Alert archive / Florida / Tornado Warnings in 1989

Tornado Warning 5, NWS Tallahassee, FL

June 8, 1989Escambia County, Santa Rosa County, Florida

NWS Tallahassee, FL issued this tornado warning at Jun 8, 1989, 9:26 AM CDT for Escambia County, Santa Rosa County, Florida. It was in force for 49 min. 4 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 8, 1989, 9:26 AM CDT (14:26 UTC)
Expired
Jun 8, 1989, 10:15 AM CDT
In force
49 min
Issued by
NWS Tallahassee, FL
Area
Whole counties

Counties Escambia County, FL, Santa Rosa 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 8, 9:40 AM CDTThunderstorm Wind 60Escambia, FL
Jun 8, 10:00 AM CDTTornado F1Escambia, FL
Jun 8, 10:00 AM CDTThunderstorm Wind 50Santa Rosa, FL
Jun 8, 10:20 AM CDTThunderstorm Wind 50Escambia, 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, 2.4 hours before the alert went out and 233 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 1989-06-08Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 16 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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 1989-06-08The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 61 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
16 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-123 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1038 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
61 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
138 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KPNS 081426
TORPNS
FLC033-113-081515-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENSACOLA FL
926 AM CDT THU JUN 8 1989
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PENSACOLA HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1015 AM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
 
IN NORTHWEST FLORIDA
          ...SOUTHERN ESCAMBIA...SOUTHERN SANTA ROSA
 
WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A POSSIBLE TORNADO OVER THE IMMEDIATE
COASTAL WATERS OF PERDIDO KEY FLORIDA. ANOTHER WAS 2 MILES SOUTH OF
PENSACOLA PASS. BOTH OF THESE WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN
HOUR.
 
IF YOU LIVE IN A HOME OR APARTMENT...SEEK SHELTER IN THE
INNERMOST PORTION OF THE BUILDING ON THE LOWEST FLOOR.  GET TO
AJ BASEMENT IF ONE IS AVAILABLE.  AVOID WINDOWS AND PROTECT YOUR
BODY FROM FLYING DEBRIS WITH CUSHIONS...BLANKETS...OR PILLOWS.

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 8, 5:13 AM CDT, 4 hours 13 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
615 AM EDT THU JUN 8 1989

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 436 REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR JACKSON AND CALHOUN
COUNTIES UNTIL 800 AM CDT THIS THURSDAY MORNING...

AT 605 AM EDT RADAR SHOWED A VERY LARGE AREA OF MOSTLY LIGHT RAIN AND
SHOWERS OVER MUCH OF THE BIG BEND AREA AND THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE.
THIS AREA OF RAIN ALSO EXTENDED OUT INTO THE GULF FOR 75 TO 80 MILES
EAST THROUGH WEST OF APALACHICOLA FLORIDA. A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS
WAS OVER THE GULF WITHIN THE AREA OF RAIN FROM JUST OFFSHORE FRANKLIN
COUNTY TO 75 MILES SOUTHWEST OF APALACHICOLA.

AT 605 AM ONLY LIGHT RAIN WAS FALLING IN JACKSON AND CALHOUN COUNTIES.
STAY TUNED TyO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
Special weather statement, Jun 8, 5:36 AM CDT, 3 hours 50 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE APALACHICOLA FL
636 AM EDT THU JUN 8 1989

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR COUNTIES OF THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE
   INCLUDING..GULF COUNTY UNTIL 9 AM EDT..

AT 625 AM EDT A LINE OF NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN..
WAS LOCATED FROM CARRABELLE AND EXTENDED TO 80 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
APALACHICOLA. MARINE INTEST IN THIS AREA SHOULD EXPECT VERY STRONG WINDS..
HEAVY SEAS..ALONG WITH FREQUENT LIGHTNING AS THIS LINE MOVES THROUGH.
MOVEMENT OF THIS LINE WAS TO THE EAST AT 20 MILES AN HOUR.

ELSEWHERE ..A LARGE AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS ALONG WITH SHOWERS WAS LOCATED
OVER THE NORTHEAST GULF..FROM PENSACOLA TO WEST OF CEDAR KEY AND OUT 110
MILES. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALSO NOTED OVER A LARGE AREA OF
NORTH FLORIDA AND THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE WITH SEVERAL SHOWERS EXTENDING
INTO SOUTHWEST GEORGIA AND SOUTHEAST ALABAMA.

MOVEVENT WAS TO THE NORTHEAST AT 20 MILES AN HOUR.
Special weather statement, Jun 8, 6:44 AM CDT, 2 hours 42 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE APALACHICOLA FL
741 AM EDT THU JUN 8 1989

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR COUNTIES OF THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE..
   INCLUDING GULF COUNTY UNTIL 9 AM EDT..

