Alert archive / Mississippi / Tornado Warnings in 1989

Tornado Warning 45, NWS Jackson, MS

March 5, 1989Jasper County, Mississippi

NWS Jackson, MS issued this tornado warning at Mar 5, 1989, 8:43 AM CST for Jasper County, Mississippi. It was in force for 32 min. 2 reports 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
Mar 5, 1989, 8:43 AM CST (14:43 UTC)
Expired
Mar 5, 1989, 9:15 AM CST
In force
32 min
Issued by
NWS Jackson, MS
Area
Whole counties

County Jasper County, MS

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
Mar 5, 9:04 AM CSTHail 1.75Jasper, MS
Mar 5, 9:20 AM CSTTornado F1Jasper, MS

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

Jackson, MS (KJAN), launched 12:00Z, 2.7 hours before the alert went out and 96 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, Jackson, MS at 12:00Z on 1989-03-05Temperature 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 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Jackson, MS at 12:00Z on 1989-03-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 253 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
496 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
58 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
253 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
323 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
2.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KMEI 051443
TORMEI
MSC061-051515-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MERIDIAN MS
843 AM CST SUN MAR 5 1989
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MERIDIAN HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  915 AM CST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...
 
IN EAST CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI
          ...JASPER
 
AT 840 AM CST RADAR INDICATED A POSSIBLE TORNADO 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
BAY SPRINGS MISSISSIPPI MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.
 
 
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, Mar 5, 3:46 AM CST, 4 hours 57 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
335 AM CST SUN MAR 5 1989

...TORNADO WATCHES REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM FOR NORTH CENTRAL...
NORTHEAST...ALL OF CENTRAL...AND PARTS OF SOUTH MISSISSIPPI...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT NORTH OF I-20...

AT 335 AM...A NEARLY SOLID LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY
RAINFALL..EXTENDED ACROSS CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI FROM EAST OF KOSCIUSKO
TO CARTHAGE AND PELAHATCHIE AND ACROSS SIMPSON COUNTY. THE LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO INCREASE IN STRENGTH DURING THE PAST HOUR
WHILE MOVING EAST AT 15 MILES AN HOUR.

THE MOST INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS IN THE LINE WERE FROM NEAR CARTHAGE TO
PELAHATCHIE. THESE STORMS CONTAIN SOME HAIL AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS AS
WELL AS FREQUENT DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING.

THE SEVERE WEATHER WATCHES WILL LIKELY BE EXTENDED FOR PORTIONS OF
MISSISSIPPI INTO THE DAYLIGHT HOURS AND RESIDENTS ESPECIALLY INb THE EAST
HALF OF THE STATE SHOULD REMAIN ALERT TO LATER WEATHER BULLETINS.
Special weather statement, Mar 5, 3:51 AM CST, 4 hours 52 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MERIDIAN MS
345 AM CST SUN MAR  5 1989

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 18 REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 AM CST. THE WATCH
INCLUDES ALL COUNTIES IN EAST CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI EXCEPT WAYNE AND JONES.

FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR TONIGHT ALONG AND NORTH OF INTERSTATE 20 INCLUDING
SUMTER COUNTY IN WEST CENTAL ALABAMA.

AT 336 AM MERIDIAN WEATHER RADAR WAS INDICATING AN 18 MILE WIDE LINE OF
VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS THAT EXTENDED FROM NEAR HOUSTON MISSISSIPPI TO
NEAR PINOLE MISSISSIPPI.  THE LINE WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH AND IN
ABOUT AN HOUR THE EASTERN EDGE OF THE LINE IS EXPECTED TO BE NEAR A
MACON TO BAY SPRINGS LINE.

ALL IN EAST CENTRAL MISSIShSIPPI SHOULD REMAIN WEATHER ALERT FOR THE NEXT
SEVERAL HOURS AS THIS LINE OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVES THROUGH THE
AREA.
Special weather statement, Mar 5, 4:50 AM CST, 3 hours 53 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
440 AM CST SUN MAR 5 1989

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 21 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM FOR EAST AND PORTIONS
OF CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT NORTH OF VICKSBURG...JACKSON...MACON LINE

AT 435 AM...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL EXTENDED
FROM NORTHEAST OF ACKERMAN ACROSS WINSTON COUNTY INTO SCOTT COUNTY NEAR
FOREST. THE LINE WAS MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH WITH THE STRONGEST STORMS
IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN SCOTT COUNTY.

ANOTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORM HAS DEVELOPED IN SOUTHWEST MISSISSIPPI
20 MILES NORTHWEST OF MCCOMB MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.

THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL LIKELY CONTAIN SOME HAIL...STRONG GUSTY
WINDS...VERY HEAVY RAINS...AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING
STRIKES. PERSONS IN THE PATHS OF THESE STORMS SHOULD BE PREPARED TO
MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY.
Special weather statement, Mar 5, 5:28 AM CST, 3 hours 15 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
520 AM CST SUN MAR 5 1989

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 21 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM FOR EAST AND PORTIONS
OF CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT NORTH OF VICKSBURG...JACKSON...MACON LINE

AT 515 AM...A CLUSTER OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS HAD DEVELOPED IN SOUTH
WEST MISSISSIPPI FROM BROOKHAVEN NORTH TO GEORGETOWN. THESE STORMS WERE
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH AND LIKELY CONTAIN SOME HAIL...STRONG GUSTY
WINDS...VERY HEAVY RAINS AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING.

