Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 1990

Tornado Warning 66, NWS Fort Worth, TX

May 27, 1990Clay County, Texas

NWS Fort Worth, TX issued this tornado warning at May 27, 1990, 5:28 PM CDT for Clay County, Texas. It was in force for 47 min. 4 reports 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, 5:28 PM CDT (22:28 UTC)
Expired
May 27, 1990, 6:15 PM CDT
In force
47 min
Issued by
NWS Fort Worth, TX
Area
Whole counties

County Clay County, TX

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, 5:30 PM CDTTornado F1Clay, TX
May 27, 5:35 PM CDTTornado F1Clay, TX
May 27, 6:00 PM CDTHail 0.88Clay, TX
May 27, 6:20 PM CDTHail 1Clay, TX

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

Stephenville/Cla, TX (KSEP), launched 12:00Z, 10.5 hours before the alert went out and 174 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, Stephenville/Cla, TX at 12:00Z on 1990-05-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Stephenville/Cla, TX at 12:00Z on 1990-05-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 290 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
NaN m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
38 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
290 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
272 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
2.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KSPS 272311 RRA
TORSPS
TXC077-272315-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA FALLS TX
528 PM CDT SUN MAY 27 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA FALLS HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  615 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS
 
   ...SOUTHERN CLAY COUNTY
 
A TORNADO WAS OBSERVED ON THE GROUND 15 MILES SOUTH OF HENRIETTA
MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.
 
 
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 27, 1:43 PM CDT, 3 hours 45 minutes before
TXZ031-037-032-272045-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WACO TX
142 PM CDT SUN MAY 27 1990

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR PERSON IN LEON COUNTY
UNTIL 400 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON...

AQT 130 PM CDT WACO WEATHER RADAR SHOWED NUMEROUS LIGHT TO MODERATE
SHOWERS AND SCATTERED STRONG TO VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IN AN AREA
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR PERSONS IN LEON COUNTY
UNTIL 400 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON...

AT 130 PM CDT WACO WEATHER RADAR SHOWED NUMEROUS MODERATE TO HEAVY
SHOWERS AND SCATTERED STRONG TO VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IN AN AREA
FROM SOUTH OF DALLAS TO CORSICANA TO FAIRFIELD TO 30 MILES NORTH OF
CROCKETT AND EAST INTO LOUISIANA.  ALL THE PRECIPITATION WAS MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

ALTHOUGH NO PRECIPITATION WAS OCCURRING IN CENTRAL OR SOUTHCENTRAL
TEXAS...WITH THEIR PRESENT MOVEMENT THE WESTERN PART OF THE
PRECIPITATION AREA MAY AFFECT HILL AND LIMESTONE COUNTIES DURING THE
NEXT HOR OR SO.  LATEST REPORTS FROM OTHER WEATHER OFFICIES AND
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TROOPERS IN THE FIELD SHOWED GUSTY WINDS
AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACCOMPANING THESE STORMS.  A GUST FRONT IS
LEADING THE AREA OF STORMS...WINDS ARE SHIFTING TO THE NORTHEAST AND
GUSTING TO 60 MPH IN SOME AREAS.  REPORTS OF TREES BLOWN DOWN AND
BRIEF FLASH FLOODING FROM HEAVY RAINS HAVE BEEN RECIEVED AS THESE
STORMS MOVED THROUGH PARTS OF NORTHEAST TEXAS EARLIER TODAY.  PERSONS
IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF
SEVERE WEATHER.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR T.V. STATIONS
FOR LATER STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.06
Special weather statement, May 27, 2:15 PM CDT, 3 hours 13 minutes before
TXZ031-037-032-272115-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WACO TX
215 PM CDT SUN MAY 27 1990

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR LEON COUNTY HAS BEEN CANCELLED...

THE WATCH AREA HAS BEEN REDEFINED AND NOW INCLUDES EAST AND SOUTHEAST
TEXAS.  HOWEVER MODERATE TO HEAVY SHOWERS AND SCATTERED STRONG TO VERY
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE IN AND AREA FROM WEST OF CORSICANA TO
EXTREME EASTERN LIMESTONE COUNTY EASTWARD TO CROCKETT AND INTO
LOUISIANA.  MOVEMENT OF ALL THE PRECIPITATION WAS SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

AT THIER PRESENT MOVEMENT SOME OF THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL
AFFECT PARTS OF LIMESTONE AND SOUTHERN HILL COUNTIES DURING THE NEXT
HOUR.  ALTHOUGH NO SEVERE WEATHER HAS BEEN REPORTED DURING THE PAST
HOUR THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GUSTY WIND...IN EXCESS OF
50 MPH...HAIL...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND BRIEF FLASH FLOODING OF LOW
LYING AND NORMALLY FLOOD PRONE AREAS SUCH AS LOW WATER CROSSINGS.
PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS ARE URGED TO 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 WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS.06
+
Special weather statement, May 27, 3:50 PM CDT, 1 hour 38 minutes before
TXZ031-037-032-272200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WACO TX
351 PM CDT SUN MAY 27 1990

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR
MUCH OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHCENTRAL TEXAS...

AT 340 PM CDT WACO WEATHER RADAR SHOWED SCATTERED SHOWERS AND A FEW
STRONG TO VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM NEAR MADISONVILLE TO
LIVINGSTON.  THESE STORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH.  ONLY LIGHT
TO MODERATE SHOWERS WERE OCCURRING IN PARTS OF MADISON COUNTY.  OTHER
STRONG TO VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE DEVELOPING IN AN AREA NEAR
BROWNWOOD...NO MOVEMENT HAD BEEN DETERMINED.

