Alert archive / Oklahoma / Tornado Warnings in 1989

Tornado Warning 9, NWS Norman, OK

June 6, 1989Custer County, Washita County, Oklahoma

NWS Norman, OK issued this tornado warning at Jun 6, 1989, 9:56 PM CDT for Custer County, Washita County, Oklahoma. It was in force for 34 min. 3 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
Jun 6, 1989, 9:56 PM CDT (02:56 UTC)
Expired
Jun 6, 1989, 10:30 PM CDT
In force
34 min
Issued by
NWS Norman, OK
Area
Whole counties

Counties Custer County, OK, Washita County, OK

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
Jun 6, 10:12 PM CDTHail 1Washita, OK
Jun 6, 10:32 PM CDTHail 0.75Washita, OK
Jun 6, 10:33 PM CDTHail 1Washita, OK

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

Norman, OK (KOUN), launched 00:00Z, 2.9 hours before the alert went out and 147 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, Norman, OK at 00:00Z on 1989-06-07Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Norman, OK at 00:00Z on 1989-06-07The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 13 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1352 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
48 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
13 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
451 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KOKC 070259
TOROKC
OKC039-149-070330-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OKLAHOMA CITY OK
956 PM CDT TUE JUN 6 1989
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OKLAHOMA CITY HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1030 PM CDT
FOR THE FOLLOWING OKLAHOMA LOCATIONS...
 
IN NORTHWEST OKLAHOMA
 
   ...WESTERN CUSTER COUNTY
 
IN SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA
 
   ...WESTERN WASHITA COUNTY
 
AT 956 PM THE ELK CITY POLICE REPORTED A TORNADO 4 MILES NORTHEAST OF
ELK CITY MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH. THIS STORM HAS ALSO PRODUCED VERY
LARGE HAIL.
 
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, Jun 6, 6:19 PM CDT, 3 hours 37 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER WERVICE WICHITA FALLS TX
600 PM CDT TUE JUN 6 1989

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY FOR THIS
SECTION OF NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS.

...THUNDERSTORM COMPLEX IN SOUTH TEXAS PLAINS...

THE LEADING EDGE OF AN INTENSE AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS IN PROGRESS
FROM HASKELL TO GUTHRIE TO MADATOR. MOVEMENT WAS EAST NORTHEAAT AT 23
MPH.

THE HEAVIEST PORTION OF THIS AREA OF ACTIVITY WAS LOCATED 25 MILE
FURTHER WEST. IF PRESENT TRENDS CONTINUE...THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE
INTO THE SOUTHWEST PORTION OF NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS AROUND 7PM.

THE COUNTIES OF KNOX AND FOARD WILL FEEL THE INITIAL EFFECTS OF
THESE THUNDERSTORMS. RESIDENTS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD PREPARE FOR
VERY UNSTABLE CONDITIONS IN AND NEAR THESE THUNDERSTORMS.

LATER THIS EVENING...A TORNADO WATCH AND POSSIBLE WARNING MAY BE
REQUIRED FOR THE REGION. WIDESPREAD VERY HEAVY RAINS ALONG WITH
VERY STRONG WIND...LARGE HAIL AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING SHOULD BE
EXPECTED TONIGHT.
Special weather statement, Jun 6, 6:40 PM CDT, 3 hours 16 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER WERVICE WICHITA FALLS TX
645 PM CDT TUE JUN 6 1989

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY FOR THIS
SECTION OF NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS.

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE FOLLOWING NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS
COUNTIES UNTIL MID NIIGHT...ARCHER...BAYLOR...CLAY...JACK...KNOX...
MONTAGUE AND YOUNG.

A BAND OF THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUES TO EXPAND AND INTENIFY IN THE SOUTH
TEXAS PLAINS. THE THUNDERSTORM AREA WAS LOCATED BETWEEN ABILINE AND
MADATOR. THE STRONGEST PORTION OF THIS ACTIVITY WAS NEAR HASKELL AND
GUTHRIE. MOVEMENT WAS EAST NORTH EAST AT 25 MPH.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE INTO KNOX COUNTY WITHIN THE HOUR. THUNDERSTORMS
MAY AFFECT/MOVE INTO WICHITA COUNTY JUST AFTER SUNSET. BE PREPARED FOR
A VERY UNSTABLE EVENING IN THIS SECTION OF NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS.

LATER TONIGHT...RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS MAY BE SUFFICIANT TO CAUSE
ISOLATED FLOODING PROBLEMS. THE GOUND IS STILL WET FROM WEEKEND
RAINS. HOWEVER...THE WICHITA RIVER IS WELL BELOW FLOOD STAGE BUT
SMALLER FEEDER STREAMS MAY FLOOD QUICKLY.
Local storm report, Jun 6, 7:39 PM CDT, 2 hours 17 minutes before
STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OKLAHOMA CITY OK
735 PM CDT TUE JUN 6 1989

...SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS FROM TUE JUN 6 AS OF 730 PM...
TIME (CDT)  COUNTY        EVENT
1220 PM     HARPER        DIME TO QUARTER SIZE HAIL 1 SE OF BUFFALO
                             /NWS RAINFALL OBSERVER/.
1245 PM     WOODWARD      3/4 INCH HAIL 12 S OF WOODWARD /WOODWARD PD/.
 112 PM     WOODWARD      QUARTER SIZE HAIL 2-3 E MOORELAND /WOODWARD CD/.
 115 PM     DEWEY         1 INCH HAIL IN TALOGA /TALOGA PD/.
 336 PM     CADDO         QUARTER SIZE HAIL AND 60 MPH WINDS 4 N HINTON
 339 PM     CADDO         2 INCH DIAMETER HAIL AND 80 MPH WINDS 4 N OF
                            HINTON.
 340 PM     CADDO         QUARTER SIZE HAIL IN BRIDGEPORT.
 407 PM     OKLAHOMA      NICKEL SIZE HAIL AT ROCKWELL AND NW HIGHWAY
                             (11 N OKC WILL ROGERS AIRPORT).
 415 PM     CANADIAN      DIME SIZE HAIL AT I-40 AND CIMMARON RD.
 435 PM     GRADY         QUARTER SIZE HAIL IN MINCO /NSSL INTERCEPT/.
 435 PM     CANADIAN      NICKEL AND LARGER HAIL JUST N OF UNION CITY.
 433 PM     GRADY         NICKEL HAIL 1 W OF MINCO /MINCO PD/.
 437-442 PM GRADY         NICKEL TO QUARTER SIZE HAIL 7 S OF MINCO.
 448 PM     GRADY         DIME SIZE HAIL IN POCASSET.
 453 PM     GRADY         QUARTER SIZE HAIL IN AMBER /GRADY COUNTY CD/.
 457-504 PM GRADY         QUARTER SIZE HAIL 1 N AMBER COVERING GROUND.
 506 PM     MCCLAIN       NICKEL SIZE HAIL IN NEWCASTLE.
 508 PM     CLEVELAND     DIME SIZE AHIL AT I-35 AND MAIN ST IN NORMAN.
 514 PM     GRADY         55 MPH WINDS 1 W OF TABLER.
 520 PM     GRADY         HEAVY RAIN AND DIME SIZE HAIL 4 E OF TABLER.
 547 PM     GARVIN        HAIL QUARTER SIZE AND LARGER IN LINDSAY
                            /LINDSAY PD/.
 551 PM     GARVIN        WINDS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH 3 S OF LINDSAY.
 553 PM     GARVIN        DIME SIZE HAIL AND VERY HEAVY RAIN 5 ESE OF
                            LINDSAY.
 634 PM     GARVIN        WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH 3 W OF FORT
                            ARBUCKLE.
 638-640 PM GARVIN        QUARTER SIZE HAIL AND 60 MPH WINDS 1 W OF
                            FORT ARBUCKLE.
 656 PM     GARVIN/MURRAY DIME SIZE HAIL ON COUNTY LINE AT I-35 AND
                            HIGHWAY 7.
 656-703 PM MURRAY        SEVERAL REPORTS OF QUARTER SIZE HAIL IN DAVIS.
 705 PM     MURRAY        NICKEL SIZE HAIL NEAR I-35 IN THE ARBUCKLES
                            5I S OF DAVIS.

UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED... THE ABOVE REPORTS WERE COLLECTED
COURTESY OF THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY CD SPOTTER NETWORK AND THE OKLAHOMA
AMATEUR RADIO NETWORK.
Special weather statement, Jun 6, 7:52 PM CDT, 2 hours 4 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER WERVICE WICHITA FALLS TX
745 PM CDT TUE JUN 6 1989

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY FOR THIS
SECTION OF NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS.

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE FOLLOWING NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS
COUNTIES UNTIL MID NIGHT...ARCHER...BAYLOR...CLAY...FOARD...
HARDEMAN...JACK...KNOX...MONTAGUE...WICHITA...WILBARGER AND YOUNG.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 PM CDT FOR PERSONS
IN KNOX COUNTY.

THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE THEIR NORTHEAST MOVEMENT AND WERE AFFECTING
PORTIONS OF HARDEMAN...FOARD...BAYLOR AND KNOC COUNTIES. MOVEMENT WAS
NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

DURING THE PAST HOUR...AS THE THUNDERS0TORMS MOVED CLOSER TO THE WICHITA
FALLS AREA THEY HAVE WEAKEN. HOWEVER...THE ACTIVITY WAS STILL CAPABLE
OF VERY HEAVY RAIN...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND SMALL HAIL. STRAIGHT LINE
WIND TO 50 MPH IS ALSO POSSIBLE.
Special weather statement, Jun 6, 8:26 PM CDT, 1 hour 30 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER WERVICE WICHITA FALLS TX
820 PM CDT TUE JUN 6 1989

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY FOR THIS
SECTION OF NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS.

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE FOLLOWING NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS
COUNTIES UNTIL MID NIGHT...ARCHER...BAYLOR...CLAY...FOARD...
HARDEMAN...JACK...KNOX...MONTAGUE...WICHITA...WILBARGER AND YOUNG.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR KNOX COUNTY HAS EXPIRED.

