Alert archive / Wisconsin / Tornado Warnings in 1990

Tornado Warning 7, NWS Duluth, MN

September 13, 1990Sawyer County, Wisconsin

NWS Duluth, MN issued this tornado warning at Sep 13, 1990, 9:18 PM CDT for Sawyer County, Wisconsin. It was in force for 27 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Sep 13, 1990, 9:18 PM CDT (02:18 UTC)
Expired
Sep 13, 1990, 9:45 PM CDT
In force
27 min
Issued by
NWS Duluth, MN
Area
Whole counties

County Sawyer County, WI

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

Minneapolis, MN (KSTC), launched 00:00Z, 2.3 hours before the alert went out and 223 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, Minneapolis, MN at 00:00Z on 1990-09-14Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1164 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, Minneapolis, MN at 00:00Z on 1990-09-14The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 364 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
1164 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-95 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1792 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
54 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
364 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
574 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.6
Supercell composite
12.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KDLH 140219
TORDLH
WIC113-140245-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
918 PM CDT THU SEP 13 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DULUTH HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  945 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...
 
IN NORTHWEST WISCONSIN
          ...SAWYER
 
AT 915 PM CDT A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH A POSSIBLE TORNADO WAS IN
SAWYER COUNTY NEAR CHIPEWA LAKE. THIS IS THE SAME STORM THAT PRODUCED
AN UNCONFIRMED TORNADO IN WASHBURN COUNTY AT 845 PM. THIS IS A VERY
DANGEROUS STORM. THE STORM IS MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR
TOWARD LORETTA AND WINTER.
 
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO...THE SAFEST PLACE IS A
BASEMENT.  GET UNDEXR 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...PILLOWS...
OR CUSHIONS TO COVER YOUR BODY.  AVOID WINDOWS.
 
WESTERGARD

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, Sep 13, 5:19 PM CDT, 3 hours 59 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INTERNATIONAL FALLS MN
518 PM CDT THU SEP 13 1990

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR A LARGE PART OF CENTRAL AND
EASTERN MINNESOTA...PARTS OF WESTERN WISCONSIN...AND A SMALL PART OF
WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR UNTIL 1100 PM CDT THIS THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND
EVENING...

AT 510 PM CDT...RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM THE
SOUTHWEST TO 25 MILES NORTHEAST OF ALEXANDRIA. THESE THUNDERSTORMS
ARE MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

ANOTHER LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDS FROM 30 MILES NORTHEAST OF
THIEF RIVER FALLS SOUTHWEST TO THE FARGO AREA.

THE STRONGER STORMS CONTAIN HEAVY RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...LARGE
HAIL...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

WITHIN THE TORNADO WATCH AREA...TORNADOES AND A FEW SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL TO 21/2 INCHES IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS
TO 80 MPH ARE POSSIBLE.

BOATERS AND OTHER OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS...SHOULD SEEK SHELTER IF
THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH. KEEP TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...YOUR
FAVORITE AM/FM RADIO OR TV STATION IN THE EVENT FURTHER STATEMENTS
ARE REQUIRED.

CARROLL
Special weather statement, Sep 13, 5:27 PM CDT, 3 hours 51 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INTERNATIONAL FALLS MN
518 PM CDT THU SEP 13 1990

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR A LARGE PART OF CENTRAL AND
EASTERN MINNESOTA...PARTS OF WESTERN WISCONSIN...AND A SMALL PART OF
WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR UNTIL 1100 PM CDT THIS THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND
EVENING...

AT 510 PM CDT...RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM THE
ARROWHEAD SOUTHWEST TO 25 MILES NORTHEAST OF ALEXANDRIA. THESE
THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

ANOTHER LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDS FROM 30 MILES NORTHEAST OF
THIEF RIVER FALLS SOUTHWEST TO THE FARGO AREA.

THE STRONGER STORMS CONTAIN HEAVY RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...LARGE
HAIL...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

WITHIN THE TORNADO WATCH AREA...TORNADOES AND A FEW SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL TO 21/2 INCHES IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS
TO 80 MPH ARE POSSIBLE.

BOATERS AND OTHER OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS...SHOULD SEEK SHELTER IF
THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH. KEEP TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...YOUR
FAVORITE AM/FM RADIO OR TV STATION IN THE EVENT FURTHER STATEMENTS
ARE REQUIRED.

CARROLL
Special weather statement, Sep 13, 5:46 PM CDT, 3 hours 32 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INTERNATIONAL FALLS MN
545 PM CDT THU SEP 13 1990

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR A LARGE PART OF CENTRAL AND
EASTERN MINNESOTA...PARTS OF WESTERN WISCONSIN...AND A SMALL PART OF
WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR UNTIL 1100 PM CDT THIS THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND
EVENING...

AT 540 PM CDT...RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
MOVING OVER NORTHERN BELTRAMI AND CLEARWATER COUNTIES EXTENDING FROM
THE WESTERN SHORES OF UPPER AND LOWER RED LAKE SOUTHWEST TO NEAR
FARGO. THEY ARE MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE A HISTORY OF PRODUCING WIND
GUSTS TO 45 MPH AS THEY MOVED OVER THIEF RIVER FALLS.

ANOTHER LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDS FROM THE ARROWHEAD SOUTHWEST
TO 40 MILES NORTHEAST OF ALEXANDRIA.

