Alert archive / Mississippi / Tornado Warnings in 1989

Tornado Warning 67, NWS Jackson, MS

November 15, 1989Neshoba County, Mississippi

NWS Jackson, MS issued this tornado warning at Nov 15, 1989, 3:20 PM CST for Neshoba County, Mississippi. It was in force for 25 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
Nov 15, 1989, 3:20 PM CST (21:20 UTC)
Expired
Nov 15, 1989, 3:45 PM CST
In force
25 min
Issued by
NWS Jackson, MS
Area
Whole counties

County Neshoba 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
Nov 15, 3:30 PM CSTThunderstorm Wind 0Neshoba, 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, 9.3 hours before the alert went out and 102 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 1989-11-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1106 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 1989-11-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 257 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
1106 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-6 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
570 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
42 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
257 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
244 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.2
Supercell composite
6.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KMEI 152122
TORMEI
MSC099-152145-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MERIDIAN MS
320 PM CST WED NOV 15 1989
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MERIDIAN HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  345 PM CST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...
 
IN EAST CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI
          ...NESHOBA
 
AT 319 PM CST RADAR SHOWED A POSSIBLE TORNADO 7 SOUTHEAST OF
PHILDELPHIA MISSISSIPPI. IT WAS MOVING NORTHEAST 40 MPH.
 
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM SITUATION.  ACT QUICKLY.  IF YOU ARE
IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO MOVE TO A SHELTER BELOW GROUND IF
AVAILABLE.  OTHERWISE...GO TO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR POSSIBLE.  AVOID WINDOWS.  ABANDON CARS AND MOBILE HOMES
FOR A REINFORCED BUILDING OR GET INTO A DITCH OR CULVERT.

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, Nov 15, 9:37 AM CST, 5 hours 43 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
925 AM CST WED NOV 15 1989

AT 925 AM...A LINE OF DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORMS STRETCHED ACROSS
THE DELTA FROM 15 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CLARKSDALE TO MONROE, LA.
WIDELY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALSO NOTED BETWEEN COLUMBUS
AND PHILADELPHIA.

EVEN STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS WERE BEGINNING TO BE DETECTED IN ARKANSAS
AND WESTERN LOUISIANA.

INDIVIDUAL THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR
WHILE THE INITIAL LINE MOVEMENT APPEARS TO BE SOUTHEAST AT 20 MILES
AN HOUR.

SINCE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF THUNDERSTORMS DURING THE NEXT SEVERAL
HOURS IS ANTICIPATED AND SOME OF THEM COULD BECOME SEVERE ^BY THIS
AFTERNOON...PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND WARNING
MESSAGES THAT MAY BE ISSUED.
Special weather statement, Nov 15, 11:32 AM CST, 3 hours 48 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
1130 AM CST WED NOV 15 1989

AT 1125 AM...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS...SOME STORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN...
WAS INCREASING IN STRENGTH FROM NEAR HOLLY BLUFF TO WATER VALLEY IN
NORTH CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI. THIS INITIAL LINE COULD PRODUCE STRONG
WINDS...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...AND SOME HAIL DURING THE NEXT HOUR IN
THE AREA FROM YAZOO CITY TO GRENADA.

ANOTHER EVEN STRONGER LINE CONTINUED TO INCREASE FROM NORTHEAST
ARKANSAS TO WEST LOUISIANA. THIS LINE SHOULD BEGIN AFFECTING BOLIVAR
AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES BY 1PM AND WARNINGS MAY BE ISSUED.

BOTH LINES OF THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MILES AN HOUR.
G
SINCE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF THUNDERSTORMS DURING THE NEXT SEVERAL
HOURS WILL CONTINUE AND SOME OF THEM COULD BECOME SEVERE BY THIS
AFTERNOON...PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR LATER UPDATES.
Special weather statement, Nov 15, 12:02 PM CST, 3 hours 18 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
1200 PM CST WED NOV 15 1989

AT 1200 PM...A BROKEN LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS...SOME STORMS WITH HEAVY
RAIN STRETCHED FROM SOUTHWEST MISSISSIPPI ALL THE WAY TO THE NORTHEAST
COUNTIES. THIS LINE CONTAINED SOME STORMS THAT COULD PRODUCE STRONG
GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...AND SOME HAIL DURING THE NEXT HOUR.
THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE JUST SOUTH OF CALHOUN CITY...10 MILES
NORTHWEST OF LEXINGTON...15 MILES SOUTHEAST OF NATCHEZ.

