Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 1990
Tornado Warning 62, NWS Fort Worth, TX
NWS Fort Worth, TX issued this tornado warning at May 18, 1990, 8:23 PM CDT for McLennan County, Texas. It was in force for 67 min.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- May 18, 1990, 8:23 PM CDT (01:23 UTC)
- Expired
- May 18, 1990, 9:30 PM CDT
- In force
- 67 min
- Issued by
- NWS Fort Worth, TX
- Area
- Whole counties
County McLennan County, TX
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
Stephenville/Cla, TX (KSEP), launched 00:00Z, 1.4 hours before the alert went out and 113 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1878 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -1 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 619 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 41 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 225 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 376 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 3.4
- Supercell composite
- 21.9
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 TTAA00 KACT 190125 TORACT TXC309-190230- BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WACO TX 823 PM CDT FRI MAY 18 1990 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WACO HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 930 PM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS... IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS ...MCLENNAN COUNTY AT 823 PM CDT A POSSIBLE TORNADO WAS INDICATED BY RADAR BETWEEN MOODY AND EDDY MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR. A FUNNEL CLOUD WAS REPORTED BY KCEN TV 3 MILES WEST OF EDDY. THE TORNADO WARNING IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT FOR BELL COUNTY. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO...THE SAFEST PLACE IS A BASEMENT. GET UNDER 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.
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, May 18, 3:42 PM CDT, 4 hours 41 minutes before
TXZ031-037-182140- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WACO TX 340 PM CDT FRI MAY 18 1990 ...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CDT FOR BELL...BOSQUE... BRAZOS...CORYELL...FALLS...HILL...MCLENNAN...ROBERTSON...GRIMES... WASHINGTON AND MILAM COUNTIES OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHCENTRAL TEXAS... AT 335 PM CDT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED NORTH AND EAST OF A LINE FROM NORTHWEST OF HOUSTON TO NEAR GEORGETOWN TO 15 MILES EAST OF COMANCHE. THE AREA EXTENDED TO A LINE FROM NORTH OF HOUSTON TO NORTHWEST OF CROCKETT TO NEAR WAXAHACHIE. THE HEAVIEST RAIN WAS OCCURRING OVER ROBERTSON COUNTY NEAR FRANKLIN...OVER MCLENNAN COUNTY 10 MILES WEST OF WACO AND OVER NORTHEAST LEON COUNTY 20 MILES NORTHEAST OF CENTERVILLE. MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 20 MILES AN HOUR. PERSONS IN MCLENNAN...ROBERSTON AND LEON COUNTIES SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR VERY HEAVY RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEUATHER RADIO FOR THE LATEST IN WEATHER INFORMATION.
Special weather statement, May 18, 5:09 PM CDT, 3 hours 14 minutes before
TX026>027-031-182300- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX 505 PM CDT FRI MAY 18 1990 AT 500 PM...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A WIDESPREAD AREA OF SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...SOME PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAINS...WERE OCCURRING OVER A LARGE PART OF CENTRAL AND NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS. THIS AREA OF PRECIPITATION STRETCEHED FROM NEAR BROWNWOOD TO PALESTINE AND FROM AUSTIN ...NORTHWARD TO THE TEXAS-OKLAHOMA BORDER EAST OF SHERMAN. THE STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED OVER THE SOUTHEAST PART OF HILL COUNTY AND IN THE WESTERN PART OF NAVARRO COUNTY BETWEEN NAVARRO MILLS LAKE...SILVER CITY AND DAWSON. MOVEMENT WAS TO THE NORTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR. A TORNADO WAS SIGHTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE NORTHERN PART OF MCLENNAN COUNTY ON THE NORTH EDGE OF CHALK BLUFF AROUND 425 PM FROM THIS SAME COMPLEX OF STORMS MOVING INTO NAVARRO COUNTY. HOWEVER...THE THUNDERSTORMS APPEAR TO BE IN THEIR DISSIPATING STAGE AND ONLY PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN AT THE PRESENT TIME. PERSONS IN THE AREA ARE REMINDED THAT THE STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING BRIEF HEAVY RAINS...STRONG GUSTY SURFACE WINDS... DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND PERHAPS SOME SMALL HAIL. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...LOCAL RADIO OR T.V. FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.
Special weather statement, May 18, 6:43 PM CDT, 1 hour 40 minutes before
TXZ031-037-190040- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WACO TX 645 PM CDT FRI MAY 18 1990 ...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR BOSQUE COUNTY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT... ...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CDT FOR BELL...BOSQUE... BRAZOS...CORYELL...FALLS...HILL...MCLENNAN...ROBERTSON...GRIMES... WASHINGTON AND MILAM COUNTIES OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHCENTRAL TEXAS... AT 640 PM CDT THUNDERSTORMS WERE PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN OVER EXTREME EASTERN LIMESTONE COUNTY NORTHEAST OF MEXIA AND OVER EXTREME NORTHERN BOSQUE COUNTY 15 MILES NORTH OF MERIDIAN. ELSEWHERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN FROM 25 MILES SOUTHWEST OF AUSTIN TO 15 MILES SOUTHWEST OF JOHNSON CITY TO 15 MILES NORTHWEST OF BURNET. MOVEMENT EAST AT 20 MILES AN HOUR. < PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THUNDERSTORMS THAT COULD PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAIN...GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR THE LATEST IN WEATHER INFORMATION.