THUNDERSTORMS HAVE MOVED CLOSER TO THE WICHITA FALLS AREA. THE MOST
SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITY WAS OCCURRING NEAR VERNON...LAKE KEMP AND NEAR
OLNEY. MOVEMENT WAS EAST AT 30 MPH.

THE ABOVE MENTIONED THUNDERSTORMS HAVE WEAKENED AND WERE NOT CONSIDERED
SEVERE. THE WICHITA FALLS RADAR INDICATED ONLY HEAVY RAIN...FREQUENT
LIGHTNING...SMALL HAIL AND BRIEF BUT GUSTY WIND SHOULD BE EXPECTED
IN AND NEAR THESE THUNDERSTORMS.

STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN PROGRESS NEAR ABILINE AND NEAR LAKE
TEXHOMA.

EARLIER...ONLY PEA SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED NORTHWEST OF MUNDAY.
Special weather statement, Jun 6, 9:09 PM CDT, 47 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER WERVICE WICHITA FALLS TX
905 PM CDT TUE JUN 6 1989

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY FOR THIS
SECTION OF NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS.

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE FOLLOWING NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS
COUNTIES UNTIL MID NIGHT...ARCHER...BAYLOR...CLAY...FOARD...
HARDEMAN...JACK...KNOX...MONTAGUE...WICHITA...WILBARGER AND YOUNG.

A LARGE AREA OF RAINSHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WAS OBSERVED
BY THE WICHITA FALLS RADAR MOSTLY OCCURRING TO THE SOUTH. AN ISOLATED
THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED ALONG THE RED RIVER NORTH WEST OF WICHITA
FALLS. MOVEMENT WAS EAST AT 25 MPH.

NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE NOTED IN THIS SECTION OF NORTH CENTRAL
TEXAS.

AN UPPER LEVEL HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM WAS MOVING THROUGH THIS SECTION
OF NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS. THIS HAD COUSED THUNDERSTORMS TO WEAKEN
AS THEY MOVED EAST INTO THE RED RIVER VALLEY.

HOWEVER...AN UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTE'M WAS MOVING SOUTHEAST THROUGH
COLORADO AND WILL LIKELY PRODUCE STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS LATTER TONIGHT.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Norman, OK issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 6, 7:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNJohnston, Marshall46 min
Jun 6, 8:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNEllis, Roger Mills44 min
Jun 6, 8:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNEllis, Roger Mills47 min
Jun 6, 9:09 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNRoger Mills51 min
Jun 6, 9:32 PM CDTTornado WarningOUNBeckham28 min
Jun 6, 9:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNEllis53 min
Jun 6, 9:50 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCuster, Washita40 min
Jun 6, 10:04 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNBeckham26 min
Jun 6, 10:07 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNRoger Mills53 min
Jun 6, 10:26 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNEllis34 min
Jun 6, 10:29 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNWashita46 min
Jun 6, 10:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNKiowa30 min
Jun 6, 10:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCuster, Dewey, Roger Mills47 min
Jun 6, 11:10 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCaddo, Kiowa50 min
Jun 6, 11:18 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCaddo42 min
Jun 6, 11:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNComanche41 min
Jun 7, 12:20 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNStephens40 min
Jun 7, 1:47 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNHarmon, Jackson43 min
Jun 7, 2:19 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningOUNComanche, Cotton, Jefferson, Stephens, Tillman3 hr
Jun 7, 2:19 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningOUNJackson3 hr
Jun 7, 2:19 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningOUNCarter, Love3 hr
Jun 7, 2:24 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNJackson, Tillman51 min
Jun 7, 2:29 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCotton, Tillman46 min
Jun 7, 2:36 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCotton39 min
Jun 7, 3:03 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNJefferson42 min
Jun 7, 3:14 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNTillman46 min
Jun 7, 3:14 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNJefferson46 min
Jun 7, 3:25 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNBeckham, Kiowa, Washita50 min
Jun 7, 10:30 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningOUNOklahoma4 hr
Jun 7, 10:30 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningOUNCaddo, Canadian, Cleveland, Grady, McClain4 hr
Jun 7, 10:30 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningOUNBeckham, Custer, Kiowa, Washita4 hr
Jun 7, 10:30 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningOUNGreer4 hr
Jun 7, 10:30 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningOUNBlaine, Kingfisher4 hr
Jun 7, 11:38 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNJackson, Kiowa52 min
Jun 7, 12:38 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNComanche52 min
Jun 7, 12:46 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNStephens44 min
Jun 7, 1:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCarter47 min
Jun 7, 1:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNStephens50 min
Jun 7, 1:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCarter48 min
Jun 7, 2:07 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningOUNCarter, Jefferson, Stephens3 hr
Jun 7, 2:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNJefferson47 min
Jun 7, 2:20 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNMarshall40 min
Jun 7, 2:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCarter, Love50 min
Jun 7, 2:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNBryan, Marshall48 min
Jun 7, 3:20 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNJohnston55 min
Jun 7, 3:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNBryan, Marshall46 min
Jun 7, 4:05 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNBryan, Choctaw40 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Oklahoma, 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.