Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 1990

Tornado Warning 17, NWS Lake Charles, LA

May 27, 1990Orange County, Texas

NWS Lake Charles, LA issued this tornado warning at May 27, 1990, 5:14 PM CDT for Orange County, Texas. It was in force for 46 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 27, 1990, 5:14 PM CDT (22:14 UTC)
Expired
May 27, 1990, 6:00 PM CDT
In force
46 min
Issued by
NWS Lake Charles, LA
Area
Whole counties

County Orange 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

Lake Charles Mun, LA (KLCH), launched 12:00Z, 10.2 hours before the alert went out and 67 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, Lake Charles Mun, LA at 12:00Z on 1990-05-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2818 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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, Lake Charles Mun, LA at 12:00Z on 1990-05-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 80 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
2818 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-7 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
563 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
80 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
141 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.9
Supercell composite
4.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KBPT 272214
TORBPT
TXC361-272300-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORT ARTHUR TX
514 PM CDT SUN MAY 27 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PORT ARTHUR HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  600 PM CDT
FOR PERSONS IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES
 
IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS
 
   ...ORANGE COUNTY
 
THE PUBLIC HAS REPORTED A TORNADO NEAR MAURICEVILLE IN NORTHERN ORNAGE
COUNTY AT 500 PM CDT.
 
AT 500 M CDT...RADAR SHOWS STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING SOUTHEAST INTO
ORANGE COUNTY WITH STRONG DAMAGING WINDS.
 
TAKE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.
 
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 BAYSEMENT 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.
 
NNNN

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, 12:25 PM CDT, 4 hours 49 minutes before
LAZ005-006-007-008-011-012-271830-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
1225 PAM CDT SUN MAY 27 1990

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF NORTHERN AND
CENTRAL LOUISIANA UNTIL 400 PM..THE WATCH INCLUDES GRANT AND LA SALLE
PARISHES IN CENTRAL LOUISIANA...

AT 1225 PM...SCATTERED SHOWERS...PATCHES OF RAIN...AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS
WERE DEVELOPING OVER PORTIONS OF CENTRAL LOUISIANA...MAINLY WEST THROUGH
NORTH AND ALSO NORTHEAST OF ALEXANDRIA AND EXTENDING INOT SOUTHWEST
MISSISSIPPI.

LITTLE MOVEMENT WAS INDICATED AT THIS TIME.
Special weather statement, May 27, 1:27 PM CDT, 3 hours 47 minutes before
TXZ033-272030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORT ARTHUR TX
127 PM CDT SUN MAY 27 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN THE EAST TEXAS LAKES REGION...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 331 REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTHERN
PORTIONS OF THE EAST TEXAS LAKES REGION UNTIL 400 PM CDT.

A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVING SOUTHEAST INTO THE EAST TEXALAKES REGION AT 115 PM CDT.  THE LINE WAS FROM NEAR CROCKETT EASTWARD
ACROSS NORTHERN NACOGDOCHES AND SHELBY COUNTIES INTO WEST LOUISIANA.
THIS LINE IS MOVING SOUTHEAST NEAR 35 MPH.

THERE WILL STRONG GUSTY WINDS...HEAVY RAINS...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING
ASSOCIATED WITH THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS

BOATERS ON LAKE rSAM RAYBURN AND ON TOLEDO BEND RESERVIOR SHOULD HEAD
FOR SHORE AT THE FIRST SIGN OF THIS APPROACHING LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS.
Special weather statement, May 27, 1:34 PM CDT, 3 hours 40 minutes before
LAZ005-006-007-008-011-012-271930-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
125 PM CDT SUN MAY 27 1990

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF NORTHERN AND
CENTRAL LOUISIANA UNTIL 400 PM..THE WATCH INCLUDES GRANT AND LA SALLE
PARISHES IN CENTRAL LOUISIANA...

AT 125 PM...SCATTERED SHOWERS...PATCHES OF RAIN...AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS
SOME WITH STRONG WINDS AND HEAVY RAINS CONTINUED TO DEVELOPED OVER
EASTERN TEXAS AND CENTRAL LOUISIANA. THIS AREA EXTENDED SOTH OF A
SHREVEPORT MONROE LINE TO JUST NORTH OF DERIDDER.

HEAVIEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE INDICATED WEST AND NORTHWEST OF THE NORTHERN
PORTIONS OF TOLEDO BEND RESERVOIR. THESE THUNDVERSTORMS HAVE PRODUCED WINDS
IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH IN SOME LOCATIONS IN TEXAS.

THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TOWARD THE SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH.
Special weather statement, May 27, 2:41 PM CDT, 2 hours 33 minutes before
LAZ005-006-007-008-011-012-272030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
230 PM CDT SUN MAY 27 1990

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF CENTRAL AND
SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA UNTIL 8 PM THIS SUNDAY EVENING.

