Alert archive / Indiana / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 4, NWS Louisville, KY

May 15, 1990Harrison County, Indiana; Meade County, Kentucky

NWS Louisville, KY issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 15, 1990, 2:44 PM EDT for Harrison County, Indiana; Meade County, Kentucky. It was in force for 31 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
May 15, 1990, 2:44 PM EDT (18:44 UTC)
Expired
May 15, 1990, 3:15 PM EDT
In force
31 min
Issued by
NWS Louisville, KY
Area
Whole counties

Counties Harrison County, IN, Meade County, KY

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 15, 3:07 PM EDTThunderstorm Wind 0Meade, KY

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, 6.7 hours before the alert went out and 221 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 1990-05-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 126 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 1990-05-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 69 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
126 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-301 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1280 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
24 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
69 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
74 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 KSDF 151843
SVRSDF
INC061-KYC163-151915-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
244 PM EDT TUE MAY 15 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOUISVILLE HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  315 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
 
IN SOUTH INDIANA
          ...HARRISON
IN NORTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY
          ...MEADE
 
AT 240 PM EDT WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 30
MILES WEST OF LOUISVILLE NEAR ANDYVILLE IN MEADE COUNTY.
 
THE STORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH AND ITS TRACK WILL TAKE IT
INTO THE CITY OF CORYDON INDIANA BY 300 PM EDT.
 
LIGHTNING IS THE SINGLE WORST KILLER WITHIN A THUNDERSTORM
...SO STAY INDOORS AND AVOID USING ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES.
HEAVY RAINS FROM THUNDERSTORMS FLOOD ROADWAYS QUICKLY
...SO AVOID DRIVING INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.
 
KIRKPATRICK

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, May 15, 11:06 AM EDT, 3 hours 38 minutes before
INZ015-KYZ004-151700-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
1003 AM EDT TUE MAY 15 1990

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA...

AT 955 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT LOUISVILLE KENTUCKY
INDICATED SEVERAL STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL
INDIANA.  THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE 45 MILES NORTHEAST OF LOUISVILLE
KENTUCKY NEAR PAOLI INDIANA AND 60 MILES WEST OF LOUISVILLE JUST WEST
OF ENGLISH INDIANA.

THESE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH AND WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE
ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA AND OVER NORTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY NEAR THE
OHIO RIVER.

STRONG GUSTY WINDS...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS iAND
SMALL HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.  IF THREATENING WEATHER
APPROACHES MOVE TO A SAFE INDOOR SHELTER.  SHANKLIN
Special weather statement, May 15, 11:12 AM EDT, 3 hours 32 minutes before
INZ015-KYZ004-151700-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION TO TIME
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
1103 AM EDT TUE MAY 15 1990

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA...

AT 1055 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT LOUISVILLE KENTUCKY
INDICATED SEVERAL STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL
INDIANA.  THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE 45 MILES NORTHEAST OF LOUISVILLE
KENTUCKY NEAR PAOLI INDIANA AND 60 MILES WEST OF LOUISVILLE JUST WEST
OF ENGLISH INDIANA.

THESE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH AND WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE
ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA AND OVER NORTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY NEAR THE
OHIO RIVER.

STRONG GUSTY WINDS...DANGEROUS LIGHTNINnG...BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND
SMALL HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.  IF THREATENING WEATHER
APPROACHES MOVE TO A SAFE INDOOR SHELTER.  SHANKLIN
Special weather statement, May 15, 11:55 AM EDT, 2 hours 49 minutes before
KYZALL-151700-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
1154 AM EDT TUE MAY 15 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE OVER PARTS OF KENTUCKY TODAY...

VERY WARM...MOIST...AND UNSTABLE AIR HAD MOVED INTO KENTUCKY
DURING THE MORNING HOURS. THIS AIR WILL COMBINE WITH A SERIES OF
UPPER AIR SYSTEMS MOVING ACROSS THE OHIO VALLEY TO CAUSE
THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP OVER ALL BUT SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY TODAY.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL $BE POSSIBLE TODAY OVER THE WEST...
CENTRAL...AND NORTHEAST SECTIONS OF KENTUCKY TODAY.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR THE LATEST STATEMENTS ON THIS
WEATHER SITUATION.

