Alert archive / Missouri / Tornado Warnings in 1989

Tornado Warning 4, NWS Paducah, KY

June 11, 1989Pemiscot County, Missouri

NWS Paducah, KY issued this tornado warning at Jun 11, 1989, 5:47 PM CDT for Pemiscot County, Missouri. It was in force for 43 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
Jun 11, 1989, 5:47 PM CDT (22:47 UTC)
Expired
Jun 11, 1989, 6:30 PM CDT
In force
43 min
Issued by
NWS Paducah, KY
Area
Whole counties

County Pemiscot County, MO

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 11, 6:00 PM CDTTornado F1Pemiscot, MO

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

Paducah/Barkley, KY (KPAH), launched 12:00Z, 10.8 hours before the alert went out and 136 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, Paducah/Barkley, KY at 12:00Z on 1989-06-11Temperature 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, Paducah/Barkley, KY at 12:00Z on 1989-06-11The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 41 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
NaN m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
41 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
78 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 KPAH 112250
TORPAH
MOC155-112330-

BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
547 PM CDT SUN JUN 11 1989

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE
UNTIL  630 PM CDT FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES OF

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI...PEMISCOTT

AT 545 PM CDT JONESBORO ARKANASAS REPORTED A TORNADO 5 MILES SOUTH/
WEST OF STEELE MISSOURI ALONG THE ARKANSAS - MISSOURI PEMISCOTT
COUNTY LINE

PERSONS IN  PEMISCOTT COUNTY SHOULD TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY...
ESPECIALLY IN AND NEAR  STEELE.

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO...GO TO A BASEMENT SHELTER
IF AVAILABLE.  OTHERWISE...GO TO A CENTRAL INTERIOR ROOM OR CLOSET
ON THE LOWEST FLOOR POSSIBLE.  GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR STURDY
FURNITURE.  COVER YOUR BODY WITH BLANKETS...PILLOWS OR CUSHIONS.
AVOID WINDOWS.  ABANDON CARS AND MOBILE HOMES FOR A REINFORCED
BUILDING.

DIGIORGI

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 11, 2:35 PM CDT, 3 hours 12 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EVANSVILLE IN
235 PM CDT SUN JUN 11 1989

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR PART OF WESTERN KENTUCKY
UNTIL 900 PM CDT...
.
AT 225 PM CDT...RAINSHOWERS WERE IN WESTERN KENTUCKY AND A SMALL
PART OF SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS.

THE SHOWERS EXTENDED FROM THE SHAWNEE NATIONAL FOREST IN SOUTHERN
ILLINOIS ABOUT 25 MILES NORTH OF PADUCAH KENTUCKY...TO SCOTTSVILLE
KENTUCKY ABOUT 20 MILES SOUTHEAST OF BOWLING GREEN.

THERE WAS ALSO SCATTERED LIGHT RAINSHOWERS IN SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS
ABOUT 20 MILES WEST OF MT VERNON ILLINOIS.

THIS PRECIPITATION WAS ABOUT 80 MILES WEST AND 50 MILES SOUTH OF
EVANSVILLE INDIANA.
.
MOVEMENT WAS TO THE EAST AT 20 MILES AN HOUR.
SUMMY
Special weather statement, Jun 11, 3:33 PM CDT, 2 hours 14 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EVANSVILLE IN
330 PM CDT SUN JUN 11 1989

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR PART OF WESTERN KENTUCKY
UNTIL 900 PM CDT...
.
AT 325 PM CDT...RAINSHOWERS WERE IN WESTERN KENTUCKY AND A SMALL
PART OF SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS.

THERE WERE SHOWERS ABOUT 75 MILES NORTHWEST OF EVANSVILLE NEAR SALEM
AND VANDALIA ILLINOIS.

THE SHOWERS IN WESTERN KENTUCKY EXTENDED FROM NEAR PROVIDENCE AND
MADISONVILLE SOUTHEAST TO BOWLING GREEN. THESE SHOWERS WERE ABOUT 40
MILES SOUTH OF EVANSVILLE INDIANA.

MOVEMENT WAS EAST NORTHEAST AT 20 MILES AN HOUR.
SUMMY
Special weather statement, Jun 11, 4:33 PM CDT, 1 hour 14 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EVANSVILLE IN
433 PM CDT SUN JUN 11 1989

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR PART OF WESTERN KENTUCKY
UNTIL 900 PM CDT...
.
AT 425 PM CDT...THERE WERE SCATTERED RAIN SHOWERS WITH EMBEDDED
THUNDERSTORMS IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AND EXTREME WESTERN KENTUCKY.

