Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 1989

Tornado Warning 26, NWS Mobile, AL

November 8, 1989Houston County, Alabama

NWS Mobile, AL issued this tornado warning at Nov 8, 1989, 5:34 AM CST for Houston County, Alabama. It was in force for 41 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Nov 8, 1989, 5:34 AM CST (11:34 UTC)
Expired
Nov 8, 1989, 6:15 AM CST
In force
41 min
Issued by
NWS Mobile, AL
Area
Whole counties

County Houston County, AL

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

Apalachicola Mun, FL (KAQQ), launched 00:00Z, 11.6 hours before the alert went out and 161 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, Apalachicola Mun, FL at 00:00Z on 1989-11-08Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 658 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, Apalachicola Mun, FL at 00:00Z on 1989-11-08The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 86 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
658 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-48 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
718 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
28 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
86 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
121 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.2
Supercell composite
1.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KMGM 081137
TORMGM
ALC069-081215-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MONTGOMERY AL
534 AM CST WED NOV 8 1989
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MONTGOMERY HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  615 AM CST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...
 
IN SOUTH ALABAMA
          ...HOUSTON
 
A TORNADO HAS BEEN REPORTED BY DOTHAN POLICE DEPARTMENT TO BE ON THE
GROUND INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS ON MONTGOMERY HIGHWAY ON THE INSIDE OF
THE NORTHWEST CIRCLE. THE TORNADO IS MOVING NORTHEAST AT AN
UNDETERMINED SPEED.
 
 
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 AVAIOLABLE...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, Nov 8, 12:01 AM CST, 5 hours 33 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENSACOLA FL
1159 PM CST TUE NOV 7 1989

AT 1155 PM THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL WERE NOTED BY
WEATHER SERVICE RADAR ALONG THE COASTAL AREA OF ESCAMBIA COUNTY
FLORIDA.

A LARGE THUNDERSTORM HAD DUMPED ALMOST 2 INCHES OF RAINFALL AT
THE PENSACOLA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE SINCE ABOUT 1030 PM.

TEMPORARY STREET FLOODING CAN BE EXPECETD IN THE PENSACOLA AND
GULF BREEZE AREAS FOR THE NEXT HOUR OR SO AS THESE STORMS MOVE
EAST NORTHEAST AT 20 MILES AN HOUR.  IN ADDITION...GUSTY WINDS AND
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING STRIKES CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED.

THE THUNDERSTORMS AND RAIN SHOULD BE MOVING OUT OF THE PENSACOLA AREA
BETWEEN 100 AND 200 AM.
Special weather statement, Nov 8, 12:54 AM CST, 4 hours 40 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENSACOLA FL
1235 AM CST WED NOV 8 1989

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE SCATTERED OVER THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE...

AT 1230 AM CST...A LARGE AREA OF RAIN MIXED WITH SCATTERED THUNDER-
STORMS...SOME WITH VERY HEAVY RAINS AND GUSTY WINDS...WAS OVER THE
WEST PART OF THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE...SOUTH ALAAMA...AND SOUTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI...AND THE IMMEDIATE COASTAL WATERS OF THE PANHANDLE.

THE MAIN CONCENTRATION OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS WITHIN A 50 MILE RADIUS
OF PENSACOLA...WITH OTHER ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS JUST SOUTH OF MOBILE
...AND IN SOUTHEAST CHOCTAW COUNTY ALABAMA.
SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS WITH THE HEAVIER RAINS WERE OVER SOUTH
ESCAMBIA AND SANTA ROSA COUNTIES...AND JUST WEST OF CRESTVIEW.
THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 20 MILES AN HOUR.

THE STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PERIODS OF VERY
HEAVY RAINS...GUSTY WINDS AROUND 40 MILES AN HOUR...FREQUENT LIGHTNING
STRIKES...AND SOME FLOODING OF STREETS AND OTHER POOR DRAINAGE AREAS.
PERSONS SHOULD TAKE ANY NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS FOR THESE CONDITIONS
WHEN THE THUNDERSTORMS ARE IN THE AREA.
Special weather statement, Nov 8, 1:50 AM CST, 3 hours 44 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENSACOLA FL
135 AM CST WED NOV 8 1989

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE SCATTERED OVER THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE...

AT 130 AM CST...A LARGE AREA OF RAIN MIXED WITH SCATTERED THUNDER-
STORMS...SOME WITH VERY HEAVY RAINS AND GUSTY WINDS...WAS OVER THE
THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE...SOUTHERN ALABAMA...AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI
...AND THE IMMEDIATE COASTAL WATERS OF THE WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE.

THE MAIN CONCENTRATION OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH THE HEAVIER RAINS WAS
OVER A 15 MILE WIDE AREA FROM SOUTHWEST OF PENSACOLA TO NORTHEAST
OF CRESTVIEW.
THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST-NORTHEAST AT 20 MILES AN HOUR.