THESE STORMS WERE DEVELOPING JUST AHEAD OF A LOW PRESSURE CENTER THAT
WAS MOVING NORTHEASTWARD ALONG THE COLD FRONT INTO THE CENTRAL SECTIONS
OF THE STATE. PERSONS IN COPIAH...SIMPSON...LINCOLN AND LAWRENCE
COUNTIES SHOULD BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IF A WARNING
IS ISSUED OR IF SEVERE WEATHER IS SIGHTED.
Special weather statement, Mar 5, 6:55 AM CST, 1 hour 48 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
640 AM CST SUN MAR 5 1989

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 21 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM FOR EAST AND PORTIONS
OF CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT NORTH OF VICKSBURG...JACKSON...MACON LINE

AT 635 AM...A CLUSTER OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVING THROUGH
THE EASTERN HALF OF RANKIN COUNTY TOWARD THE NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.
THESE THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY CONTAIN SOME HAIL...STRONG GUSTY
WINDS...VERY HEAVY RAINS AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. THESE
ARE THE SAME STORMS THAT HAD INDICATIONS OF A POSSIBLE TORNADO NEAR
GEORGETOWN BUT HAVE WEAKENED SINCE MOVING INTO COLDER AIR.

OTHER STRONG THUNDEKRSTORMS WERE DEVELOPING SOUTHWARD ACROSS SIMPSON...
LAWRENCE...PIKE AND WALTHALL COUNTIES IN SOUTH CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI.
PERSONS ACROSS EAST AND CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI SHOULD BE ON THE ALERT
FOR SEVERE WEATHER DURING THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS.
Special weather statement, Mar 5, 7:06 AM CST, 1 hour 37 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MERIDIAN MS
 706 AM CST SUN MAR 5 1989

 TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 21 CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF EAST
MISSISSIPPI AND WEST ALABAMA UNTIL 1000 AM THIS SUNDAY MORNING.

AT 703 AM RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORNS EAST OF A
LINE FROM NEAR OXFORD TO JACKSON TO MCCOMB MISSISSIPPI. THE
LINE WAS MOVING EAST 15 MPH. THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE IN CHOCTAW..
RANKIN AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES.V

PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR CHANGING
WEATHER CONDITIONS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE QUICK ACTION IF
THREATENING APPROACHES. <<

The office that day

Everything else NWS Jackson, MS issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 4, 6:05 PM CSTTornado WarningJANHinds25 min
Mar 4, 6:15 PM CSTTornado WarningJANClaiborne15 min
Mar 4, 6:30 PM CSTTornado WarningJANHinds30 min
Mar 4, 6:56 PM CSTTornado WarningJANHinds34 min
Mar 4, 7:04 PM CSTTornado WarningJANMadison36 min
Mar 4, 7:26 PM CSTTornado WarningJANMadison34 min
Mar 4, 7:51 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANHinds39 min
Mar 4, 8:16 PM CSTTornado WarningJANIssaquena, Warren29 min
Mar 4, 8:29 PM CSTTornado WarningJANAttala, Leake31 min
Mar 4, 8:41 PM CSTTornado WarningJANWarren34 min
Mar 4, 8:54 PM CSTTornado WarningJANYazoo36 min
Mar 4, 9:03 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANAttala27 min
Mar 4, 9:26 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANChoctaw34 min
Mar 4, 9:35 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningJANYazoo55 min
Mar 4, 9:35 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANYazoo55 min
Mar 4, 10:25 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANAttala35 min
Mar 4, 10:49 PM CSTTornado WarningJANAttala, Choctaw26 min
Mar 4, 11:05 PM CSTTornado WarningJANWebster25 min
Mar 5, 3:56 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANLeake34 min
Mar 5, 5:00 AM CSTTornado WarningJANNeshoba45 min
Mar 5, 5:39 AM CSTTornado WarningJANCopiah, Simpson36 min
Mar 5, 5:42 AM CSTTornado WarningJANNeshoba48 min
Mar 5, 7:09 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANWalthall36 min
Mar 5, 7:41 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANMarion34 min
Mar 5, 7:52 AM CSTTornado WarningJANJefferson Davis, Marion38 min
Mar 5, 8:01 AM CSTTornado WarningJANCovington44 min
Mar 5, 8:31 AM CSTTornado WarningJANSmith29 min
Mar 5, 9:08 AM CSTTornado WarningJANJones52 min
Mar 5, 9:16 AM CSTTornado WarningJANJasper29 min
Mar 5, 9:36 AM CSTTornado WarningJANSimpson, Smith39 min
Mar 5, 9:45 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANNewton45 min
Mar 5, 9:57 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANKemper48 min
Mar 5, 10:01 AM CSTTornado WarningJANScott29 min
Mar 5, 10:07 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANLauderdale53 min
Mar 5, 10:26 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANAttala34 min
Mar 5, 12:12 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningJANLauderdale4 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Mississippi, 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.