Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 1989

Tornado Warning 7, NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX

May 5, 1989Hays County, Texas

NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX issued this tornado warning at May 5, 1989, 4:11 AM CDT for Hays County, Texas. It was in force for 34 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 5, 1989, 4:11 AM CDT (09:11 UTC)
Expired
May 5, 1989, 4:45 AM CDT
In force
34 min
Issued by
NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX
Area
Whole counties

County Hays 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 5, 4:55 AM CDTHail 0.75Hays, 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

Victoria Regiona, TX (KVCT), launched 00:00Z, 9.2 hours before the alert went out and 173 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, Victoria Regiona, TX at 00:00Z on 1989-05-05Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1991 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Victoria Regiona, TX at 00:00Z on 1989-05-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 132 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
1991 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-125 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
845 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
39 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
132 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
240 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.6
Supercell composite
4.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KAUS 050913
TORAUS
TXC209-050945-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN TX
411 AM CDT FRI MAY 5 1989
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN AUSTIN HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  445 AM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...
 
IN SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS
          ...SOUTHERN HAYS
 
RADAR INDICATES A TORNADO SOUTH OF SAN MARCOS MOVING SOUTHEASTWARD.
 
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
SUCH AS A CLOSET ON THE LOWEST FLOOR.  USE BLANKETS...PILLOWS...
OR CUSHIONS TO COVER YOUR BODY.  AVOID WINDOWS.

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 4, 11:23 PM CDT, 4 hours 48 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO TX
1123 PM CDT THU MAY 4 1989

...LINE OF VERY INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS MOVING TOWARD SOUTH TEXAS...

VERY DANGEROUS AND FAST MOVING THUNDERSTORMS WERE ACROSS CENTRAL TEXAS
FROM NEAR WACO TO NEAR SAN SABA...MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT NEAR 70
MPH.  A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL AND
SOUTHEAST TEXAS UNTIL 5 AM CDT FRIDAY MORNING.

ALTHOUGH THE TORNADO WATCH DOES NOT INCLUDE THE SAN ANTONIO METRO AREA
AND SURROUNDING HILL COUNTRY AT THE PRESENT TIME...THE LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS WAS DEVELOPING WEST AS IT MOVED RAPIDLY SOUTHEAST.

THESE STORMS HAVE PRODUCED WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH WITHIN AND AHEADu
OF THE LINE OF STORMS...ALONG WITH LARGE HAIL AND TORNADOES IN NORTH
AND CENTRAL TEXAS THIS EVENING.

PERSONS IN SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS SHOULD REMAIN TUNED TO LOCAL NEWS
SOURCES OR NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER WEATHER DEVELOPMENTS.
Special weather statement, May 4, 11:34 PM CDT, 4 hours 37 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN TX
1135 PM CDT THU MAY 4 1989

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5AM FOR PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL
TEXAS...
IN THIS AREA THE WATCH INCLUDES THE COUNTIES OF MILAN AND BURLESON...
BOTH ARE TO THE EAST AND NORTHEAST OF AUSTIN.

AT 1135...RADAR SHOWED A SEVERE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM NEAR
SAN SABA EAST TO THE WACO AREA.  THESE STORMS ARE MOVING TOWARD THE
SOUTHEAST AT 60 MPH.   LARGE HAIL, HIGH WINDS AND TORNADO
SIGHTINGS HAVE BEEN REPORTED WITH THOSE STORMS IN THE WACO VICINITY.

REMEMBER A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES
AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.

CONTINUE TO BE ON THE ALERT AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, May 5, 2:02 AM CDT, 2 hours 9 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO TX
200 AM CDT FRI MAY 5 1989

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM CDT FRIDAY MORNING FOR MUCH OF
   OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS...

AT 155 AM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A 20 MILE WIDE LINE OF
VERY INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS FROM NORTHWEST OF LLANO TO NORTHEAST OF
GEORGETOWN TO EAST OF COLLEGE STATION.  OTHER THUNDERSTORMS WERE
DEVELOPING FROM NEAR JUNCTION TO NEAR AUSTIN.  MOVEMENT WAS TO THE
SOUTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

WIND GUSTS TO 50 MILES PER HOUR OCCURRED AT COLLEGE STATION AS THE
THUNDERSTORMS MOVED THROUGH DURING THE PAST HOUR.  IN ADDITION...
THESE STORMS HAVE PRODUCED LARGE HAIL AND SOME TORNADOES IN NORTH
CENTRAL TEXAS EARLIER TONIGHT.

PERSONS IN SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS SHOULD STAY TUNED TO LATER WEATHER
DEVELOPMENTS AND BE PREPARED TO SEEK SAFE SHELTER IF THREATENING
WEATHER IS OBSERVED OR A WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA.
Special weather statement, May 5, 2:48 AM CDT, 1 hour 23 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO TX
250 AM CDT FRI MAY 5 1989

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM CDT FRIDAY MORNING FOR MUCH OF
   OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS...