Special weather statement, May 18, 6:48 PM CDT, 1 hour 35 minutes before
TX027-032-033-190100- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX 645 PM CDT FRI MAY 18 1990 AT 640 PM...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH VERY HEAVY RAINS...WERE OVER PARTS OF NORTH CENTRAL AND MUCH OF NORTHEAST TEXAS GENERALLY EAST OF A SHERMAN TO FORT WORTH TO WACO LINE. THE STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER NORTHWEST FREESTONE COUNTY BETWEEN STREETMAN AND FAIRFIELD...AND IN ANDERSON COUNTY NORTH OF PALESTINE. ANOTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORM HAD DEVELOPED OVER THE SOUTHWEST PART OF VAN ZANDT COUNTY EAST OF MABANK. MOVEMENT OF ALL THE PRECIPITATION WAS GENERALLY TO THE NORTHEAST OF 35 MILES AN HOUR. THE STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS NOW OVER THE SOUTHEAST PART OF NORTHEAST TEXAS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS...STRONG GUSTY SURFACE WINDS ...DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND PERHAPS SOME SMALL HAIL. MOST OF THE STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD START TO DISSIPATE OR DECREASE IN INTENSITY AND AREAL COVERAGE AROUND SUNSET. IN THE MEAN TIME...STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...LOCAL RADIO OR T.V. FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.
Special weather statement, May 18, 6:55 PM CDT, 1 hour 28 minutes before
TX027-032-033-190100- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT ...CORRECTION FIRST PARAGRAPH... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX 645 PM CDT FRI MAY 18 1990 AT 640 PM...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH VERY HEAVY RAINS...WERE OVER PARTS OF NORTH CENTRAL AND MUCH OF NORTHEAST TEXAS GENERALLY EAST OF A SHERMAN TO FORT WORTH TO WACO LINE. THE STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER NORTHWEST FREESTONE COUNTY BETWEEN STREETMAN AND FAIRFIELD...AND IN ANDERSON COUNTY NORTH OF PALESTINE. ANOTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORM HAD DEVELOPED OVER THE SOUTHWEST PART OF VAN ZANDT COUNTY EAST OF MABANK. MOVEMENT OF ALL THE PRECIPITATION WAS GENERALLY TO THE NORTHEAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR. THE STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS NOW OVER THE SOUTHEAST PART OF NORTHEAST TEXAS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS...STRONG GUSTY SURFACE WINDS ...DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND PERHAPS SOME SMALL HAIL. MOST OF THE STRONGER THUNDERSTORM$S SHOULD START TO DISSIPATE OR DECREASE IN INTENSITY AND AREAL COVERAGE AROUND SUNSET. IN THE MEAN TIME...STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...LOCAL RADIO OR T.V. FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.
Special weather statement, May 18, 7:30 PM CDT, 53 minutes before
TXZ031-037-190230- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WACO TX 728 PM CDT FRI MAY 18 1990 ...THE TORNADO WATCH FOR CENTRAL AND SOUTHCENTRAL TEXAS WILL EXPIRE AT 800PM CDT.... AT 715 PM CDT WACO WEATHER RADAR SHOWED NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER A LARGE PORTION OF NORTHEAST TEXAS. MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. OTHER MODERATE SHOWERS AND SCATTERED STRONG TO VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN WERE NOTED THROUGH PARTS OF THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY NORTH AND WEST OF AUSTIN. ONE VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS IN BELL COUNTY BETWEEN TEMPLE AND KILLEEN. MOVEMENT OF THESE STORMS WAS NORTH AT 25 MPH. NO SEVERE WEATHER HAS BEEN REPORTED OR DETECTED BY RADAR DURING THE PAST HOUR OR SO...HOWEVER THE STORMS IN THE HILL COUNTRY ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN...GUSTY WIND...HAIL...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND POSSIBLE BRIEF FLASH FLOODING OF LOW LYING AND NORMALLY FLOOD PRONE AREAS SUCH AS LOW WATER CROSSINGS. PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THE STRONG STORMS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF SEVERE WEATHER FORMATION AND BE PREPARED TO SEEK SHELTER IF SEVERE WEATHER IS SIGHTED OR A WARNING IS ISSUED. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEAfTHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR T.V. STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.06
The office that day
Everything else NWS Fort Worth, TX issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 18, 7:00 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FWD | Freestone | 45 min |
| May 18, 7:43 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | FWD | Bell, McLennan | 47 min |
| May 18, 10:27 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FWD | Cherokee | 63 min |
| May 18, 10:52 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | FWD | Cherokee | 38 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Texas, 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.