Alert archive / Virginia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 13, NWS Wakefield, VA

May 10, 1990Prince George County, Virginia

NWS Wakefield, VA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 10, 1990, 5:15 PM EDT for Prince George County, Virginia. It was in force for 45 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 10, 1990, 5:15 PM EDT (21:15 UTC)
Expired
May 10, 1990, 6:00 PM EDT
In force
45 min
Issued by
NWS Wakefield, VA
Area
Whole counties

County Prince George County, VA

The radar

The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.

The nearest sounding before it

Wallops Is Stn, VA (KWAL), launched 12:00Z, 9.3 hours before the alert went out and 181 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, Wallops Is Stn, VA at 12:00Z on 1990-05-10Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 94 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, Wallops Is Stn, VA at 12:00Z on 1990-05-10The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 88 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
94 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-76 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
832 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
25 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
88 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
96 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 KRIC 102120
SVRRIC
VAC670-149-102200-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RICHMOND VA
515 PM EDT THU MAY 10 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RICHMOND HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  600 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
 
IN EAST CENTRAL VIRGINIA
          ...IC HOPEWELL...PRINCE GEORGE
 
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM IS MOVING INTO PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY AND THE CITY
OF HOPEWELL .
 
THIS STORM PRODUCED MARBLE SIZE HAIL ...DANGEROUS WINDS AND LIGHTNING
STRIKES ALONG WITH VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY.
 
THE STORM IS MOVING EAST AT ABOUT 40 MPH AND REMAINS DANGEROUS.
 
 
 
 
 
A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA.  REMEMBER
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES
WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING.  REMAIN CALM BUT BE ALERT TO
RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS.
WILLS

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm 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, May 10, 1:39 PM EDT, 3 hours 36 minutes before
VAZ001>004-101830-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORFOLK VA
1:30 PM EDT THU  MAY  10 1990

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF EASTERN VIRGINIA...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH FOR PARTS OF
SOUTHEASTERN AND EASTERN VIRGINIA.  IN EASTERN AND SOUTHEASTERN
VIRGINIA THE WATCH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES..
..ESSEX..GLOUCESTER..ISLE OF WIGHT..JAMES CITY..MATHEWS..MIDDLESEX..
NORTHUMBERLAND..RICHMOND..SOUTHAMPTON..SURRY..SUSSEX..WESTMORELAND..
AND YORK.

CITES IN EASTERN AND SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA INCLUDED IN THE TORNADO
WATCH AREA..EMPORIA..NEWPORT NEWS..WILLIAMSBURG..AND HAMPTON.

THE TORNADO WATCH WILL CONTINUE UNTIL 7PM EDT TONIGHT.
AT 1:30 THIS AFTERNOON AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS IN THE NORTHERN
PORTION OF THE BAY WAS MOVING TOWARDS THE EAST AT AROUND 30 MPH.

ACROSS CENTRAL..EASTERN AND SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA SHOWERS WERE
PREDOMINANT WITH A FEW THUNDERSTORMS NOW FORMING IN THE
NORTHERN MOUNTAINS OF VIRGINIA. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING TOWARDS THE
EAST AROUND 30 MPH.

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

ANOTHER STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED AROUND 3:30PM THIS AFTERNOON OR
EARLIER IF NECESSARY.

YANKES
Special weather statement, May 10, 3:28 PM EDT, 1 hour 47 minutes before
VAZ001>004-102030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORFOLK VA
3:30 PM EDT THU  MAY  10 1990

...TORNADO WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FOR..ALL OF..EASTERN VIRGINIA...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS NOW ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH FOR THE
REMAINDER OF EASTERN AND SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA UNTIL 10PM TONIGHT.
THE COUNTIES INCLUDED IN THE NEW TORNADO WATCH ARE ACCOMACK AND
NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES WHICH ARE ON THE EASTERN SHORE.  CITIES INCLUDED
THE THE NEW TORNADO WATCH ARE CHESAPEAKE..FRANKLIN..NORFOLK..POQUOSON
PORTSMOUTH..SUFFOLK AND VIRGINIA BEACH AND ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS.
ALL OF NORTHEASTERN NORTH CAROLINA IS INCLUDED IN THE TORNADO WATCH.

AT 3:20 THIS AFTERNOON AN AREA OF MAINLY SHOWERS AND A FEW ISOLATED
THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM JUST WEST OF WASHINGTON DC TO NEAR
DANVILLE VIRGINIA.  THE AREA WAS MOVING TOWARDS THE EAST SOUTHEAST
AT 30 MPH AND WILL BE MAKING ITS WAY TO THE COASTLINE. A FEW LIGHT
TO MODERATE SHOWERS WERE NEAR RICHMOND VIRGINIA MOVING TOWARDS THE
EAST AT 25 MPH.

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

ANOTHER STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED AROUND 5:30PM THIS AFTERNOON OR
EARLIER IF NECESSARY.

YANKES
Special weather statement, May 10, 4:02 PM EDT, 1 hour 13 minutes before
VAZ-006-007-008-017-018-102100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RICHMOND VA
405 PM EDT THU MAY 10 1990

...TORNADO WATCH FOR CENTRAL VA UNTIL 700 PM EDT...

  AT 400 PM EDT WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A STRENGTHENING THUNDER
STORM WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND STRONG WINDS
OVER EASTERN CHARLOTTE COUNTY VA...MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.
THE STORM WILL BE ENTERING NORTHWEST MECKLENBURG AND SOUTHWEST LUNEN
BURG COUNTY WITHIN THE NEXT 15 TO 20 MINUTES.

  PEOPLE IN AND AROUND THE AREA WHICH WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS STORM
SHOULD SEEK SUITABLE SHELTER AT ITS APPROACH.  YOU SHOULD MOVE INDOORS
AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS.  THE STORM WILL PRODUCE TORRENTIAL RAINS AND
SOME FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS IS POSSIBLE.

MG
Special weather statement, May 10, 5:05 PM EDT, 10 minutes before
VAZ001>004-102230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORFOLK VA
5:03 PM EDT THU  MAY  10 1990

...TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF EASTERN VIRGINIA...

AT 5:00 PM WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING
FROM NEAR RALEIGH NORTH CAROLINA NORTHEASTWARD TO NEAR RICHMOND
VIRGINIA THEN FURTHER NORTHEAST TO NEAR PATUXENT RIVER MARYLAND.

THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS IS PROGRESSING EASTWARD WHILE INDIVIDUAL
THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 TO 45 MPH.  THE THUNDERSTORMS
WILL LIKELY BE MOVING INTO THE TIDEWATER AREA OF VIRGINIA IN TWO TO
THREE HOURS.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE
HAIL...HEAVY RAINFALL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

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

STAY TUNED TO TV...RADIO AND NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER
UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

ANOTHER STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED AROUND 6:30 PM EDT OR EARLIER
IF NEEDED.

WALSTON

The office that day

Everything else NWS Wakefield, VA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 10, 2:04 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQBuckingham, Fluvanna56 min
May 10, 4:27 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQAmelia, Nottoway48 min
May 10, 4:41 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQChesterfield, Dinwiddie, Prince George, City of Petersburg49 min
May 10, 6:07 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQGloucester68 min
May 10, 6:07 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQYork68 min
May 10, 7:15 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQCity of Chesapeake, City of Virginia Beach45 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Virginia, 1990Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1990

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.