Alert archive / Florida / Tornado Warnings in 1989

Tornado Warning 12, NWS Tallahassee, FL

June 9, 1989Jefferson County, Leon County, Florida

NWS Tallahassee, FL issued this tornado warning at Jun 9, 1989, 10:06 AM EDT for Jefferson County, Leon County, Florida. It was in force for 54 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 9, 1989, 10:06 AM EDT (14:06 UTC)
Expired
Jun 9, 1989, 11:00 AM EDT
In force
54 min
Issued by
NWS Tallahassee, FL
Area
Whole counties

Counties Jefferson County, FL, Leon County, FL

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 9, 10:35 AM EDTTornado F0Leon, FL

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

Apalachicola Mun, FL (KAQQ), launched 12:00Z, 2.1 hours before the alert went out and 118 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 12:00Z on 1989-06-09Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2713 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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 12:00Z on 1989-06-09The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 117 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
2713 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-2 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
633 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
117 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
123 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
6.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KTLH 091410
TORTLH
FLC065-073-091500-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
1006 AM EDT FRI JUN 9 1989
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TALLAHASSEE HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1100 AM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
 
IN NORTH FLORIDA
          ...NORTH CENTRAL JEFFERSON...NORTHEASTERN LEON
 
RADAR INDICATES A TORNADO IN NORTHEASTERN LEON COUNTY MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 40 MPH.
 
 
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...cPILLOWS...
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 9, 7:27 AM EDT, 2 hours 39 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
725 AM EDT FRI JUN 9 1989

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 444 REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EDT...

AT 720 AM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADARS SHOWED A LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS FROM DECATUR COUNTY GEORGIA NEAR CLIMAX...EXTENDING
SOUTHWEST THROUGH QUINCY TO WEWAHITCHKA AND OUT INTO THE GULF 75
MILES.

THE HEAVIEST THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE LINE WERE LOCATED NEAR CLIMAX
GOERGIA AND QUINCY FLORIDA. RADAR INDICATED THAT THESE STORMS WERE
LIKELY PRODUCING SOME SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS TO 40 MPH.

THE THUNDERSTORM IN DECATUR COUNTY GEORGIA WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40
MPH HEADING TOWARDS MITCHELL COUNTY.

THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH WHILE
MOST OF THE INDIVIDUAL THUNDESRTORM CELLS WERE MOVING TO THE
NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY PRODUCE STRONG GUSTY WINDS...VERY
HEAVY RAIN...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND POSSIBLE SMALL HAIL AS THEY MOVE
THROUGH THE AREA DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS ON THESE
THUNDERSTORMS.
Special weather statement, Jun 9, 7:40 AM EDT, 2 hours 26 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE APALACHICOLA FL
740 AM EDT FRI JUN 9 1989

TORNADO WATCH 444 IS IN EFFECT FOR GULF AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES UNTIL
100 PM EDT

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR GULF AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES
FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS MORNING HOURS.

AT 725 AM EDT...A NEARLY SOLID LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY
RAIN REACHED FROM 30 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ALBANY GEORGIA TO NEAR PANAMA
CITY FLORIDA AND THEN TRAILES SOUTHWEST OVER THE GULF FOR OVER 100
MILES.

THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVGING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 5 MILES AN
HOUR.
Special weather statement, Jun 9, 7:55 AM EDT, 2 hours 11 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
800 AM EDT FRI JUN 9 1989

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 444 REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EDT...

AT 755 AM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADARS SHOWED A LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS FROM NEAR THOMASVILLE GEORGIA THROUGH TALLAHASSEE
EXTENDING SOUTHWEST THROUGH WEWAHITCHKA AND OUT INTO THE GULF 75
MILES.

THE HEAVIEST THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE LINE WERE LOCATED NEAR
TALLAHASSEE. RADAR IN APALACHICOLA INDICATES SMALL HAIL LIKELY WITH
THIS STORM ALONG GUSTY WINDS TO 45 MPH.

PERSONS TRAVELING TO WORK THIS MORNING SHOULD ALLOW EXTRA TIME TO
REACH THEIR DESTINATION. DRIVING WILL BE HAZARDOUS DUE TO NEAR ZERO
VISIBILTY IN THE HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WINDS FOR THE NEXT HOUR.

THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH WHILE
MOST OF THE INDIVIDUAL THUNDESRTORM CELLS WERE MOVING TO THE
NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY PRODUCE STRONG GUSTY WINDS...VERY
HEAVY RAIN...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND POSSIBLE SMALL HAIL AS THEY MOVE
THROUGH THE AREA DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS ON THESE
THUNDERSTORMS.
Special weather statement, Jun 9, 8:40 AM EDT, 1 hour 26 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE APALACHICOLA FL
840 AM EDT FRI JUN 9 1989

TORNADO WATCH 444 IS IN EFFECT FOR GULF AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES UNTIL
100 PM EDT

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR GULF AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES
FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS MORNING HOURS.

AT 830 AM EDT...A LINE OF NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS.. SOME WITH VERY
HEAVY RAIN EXRENDED FROM SOUTH OF VALDOSTA TO EAST OF PANAMA CITY AND
EXTENDED ON OUT INTO THE GULF TO 110 MILES SOUTHWEST OF PENSACOLA.
MOVEMENT OF THIS LINE WAS VERY SLOWLY TO THE SOUTHEAST.

ELSEWHERE..A LARGE AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS ALONG WITH SHOWERS WAS
LOCATED OVER SOUTH GEORGIA..NORTH FLORIDA ALONG WITH THE FLORIDA
PANHANDLE.

OVER THE GULF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED FROM EAST
OF FORT WALTON TO APALACHICOLA AND EXTENDED OUT INTO THE GULF
BEYOND 125 MILES SOUTHWEST OF APALACHICOLA.

THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVGING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.
Special weather statement, Jun 9, 9:09 AM EDT, 57 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
910 AM EDT FRI JUN 9 1989

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 444 REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EDT...

AT 900 AM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADARS SHOWED A BROKEN LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS FROM NEAR MONTICELLO TO TALLAHASSEE AND EXTENDED
SOUTHWEST THROUGH APALACHICOLA AND OUT INTO THE GULF 75 MILES.

THE HEAVIEST THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE LINE WERE LOCATED NORTH OF
APALACHICOLA MOVING INTO THE TOWN OF SUMATRA IN SOUTHERN LIBERTY
COUNTY.

THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 5 MPH WHILE
MOST OF THE INDIVIDUAL THUNDESRTORM CELLS WERE MOVING TO THE
NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

THESE HEAVIER THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY PRODUCE STdRONG GUSTY
WINDS...VERY HEAVY RAIN...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND POSSIBLE SMALL HAIL
AS THEY MOVE THROUGH THE AREA DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS ON THESE
THUNDERSTORMS.
Special weather statement, Jun 9, 9:44 AM EDT, 22 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE APALACHICOLA FL
944 AM EDT FRI JUN 9 1989

TORNADO WATCH 444 IS IN EFFECT FOR GULF AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES UNTIL
100 PM EDT

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR GULF AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES
FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS MORNING HOURS.

AT 928 AM EDT...A LINE OF NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS.. SOME WITH VERY
HEAVY RAIN EXRENDED FROM SOUTH OF VALDOSTA TO EAST  NEAR PORT ST JOE
AND EXTENDED ON OUT INTO THE GULF TO 110 MILES SOUTHWEST OF PENSACOLA.
MOVEMENT OF THIS LINE WAS VERY SLOWLY TO THE SOUTHEAST.

ELSEWHERE..A LARGE AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS ALONG WITH SHOWERS WAS
LOCATED OVER SOUTH GEORGIA..NORTH FLORIDA ALONG WITH THE FLO7RIDA
PANHANDLE.

OVER THE GULF.. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED FROM PANAMA
CITY TO APALACHICOLA AND EXTENDED OUT 140 MILES.

THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVGING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Tallahassee, FL issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 8, 8:09 PM EDTTornado WarningTAEJefferson, Leon36 min
Jun 8, 9:41 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningTAEJackson3 hr
Jun 9, 1:33 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAEOkaloosa57 min
Jun 9, 9:46 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAELeon44 min
Jun 9, 12:11 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningTAEHolmes3 hr
Jun 9, 3:21 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningTAEHolmes3 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Florida, 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.