ALTHOUGH NO PRECIPITATION WAS OCCURRING IN CENTRAL TEXAS...CONDITIONS
REMAIN FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE WEATHER DEVELOPEMENT THROUGHOUT CENTRAL ANSOUTHCENTRAL TEXAS.  PERSONS IN OR NEAR THE WATCH AREA SHOULD REMAIN
ALERT TO CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER
RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS.06
Special weather statement, May 27, 3:59 PM CDT, 1 hour 29 minutes before
TXZ019>033-280300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
355 PM CDT SUN MAY 27 1990

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM FOR THE WESTERN PARTS OF
NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS. THE WATCH AREA IS BOUNDED BY WEATHERFORD...
COLLEGE STATION...FREDERICKSBURG AND ABILENE. THE CITIES OF ABILENE...
WEATHERFORD...MINERAL WELLS...AUSTIN...LLANO...TEMPLE AND WACO ARE IN
THE WATCH AREA. THE DALLAS FORT WORTH METROPLEX IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE
WATCH AREA.

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEAST TEXAS AND
ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS UNTIL 800 PM. THE WATCH AREA IS SOUTH AND EAST
OF A LINE FROM CENTER TO PALESTINE TO LIBERTY. THE CITIES OF PALESTINE
...RUSK AND LUFKIN ARE IN THE WATCH AREA.

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR NORTHEAST TEXAS AT 330
PM CDT.
THE FOCUS OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING WILL BE ALONG A COLD
FRONT THAT WAS PUSHING THROUGH NORTHCENTRAL TEXAS NEAR STEPHENVILLE
AND ALONG AN OUTFLOW BOUNDARY THAT WAS IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS. WARM AND
MOIST AIR FROM THE SOUTH WAS COLLIDING INTO THE FRONT AND BOUNDARY
PROVIDING THE NECESSARY FUEL FOR THE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS.

AT 355 PM...WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A THUNDERSTORM OVER LAKE BROWNWOOD
IN BROWN COUNTY THAT DEVELOPED IN THE LAST HOUR. THIS STORM HAS THE
POTENTIAL TO BECOME SEVERE DURING THE NEXT HALF HOUR. ALSO... A LINE
OF SHOWERS WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS STRETCHED FROM LIVINGSTON TO
GROESBECK TO HAMILTON MOVING SOUTH.

RESIDENTS IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS SHOULD MONITOR WEATHER CONDITIONS
CLOSELY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR RAPID THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT.
SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL SHOULD REMAIN ON ALERT FOR
POSSIBLE ACTIVATION.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENT AND WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, May 27, 4:43 PM CDT, 45 minutes before
TXZ024>026-029>031-280300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
440 PM CDT SUN MAY 27 1990

...A TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL AND
SOUTHWESTERN PART OF NORTH TEXAS UNTIL 1000 PM CDT.  THE WATCH AREA IS
BOUNDED BY WEATHERFORD...COLLEGE STATION...FREDERICKSBURG AND ABILENE.
THE CITIES OF ABILENE...WEATHERFORD...MINERAL WELLS...AUSTIN...LLANO...
TEMPLE AND WACO ARE IN THE WATCH AREA.  THE DALLAS/FORT WORTH METROPLEX
IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE TORNADO WATCH...

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR THE SOUTHEAST PART
OF NORTH TEXAS.  HOWEVER...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT
FOR THE EXTREME SOUTHERN PART OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL
WATERS UNTIL 800 PM CDT.

AT 435 PM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED IN BROWN COUNTY...IN
THE VICINITY OF BROWNWOOD...BANGS AND CAMP BOWIE.  MOVEMENT WAS GENERALLY
TO THE SOUTHEAST AROUND 20 MPH.

RESIDENTS IN COMANCHE COUNTY SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE WEATHER
CONDITIONS CLOSELY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING IN CASE THE THUNDERSTORMS
NOW IN BROWN COUNTY TAKE ON AN EASTWARD MOVEMENT.  SPOTTERS AND
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL SHOULD REMAIN ON ALERT FOR POSSIBLE
ACTIVATION.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, May 27, 5:13 PM CDT, 15 minutes before
TXZ031-037-032-272310-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WACO TX
515 PM CDT SUN MAY 27 1990

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR
MUCH OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHCENTRAL TEXAS...

AT 510 PM CDT A LIGHT SHOWER WAS INDICATED OVER BRAZOS COUNTY 5 MILES
NORTHEAST OF COLLEGE STATION.  ELSEWHERE A LARGE THUNDERSTORM WAS
PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN OVER SOUTHERN BROWN COUNTY SOUTH OF
BROWNWOOD.  MOVMENT WAS SOUTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.

ALTHOUGH NO PRECIPITATION WAS OCCURRING IN CENTRAL TEXAS...CONDITIONS
REMAIN FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE WEATHER DEVELOPEMENT THROUGHOUT CENTRAL AN
SOUTHCENTRAL TEXAS.  PERSONS IN OR NEAR THE WATCH AREA SHOULD REMAIN
ALERT TO CHAN5GING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER
RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Fort Worth, TX issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 26, 7:26 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDHill64 min
May 26, 8:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDHill32 min
May 27, 12:52 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDMontague53 min
May 27, 1:32 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDCooke58 min
May 27, 4:07 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDFannin, Hunt53 min
May 27, 3:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDBrown63 min
May 27, 5:02 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDBrown58 min
May 27, 5:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDBrown65 min
May 27, 6:12 PM CDTTornado WarningFWDMontague48 min
May 27, 6:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDParker, Wise60 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; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.