ANOTHER EVEN STRONGER LINE CONTINUED TO INCREASE FROM NORTHEAST
ARKANSAS TO CENTRAL LOUISIANA. THIS LINE CONTAINED A VERY INTENSE
STORM NEAR MONTICELLO, AR MOVING TOWARD BOLIVAR COUNTY AND A WYARNING
MAY BE ISSUED WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR.

BOTH LINES OF THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MILES AN HOUR.
Special weather statement, Nov 15, 12:45 PM CST, 2 hours 35 minutes before
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
1240 PM CST WED NOV 15 1989

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR FRANKLIN COUNTY UNTIL 1PM...
...TORNADO WATCHES 748 750 AND 751 ARE IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF
   MISSISSIPPI...

AT 1240 PM...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS APPROACHING MEADVILLE IN FRANKLIN
COUNTY. OTHER VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TOWARD THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER IN BOLIVAR COUNTY AND ABOUT 20 MILES WEST OF
VICKSBURG. WARNINGS ON THESE TWO STORMS MAY BE ISSUED SHORTLY.

MOVEMENT WAS EAST NORTHEAST AT 45 MILES AN HOUR.

ONE QUARTER INCH HAIL WAS REPORTED IN MONROE, LA IN THE PAST FEW
MINUTES.  HAIL...HIGHS WINDS...BLINDING RAIN AND POSSIBLE TORNADOES
WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS WITH MANY OF THESE STORMS.
PERSONS EXPERIENCING THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON SHOULD BE READY
TO TAKE QUICK ACTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY.
Special weather statement, Nov 15, 1:23 PM CST, 1 hour 57 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MERIDIAN MS
120 PM CST WED NOV 15 1989

TORNADO WATCH NUMBERS 750 AND 751 ARE IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CST AND
INCLUDES ALL OF EAST CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI AND SUMTER COUNTY IN EXTREME
WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA.

AT 115 PM CST RADAR INDICATED VERY STRONG THUNDERSTROMS WERE DEVELOPING
RAPIDLY OVER CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST
AT 40 MPH.

THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION AND EVERYONE IN EAST CENTRAL
MISSISSIPPI AND EXTREME WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA SHOULD REMAIN WEATHER ALERT
AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE QUICK ACTION IF CONDITIONS WARRANT. PLEASE MONITOR
LOCAL TELEVISION, RADIO AND NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS
AND FURTHER STATEMENTS.
Local storm report, Nov 15, 2:21 PM CST, 59 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
225 PM CST WED NOV 15 1989

1:20 PM...DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED AT LLOYD STAR IN LINCOLN COUNTY BY
       BROOKHAVEN MHP.
1:50 PM...DIME TO PING PONG `BALL SIZE HAIL REPORTED AT COLUMBIA IN
       MARION COUNTY BY MARION COUNTY C.D.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Nov 15, 12:34 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANFranklin26 min
Nov 15, 12:58 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANLincoln32 min
Nov 15, 1:04 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANIssaquena, Warren26 min
Nov 15, 1:10 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANWebster35 min
Nov 15, 1:32 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANYazoo43 min
Nov 15, 1:48 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANLawrence27 min
Nov 15, 1:59 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANWarren31 min
Nov 15, 3:09 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANNeshoba36 min
Nov 15, 3:11 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANJones34 min
Nov 15, 3:16 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANNewton44 min
Nov 15, 3:22 PM CSTTornado WarningJANKemper53 min
Nov 15, 4:16 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANLauderdale44 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.