Alert archive / Missouri / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 41, NWS St. Louis, MO

May 16, 1990Jefferson County, Missouri

NWS St. Louis, MO issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 16, 1990, 3:33 AM CDT for Jefferson County, Missouri. It was in force for 27 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 16, 1990, 3:33 AM CDT (08:33 UTC)
Expired
May 16, 1990, 4:00 AM CDT
In force
27 min
Issued by
NWS St. Louis, MO
Area
Whole counties

County Jefferson County, MO

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

Paducah/Barkley, KY (KPAH), launched 00:00Z, 8.6 hours before the alert went out and 209 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, Paducah/Barkley, KY at 00:00Z on 1990-05-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1196 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, Paducah/Barkley, KY at 00:00Z on 1990-05-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 88 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
1196 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-25 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1228 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
88 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
286 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.8
Supercell composite
7.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KSTL 160837
SVRSTL
MOC099-160900-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
333 AM CDT WED MAY 16 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ST LOUIS HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  400 AM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...
 
IN EAST CENTRAL MISSOURI
          ...SOUTHERN JEFFERSON
 
AT 335 AM CDT RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM JUST WEST OF DE
SOTO OR ABOUT 40 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ST LOUIS. THIS STORM IS MOVING TO
THE EAST 40 MPH.
 
 
A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA.  REMEMBER
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES
WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING.  REMAIN CALM BUT BE ALERT TO
RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS.
 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55
MPH...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.
FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.  HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO
DON'T DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.

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 16, 12:51 AM CDT, 2 hours 42 minutes before
MOZALL-160630-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY...CORRECTION...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
1235 AM CDT WED MAY 16 1990

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM CENTRAL MISSOURI TO CENTRAL
ILLINOIS UNTIL 5 AM CDT WEDNESDAY....
...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS POSTED FOR MOST OF MISSOURI INTO
CENTRAL ILLINOIS UNTIL 11 AM CDT WEDNESDAY...

AT 1227 AM CDT...INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WERE OCCURRING FROM CENTRAL
MISSOURI INTO SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS.

THIS BAND OF STORMS STRETCHED FROM NEAR COLUMBIA MISSOURI TO 30 MILES
WEST OF SPRINGFIELD ILLINOIS. THEY COULD PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE
HAIL AS WELL AS TORRENTIAL RAINS THAT MAY CAUSE SOME FLOODING. THE
STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR.

OTHER THUNDERSTORMS WERE COVERING MUCH OF THE NORTH HALF OF MISSOURI
AND ACROSS CENTRAL ILLINOIS. LIGHTER SHOWERS WERE OVER SOUTHEAST
MISSOURI AND SOUTHERN ILLINOIS.

PERSONS IN THE VICINITY OF THE STORNGER STORMS SHOULDt BE ON THE
LOOKOUT FOR ANY SEVERE WEATHER AND POSSIBLE FLOODING SITUATIONS.
DH
Special weather statement, May 16, 1:11 AM CDT, 2 hours 22 minutes before
MOZ009-010-011-013-014-160700-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA MO
110 AM CDT WED MAY 16 1990

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE ACROSS MID-MISSOURI AT 1 AM...

AT 1 AM STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN A LINE FROM 5 MILES SOUTH OF
SEDALIA THROUGH JEFFERSON CITY TO HERMANN.  HAIL AND STRONG WINDS MAY
ACCOMPANY THESE STORMS.  OTHER THUNDERSTORMS WERE NORTH OF THIS LINE.
ALL OF THE STORMS WILL PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING AS THEY MOVE EAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR.

IF LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING IN YOUR AREA...STAY INSIDE A BUILDING OR CAR.
IF YOU ARE DRIVING...SLOW DOWN AND WATCH FOR FLOODED SPOTS IN THE ROAD.
DO NOT CROSS WHERE WATER IS FLOWING OVER THE ROADWAY.  IF STRONG WINDS
OR HAIL ARE OCCURRING WHERE YOU ARE...GET INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING AND
STAY THERE UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.
GOEBEL
Special weather statement, May 16, 2:21 AM CDT, 1 hour 12 minutes before
MOZ009-010-011-013-014-160800-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA MO
220 AM CDT WED MAY 16 1990

...THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DEVELOPED IN WEST PART OF CENTRAL MISSOURI...

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS HAVE RAPIDLY DEVELOPED OVER WESTERN SECTIONS OF
CENTRAL MISSOURI.  AT 215 AM THE STORMS WERE IN A LINE FROM 10 MILES
NORTH OF COLUMBIA TO JUST WEST OF SEDALIA.  HAIL AND STRONG WINDS MAY
ACCOMPANY THESE STORMS.  IF YOU ARE IN PETTIS...HOWARD...COOPER OR
BOONE COUNTY STAY INDOORS IF POSSIBLE UNTIL THE STORMS HAVE PASSED.

THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING WERE OVER OSAGE
COUNTY AND WILL BE MOVING THROUGH GASCONADE COUNTY BEFORE 3 AM.  ALL
OF THE STORMS IN CENTRAL 2MISSOURI WERE MOVING EAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR.

A TORNADO WATCH AND A FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUE OVER ALL OF THIS AREA.
SLOW DOWN IF YOU ARE DRIVING AND DO NOT CROSS FLOODED ROADS.
GOEBEL
Special weather statement, May 16, 2:44 AM CDT, 49 minutes before
MOZALL-160830-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
240 AM CDT WED MAY 16 1990

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM CENTRAL MISSOURI TO CENTRAL
ILLINOIS UNTIL 5 AM CDT WEDNESDAY....
...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS POSTED FOR MOST OF MISSOURI INTO
CENTRAL ILLINOIS UNTIL 11 AM CDT WEDNESDAY...