AT 225 PM...A LINE...20 MILES WIDE...OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED
25 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MONROE ACROSS THE NORTHERN PORTIONS OF TOLEDO
BEND RESERVOIR AND THEN WESTWARD TO 75 MILES SOUTHEAST OF WACO TEXAS.

THE HEAVIEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE INDICATED BETWEEN LUFKIN AND TOLEDO BEND
RESERVOIR. SOME OF THESE STORMS HAS PRODUCED WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH
AND DOWNPOURS OF RAIN REDUCING VISIBILITIES TO ZERO.

THE LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE INTO THE NORTHERN PORTIONS
OF VERNON AND GRANT PARISHES WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR...AS IT MOVES
SOUTHEASTWARD AT 35 MPH.
.
ELSEWHERE...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH HEAVY RAINS
WERE INDICATED FROM JUST NORTH OF LAKE CHARLES TO ALEXANDRIA AND EASTWARD
TO JUST WEST OF BATON ROUGE.

MOVEMENT WAS TOWARD THE SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

PERSONS THROUGHOUT CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA SHOULD CONTINUE TO
MONITOR THE LATEST WEATHER DEVELOPMENT IN THE EVENT A WARNING IS
ISSUED AND RAPID ACTION IS REQUIRED.
Special weather statement, May 27, 3:32 PM CDT, 1 hour 42 minutes before
LAZ005-006-007-008-011-012-272130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
330 PM CDT SUN MAY 27 1990

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF CENTRAL AND
SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA UNTIL 8 PM THIS SUNDAY EVENING.

AT 325 PM...A BAND OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM LAKE LIVINGSTON
EASTWARD ACROSS THE NORTHERN PORTIONS OF VERNON AND GRANT PARISHES AND
EXTENDING NORTHEASTWARD INTO EXTREME SOUTHWEST MISSISSIPPI.

THE HEAVIEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE INDICATED BETWEEN LAKE LIVINGSTON AND THE
SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE TOLEDO BEND RESERVOIR. ALSO AN ISOLATED STORM
WAS ALSO INDICATED JUST WEST OF ALEXANDRIA.

THE LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE INTO THE NORTHERN PORTIONS
OF BEAUREGARD...ALLEN AND EVANGELINE PARISHES WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR AS IT
CONTINUES TO MOVE TOWARD THE SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH.
.
MARBLE TO CHERRY SIZE HAIL...ONE INCH OF RAIN WITHIN 20 MINUTES AND
WINDS GUSTING BETWEEN 40 TO 50 MPH WERE REPORTED AT JENA AS THE LINE
MOVED THROUGH.

ELSEWHERE...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH HEAVY RAINS
WERE INDICATED FROM JUST NORTH OF LAKE CHARLES TO ALEXANDRIA AND EASTWARD
TO JUST WEST OF BATON ROUGE.

MOVEMENT WAS TOWARD THE SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

PERSONS THROUGHOUT CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA SHOULD CONTINUE TO
MONITOR THE LATEST WEATHER DEVELOPMENT IN THE EVENT A WARNING IS
ISSUED AND RAPID ACTION IS REQUIRED.
Special weather statement, May 27, 4:45 PM CDT, 29 minutes before
LAZ005-006-007-008-011-012-272230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
435 PM CDT SUN MAY 27 1990

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF CENTRAL AND
SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA UNTIL 8 PM THIS SUNDAY EVENING.

AT 425 PM...A BAND OF SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS..WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN..
EXTENDED FROM MIDWAY BETWEEN ALEXANDRIA AND BATON ROUGE TO NEAR DE QUINCY
THEN WEST INTO TEXAS TO SOUTHWEST OF LAKE LIVINGSTON.

WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH WERE REPORTED IN SINGER LOUISIANA DURING THE PAST
HALF HOUR.

THIS BAND OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAIN..GUSTY
WINDS..DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND LOCAL STREET FLOODING ACROSS BEAUREGARD..
ALLEN..EVANGELINE..CALCASIEU..JEFF DAVIS..ACADIA..AND LAFAYETTE PARISHES
DURING THE NEXT HOUR AS THEY MOVE SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH.
<
ELSEWHERE...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH VERY HEAVY
RAIN.. WERE SHOWN FROM JUST SOUTH OF MONROE TO NORTHEAST OF BATON ROUGE
TO NEAR BATON ROUGE AND TO NORTH OF CONROE TEXAS.

MOVEMENT WAS TOWARD THE SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

PERSONS THROUGHOUT CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA SHOULD CONTINUE TO
MONITOR THE LATEST WEATHER STATEMENTS IN THE EVENT A WARNuING IS ISSUED
AND RAPID ACTION IS REQUIRED.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Lake Charles, LA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 27, 1:35 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHSabine, San Augustine55 min
May 27, 1:35 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHAngelina, Nacogdoches55 min
May 27, 4:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHHardin, Jasper58 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.