Alert archive / Nebraska / Tornado Warnings in 1990

Tornado Warning 2, NWS Hastings, NE

March 13, 1990Buffalo County, Hall County, Howard County, Nebraska

NWS Hastings, NE issued this tornado warning at Mar 13, 1990, 4:47 PM CST for Buffalo County, Hall County, Howard County, Nebraska. It was in force for 28 min. 2 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
Mar 13, 1990, 4:47 PM CST (22:47 UTC)
Expired
Mar 13, 1990, 5:15 PM CST
In force
28 min
Issued by
NWS Hastings, NE
Area
Whole counties

Counties Buffalo County, NE, Hall County, NE, Howard County, NE

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
Mar 13, 5:10 PM CSTTornado F3Buffalo, NE
Mar 13, 5:20 PM CSTTornado F3Hall, NE

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

N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE (KLBF), launched 12:00Z, 10.8 hours before the alert went out and 160 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, N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE at 12:00Z on 1990-03-13Temperature 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°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE at 12:00Z on 1990-03-13The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 401 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1036 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
93 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
401 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
628 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KGRI 132247
TORGRI
NEC019-079-093-132315-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED/EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED 
TORNADO WARNING 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND ISLAND NE
447 PM CST TUE MAR 13 1990

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING 
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 515 PM CST FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING 
COUNTIES

   IN THE SOUTH CENTRAL PART OF NEBRASKA
      EASTERN BUFFALO...WESTERN HALL...

   IN THE CENTRAL PART OF NEBRASKA
      SOUTHERN HOWARD...

AT 445 PM CST...A TORNADO WAS REPORTED ON THE GROUND 2 TO 3 MILES
NORTH OF SHELTON.  THE TORNADO WAS MOVING NORTH NORTHEAST AT 50 MILES
AN HOUR AND WILL LIKELY AFFECT WOOD RIVER AND CAIRO BEFORE 5 PM

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO TAKE SHELTER IN A BASEMENT
OR BELOW GROUND.  OTHERWISE GO TO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE
LOWEST FLOOR.  ABANDON CARS AND MOBILE HOMES FOR A REINFORCED
BUILDING.

PEOPLE IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO SHOULD TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY
TO SAVE YOUR LIVES.

 OmEB/JBS

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, Mar 13, 11:44 AM CST, 5 hours 3 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND ISLAND NE
1140 AM CST TUE MAR 13 1990

...TORNADO WATCH FOR PARTS OF SOUTHCENTRAL AND EASTERN NEBRASKA UNTIL
   600 PM CST...

AT 1130 AM CST...GRAND ISLAND RADAR SHOWED NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS IN A 50 MILE WIDE AREA EXTENDING FROM NORTHEAST THROUGH
SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA...AND INTO NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS.  THE
STRONGEST THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 25 MILES SOUTHEAST OF GRAND ISLAND
NEAR STOCKHAM.  STRONG GUSTY WINDS...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...AND SOME
SMALL HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

OTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WER IN A 15 MILE WIDE AREA EXTENDING FROM
JUST SOUTH OF KEARNEY TO NEAR YORK.  ALL OF THE SHOWfERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING RAPIDLY NORTHEAST AT 45 MILES AN HOUR.

STAY TUNED TO LOCAL RADIO AND TV STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND
POSSIBLE WARNINGS.                                        SULLIVAN
Special weather statement, Mar 13, 12:40 PM CST, 4 hours 7 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND ISLAND NE
1240 PM CST TUE MAR 13 1990

...TORNADO WATCH FOR PARTS OF SOUTHCENTRAL AND EASTERN NEBRASKA UNTIL
   600 PM CST...

AT 1230 AM CST...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED ACROSS PART OF
CENTRAL AND MUCH OF EASTERN NEBRASKA...EXTNEDING INTO NORTHEAST KANSAS.
THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS AT THAT TIME WERE 20 MILES SOUTH SOUTHEAST
OF COLUMBUS...15 MILES EAST OF YORK...AND 5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF YORK.
THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING BRIEF HEAVY RAIN...GUSTY
WINDS TO NEAR 50 MILES AN HOUR...SMALL HAIL...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING VERY RAPIDLY NORTH NORTHEAST AT 50 MILES
AN HOUR.

OTHER THUNDERSTORMS WERE FROM 35 TO 50 MILES NORTH OF GRAND ISLAND...
JUST WEST OF COLUMBUS...AND FROM 50 MILES SOUTHEAST TO 15 MILES EAST OF
LINCOLN.  THESE WERS ALSO MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MILES AN HOUR AND WERE
PRODUCING DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...GUSTY WINDS...AND BRIEF HEAVY RAIN.

NUMEROUS LIGHTER SHOWERS WERE OCCURING ACROSS THE EASTERN ONE-THIRD OF
NEBRASKA...EAST OF A LINE FROM O'NEILL TO TO THE KANSAS BORDER SOUTH OF
HASTINGS.

SULLIVAN
Special weather statement, Mar 13, 1:42 PM CST, 3 hours 5 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND ISLAND NE
140 PM CST TUE MAR 13 1990

...TORNADO WATCH FOR PARTS OF SOUTHCENTRAL AND EASTERN NEBRASKA UNTIL
   600 PM CST...

AT 130 PM CST...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO MOVE RAPIDLY
NORTHEAST ACROSS EASTEERN NEBRASKA...WITH A SMALLER AREA OF SHOWERS IN
THE CENTHRAL AND NORTH CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE.

THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA...20 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF LINCOLN (OR 5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SYRACUSE)...AND 25 MILES
EAST OF BEATRICE.  THESE STORMS WERE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING BRIEF HEAVY
RAIN...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...GUSTY WINDS TO NEAR 50 MILES AN HOUR...
OND POSSIBLY SOME HAIL.  THEY WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 50 MILES
AN HOUR.

OTHER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN A 50 TO 70 MILE WIDE AREA THAT
WAS CENTERED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM YANKTON SOUTH DAKOTA...TO 40
MILES SOUTHEAST OF BEATRICE.  THE HEAVIEST RAINS IN THIS AREA WERE
30 MILES NORTHWEST OF NORFOLK...20 MILES NORTHEAST AND AND 10 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF COLUMBUS...AND 15 MILES EAST OF LINCOLN.

A SMALLER AREA OF SCATTERED SHOWERS WERE IN A 40 MILE WIDE AREA TO THE
EAST OF A LINE FROM AINSWORTH OT BROKEN BObW.

ALL OF THE PRECIPTITATION WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MILES AN HOUR.

SULLIVAN
Special weather statement, Mar 13, 2:18 PM CST, 2 hours 29 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND ISLAND NE
215 PM CST TUE MAR 13 1990

...TORNADO WATCH FOR PARTS OF SOUTHCENTRAL AND EASTERN NEBRASKA UNTIL
   600 PM CST...

AN ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM HAS DEVELOPED RAPIDLY OVER THE PAST ONE HALF
HOUR IN NORTHERN KANSAS.  THIS STORM IS MOVING RAPIDLY NORTHEAST AT
50 MILES AN HOUR AND WILL BE MOVING OVER THE HARLAN COUNTY RESERVOIR
BY 230 PM CST.  AT 210 PM...THE STORM WAS 20 MILES NORTHEAST OF HILL CITY
KANSAS.

THIS STORM WILL LIKELY INTENSIFY FURTHER AS TIME PROGRESSES.  REMEMBER...
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND DO PRODUCE TORNADOES WITH LITLLE OR NO
ADVANCE WARNING.  IF YOU LIVE IN HARLAN COUNTY IN SOURHTERN NEBRASKA...
YOU SHOULD PREPARE TO TAKE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY IF THIS STORM BECOMES
SEVERE.

SULLIVAN
Special weather statement, Mar 13, 2:33 PM CST, 2 hours 14 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND ISLAND NE
230 PM CST TUE MAR 13 1990

...TORNADO WATCH FOR PARTS OF SOUTHCENTRAL AND EASTERN NEBRASKA UNTIL
   600 PM CST...

AN ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM IN EXTREME NORTHERN KANSAS AT 225 PM CST WILL
BE MOVING INTO SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA BY 245 PM... AND WILL LIKELY
CROSS THE HARLAN RESERVOIR RECREATIONAL AREA.  THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF
PRODUCING VERY STRONG WINDS TO 50 MILES AN HOUR...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND
SOME HAIL IN ADDITION TO BRIEF VERY HEAVY RAIN.  THE STORM WAS MOVING
MORHTEAST AT 50 MILES AN HOUR.

IF YOU ARE IN THE VICINITY OF HARLAN RESERVOIR...YOU SHOULD STAY ALERT
TO THIS STORM AND TAKE SHELTER SHOULD THREATENING CONDITIONS APPROACH
YOU.  ALL BOATERS ON HARLAN RESERVOIR SHOULD MOVE TO SHORE UNTIL THE
STORM PASSES.

OTHER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSHOWERS WERE IN A 40 MILE WIDE ARE LOCATED
ALONG THE MISSOURI RIVER IN EXTREME EASTERN NEBRASKA.  THESE WERE ALSO
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.
SULLIVAN
Special weather statement, Mar 13, 3:44 PM CST, 1 hour 3 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND ISLAND NE
340 PM CST TUE MAR 13 1990

...TORNADO WATCH FOR PARTS OF SOUTHCENTRAL AND EASTERN NEBRASKA UNTIL
   600 PM CST...

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED MOVING RAPIDLY NORTHEAST THROUGH SOUTH
CENTRAL NEBRASKA THIS AFTERNOON...AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE REDEVELOPING IN
THE SOUTHEAST PART OF THE STATE.

AT 335 PM CST...GRAND ISLAND RADAR SHOWED THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORM
45 MILES SOUTHWEST OF GRAND ISLAND NEAR ODESSA.  OTHER STRONG STORMS
WERE 20 MILES SOUTHEAST OF HOLDREDGE NEAR HILDRETH...AND IN A 10 MILE
WIDE LINE FROM 5 MILES EAST OF BEATRICE...TO 20 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
LINCOLN.

ALL OF THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MILES
AN HOUR.
SULLIVAN

The office that day

Everything else NWS Hastings, NE issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 13, 2:37 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGIDHarlan48 min
Mar 13, 4:23 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGIDBuffalo22 min
Mar 13, 4:34 PM CSTTornado WarningGIDBuffalo11 min
Mar 13, 5:04 PM CSTTornado WarningGIDAdams, Clay, Webster26 min
Mar 13, 5:16 PM CSTTornado WarningGIDBuffalo, Hall, Howard29 min
Mar 13, 5:16 PM CSTTornado WarningGIDKearney29 min
Mar 13, 5:33 PM CSTTornado WarningGIDAdams, Clay, Nuckolls, Webster27 min
Mar 13, 5:47 PM CSTTornado WarningGIDBuffalo, Hall, Howard, Merrick28 min
Mar 13, 5:47 PM CSTTornado WarningGIDGreeley, Nance28 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Nebraska, 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.