THE STRONGER STORMS CONTAIN HEAVY RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...LARGE
HAIL...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

WITHIN THE TORNADO WATCH AREA...TORNADOES AND A FEW SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL TO 21/2 INCHES IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS
TO 80 MPH ARE POSSIBLE.

BOATERS AND OTHER OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS...SHOULD SEEK SHELTER IF
THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH. KEEP TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...YOUR
FAVORITE AM/FM RADIO OR TV STATION IN THE EVENT FURTHER STATEMENTS
ARE REQUIRED.

CARROLL
Special weather statement, Sep 13, 6:53 PM CDT, 2 hours 25 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INTERNATIONAL FALLS MN
650 PM CDT THU SEP 13 1990

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR A LARGE PART OF CENTRAL AND
EASTERN MINNESOTA...PARTS OF WESTERN WISCONSIN...AND A SMALL PART OF
WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR UNTIL 1100 PM CDT THIS THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND
EVENING...

...THE AREA NORTHWEST OF A LINE FROM 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF HIBBING...
TO 15 MILES NORTHEAST OF ALEXANDRIA WAS CLEARED OF THE WATCH AREA AT
630 PM CDT...

AT 645 PM CDT...RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
MOVING OVER BELTRAMI COUNTY EXTENDING FROM THE SOUTHEAST SHORES OF
LOWER RED LAKE SOUTHWEST TO 20 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BEMIDJI. THEY ARE
MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH...AND WILL MOVE INTO THE CITY OF BEMIDJI BY 715
PM CDT.

ANOTHER LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDS FROM THE ARROWHEAD SOUTHWEST
TO 40 MILES NORTHEAST OF ALEXANDRIA.

THE STRONGER STORMS CONTAIN HEAVY RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...LARGE
HAIL...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

WITHIN THE TORNADO WATCH AREA...TORNADOES AND A FEW SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL TO 21/2 INCHES IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS
TO 80 MPH ARE POSSIBLE.

BOATERS AND OTHER OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS...SHOULD SEEK SHELTER IF
THUNDERSTORMS APPcROACH. KEEP TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...YOUR
FAVORITE AM/FM RADIO OR TV STATION IN THE EVENT FURTHER STATEMENTS
ARE REQUIRED.

CARROLL
Special weather statement, Sep 13, 7:49 PM CDT, 1 hour 29 minutes before
MNZ005-009-012-WIZ001>004-140145-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
750 PM CDT THU SEP 13 1990

...TORNADO WATCH MUCH OF MINNESOTA AND NORTHWEST WISCONSIN
   AND WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR UNTIL 11 PM CDT...

AT 745 THIS EVENING THUNDERSTORMS WITH WIND GUSTS TO 50 MILES AN
HOUR ALONG WITH SMALL HAIL AND HEAVY RAINS WERE MOVING ACROSS
NORTHEAST MINNESOTA AND WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR..ON INTO NORTHWEST
WISCONSIN. THE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 45 MILES AN HOUR WHICH
WOULD BRING THEM THROUGH THE TWIN PORTS BY 9 OCLOCK AND INTO BAYFIELD
..SAWYER..AND ASHLAND COUNTIES BETWEEN 815 AND 10 OCLOCK.

THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE FROM NORTHERN DOUGLAS COUNTY OF NORTHWEST
WISCONSIN DOWN THROUGH POPLAR AND SOLON SPRINGS. OTHER STRONG STORMS
WERE FROM AITKIN MINNESOTA EAST THROUGH WILLOW RIVER.
..J.C..
Special weather statement, Sep 13, 8:37 PM CDT, 41 minutes before
MNZ005-009-012-WIZ001>004-140230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
835 PM CDT THU SEP 13 1990

...TORNADO WATCH MUCH OF MINNESOTA AND NORTHWEST WISCONSIN
   AND WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR UNTIL 11 PM CDT...

AT 830 THIS EVENING THUNDERSTORMS WITH WIND GUSTS TO 50 MILES AN
HOUR ALONG WITH SMALL HAIL AND HEAVY RAINS WERE MOVING ACROSS
NORTHWEST WISCONSIN AND EXTENDED BACK TO THE WEST INTO EAST CENTRAL
MINNESOTA INTO PINE COUNTY. THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE SCATTERED
ALONG A 20 MILE WIDE BAND FROM THE APOSTLE ISLANDS NEAR LAKE SUPERIORS
SOUTH SHORE...SOUTHWEST THROUGH BAYFIELD AND SOUTHERN DOUGLAS
COUNTIES...AND THEN SOUTHWEST ACROSS BURNETT COUNTY AND ON INTO
MINNESOTA N&EAR PINE CITY...80 MILES SOUTH SOUTHWEST OF DULUTH.

THESE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST SOUTHEAST AT 35 TO 40 MILES AN HOUR.
THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL BE MOVING INTO THE SPOONER..SHELL LAKE..
AND CUMBERLAND AREAS BY 9 OCLOCK.{}..J.C..

The office that day

Everything else NWS Duluth, MN issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 13, 7:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDLHDouglas34 min
Sep 13, 10:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDLHOneida59 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Wisconsin, 1990Every tornado warning in 1990Tornadoes 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.