVENING...
...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR VAL VERDE COUNTY THIS TUESDAY
NIGHT...

AT 625 PM CDT RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WAS
OCCURRING ABOUT 50 MILES NORTHWEST OF DEL RIO NEAR PANDALE. MOVEMENT OF
THE THUNDERSTORMS WAS TO THE NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 25 MPH.

PEOPLE IN AND NEAR PANDALE...ABOUT 45 MILES NORTHWEST OF DEL RIO CAN
EXPECT STRONG GUSTY WINDS BRIEF HEAVY RAIN AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING
DURING THE NEXT HALF HOUR AS THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MOVE TO THE
NORTHEAST.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS
OF 60 MPH...LARGE HAIL...TORNADOES...VERY HEAVY RAIN...AND DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING.

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 BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER IN AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. USE
BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY. AVOID WINDOWS.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS FLASH FLOODING IS POSSIBLE. HEAVY RAINS CAN
CAUSE A RAPID RISE OF STJREAMS AND RIVERS...FLOODING LOW LYING AREAS
AND LOW WATER CROSSINGS.
Special weather statement, May 16, 6:56 PM CDT, 5 hours 4 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN TX
700 PM CDT TUE MAY 17 1989

...STILL NO THUNDERSTORMS IN OR CLOSE TO THE CAPITAL AREA..AT THIS
TIME...

JUST BEFORE 7 PM...RADAR DETECTED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTH
CENTRAL TEXAS...BETWEEN STEPHENVILLE AND HILLSBORO...ALSO ONE SOUTH-
EAST OF DALLAS...WEST OF KAUFMAN.  AN ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM WAS ALSO
LOCATED JUST NORTH OF BALINGER OR 40 MILES NORTHEAST OF SAN ANGELO.
ALL OF THOSE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

WIDELY SCATTERED LIGHT RAINSHOWERS DOTTED SPOTS AROUND AUSTIN...AND
NORTH AND NORTHEAST.  THEY TOO WERE SPREADING NORTHWARD.

AN ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM WAS DETECTED AT MAXIMUM RANGE.?..WHICH IS SOME
INDICATION OF SEVERITY...OVER MEXICO...WEST OF LAREDO.

...CONTINUE THE TORNADO AND FLASH FLOOD WATCH...
Special weather statement, May 16, 7:12 PM CDT, 4 hours 48 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DEL RIO TX
710 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 1989

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR VAL VERDE COUNTY UNTIL 11 PM THIS
EVENING...
...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR VAL VERDE COUNTY THIS TUESDAY
NIGHT...

AT 700 PM CDT RADAR INDICATED SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE
OCCURRING FROM 80 MILES NORTHWEST OF DEL RIO...TO 80 OR MORE MILES
SOUTHWEST OF DEL RIO IN MEXICO. MOVEMENT OF THE THUNDERSTORMS AND
SHOWERS WAS TO THE NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. THE THUNDERSTORMS AND SHOWERS
WERE SHOWING RAPID CHANGES IN INTENSITY. BOTH DEVELOPING AND DISSIPATING
RAPIDLY.

SHORT PERIODS OF GUSTY WINDS BRIEF HEAVY RAIN AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING
CAN BE EXPECTED NEAR THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. THE PRESENT SPEED
OF MOVEMENT AND INTENSITY OF THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IS NOT
FAVORABLE IMMEDIATELY FOR RUNOFF PROBLEMS DUE TO RAINFALL.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS
OF 60 MPH...LARGE HAIL...TORNADOES...VERY HEAVY RAIN...AND DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING.

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 BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER IN AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. USE
BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY. AVOID WINDOWS.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS FLASH FLOODING IS POSSIBLE. HEAVY RAINS CAN
CAUSE A RAPID RISE OF STREAMS AND RIVERS...FLOODING LOW LYING AREAS
AND LVOW WATER CROSSINGS.
Special weather statement, May 16, 9:57 PM CDT, 2 hours 3 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO TX
955 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 1989

...THE TORNADO WATCH ISSUED EARLIER FOR THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY AND
ADJACENT PORTIONS OF THE EDWARDS PLATEAU EXTENDED UNTIL 400 AM...

THE TORNADO WATCH ISSUED EARLIER FOR THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY AND ADJACENT
EDWARD PLATEAU HAS BEEN EXTENDED UNTIL 400 AM EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING.
THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPED DURING THE EVENING HOURS OVER NORTHEASTERN
MEXICO AND HAVE MOVED INTO THE WESTERN TEXAS HILL COUNTRY AND EDWARDS
PLATEAU FROM DEL RIO TO JUNCTION.

AT 10 PM THUNDERSTORMS...SOME POSSIBLY SEVERE EXTENDED FROM VAL VERDE
COUNTY SOUTHWARD INTO MEXICO WEST OF KINNEY AND MAVERICK COUNTIES.

PERSONS IN THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY AND ADJACENT AREAS OF SOUTH CENTRAL
TEXAS AND THE EDWARDS PLATEAU ARE URGED TO REMAIN AWARE OF THE THREAT OF
SEVERE WEATHER AND HEAVY RAINS TONIGHT AND LISTEN FOR ANY REQUIRED
WEATHER UPDATES AND WARNINGS.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 16, 7:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXVal Verde45 min
May 16, 9:35 PM CDTTornado WarningEWXVal Verde40 min
May 16, 10:15 PM CDTTornado WarningEWXVal Verde60 min
May 16, 10:36 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXKinney69 min
May 16, 11:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXEdwards60 min
May 16, 11:05 PM CDTTornado WarningEWXVal Verde40 min
May 16, 11:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXKinney66 min
May 17, 12:15 AM CDTTornado WarningEWXVal Verde60 min
May 17, 12:43 AM CDTTornado WarningEWXUvalde62 min
May 17, 1:05 AM CDTTornado WarningEWXVal Verde60 min
May 17, 2:00 AM CDTTornado WarningEWXVal Verde60 min
May 17, 2:55 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXKinney65 min
May 17, 5:39 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXKinney36 min
May 17, 6:44 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXUvalde46 min
May 17, 8:22 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningEWXGillespie4 hr
May 17, 8:57 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningEWXTravis, Williamson3 hr
May 17, 9:09 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXHays66 min
May 17, 9:46 AM CDTTornado WarningEWXWilliamson44 min
May 17, 9:50 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningEWXBurnet3 hr
May 17, 10:13 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningEWXBlanco, Hays3 hr
May 17, 11:51 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningEWXLee, Milam3 hr
May 17, 11:51 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningEWXBastrop3 hr
May 17, 2:32 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningEWXFayette118 min
May 17, 2:32 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXFayette58 min
May 17, 3:25 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningEWXBastrop, Fayette, Lee75 min
May 17, 3:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXBurleson, Lee75 min
May 17, 3:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXFayette75 min
May 17, 4:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXDeWitt, Lavaca60 min
May 17, 5:42 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXGoliad, Victoria63 min
May 17, 6:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXGoliad57 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Texas, 1989Every tornado warning in 1989Tornadoes 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.