Alert archive / Ohio / Tornado Warnings in 1989

Tornado Warning 1, NWS Wilmington, OH

May 26, 1989Mercer County, Van Wert County, Ohio

NWS Wilmington, OH issued this tornado warning at May 26, 1989, 12:06 AM EDT for Mercer County, Van Wert County, Ohio. It was in force for 39 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 26, 1989, 12:06 AM EDT (04:06 UTC)
Expired
May 26, 1989, 12:45 AM EDT
In force
39 min
Issued by
NWS Wilmington, OH
Area
Whole counties

Counties Mercer County, OH, Van Wert County, OH

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

Dayton/James M C, OH (KDAY), launched 00:00Z, 4.1 hours before the alert went out and 95 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, Dayton/James M C, OH at 00:00Z on 1989-05-26Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1569 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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, Dayton/James M C, OH at 00:00Z on 1989-05-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 104 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
1569 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
642 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
50 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
104 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
76 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.6
Supercell composite
3.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KDAY 260407
TORDAY
OHC107-161-260445-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DAYTON OH
1206 AM EDT FRI MAY 26 1989
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DAYTON HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1245 AM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
 
IN WEST CENTRAL OHIO
          ...MERCER...VAN WERT
 
AT 12 AM EDT THIS FRIDAY MORNING THE DISASTER SERVICES DIRECTOR IN
MERCER COUNTY REPORTED A POSSIBLE TOUCHDOWN 11/4 MILES SOUTH OF THE
VAN WERT MERCER COUNTY LINE ON STATE ROUTE 49. THIS THUNDERSTORM WAS
MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.
 
 
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO...THE SAFEST PLACE IS A
BASEMENT. PROTECT YOUR HEAD... CHEST AND EXPOSED SKIN.
IF NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR AND
PUT AS MANY WALLS AS POSSIBLE BETWEEN YOURSELF AND THE STORM.
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 25, 6:56 PM EDT, 5 hours 10 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DAYTON OH
655 PM EDT THU MAY 25 1989

THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP OVER WESTERN OHIO WITH REPORTS OF
HEAVY RAIN AND SMALL HAIL.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED THE HEAVIEST THUNDERSTORM OVER
NORTHERN DARKE COUNTY NEAR VERSAILLES. THIS THUNDERSTORM WAS PRODUCING
VERY HEAVY RAIN AND 1/4 INCH HAIL AS IT MOVED THROUGH ANSONIA IN DARKE
COUNTY. MOVEMENT OF THIS STROM WAS TO THE EAST T 40 MPH. THIS STORM
WILL MOVE INTO SHELBY COUNTY BY 705 PM EDT.

PERSONS LIVING IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM SHOULD BE ALERT FOR ANY RAPID
CHANGES IN THE WEATHER AND TAKE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF WESTERN OHIO UNTIIL MIDNIGHT.
MS
TORRENCE
Special weather statement, May 25, 7:42 PM EDT, 4 hours 24 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DAYTON OH
735 PM EDT THU MAY 25 1989

THUNDERSTORMS OVER WESTERN OHIO HAVE STARTED TO DISSIPATE AS THEY
CONTINUE TO MOVE TO THE NORTHEAST.

NATIONAL
Special weather statement, May 25, 9:21 PM EDT, 2 hours 45 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DAYTON OH
920 PM EDT THU MAY 25 1989

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE MOVED INTO WESTERN OHIO FROM INDIANA
WITH LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN BEING REPORTED.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT 915 PM SHOWED A LARGE AREA OF SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS WESTERN COUNTIES OF OHIO AND STRETCHING BACK
INTO CENTRAL INDIANA. THE STRINGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN EASTERN
INDIANA FROM MUNCIE TO RICHMOND. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO
NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. THESE STORMS WILL MOVE INTO DARKE AND MERCER
COUNTIES IN WESTERN OHIO BY 945 PM EDT.

PERSONS IN WESTERN OHIO SHOULD KEEP ABREAST OF THE WEATHER CONDITIONS
IN THEIR LOCAL AREA AS THESE STORMS HAVE A HISTORY OF HEAVY RAIN..
SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF WESTERN OHIO UNTIL MIDNIGHT.
MS
Special weather statement, May 25, 10:24 PM EDT, 1 hour 42 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DAYTON OH
1020 PM EDT THU MAY 25 1989

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE OVER WEST CENTRAL OHIO.

AT 1015 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS FROM BELLEFONTAINE IN LOGAN COUNTY TO FORT WAYNE IN
NORTHEASTERN INDIANA. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST
AT 30 TO 35 MPH. HEAVY RAIN WAS REPORTED BY THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENTS
IN WESTRERN COUNTIES OF THE STATE BUT NO SEVERE WEATHER HAS BEEN
REPORTED.

PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS SHOULD BE ALERT TO THE POSSIBILITY
OF HEAVY RAIN WHERE ALREADY SATURATED GROUND WILL PRODUCE RAPID RUNOFF
AND THE POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS INJ EFFECT FOR ALL OF WESTERN OHIO UNTIL MIDNIGHT.
MS
Special weather statement, May 25, 11:26 PM EDT, 40 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DAYTON OH
1120 PM EDT THU MAY 25 1989

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE INTENSIFYING OVER WEST CENTRAL OHIO.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT 1115 PM SHOWED NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS NORTHWEST OHIO AND NORTHEASTERN INDIANA. THE
STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN ALONG THE OHIO INDIANA BORDER IN
NORTHEAST INDIANA. REPORTS OF HEAVY RAIN GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL HAVE
ACCOMPANIED THESE STORMS THROUGH INDIANA. MOVEMENT OF THESE STORMS
WAS TO THE NORTHEAST AT 30 TO 35 MPH.

PERSONS IN NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL SHOULD KEEP ABREAST OF CURRENT
WEATHER CONDITIONS AS THESE STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE AS THEY MOVE
FROM INDIANA INTO OHIO.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF WESTERN OHIO UNTIL MIDNIGHT.
MS
Special weather statement, May 25, 11:29 PM EDT, 37 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DAYTON OH
1120 PM EDT THU MAY 25 1989

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE INTENSIFYING OVER WEST CENTRAL OHIO.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT 1115 PM SHOWED NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS NORTHWEST OHIO AND NORTHEASTERN INDIANA. THE
STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN ALONG THE OHIO INDIANA BORDER IN
NORTHEAST INDIANA. REPORTS OF HEAVY RAIN GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL HAVE
ACCOMPANIED THESE STORMS THROUGH INDIANA. MOVEMENT OF THESE STORMS
WAS TO THE NORTHEAST AT 30 TO 35 MPH.

PERSONS IN NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL SHOULD KEEP ABREAST OF CURRENT
WEATHER CONDITIONS AS THESE STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE AS THEY MOVE
FROM INDIANA INTO OHIO.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF WESTERN AND
NORTHERN OHIO UNTIL 5 AM EDT THIS FRIDAY MORNING
SHARTRAN ...CORRECTED TO CHANGE TYPE OF WATCH...

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 26, 1:50 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILNPreble40 min
May 26, 3:49 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILNButler26 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Ohio, 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.