THE STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PERIODS OF VERY
HEAVY RAINS...GUSTY WINDS AROUND 40 MILES AN HOUR...FREQUENT LIGHTNING
STRIKES...AND SOME FLOODING OF STREETS AND OTHER POOR DRAINAGE AREAS.
PERSONS SHOULD TAKE ANY NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS FOR THESE CONDITIONS.
Special weather statement, Nov 8, 2:46 AM CST, 2 hours 48 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENSACOLA FL
235 AM CST WED NOV 8 1989

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING ACROSS THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE...

AT 230 AM CST...LARGE PATCHES OF RAIN MIXED WITH SCATTERED THUNDER-
STORMS...SOME WITH VERY HEAVY RAINS AND GUSTY WINDS...WERE OVER THE
THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE...SOUTHERN ALABAMA...AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI
...AND THE IMMEDIATE COASTAL WATERS OF THE WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE.

THE MAIN CONCENTRATION OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH THE HEAVIER RAINS WAS
OVER A 15 MILE WIDE AREA THAT EXTENDED FROM JUST WEST OF DOTHAN ALABAMA
SOUTHWEST ACROSS DE FUNIAK SPRINGS TO JUST EAST OF THE PENSACOLA NAVAL
AIR STATION...AND ALSO IN ALABAMA SCATTERED BETWEEN MOBILE AND
MONTGOMERY.
THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST-NORTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.

THE STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PERIODS OF VERY
HEAVY RAINS...GUSTY WINDS AROUND 40 MILES AN HOUR...FREQUENT LIGHTNING
STxRIKES...AND SOME FLOODING OF STREETS AND OTHER POOR DRAINAGE AREAS.
PERSONS SHOULD TAKE ANY NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS FOR THESE CONDITIONS
AS THE THUNDERSTORMS MOVE THROUGH THE AREA.
Special weather statement, Nov 8, 3:44 AM CST, 1 hour 50 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENSACOLA FL
335 AM CST WED NOV 8 1989

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING ACROSS THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE...

AT 330 AM CST...LARGE PATCHES OF RAIN MIXED WITH SCATTERED THUNDER-
STORMS...SOME WITH VERY HEAVY RAINS AND GUSTY WINDS...WERE OVER THE
THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE...SOUTHERN ALABAMA...AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI
...AND THE IMMEDIATE COASTAL WATERS OF THE WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE.

THE MAIN CONCENTRATION OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH THE HEAVIER RAINS WAS
OVER SOUTHERN ESCAMBIA AND SANTA ROSA COUNTIES...AND BETWEEN FORT
WALTON AND DEFUNIAK SPRINGS...AND IN ALABAMA LARGE CLUSTERS OF
THUNDERSTORMS WERE BETWEEN MOBILE AND MONTGOMERY.
THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST-NORTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.

THE STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PERIODS OF VERY
HEAVY RAINS...GUSTY WINDS AROUND 40 MILES AN HOUR...FREQUENT LIGHTNING
STRIKES...AND SOME FLOODING OF STREETS AND OTHER POOR DRAINAGE AREAS.
PERSONS SHOULD TAKE ANY NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS FOR THESE CONDITIONS.
Special weather statement, Nov 8, 3:48 AM CST, 1 hour 46 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
350 AM CST WED NOV 8 1989

...HEAVY RAINFALL MOVING INLAND OVER SOUTHESAT MISSISSIPPI AND SOUTHWEST
   ALABAMA...

AT 345 AM CST RADAR SHOWED A LARGE AREA OF RAIN AND A BAND OF SCATTERED
THUNDERSTORMS OVER INTERIOR SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI AND SOUTHWEST ALABAMA.
THE THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM NEAR LUCEDALE MISSISSIPPI TO URIAH
ALABAMA. THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST NORTHEAST AT NEAR 25 MPH
AND WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL IN THIS AREA FOR SEVERAL
HOURS. FLOODING OF STREETS AND FLOOD PRONE AREAS IS LIKELY. STORMS MAY
ALSO PRODUCE STRONG GUSTY WINDS.

HEAVY RAINFALL ENDED IN THE COASTAL AREA SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT AFTER
DUMPING MORE THAN 5 INCHES IN SOME AREAS YESTERDAY. RUNOFF MAY BE
SLOW IN POOR DRAINAGE AREAS AND CAUTION IS ADVISED WHEN DRIVING THIS
MORNING.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Nov 8, 6:33 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBCoffee, Covington42 min
Nov 8, 7:20 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBCovington, Geneva55 min
Nov 8, 7:39 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBHenry, Houston66 min
Nov 8, 8:20 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBMobile55 min
Nov 8, 9:44 AM CSTTornado WarningMOBHouston46 min
Nov 8, 10:37 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBCoffee, Covington, Geneva3 hr
Nov 8, 10:37 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBDale, Henry, Houston3 hr
Nov 8, 10:47 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBGeneva, Houston58 min
Nov 8, 1:44 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBCoffee, Covington, Dale, Geneva, Houston3 hr
Nov 8, 1:44 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBHenry3 hr
Nov 8, 2:13 PM CSTTornado WarningMOBBaldwin47 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Alabama, 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.