GOETSCH
Special weather statement, May 15, 12:03 PM EDT, 2 hours 41 minutes before
INZ015-KYZ004-151700-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
1200 PM EDT TUE MAY 15 1990

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA...

AT 1150 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT LOUISVILLE KENTUCKY
INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM ABOUT 45 MILES SOUTHWEST
OF LOUISVILLE NEAR HARDINSBURG KENTUCKY TO 50 MILES NORTH OF LOUISVILLE
THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE 40 MILES WEST OF LOUSIVILLE NEAR LEAVENWORTH
INDIANA AND 45 MILES NORTHWEST OF LOUISVILLE NEAR LITTLE YORK INDIANA.

THESE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH AND WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE
ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA AND OVER NORTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY NEAR THE
OHIO RIVER.  THE STO+RMS SHOULD BEGIN ARRIVING IN THE LOUISVILLE
METROPOLITAN AREA AROUND 1 PM EDT.

STRONG GUSTY WINDS...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND
SMALL HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.  SHANKLIN
Special weather statement, May 15, 1:08 PM EDT, 1 hour 36 minutes before
INZ015-KYZ004-151900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
105 PM EDT TUE MAY 15 1990

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR MOST OF SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA TIL 8 PM EDT...
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA...

AT 1250 PM EDT...RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING
ABOUT 40 MILES SOUTHWEST OF LOUISVILLE NORTHEAST ALONG THE OHIO RIVER
THROUGH COVINGTON KENTUCKY.  THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE 25 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF LOUISVILLE JUST SOUTHEAST OF CORYDON INDIANA AND 15 MILES
NORTH OF LOUISVLLE NEAR CHARLESTOWN INDIANA.  PEA SIZE HAIL WAS
REPORTED IN BRANDENBURG KENTUCKY.

THESE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH AND WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE
ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA AND OVER NORTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY NEAR THE
OHIO RIVER....INCLUDING THE LOUISVILLE METROPOLITAN AREA.

A RISK OF FLOODING WILL CONTINUE OVER SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA WHERE
THE GREATEST RAINFALL HAS OCCURRED.

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOU SHOULD MOVE QUICKLY TO A SAFE
INDOOR SHELTER.  REPORT ANY SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NEAREST LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY FOR RELAY TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

SHANKLIN
Special weather statement, May 15, 2:19 PM EDT, 25 minutes before
INZ015-KYZ004-152000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
215 PM EDT TUE MAY 15 1990

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR MOST OF SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA TIL 8 PM EDT...

AT 210 PM EDT...RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS ABOUT 50 MILES
WIDE.  THE LEADING EDGE OF THIS AREA EXTENDED FROM JUST SOUTH OF
INDIANAPOLIS SOUTH TO JUST WEST OF LOUISVILLE KENTUCKY.  THE STRONGEST
THUNDERSTORM WAS 20 MILES WEST OF LOUISVILLE OR JUST SOUTH OF CORYDON
INDIANA IN HARRISON COUNTY INDIANA.  AT 200 PM EDT PEA SIZE HAIL WAS
REPORTED WITH THIS STORM NEAR WOLFE CREEK KENTUCKY IN NORTHERN MEADE
COUNTY KENTUCKY.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH AND WILL MOVE ACROSS
SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA AND NORTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY NEAR THE OHIO RIVER.

GUSTY WINDS....DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND SMALL HAIL REMAIN POSSIBLE WITH
THE STRONGEST STORMS.
>
HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL ALSO ACCOMPANY THE STRONGER STORMS AND MAY CAUSE
MINOR FLOODING OVER SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA WHERE THE HEAVIEST RAINS
HAVE FALLEN TODAY.

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOU SHOULD MOVE QUICKLY TO A SAFE
INDOOR SHELTER.  REPORT ANY SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NEAREST LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY FOR RELAY TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

SHANKLIN

The office that day

Everything else NWS Louisville, KY issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 15, 3:06 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKBullitt, Hardin, Jefferson39 min
May 15, 4:51 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKHardin, Larue39 min
May 15, 6:18 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKCasey, Taylor42 min
May 15, 6:32 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKGreen43 min
May 15, 7:02 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKCasey43 min
May 15, 7:19 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningLMKGreen116 min
May 15, 7:53 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKLincoln, Pulaski, Russell52 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Indiana, 1990Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Kentucky, 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.