AT 245 AM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LARGE AREA OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS STRETCHING EASTWARD FROM JOHNSON CITY TO HOUSTON.  THIS
AREA WAS MOVING RAPIDLY SOUTHEAST AT 45 MILES AN HOUR.

AT PRESENT...THE GREATEST THREAT FROM THESE STORMS IS THE OCCURRENCE
OF STRONG...POSSIBLY DAMAGING...WIND AHEAD OF AND DURING THEIR PASSAGE.
EARLIER...COLLEGE STATION HAD REPORTED A WIND GUST TO 50 MILES AN HOUR
AS THE STORMS MOVED THROUGH.  HOUSTON HAD REPORTED A 45 MILE AN HOUR
GUST WITHIN THE PAST FEW MINUTES WITH THE STORMS APPROACHING THE CITY.

ALONG WITH THE HIGH PROBABILITY OF STRONG STRAIGHT-LINE WIND...THESE
TYPE OF STORMS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO PRODUCE ISOLATED TORNADOES AND LARGE
HAIL.  A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM FOR MUCH OF SOUTH CENTRAL
TEXAS.  THIS WATCH INCLUDES THE METROPOLITAN AREAS OF AUSTIN AND SAN
ANTONIO.

THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS STORM SYSTEM AND RESIDENTS ALL ACROSS
SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS NEED TO MAINTAIN A CLOSE WATCH ON THE WEATHER FOR
THE NEXT 'FEW HOURS.  ADDITIONAL BULLETINS WILL BE ISSUED AS NECESSARY
TO KEEP YOU UPDATED.  THESE BULLETINS WILL BE BROADCAST OVER NOAA
WEATHER RADIO...YOUR BEST SOURCE OF WEATHER INFORMATION.
Special weather statement, May 5, 3:37 AM CDT, 34 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO TX
335 AM CDT FRI MAY 5 1989

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM CDT FRIDAY MORNING FOR MUCH OF
   OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS...

AT 330 AM CDT...A LARGE AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO MOVE
RAPIDLY ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS.  THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE JUST EAST
OF NEW BRAUNFELS AND SOUTHEAST OF AUSTIN.  MOVEMENT WAS SOUTHEAST AT 45
MILES AN HOUR.

THE STORMS HAVE EXHIBITED A CONSTANT CYCLE OF RAPID WEAKENING FOLLOWED
BY REGENERATION THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT AND EARLY MORNING HOURS.  THESE
STORMS HAVE BEEN PROLIFIC STRONG WIND PRODUCERS DURING THEIR TREK ACROSS
THE STATE...WITH GUSTS OFTEN REACHING 50 MILES AN HOUR.  EARLIER...
COLLEGE STATION EXPERIENCED A GUST OF 50 MILES AN HOUR AS THE STORMS
ROLLED THROUGH.  IN ADDITION...40 TO 45 MILE AN HOUR GUSTS WERE REPORTED
AT BOTH AUSTIN AND HOUSTON...WITH A RECENT ESTIMATED REPORT OF 45 MILES
AN HOUR IN THE NEW BRAUNFELS AREA.

TORNADOES AND LARGE HAIL ALSO MAY ACCOMPANY THESE STORMS THIS MORNING.
ACCORDINGLY...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF SOUTH
CENTRAL TEXAS.  THIS WATCH INCLUDES THE METROPOLITAN AREAS OF AUSTIN
AND SAN ANTONIO.

STAY TU>NED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO THROUGHOUT THE MORNING FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION REGARDING THESE THUNDERSTORMS.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 5, 12:03 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXBurnet, Lampasas, San Saba57 min
May 5, 12:23 AM CDTTornado WarningEWXSan Saba52 min
May 5, 1:11 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXWilliamson64 min
May 5, 2:01 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXBurnet44 min
May 5, 2:14 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXBlanco61 min
May 5, 2:25 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXTravis50 min
May 5, 4:13 AM CDTTornado WarningEWXGuadalupe32 min
May 5, 4:25 AM CDTTornado WarningEWXCaldwell35 min
May 5, 4:37 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXGonzales53 min
May 5, 5:03 AM CDTTornado WarningEWXCaldwell27 min
May 5, 5:23 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXHays67 min
May 5, 6:12 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXCaldwell, Travis63 min
May 5, 6:12 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXBlanco, Burnet63 min
May 5, 7:30 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXFayette45 min
May 5, 7:42 AM CDTTornado WarningEWXCaldwell, Hays63 min
May 5, 8:35 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXGonzales70 min
May 5, 8:38 AM CDTTornado WarningEWXCaldwell, Fayette32 min
May 5, 8:44 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXGonzales61 min
May 5, 8:47 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXLavaca58 min
May 5, 9:13 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXDeWitt62 min
May 5, 10:09 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXDeWitt, Lavaca66 min
May 5, 10:23 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXVictoria67 min
May 5, 10:54 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXGonzales51 min
May 5, 11:10 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXDeWitt65 min
May 5, 12:09 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXKarnes66 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.