THE MAIN BAND OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE WEST OF A LINE
FROM MARION ILLINOIS...TO PADUCAH KENTUCKY...TO THE SOUTHERN
EDGE OF KENTUCKY LAKE IN WESTERN TENNESSEE.

THERE WERE OTHER SHOWERS ABOUT 75 MILES NORTHWEST OF EVANSVILLE NEAR
EFFINGHAM ILLINOIS...AND 100 MILES WEST OF EVANSVILLE...NEAR SPARTA
ILLINOIS.

MOVEMENT WAS TO THE NORTHEAST AT 20 TO 25 MILESK AN HOUR.
.
REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
ARE POSSIBLE IN AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA.
SPODEN
Special weather statement, Jun 11, 4:36 PM CDT, 1 hour 11 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
435 PM CDT SUN JUN 11 1989

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT TILL 700 PM FOR ALL OF
   SOUTHEAST MISSOURI INCLUDING THE BOOTHEEL AND FOR ALL OF WEST
   KENTUCKY EXCEPT CRITTENDEN COUNTY...

...ALL SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS FOR SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AND
   THE BOOTHEEL HAVE EXPIRED...

AT 430 PM CDT WEATHER RADAR AT PADUCAH KENTUCKY INDICATED AN AREA OF
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...SOME PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN FROM
JACKSON MISSOURI TO JUST WEST OF MURRAY KENTUCKY TO 12 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF JONESBORO ARKANSAS.

THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 30
TO 35 MILES AN HOUR.

THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER WITH THESE
STORMS. HOWEVER...THERE HAS BEEN A REPORT OF SOME LOCALIZED FLOODING
IN QULIN MISSOURI IN THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF BUTLER COUNTY.

ALTHOUGH THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DECREASED IN INTENSITY THEY MAY
AGAIN STRENGTHEN OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS. THE STRONGER STORMS ARE
STILL CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN IN A SHORT PERIOD OF
TIME...STRONG GUSTY WIND...DEADLY LIGHTNING AND HAIL.

REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE
FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.

DIGIORGI
Special weather statement, Jun 11, 4:49 PM CDT, 58 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION TO HEADLINE...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
435 PM CDT SUN JUN 11 1989

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT TILL 700 PM CDT FOR ALL
   OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI INCLUDING THE BOOTHEEL.

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT TILL 900 PM CDT
   FOR ALL OF WEST KENTUCKY EXCEPT CRITTENDEN COUNTY...

...ALL SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS FOR SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AND
   THE BOOTHEEL HAVE EXPIRED...

AT 430 PM CDT WEATHER RADAR AT PADUCAH KENTUCKY INDICATED AN AREA OF
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...SOME PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN FROM
JACKSON MISSOURI TO JUST WEST OF MURRAY KENTUCKY TO 12 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF JONESBORO ARKANSAS.

THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 30
TO 35 MILES AN HOUR.

THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER WITH THESE
STORMS. HOWEVER...THERE HAS BEEN A REPORT OF SOME LOCALIZED FLOODING
IN QULIN MISSOURI IN THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF BUTLER COUNTY.

ALTHOUGH THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DECREASED IN INTENSITY THEY MAY
AGAIN STRENGTHEN OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS. THE STRONGER STORMS ARE
STILL CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN IN A SHORT PERIOD OF
TIME...STRONG GUSTY WIND...DEADLY LIGHTNING AND HAIL.

REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE
FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.

DIGIORGI
Special weather statement, Jun 11, 5:34 PM CDT, 13 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EVANSVILLE IN
533 PM CDT SUN JUN 11 1989

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR PART OF WESTERN KENTUCKY
UNTIL 900 PM CDT...
.
AT 525 PM CDT...THERE WERE SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH HEAVY
RAIN...AND RAIN SHOWERS IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AND WESTERN KENTUCKY.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN WERE LOCATED ABOUT 20 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF MARION ILLINOIS...JUST SOUTH OF STONEFORT ILLINOIS...
AND JUST NORTH OF PADUCAH KENTUCKY.

ALL OF THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE WEST OF A LINE FROM JUST
EAST OF EFFINGHAM ILLINOIS...WHICH IS 75 MILES NORTHWEST OF EVANSVILLE
...TO BARKELY LAKE IN WESTERN KENTUCKY.

MOVEMENT WAS TO THE NORTHEAST AT CLOSE TO 30 MILES AN HOUR.
SPODEN

The office that day

Everything else NWS Paducah, KY issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 11, 2:21 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHDunklin, Pemiscot39 min
Jun 11, 3:05 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHButler, Stoddard40 min
Jun 11, 3:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHNew Madrid45 min
Jun 11, 5:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHPemiscot30 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Missouri, 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.