Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 1989
Tornado Warning 26, NWS Mobile, AL
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.
- 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
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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 8, 6:33 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MOB | Coffee, Covington | 42 min |
| Nov 8, 7:20 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MOB | Covington, Geneva | 55 min |
| Nov 8, 7:39 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MOB | Henry, Houston | 66 min |
| Nov 8, 8:20 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MOB | Mobile | 55 min |
| Nov 8, 9:44 AM CST | Tornado Warning | MOB | Houston | 46 min |
| Nov 8, 10:37 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | MOB | Coffee, Covington, Geneva | 3 hr |
| Nov 8, 10:37 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | MOB | Dale, Henry, Houston | 3 hr |
| Nov 8, 10:47 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MOB | Geneva, Houston | 58 min |
| Nov 8, 1:44 PM CST | Flash Flood Warning | MOB | Coffee, Covington, Dale, Geneva, Houston | 3 hr |
| Nov 8, 1:44 PM CST | Flash Flood Warning | MOB | Henry | 3 hr |
| Nov 8, 2:13 PM CST | Tornado Warning | MOB | Baldwin | 47 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.