Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1989

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 52, NWS Mobile, AL

April 4, 1989Baldwin County, Alabama

NWS Mobile, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 4, 1989, 9:47 PM CDT for Baldwin County, Alabama. It was in force for 58 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
Apr 4, 1989, 9:47 PM CDT (02:47 UTC)
Expired
Apr 4, 1989, 10:45 PM CDT
In force
58 min
Issued by
NWS Mobile, AL
Area
Whole counties

County Baldwin County, AL

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, 10:15 PM CDTThunderstorm Wind 0Baldwin, AL

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

Slidell Radar S, LA (KSIL), launched 00:00Z, 2.8 hours before the alert went out and 192 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, Slidell Radar S, LA at 00:00Z on 1989-04-05Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2583 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, Slidell Radar S, LA at 00:00Z on 1989-04-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 113 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
2583 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-10 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
889 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
24 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
113 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
134 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
4.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KMOB 050248
SVRMOB
ALC003-050345-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
947 PM CDT TUE APR 4 1989
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1045 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...
 
IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA
          ...SOUTHERN BALDWIN
 
AT 945 PM CDT RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM EAST
OF BAY MINETTE TO FAIRHOPE. THE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT
30 MPH.
 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55
MPH...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.
FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.  HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO
DON'T DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm 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, 7:53 PM CDT, 1 hour 54 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENSACOLA FL
750 PM CDT TUE APR 4 1989

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ESCAMBIA AND SANTA ROSA COUNTIES OF
NORTHWEST FLORIDA UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS TUESDAY EVENING...

A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IS BEGINNING TO ENTER THE NORTHWEST
CORNER OF THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE. THIS LINE OF STORMS WILL BRING
PERIODS OF VERY HEAVY RAINS...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT LIGHTNING
...SMALL HAIL AND THE POSSIBILITY OF A TORNADO.

THE LINE WAS MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MILES AN HOUR WHILE THE INDIVIDUAL
THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 TO 40 MILES AN HOUR.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE HAD A HISTORY OF BEING SEVERE WITH REPORTS OF
HAIL AND TORNADOES IN ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI. RESIDENTS OF NORTHWEST
FLORIDA SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE IMMEDIATE SHELTER IF WARNINGS ARE
ISSUED AND STAY INFORMED OF THE DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION.
Local storm report, Apr 4, 8:33 PM CDT, 1 hour 14 minutes before
ATTN SELS
STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
830 PM CDT TUE APR 4 1989

AT 758 PM CDT THE PD IN CITRONELLE IN MOBILE COUNTY REPORTED TREES
WERE BLOWN DOWN BETWEEN CITRONELLE AND THE WASHINGT$ON COUNTY LINE.
TIME OF OCCURRENCE WAS 735 PM.
Special weather statement, Apr 4, 8:40 PM CDT, 1 hour 7 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENSACOLA FL
840 PM CDT TUE APR 4 1989

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ESCAMBIA AND SANTA ROSA COUNTIES OF
NORTHWEST FLORIDA UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS TUESDAY EVENING...

A 830PM CDT...NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN A LINE ACROSS SOUTHERN
ALABAMA AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI. THE LINE STRETCHED FROM THE DOZIER
AND ANDALUSIA AREA OF ALABAMA TO WIGGINS AND MC HENRY MISSISSIPPI.

THE LINE WAS JUST BEGINNING TO MOVE INTO NORTH ESCAMBIA COUNTY OF
FLORIDA...WHERE SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS HAD ALREADY DEVELOPED.

THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE INDICATED IN NEIGHBORING ESCAMBIA
COUNTY OF ALABAMA.

THE THUNDERSTORM LINE WAS MOVING SO)UTHEAST NEAR 15 MILES AN HOUR.
Special weather statement, Apr 4, 9:18 PM CDT, 29 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
915 PM CDT TUE APR 4 1989

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MOBILE COUNTY
UNTIL 945 PM...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM FOR THE COASTAL
COUNTIES OF MISSISSIPPI AND MOBILE...BALDWIN...AND ESCAMBIA COUNTIES
OF ALABAMA.   ALL OTHER COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI AND SOUTHWEST
ALABAMA HAVE NOW BEEN REMOVED FROM THE WATCH AREA.

A THUNDERSTORM IS IN PROGRESS AT THE MOBILE AIRPORT.  WIND GUSTS OF
43 MPH OCCURRED AT 856 PM.  THE THUNDERSTORM IS MOVING EASTWARD AND
WILL MOVE INTO BALDWIN COUNTY BY 1000 PM.

HAIL THE SIZE OF DIMES WAS REPORTED BY THE WILMER AL PD AT 850 PM.

THE THUNDEiRSTORMS WILL CONTINUE MOVING EASTWARD FOR THE NEXT FEW
HOURS AND SHOULD BEGIN TO WEAKEN.  UNTIL THAT OCCURS PERSONS IN
THE COUNTIES REMAINING IN THE WATCH SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR THE
POSSIBILITY OF SEVERE WEATHER.
Local storm report, Apr 4, 9:38 PM CDT, 9 minutes before
ATTN SELS
STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
930 PM CDT TUE APR 4 1989

AT 925 PM CDT THE GEORGE COUNTY MISSISSIPPI SO REPORTED HAIL 3/4
INCH IN DIAMETER NEAR AGRICOLA...20 MILES WEST NORTHWEST OF THE MOBILE
AIRPORT.

ALSO AT 925 PM...PEA SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN BAY MINETTE IN BALDWIN
COUNTY ALABAMA.

A REPORT JUST RECEIVED AT 929 PM FROM THE MOBILE PD INDICATED SOME
STRUCTURAL DAMAGE AND POWER LINES DOWN IN MOBILE AT THE INTERSECTION
OF INTERSTATE 65 AND OLD SHELL ROAD.  EXTENT OF DAMAGE TO STRUCTURES
NOT KNOWN AT THIS TIME.
Special weather statement, Apr 4, 9:41 PM CDT, 6 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENSACOLA FL
940 PM CDT TUE APR 4 1989

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ESCAMBIA AND SANTA ROSA COUNTIES OF
NORTHWEST FLORIDA UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS TUESDAY EVENING...

A 930PM CDT...SEVERAL STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED IN A LINE FROM
ENTERPRISE AND OPP ALABAMA...TO MOBILE THEN ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI
COAST. THE LINE LAY OVER THE NORTHERN HALF OF ESCAMBIA COUNTY FLORIDA.

RAIN AND SHOWERS SPREAD FAR NORTHWARD BEHIND THE LINE.

THE LINE WAS MOVING SOUTH AND SOUTHEASTWARD ABOUT 15 MILES AN HOUR.
DUE TO THE RELATIVELY SLOW MOVEMENT...FLOODING CAN BE EXPECTED IN LOW
AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. WITH THE HEAVY RAIN...FREQUENT LIGHTNING WILL
ACCOMPANY THE STORMS.

ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED AS NEEDED.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Mobile, AL issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 4, 7:04 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBMobile56 min
Apr 4, 8:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBMobile61 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alabama, 1989Every severe thunderstorm warning 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.