Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 1989
Tornado Warning 14, NWS Raleigh, NC
NWS Raleigh, NC issued this tornado warning at Apr 29, 1989, 6:12 PM EDT for Pitt County, North Carolina. It was in force for 33 min. 2 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
- Apr 29, 1989, 6:12 PM EDT (22:12 UTC)
- Expired
- Apr 29, 1989, 6:45 PM EDT
- In force
- 33 min
- Issued by
- NWS Raleigh, NC
- Area
- Whole counties
County Pitt County, NC
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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 29, 6:40 PM EDT | Hail 1.75 | Pitt, NC | |
| Apr 29, 6:42 PM EDT | Thunderstorm Wind 0 | Pitt, NC |
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
Cape Hatteras, NC (KHAT), launched 12:00Z, 10.2 hours before the alert went out and 174 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
- 223 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -45 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 736 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 22 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 44 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 66 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.3
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000
TTAA00 KRDU 292217
TORRDU
NCC147-292245-
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
612 PM EDT SAT APR 29 1989
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RALEIGH HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 645 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...
IN EAST CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
...EASTERN PITT
AT 610PM EDT PITT COUNTY SHERRIFS DEPARTMENT REPORTED A TORNADO WITH
DAMAGE 3 MILES SOUTHWEST OF GRIMESLAND IN EASTERN PITT COUNTY. WEATHER
RADAR SHOWED THIS STORM MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.
PEOPLE IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE
ACTION TO PROTECT THEIR LIVES. GO TO A BASEMENT...THE CENTER OF
BUILDINGS...COVER YOUR HEAD. bDO NOT GO NEAR DOORS OR WINDOWS. GET
OUT OF MOBILE HOMES AND VEHICLES. GET INTO A STURDY BUILDING OR A
DITCH.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, Apr 29, 3:04 PM EDT, 3 hours 8 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENSBORO NC 305 PM EDT SAT APR 29 1989 ...HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS OVER RANDOLPH COUNTY OF THE NORTHWEST PIEDMONT... AT 300 PM A FEW HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER RANDOLPH COUNTY OF THE NORTHWEST PIEDMONT. THE STORM WITH THE HEAVIEST RAIN WAS JUST SOUTHEAST OF ASHEBORO. THESE STORMS HAD JUST DEVELOPED. PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM SHOULD KEEP WATCH AND IF THREATENING WEATHER OCCURRS TAKE NECXESSARY PRECAUTIONS. GR
Special weather statement, Apr 29, 3:08 PM EDT, 3 hours 4 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH/DURHAM, NC 300 PM EDT SAT APR 29 1989 ...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 PM FOR GREEN.. WILSON AND EASTERN WAYNE COUNTIES AND FOR LENOIR COUNTY UNTIL 400 PM... AT 300 PM WEATHER RADAR WAS SHOWING CLUSTERS OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER PORTIONS OF THE PIEDMONT...SAND HILLS AND COASTAL PLAIN OF NORTH CAROLINA. THE STROGEST STORMS WERE OVER THE COASTAL PLAIN COUNTIES OF WAYNE...LENOIR...GREN AND WILSON ALONG AND EAST OF A LINE FROM THE CITIES OF WILSON TO GOLDSBORO TO MT OLIVE. THERE WERE OTHER STRONG STORMS SOUTHEAST OF FAYETTEVILLE OVER CUMBERLAND COUNTY...OVER EASTERN MOORE...WESTERN LEE AND SOUTHERN CHATHAM COUNTIES FROM SOUTH OF GOLDSTON TO WEST OF SANFORD. A NEWLY DEVELOPED STORMS WAS JUST NORTH OF CHAPEL HILL OVER ORANGE COUNTY. ADDITONAL STORMS WERE FURTHER WEST OVER RANDOLPH...SOUTHERN MONTGOMERY AND RICHOMOND COUNTIES. ^ THE STORMS HAVE BEEN MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHEAST AT AROUND 35 MPH. INTENSITY AND COVERAGE OF THESE STORMS HAS BEEN INCREASING. ADDITONAL STATEMENTS OR WARNINGS ON THESE STORMS WILL BE ISSUED AS NEEDED. STAY TUNED TO LOCAL RADIO OR TELEVISION OR TO YOUR NOAA WEATHER RADcIO. JFB
Local storm report, Apr 29, 3:45 PM EDT, 2 hours 27 minutes before
STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH/DURHAM, NC
343 PM EDT SAT APR 29 1989
TIME EVENT
300 PM EDT DIME SIZE HAIL NEAR LINDELL IN NORTHWEST PART
OF GREENE COUNTY. OBSERVED BY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY AND
REPORTED BY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
JBMSpecial weather statement, Apr 29, 4:29 PM EDT, 1 hour 43 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENSBORO NC 425 PM EDT SAT APR 29 1989 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR ALAMANCE COUNTY CANCELLED... ...VERY HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS MOVING OUT OF THE NORTHWEST PIEDMONT... AT 420 PM VERY HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING OUT OF THE NORTHWEST PIEDMONT INTO THE NORTHEAST PIEDMONT. THE ONLY STORM THAT REMAINS IN THE NORTHWEST PIEDMONT IS IN SOUTHEAST RANDOLPH COUNTY. MOVEMENT WAS TO THE NORTHEAST AT 20 TO 25 MILES AN HOUR. THE ONLY REPORTS RECEIVED SO FAR IN ALAMANCE COUNTY WERE HIGH WINDS ALONG ROUTE 87 SOUTH AND VERY HEAVY RAINS. PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THE STORM IN RANDOLPH COUNTY SHOULD KEEP WATCH AND SEEK SHELTER IF THE STORM APPROACHES YOUR AREA. GR
Special weather statement, Apr 29, 4:51 PM EDT, 1 hour 21 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH/DURHAM, NC 445 PM EDT SAT APR 29 1989 AT 440 PM WEATHER RADAR SHOWED THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE CENTRAL AND NORTHERN COASTAL PLAIN...PIEDMONT AND SAND HILLS OF NORTH CAROLINA. THERE WERE FOUR AREAS OF STRONG STORMS. IN THE NORTHERN COASTAL PLAIN STRONG STORMS WERE IN A BAND FROM JUST EAST OF WINDSOR NORTH OF AHOSKIE. ANOTHER AREA IN THE CENTRAL COASTAL PLAIN WAS BETWEEN GOLDSBORO KINSTON FARMVILLE AND GREENVILLE. IN THE SANDHILLS MORE STRONG STORMS WERE JUST SOUTHWEST OF SOUTHERN PINES AND BETWEEN FORT BRAGG AND LILLINGTON. IN THE NORTHEAST PIEDMONT STRONG STORMS WERE IN AN AREA FROM PITTSBORO NORTHEAST THROUGH CHAPEL HILL DURHAM AND CREEDMOOR. MORE STORMS WERE IN EASTERN WAKE COUNTY. THE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT AROUND 35 MPH. THESE STORMS MAY PRODUCE HAIL AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS. FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN CAN OCCUR WITH ANY THUNDERSTORM. MOORE COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS REPORTED MARBLE SIZE HAIL AT PINE BLUFF AT 435PM EDT. THREE QUARTER INCH SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED AT THE KINSTON AIRPORT 346PM EDT. LISTEN TO LOCAL RADIO..TELEVISION..OR WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS. HLW
Local storm report, Apr 29, 5:07 PM EDT, 1 hour 5 minutes before
STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENSBORO NC
505 PM EDT SAT APR 29 1989
ATTN SELS...
TIME EVENT
BETWEEN 400 PM EDT TREES DOWN IN EAST CENTRAL ALAMANCE COUNTY
AND 430 PM EDT ONE LARGE ENOUGH TO DOWN POWER LINES AND
DAMAGE ROAD REPORTED BY ALAMANCE COUNTY
SHERIFF. REPORT RECEIVED AT 430 PM EDT.
GRThe office that day
Everything else NWS Raleigh, NC issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 29, 2:28 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Greene, Wayne, Wilson | 47 min |
| Apr 29, 3:02 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Lenoir | 58 min |
| Apr 29, 5:04 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Lenoir | 41 min |
| Apr 29, 5:17 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | RAH | Pitt | 43 min |
| Apr 29, 5:35 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Johnston, Nash | 40 min |
| Apr 29, 5:47 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Wilson | 58 min |
| Apr 29, 6:30 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | RAH | Edgecombe | 45 min |
| Apr 29, 6:38 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Halifax | 37 min |
| Apr 29, 7:00 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Greene, Pitt | 60 min |
| Apr 29, 7:28 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Wayne | 62 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in North Carolina, 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.