AT 228 AM CDT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE OCCURRING FROM EAST CENTRAL
MISSOURI INTO SOUTHERN ILLINOIS.

THIS BAND OF STORMS STRETCHED FROM 50 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ST LOUIS TO
NEAR MATTOON IN EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS. THESE STORMS HAVE A HISTORY OF
STRONG GUSTY WINDS...TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS...AND HAIL. FLOODING MAY
RESULT FROM THE STORMS IN STREETS AND LOW AREAS AS THEY MOVE TO THE
EAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR.

OTHER THUNDERSTORMS AND SHOWERS WERE IN A LARGE AREA FROM CENTRAL
MISSOURI ACROSS MUCH OF THE SOUTHERN TWO-THIRDS OF ILLINOIS.

PERSONS IN THE VICINITY OF THE STORNGER STORMS SHOULD BE ON THE
LOOKOUTR FOR ANY SEVERE WEATHER AND POSSIBLE FLOODING SITUATIONS.
DH
Special weather statement, May 16, 3:11 AM CDT, 22 minutes before
MOZ009-010-011-013-014-160900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA MO
310 AM CDT WED MAY 16 1990

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN AUDRAIN AND BOONE COUNTIES AT 3 AM...

THUNDERSTORMS WITH TORRENTIAL RAIN AND INCESSANT LIGHTNING WERE OVER
AUDRAIN AND BOONE COUNTIES...INCLUDING THE CITY OF COLUMBIA AT 3 AM.
HAIL AND STRONG WINDS MAY ALSO ACCOMPANY THESE STORMS.  IF YOU ARE IN
AUDRAIN...BOONE OR CALLAWAY COUNTY STAY INDOORS IF POSSIBLE UNTIL THE
STORMS HAVE PASSED.  THE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR.

SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER WESTERN SECTIONS OF CENTRAL
MISSOURI AROUND SEDALIA AND THE TRUMAN RESERVOIR AT 3 AM...MOVING EAST.
A TORNADO WATC|H AND A FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUE OVER ALL OF THIS AREA.
SLOW DOWN IF DRIVING IN MID-MISSOURI AND DO NOT CROSS FLOODED ROADS.
GOEBEL
Special weather statement, May 16, 3:13 AM CDT, 20 minutes before
MOZALL-ILZ009>012-160830-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
305 AM CDT WED MAY 16 1990

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM CENTRAL MISSOURI TO CENTRAL
ILLINOIS UNTIL 5 AM....
...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS POSTED FOR MOST OF MISSOURI INTO
CENTRAL ILLINOIS UNTIL 11 AM CDT WEDNESDAY...

AT 3 AM THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN...STRONG WINDS AND
SOME HAIL EXTENDED ACROSS SOUTHERN ILLINOIS INTO EAST CENTRAL
MISSOURI...FROM 20 MILES EAST OF EFFINGHAM ILLINOIS TO AROUND
CENTRALIA ILLINOIS TO 30 MILES SOUTH OF ST LOUIS...AND 50 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF ST LOUIS.

WIND DAMAGE WAS REPORTED TO A HOME JUST NORTHWEST OF EFFINGHAM
ILLINOIS AS ONE OF THESE STORMS MOVED THROUGH THAT AREA AROUND 230 AM.
ANOTHER REPORT OF WIND DAMAGE WAS RECEIVED FROM NEAR DIETERICH ILLINOIS
IN EFFINGHAM COUNTY JUST BEFORE 3 AM.  GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED
AT EDWARDSVILLE ILLINOIS...20 MILES NORTHEAST OF ST LOUIS JUST
BEFORE 2 AM.

THE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST SOUTHEAST AT 40 MPH...PUSHING
FARTHER INTO SOUTHEAST AND SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AND THE COUNTIES JUST
SOUTH OF ST LOUIS.

ANOTHER AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH STRONG WINDS...VERY HEAVY RAIN
AND POSSIBLY HAIL WAS IN CENTRAL MISSOURI...EXTENDING INTO THE
SOUTHWEST PART OF THE STATE.  IN CENTRAL MISSOURI THE STRONGEST
STORMS EXTENDED FROM NEAR VANDALIA MISSOURI...50 MILES NORTHEAST
OF COLUMBIA THROUGH THE CITY OF COLUMBIA.  THESE STORMS WERE
MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

MCCARTHY

The office that day

Everything else NWS St. Louis, MO issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 15, 11:05 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXMarion, Ralls25 min
May 15, 11:35 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXPike40 min
May 15, 11:51 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXLincoln54 min
May 16, 1:02 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXLincoln, Warren43 min
May 16, 1:14 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXSaint Charles46 min
May 16, 4:08 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXLincoln37 min
May 16, 4:45 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningLSXLincoln, Saint Charles, Warren4 hr
May 16, 2:26 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXFranklin, Warren43 min
May 16, 2:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXSaint Charles14 min
May 16, 2:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXSaint Louis50 min
May 16, 3:47 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningLSXSaint Charles7 hr
May 16, 3:47 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningLSXLincoln, Warren7 hr
May 16, 3:47 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningLSXFranklin, Saint Louis7 hr
May 16, 3:47 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningLSXCity of Saint Louis7 hr
May 16, 4:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXCrawford, Phelps36 min
May 16, 4:56 PM CDTTornado WarningLSXSaint Louis22 min
May 16, 5:09 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXCity of Saint Louis51 min
May 16, 5:23 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXFranklin, Jefferson, Saint Louis52 min
May 16, 5:23 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXCity of Saint Louis52 min
May 16, 5:29 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXCrawford, Washington61 min
May 16, 6:07 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXSainte Genevieve, Saint Francois53 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Missouri, 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.