Alert archive / Tennessee / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 175, NWS Atlanta, GA

May 27, 1990Bradley County, Tennessee

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 27, 1990, 3:37 PM EDT for Bradley County, Tennessee. It was in force for 68 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
May 27, 1990, 3:37 PM EDT (19:37 UTC)
Expired
May 27, 1990, 4:45 PM EDT
In force
68 min
Issued by
NWS Atlanta, GA
Area
Whole counties

County Bradley County, TN

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
May 27, 3:50 PM EDTThunderstorm Wind 0Bradley, TN

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

Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 12:00Z, 7.6 hours before the alert went out and 191 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, Nashville Metro, TN at 12:00Z on 1990-05-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 119 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, Nashville Metro, TN at 12:00Z on 1990-05-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 88 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
119 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-97 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
806 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
24 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
88 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
93 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 KCHA 271945
SVRCHA
TNC011-272045-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHATTANOOGA TENNESSEE
337 PM EDT SUN MAY 27 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHATTANOOGA TENNESSEE HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  445 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS
 
IN SOUTHEAST TENNESSEE
 
   ...BRADLEY COUNTY
 
AT 335 PM EDT THE CHATTANOOGA WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM IN BRADLEY COUNTY JUST TO THE WEST OF CLEVELAND.
 
THE STORM IS MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AROUND 20 MPH AND
HAS PRODUCED WINDS TO 54 MPH IN CHATTANOOGA AS IT MOVED
THROUGH.
 
 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55
MPH...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.
FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.  HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO
DON'T DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.:

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 27, 10:20 AM EDT, 5 hours 17 minutes before
GAZ002-004-1715-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATHENS GA
1017 AM EDT SUN MAY 27 1990

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH HEAVY RAINFALL...HAVE DEVELOPED
OVER NORTH GEORIGA THIS MORNING. THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING
EAST AT ABOUT 25 MILES AN HOUR.

PERSONS IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA NORTH OF A LAWRENCEVILLE TO ELBERTON
LINE SHOULD BE ON THE ALERT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR
THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS...ESPECIALLY THOSE PARTICIPATING IN OUTDOOR
ACTIVITIES AND BOATERS ON AREA LAKES.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS...
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...BRIEF GUSTY SURFACE WINDS AND POSSIBLE SMALL
HAIL.
Special weather statement, May 27, 12:39 PM EDT, 2 hours 58 minutes before
GAZ003-271800

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTA GA
1235 PM EDT SUN MAY 27 1990

   ...THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING RAPIDLY ACROSS NORTH GEORGIA...

  AT 1230 PM EDT...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED RAPIDLY DEVELOPING
THUNDERSTORMS NEAR DOWNTOWN ATLANTA AND 10 MILES WEST OF DALLAS
GEORGIA NEAR THE PAULDING-HARALSON COUNTY LINE. THESE THUNDERSTORMS
WERE MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. SOME OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY CONTAIN
SMALL HAIL AS WELL AS PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...
SOME OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY CONTAIN SMALL HAIL AS WELL AS
AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING STRIKES. IN URBAN AREAS SOME LOCAL STREET
FLOODING MAY OCCUR.

  RESIDENTS OF EXTREME NORTH GEORGIA CAN, EXPECT THUNDERSTORMS
TO DEVELOP THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING AS THE AIR
OVER GEORGIA IS VERY WARM AND UNSTABLE. PEOPLE OUTDOORS ENJOYING
THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND SHOULD REMAIN ALERT TO THE CHANGING WEATHER.
Special weather statement, May 27, 12:42 PM EDT, 2 hours 55 minutes before
GAZ002-004-271845-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATHENS GA
1241 PM EDT SUN MAY 27 1990

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH HEAVY RAINFALL...WERE DEVELOPING
RAPIDLY OVER PARTS OF NORTHEAST GEORGIA. THE THUNDERSTORMS WITH THE
HEAVIEST RAINFALL WERE IN THE ATLANTA METRO AREA AND WERE MOVING EAST
AT ABOUT 30 MILES AN HOUR. OTHER THUNDERSTORMS WERE NOTED OVER LAKE
LANIER AND WERE DEVELOPING JUST SOUTH OF ATHENS.

