Alert archive / Tennessee / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 312, NWS Atlanta, GA

August 22, 1990McMinn County, Tennessee

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 22, 1990, 2:53 PM EDT for McMinn County, Tennessee. It was in force for 52 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
Aug 22, 1990, 2:53 PM EDT (18:53 UTC)
Expired
Aug 22, 1990, 3:45 PM EDT
In force
52 min
Issued by
NWS Atlanta, GA
Area
Whole counties

County McMinn 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
Aug 22, 3:15 PM EDTThunderstorm Wind 0Mcminn, 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, 6.9 hours before the alert went out and 195 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 1990-08-22Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 703 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 1990-08-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 35 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
703 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-10 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
634 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
19 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
35 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
57 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KCHA 221854
SVRCHA
TNC107-221945-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHATTANOOGA TENNESSEE
253 PM EDT WED AUG 22 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHATTANOOGA TENNESSEE HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  345 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS
 
IN SOUTHEAST TENNESSEE
 
   ...MCMINN COUNTY
 
AT 250 PM EDT THE CHATTANOOGA WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM IN WESTERN MCMINN COUNTY...JUST TO THE WEST OF ATHENS.
 
THE STORM IS MOVING SLOWLY TO THE EAST...AND THERE MAY BE SOME
FLOODING IN FLOOD PRONE AREAS FROM THE VERY HEAVY RAINFALL.
 
RESIDENTS OF THE ATHENS TENNESSEE AREA SHOULD BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE
ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AS THIS STORM APPROACHES.
 
 
IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER FROM THE WEATHER IN A
STRONG BUILDING.  DAMAGING WIND...LARGE HAIL...VERY HEAVY RAIN...
AND DEADLY LIGHTNING ARE ALL POSSIBLE IN SEVERE THUNDERS1TORMS.
STAY INSIDE AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.

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, Aug 22, 10:26 AM EDT, 4 hours 27 minutes before
GAZ006-008-009-211600-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MACON GA
1025 AM EDT WED AUG 22 1990

...THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING TO NEAR SEVERE INTENSITY...

AT 1020 AM RADAR SHOWED NEWLY DEVELOPED THUNDERSTORMS APPROACHING
SEVERE INTENSITY 15 MILES NORTHWEST OF MACON NEAR THE CRAWFORD TO
MONROE TO BIBB COUNTY INTERSECTION. THE STORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST
15 MILES AN HOUR AND WILL BE NEAR THE CENTER OF MACON IN AN HOUR.
OTHER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS INCLUDING A FEW WITH VERY HEAVY
RAIN AND WIND GUSTS OVER 40 MILES AN HOUR EXTENDED IN A BROAD BAND
FROM NORTHEAST OF ALBANY TO HAWKINSVILLE TO NEAR DUBLIN AND TO NEAR
HELENA IN TELFAIR COUNTY. THIS LARGE BAND OF RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS
WAS MOVING EAST 10 MILES AN HOUR. BECAUSE IT IS MOVING SLOWLY IT WILL
CAUSE MINOR FLOODING OF LOW AREAS AS THE STORM SYSTEM PASSES. STAY
ALERT TO THIS STORM SYSTEM AS THE STORMS COULD INTENSIFY QUICKLY.
Local storm report, Aug 22, 12:11 PM EDT, 2 hours 42 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTA, GA
1205 PM WED AUG 22 1990

                     ...DELAYED REPORTS...

COUNTY......  HEARD COUNTY
LOCATION....  SOUTHWEST PORTION OF HEARD COUNTY ON HIGHWAY 219
SOURCE......  EMA
TIME........  718-734 PM EDT 8/21/90
TYPE STORM..  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
DAMAGE......  TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN AND ACROSS ROAD.
HAIL........  NONE REPORTED
INJURIES....  NONE REPORTED.
COSTS.......  UNKNOWN

COUNTY......  TROUP COUNTY
LOCATION....  LA GRANGE
SOURCE......  POLICE DEPT.
TIME........  ABOUT 8 PM
TYPE STORM..  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
DAMAGE......  TREES FELL ON TWO HOUSES.
HAIL........  NONE REPORTED.
INJURIES....  NONE REPORTED.
COSTS.......  UNKNOWN

