Alert archive / Mississippi / Tornado Warnings in 1989

Tornado Warning 55, NWS Jackson, MS

April 4, 1989Lauderdale County, Newton County, Mississippi

NWS Jackson, MS issued this tornado warning at Apr 4, 1989, 2:03 PM CDT for Lauderdale County, Newton County, Mississippi. It was in force for 42 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
Apr 4, 1989, 2:03 PM CDT (19:03 UTC)
Expired
Apr 4, 1989, 2:45 PM CDT
In force
42 min
Issued by
NWS Jackson, MS
Area
Whole counties

Counties Lauderdale County, MS, Newton 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
Apr 4, 2:15 PM CDTHail 1Lauderdale, MS
Apr 4, 2:20 PM CDTHail 1Newton, 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, 7.1 hours before the alert went out and 112 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 1989-04-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2069 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, Jackson, MS at 12:00Z on 1989-04-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 171 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
2069 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-15 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
627 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
46 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
171 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
221 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
2.2
Supercell composite
11.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KMEI 041904
TORMEI
MSC075-101-041945-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MERIDIAN MS
203 PM CDT TUE APR 4 1989
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MERIDIAN HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  245 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
 
IN EAST CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI
          ...NORTHERN LAUDERDALE...NORTHEASTERN NEWTON
 
AT 200 PM CDT RADAR INDICATED A POSSIBLE TORNADO 3 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF UNION MISSISSIPPI MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.
THIS REPLACES THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM ISSUED EARLIER
FOR NEWTON COUNTY.
 
 
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, Apr 4, 9:08 AM CDT, 4 hours 55 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MERIDIAN MS
 905 AM CDT TUE APR 4 1989

 SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 86 REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 AM
CDT.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 87 REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CDT.

AT 900 AM CDT MERIDIAN WEATHER RADAR SHOWED A LARGE AREA OF RAIN AND
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG AND NORTH OF A LINE FROM VICKSBURG TO ACKERMAN
MISSISSIPPI TO BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA. AN INTENSE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED
5 MILES WEST OF ACKERMAN MISSISSIPPI. THIS THUNDERSTORM WAS MOVING EAST
AT 40 MPH. THE AREA OF RAIN WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

IF YOU LIVE IN WINSTON COUNTY YOU SHOULD REMAIN WEATHER ALERT AND
BE PREPARED TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION IF A WARNING IS ISSUED.
Special weather statement, Apr 4, 10:15 AM CDT, 3 hours 48 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
1015 AM CDT TUE APR 4 1989

AT 1012 AM...A THUNDERSTORMS HAS INTENSFIED RAPIDLY IN SOUTHERN
HUMPHREYS COUNTY. THIS STORM IS MOVING EAST AT9 60 MPH AND WILL BE
MOVING ACROSS NORTHERN YAZOO COUNTY DURING THE NEXT 15 TO 30
MINUTES.

THIS THUNDERSTORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG GUSTY WINDS...ALONG
WITH HAIL AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN.
Special weather statement, Apr 4, 11:53 AM CDT, 2 hours 10 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MERIDIAN MS
1150 AM CDT TUE APR 4 1989

 TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 88 AND TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 89 REMAIN IN EFFECT
UNTIL 500 PM CDT FOR ALL OF EAST-CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI AND EXTREME WEST-
CENTRAL ALABAMA.

AT 1145 AM CDT MERIDIAN WEATHER RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS
FROM CANTON TO LOUISVILLE TO MACON MISSISSIPPI. THE THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH. IF THESE THUNDERSTORMS INCREASE IN INTENSE WARNINGS
MAY HAVE TO BE ISSUED.

IF YOU LIVE IN EAST-CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI AND EXTREME WEST-CENTRAL ALABAMA
YOU SHOULD REMAIN WEATHER ALERT AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION
IF A WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA.
Local storm report, Apr 4, 1:32 PM CDT, 31 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MERIDIAN MS
130 PM CDT TUE APR 4 1989

123 PM CDT...NESHOBA COUNTY C.D. REPORTED DIME SIZE HAIL
             7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF PHILADELPHIA MISSISSIPPI.
Local storm report, Apr 4, 1:40 PM CDT, 23 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT...ATTN SELS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
135 PM CDT TUE APR 4 1989

745 AM...POSSIBLE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR MORGAN CITY IN LEFLORE
COUNTY. REPORT FROM LEFLORE COUNTY CD.