PERSONS IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA...ESPECIALLY THOSE PARTICIPATING IN
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AND BOATERS ON AREA LAKES...SHOULD REMAIN ON
THE ALERT FOR THESE THUNDERSTORMS. BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS, DANGEROUSE
LIGHTNING, BRIEF GUSTY SURFACE WINDS AND SMALL HAIL ARE POSSIBLE/
WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS AS THEY MOVE THROUGH.
Special weather statement, May 27, 12:43 PM EDT, 2 hours 54 minutes before
GAZ003-271800

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTA GA
1235 PM EDT SUN MAY 27 1990

   ...THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING RAPIDLY ACROSS NORTH GEORGIA...

  AT 1230 PM EDT...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED RAPIDLY DEVELOPING
THUNDERSTORMS NEAR DOWNTOWN ATLANTA AND 10 MILES WEST OF DALLAS
GEORGIA NEAR THE PAULDING-HARALSON COUNTY LINE. THESE THUNDERSTORMS
WERE MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. SOME OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY CONTAIN
SMALL HAIL AS WELL AS PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...
AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING STRIKES. IN URBAN AREAS SOME LOCAL STREET
FLOODING MAY OCCUR.

  RESIDENTS OF NORTH GEORGIA CAN EXPECT THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP
THE REMAINDER OF THE 1AFTERNOON AND EVENING AS THE AIR OVER
GEORGIA IS VERY WARM AND UNSTABLE. PEOPLE OUTDOORS ENJOYING
THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND SHOULD REMAIN ALERT TO THE CHANGING WEATHER.
Special weather statement, May 27, 2:43 PM EDT, 54 minutes before
GAZ006-008-009-272200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MACON GA
240 PM EDT SUN MAY 27 1990

AT 230 PM WEATHER RADAR IN MACON SHOWED THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING
RAPIDLY OVER CENTRAL GEORGIA JUST NORTH OF MACON AND INTO THE
NORTHERN PART OF THE STATE.

ALTHOUGH THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN NORTH GEORGIA...PEOPLE
ENJOYING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES IN CENTRAL GEORGIA SHOULD BE WATCHFUL.
SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP IN THE CENTRAL PART
OF THE STATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. BOATERS ON AREA LAKES...
GOLFERS...AND OTHERS IN OPEN AREAS SHOULD GO TO SHELTER IF THUNDER-
STORMS ARE CLOSE-BY.

STRONG GUSTY WINDS...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...AND POSSIBLY SMALL HAIL
CqAN BE EXPECTED WITH FEW THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
REMEMBER LIGHTNING SAFETY RULES...LIGHTNING STRIKES CAUSE MORE DEATHS
IN GEORGIA EACH YEAR THAN ANY OTHER WEATHER PHENOMENON.
Special weather statement, May 27, 3:24 PM EDT, 13 minutes before
GAZ001-272100

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTA GA
325 PM EDT SUN MAY 27 1990

   ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE ACROSS NORTHWEST GEORGIA...

  AT 320 PM EDT...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED MORE RAPIDLY
DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORMS FROM SOUTH OF CHATTANOOGA THROUGH ROME
TO CAVE SPRINGS. FLOYD COUNTY 911 REPORTED SOME STRONG WINDS AND PEA
SIZED HAIL OVER THE NORTH END OF THE COUNTY AT 315 PM. THESE THUNDER-
STORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

  RESIDENTS OF NORTHWEST GEORGIA CAN EXPECT THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP
THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING AS THE AIR OVER
GEORGIA IS VERY WARM AND UNSTABLE. PEOPLE SHOULD REMAIN ALERT TO
THE RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER.

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Tennessee, 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; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.