COUNTY......  FLOYD COUNTY
LOCATION....  CAVE SPRING
SOURCE......  POLICE DEPT.
TIME........  ABOUT 6 PM
TYPE STORM..  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
DAMAGE......  MANY TREES DOWN ALL OVER TOWN. POWER WAS OUT ALL NIGHT
              LONG AND RESTORED ABOUT 8 30 AM.
HAIL........  NONE REPORTED.
INJURIES....  NONE REPORTED.
COSTS.......  UNKNOWN

COUNTY......  POLK COUNTY
LOCATION....  NORTH OF CEDARTOWN AND ALSO ESOM HILL AREA
SOURCE......  SHERIFF
TIME........  545 - 600 PM
TYPE STORM..  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
DAMAGE......  TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN ON ROADS.
HAIL........  NONE REPORTED.
INJURIES....  NONE REPORTED.
COSTS.......  UNKNOWN
Special weather statement, Aug 22, 12:35 PM EDT, 2 hours 18 minutes before
GAZ006-008-009-211900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MACON GA
1235 PM EDT WED AUG 22 1990

AT 1230 PM RADAR SHOWED NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND SEVERAL THUNDERSTORMS MOVING
THROUGH CENTRAL GEORGIA FROM COLUMBUS TO ROBERTA IN CRAWFORD COUNTY THROUGH
THE BIBB TO TWIGGS TO WILKINSON COUNTIES AREA AND ON EAST TO AUGUSTA.
ANOTHER LARGE AREA OF RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS COVERED MUCH OF SOUTH CENTRAL
AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA FROM OGLETHORPE IN MACON COUNTY TO DUBLIN TO
SYLVANIA AND SOUTH TO SAVANNAH TO ALMA AND BACK TO NEAR ALBANY.
THE STORMS WITH THE HEAVIEST RAIN WERE 15 MILES WEST OF ROBERTA IN
CRAWFORD COUNTY AND 10 MILES NORTH OF FITZGERALD IN BEN HILL COUNTY.

NEARLY ALL THE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MILES AN HOUR  AND WILL
PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAIN WITH POSSIBLE FLOODING OF LOW AREAS AND SOME
STREET FLOODING.
Special weather statement, Aug 22, 1:06 PM EDT, 1 hour 47 minutes before
GAZ005-ALZ012
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBUS GA
105 PM EDT WED AUG 22 1990

...THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING IN WEST GEORGIA AND EAST ALABAMA...

AT 100 PM EDT  COLUMBUS WEATHER RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF NUMEROUS
SHOWERS AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM NEAR WARM SPRINGS
GEORGIA SOUTHWEST TO PHENIX CITY...AUBURN AND TUSKEGEE ALABAMA.
MOVEMENT WAS EAST ABOUT 12 MPH.

RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA AND EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
INCLUDING THE COLUMBUS METROPOLITAN AREA...SHOULD BE ON THE ALERT FOR
THE NEXT FEW HOURS FOR THREATENING WEATHER.  THE LARGER STORMS WILL
LIKELY CONTAIN STRONG GUSTY WINDS...VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING AND POSSIBLE SMALL HAIL.
Special weather statement, Aug 22, 1:19 PM EDT, 1 hour 34 minutes before
GAZ005-ALZ012-221930-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION FOR HEADING ONLY.
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBUS GA
105 PM EDT WED AUG 22 1990

...THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING IN WEST GEORGIA AND EAST ALABAMA...

AT 100 PM EDT  COLUMBUS WEATHER RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF NUMEROUS
SHOWERS AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM NEAR WARM SPRINGS
GEORGIA SOUTHWEST TO PHENIX CITY...AUBURN AND TUSKEGEE ALABAMA.
MOVEMENT WAS EAST ABOUT 12 MPH.

RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA AND EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
INCLUDING THE COLUMBUS METROPOLITAN AREA...SHOULD BE ON THE ALERT FOR
THE NEXT FEW HOURS FOR THREATENING WEATHER.  THE LARGER STORMS WILL
LIKELY CONTAIN STRONG GUSTY WINDS...VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING AND POSSIBLE SMALL HAIL.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Atlanta, GA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 22, 3:42 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBradley48 min

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.