755 AM...TREES AND POWER LINES WERE BLOWN DOWN NEAR ITTA BENA IN
LEFLORE COUNTY. REPORT FROM LEFLORE COUNTY CIVIL DEFENSE.

830 AM...A FEW TREES AND POWER LINES WERE BLOWN DOWN IN CARROLLTON
IN CARROLL COUNTY. REPORT FROM MP&L.

845 AM...PILOT REPORTED SEEING A TORNADO TOUCHDWON IN A FIELD NEAR
HOLLANDALE (WASHINGTON COUNTY).

845 AM...A UTILITY BUILDING WAS BLOWN AWAY IN WINONA (MONTGOMERY
(COUNTY). ALSO...TREES AND POWER LINES WERE BLOWN DOWN AROUND WINONA.
REPORT FROM MP&L AND WINONA PD.
<
AT 900 AM...IN STEWART AND KILMICHAEL EXTENSIVE TREE AND POWER LINE
DAMAGE (MONTGOMERY COUNTY). REPORT FROM SHERIFFS OFFICE AND MP&L.

915 AM...MP&L REPORTS EXTENSIVE TREE AND POWER LINE DAMAGE IN CHOCTAW
COUNTY...MAINLY NEAR AND NORTH OF ACKERMAN.

1010 AM...IN FITLER (ISSAQUENA COUNTY) LARGE LIMBS WERE BLOWN OFF PECAN
TREES AND A CAR WAS ALMOST BLOWN OFF THE ROAD BY HIGH WINDS. ALSO...
A FUNNEL CLOUD WAS OBSERVED. REPORT FROM THE PUBLIC.

1030 AM...SOME SIGNS WERE BLOWN DOWN IN YAZOO CITY AND A ROFF WAS BLOWN
OFF OF A BUS-STOP (YAZOO COUNTY). REPORT FROM YAZOO VALLEY ELECTRIC.

1215 PM...SOME LARGE LIMBS AND POWER LINES DAMAGED IN CANTON BY HIGH
WINDS (MADISON COUNTY). REPORT FROM MP&L.

1230 PM...A FEW TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN IN SOUTHWEST LEAKE COUNTY
NEAR GOOD HOPE. REPORT FROM CD OFFICE.

1250 PM..DIME SIZED HAIL FELL ABOUT 4 MILES WEST OF EDINBURG. REPORT
FROM GROCERY CONTACT.
Special weather statement, Apr 4, 1:48 PM CDT, 15 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
145 PM CDT TUE APR 4 1989

     ...PORTION OF TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED...

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 89 HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
AND WESTERN MISSISSIPPI ALONG AND NORTH A NATCHEZ-BRANDON-MACON LINE.
THIS WATCH NO LONGER IS IN EFFECT FOR THE VICKSBURG-JACKSON AND NATCHEZ
AREAS.

THE TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THOSE COUNTIES IN SOUTH AND
EAST MISSISSIPPI SOUTH OF THIS LINE UNTIL 500 PM THIS AFTERNOON.
PERSONS STILL IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD REMAIN WEATHER CONSCIOUS AND
BE PREPARED TO TAKE QUICK ACTION IF A WARNING IS ISSUED.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 4, 5:15 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANKemper45 min
Apr 4, 5:47 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANWinston43 min
Apr 4, 7:17 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANBolivar, Sunflower, Washington28 min
Apr 4, 7:51 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANCarroll, Leflore54 min
Apr 4, 8:20 AM CDTTornado WarningJANCarroll25 min
Apr 4, 8:31 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANSharkey29 min
Apr 4, 8:39 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANMontgomery36 min
Apr 4, 8:54 AM CDTTornado WarningJANMontgomery26 min
Apr 4, 8:54 AM CDTTornado WarningJANChoctaw36 min
Apr 4, 10:21 AM CDTTornado WarningJANYazoo39 min
Apr 4, 11:06 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANHolmes29 min
Apr 4, 11:32 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANAttala, Madison28 min
Apr 4, 12:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANMadison27 min
Apr 4, 12:42 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANLeake18 min
Apr 4, 1:19 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANNeshoba41 min
Apr 4, 1:49 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANNeshoba, Newton41 min
Apr 4, 2:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANClarke45 min
Apr 4, 2:36 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANJones39 min
Apr 4, 2:47 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANClarke, Wayne43 min
Apr 4, 3:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANJones28 min
Apr 4, 3:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANJones30 min
Apr 4, 4:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANWayne32 min
Apr 4, 5:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANAmite26 min
Apr 4, 5:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANClarke, Wayne42 min

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.