AT 729 AM EDT..A LINE OF NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN..
WAS LOCATED FROM 55 MILES EAST OF APALACHICOLA AND EXTENDED TO 80 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF  APALACHICOLA.

MOVEMENT OF THIS LINE WAS TO THE EAST AT 20 MILES AN HOUR.

ELSEWHERE ..A LARGE AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS ALONG WITH SHOWERS WAS LOCATED
OVER THE NORTHEAST GULF..FROM PENSACOLA TO CEDAR KEY AND OUT 120 MILES.
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALSO NOTED OVER A LARGE AREA OF NORTH
FLORIDA AND THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE WITH SHOWERS EXTENDING INTO SOUTHWEST
GEORGIA..AND SOUTHEAST ALABAMA.

MOVEVENT WAS TO THE EAST AT 20 MILES AN HOUR.
Special weather statement, Jun 8, 7:21 AM CDT, 2 hours 5 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
820 AM EDT THU JUN 8 1989

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 436 REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR JACKSON AND CALHOUN
COUNTIES UNTIL 800 AM CDT THIS THURSDAY MORNING...

AT 815 AM EDT RADAR SHOWED A VERY LARGE AREA OF MOSTLY LIGHT RAIN AND
SHOWERS COVERING MUCH OF THE BIG BEND AREA AND THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE.
THIS AREA OF RAIN ALSO EXTENDED OUT INTO THE GULF FOR 75 TO 80 MILES
EAST THROUGH WEST OF APALACHICOLA FLORIDA. A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS
WAS OVER THE GULF WITHIN THE AREA OF RAIN FROM JUST OFFSHORE TAYLOR
AND DIXIE COUNTIES TO 75 MILES SOUTH OF APALACHICOLA. ANOTHER LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM NEAR DE FUNIAK SPRINGS TO FT WALTON BEACH.
MOVEMENT OF THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WAS TO THE EAST AT ABOUT 25
MPH.

AT 815 AM ONLY LIGHT RAIN WAS FALLING IN JACKSON AND CALHOUN COUNTIES.
STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
Special weather statement, Jun 8, 7:36 AM CDT, 1 hour 50 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE APALACHICOLA FL
833 AM EDT THU JUN 8 1989

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR COUNTIES OF THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE..
   INCLUDING GULF COUNTY UNTIL 9 AM EDT..

AT 827 AM EDT..SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS..WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN..WERE OVER
THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE FROM WEST OF TALLAHASSE TO NEAR PENSACOLA.

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS..WITH HEAVY RAIN..AND WIDESPREAD RAIN WERE OVER
MUCH OF NORTH FLORIDA..THE PANHANDLE..SOUTH GEORGIA..SOUTH ALABAMA AND
THE NORTHEAST GULF FROM APALACHEE BAY WEST TO 100 MILES SOUTH OF
PENSACOLA.

MOVEVENT WAS TO THE EAST AT 20 MILES AN HOUR.
Special weather statement, Jun 8, 8:35 AM CDT, 51 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE APALACHICOLA FL
934 AM EDT THU JUN 8 1989

...THE TORNADO WATCH HAS EXPIRED FOR COUNTIES OF THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE..

AT 927 AM EDT..WIDELY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS..WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN..
WERE OVER THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE IN BAY..WASHINGTON..HOLMES COUNTIES AND
NEAR PENSACOLA.

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS..WITH HEAVY RAIN..AND WIDESPREAD RAIN WERE OVER
MUCH OF NORTH FLORIDA.A.THE PANHANDLE..SOUTH GEORGIA..SOUTH ALABAMA AND
THE NORTHEAST GULF FROM APALACHEE BAY WEST TO JUST SOUTH OF PENSACOLA.

MOVEVENT WAS TO THE EAST AT 20 MILES AN HOUR.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 7, 8:35 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAEOkaloosa, Santa Rosa55 min
Jun 8, 4:51 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAEEscambia, Santa Rosa69 min
Jun 8, 5:44 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAEOkaloosa, Santa Rosa61 min
Jun 8, 6:16 AM CDTTornado WarningTAEEscambia59 min
Jun 8, 10:13 AM CDTTornado WarningTAEEscambia, Santa Rosa47 min
Jun 8, 11:01 AM CDTTornado WarningTAEEscambia, Santa Rosa44 min
Jun 8, 12:12 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAEEscambia, Santa Rosa48 min
Jun 8, 1:10 PM CDTTornado WarningTAEOkaloosa, Walton50 min
Jun 8, 2:01 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAEEscambia44 min
Jun 8, 2:21 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningTAESanta Rosa2 hr
Jun 8, 4:22 PM CDTTornado WarningTAEFranklin38 min
Jun 8, 4:29 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningTAEEscambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa3 hr
Jun 8, 5:10 PM CDTTornado WarningTAEFranklin50 min
Jun 8, 5:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAEEscambia, Santa Rosa47 min

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.