Alert archive / Arkansas / Tornado Warnings in 1990

Tornado Warning 1, NWS Little Rock, AR

February 2, 1990Grant County, Arkansas

NWS Little Rock, AR issued this tornado warning at Feb 2, 1990, 11:06 PM CST for Grant County, Arkansas. It was in force for 39 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
Feb 2, 1990, 11:06 PM CST (05:06 UTC)
Expired
Feb 2, 1990, 11:45 PM CST
In force
39 min
Issued by
NWS Little Rock, AR
Area
Whole counties

County Grant County, AR

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
Feb 2, 11:40 PM CSTTornado F0Grant, AR

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

Little Rock, AR (KLZK), launched 00:00Z, 5.1 hours before the alert went out and 234 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, Little Rock, AR at 00:00Z on 1990-02-03Temperature 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, Little Rock, AR at 00:00Z on 1990-02-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 49 square meters per square second.1939587897117136Sfc1 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
3598 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
60 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
49 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
104 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 KLIT 030505
TORLIT
ARC053-030545-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
1106 PM CST FRI FEB 2 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LITTLE ROCK HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1145 PM CST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...
 
IN CENTRAL ARKANSAS
          ...EASTERN GRANT
 
AT 1103 PM CST...RADAR INDICATED A POSSIBLE TORNADO 3 MILES NORTHEAST
OF SHERIDAN ARKANSAS MOVING EAST-NORTHEAST AT 50 MILES AN HOUR.
 
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.
 
 
22

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, Feb 2, 10:03 PM CST, 1 hour 3 minutes before
ARZ001-004-007-OKZ013-020-030500-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT SMITH AR
1000 PM CST FRI FEB 2 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST
ARKANSAS UNTIL 300 AM...

WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT 1000 PM INDICATED SCATTERED SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS OVER MUCH OF WEST ARKANSAS AND A SMALL PART OF EAST
OKLAHOMA. THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED IN SOUTHWEST
MONTGOMERY COUNTY ARKANSAS. A THUNDERSTORM IS BUILDING IN SOUTHWEST
LEFLORE COUNTY OKLAHOMA JUST EAST OF TALIHINA. THE SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE
WEATHER IN AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA. IF YOU ARE IN OR NEAR THE WATCH
AREA...BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER. LARGE HAIL...GUSTY
WINDS...AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED WITH SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.

THE THUNDERSTORMS ARE BEING CAUSED BY A STATIONARY FRONT LOCATED ALONG
THE ARKANSAS - LOUISIANA BORDER. STRONG WINDS ALOFT FROM THE SOUTHWEST
ARE MOVING THE THUNDERSTORMS NORTHEAST AND OVER THE FRONT.
Special weather statement, Feb 2, 10:05 PM CST, 1 hour 1 minute before
ARZ001-004-007-OKZ013-020-030500-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT SMITH AR
1000 PM CST FRI FEB 2 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST
ARKANSAS UNTIL 300 AM...

WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT 1000 PM INDICATED SCATTERED SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS OVER MUCH OF WEST ARKANSAS AND A SMALL PART OF EAST
OKLAHOMA. THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED IN SOUTHWEST
MONTGOMERY COUNTY ARKANSAS. A THUNDERSTORM IS BUILDING IN SOUTHWEST
LEFLORE COUNTY OKLAHOMA JUST EAST OF TALIHINA. THE SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE
WEATHER IN AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA. IF YOU ARE IN OR NEAR THE WATCH
AREA...BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER. LARGE HAIL...GUSTY
WINDS...AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED WITH SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.

THE THUNDERSTORMS ARE BEING CAUSED BY A STATIONARY FRONT LOCATED ALONG
THE ARKANSAS - LOUISIANA BORDER. STRONG WINDS ALOFT FROM THE SOUTHWEST
ARE MOVING THE THUNDERSTORMS NORTHEAST AND OVER THE FRONT.
Special weather statement, Feb 2, 10:06 PM CST, 1 hour before
ARZ001-004-007-OKZ013-020-030500-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT SMITH AR
1000 PM CST FRI FEB 2 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST
ARKANSAS UNTIL 300 AM...

WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT 1000 PM INDICATED SCATTERED SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS OVER MUCH OF WEST ARKANSAS AND A SMALL PART OF EAST
OKLAHOMA. THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED IN SOUTHWEST
MONTGOMERY COUNTY ARKANSAS. A THUNDERSTORM IS BUILDING IN SOUTHWEST
LEFLORE COUNTY OKLAHOMA JUST EAST OF TALIHINA. THE SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE
WEATHER IN AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA. IF YOU ARE IN OR NEAR THE WATCH
AREA...BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER. LARGE HAIL...GUSTY
WINDS...AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED WITH SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.

THE THUNDERSTORMS ARE BEING CAUSED BY A STATIONARY FRONT LOCATED ALONG
THE ARKANSAS - LOUISIANA BORDER. STRONG WINDS ALOFT FROM THE SOUTHWEST
ARE MOVING THE THUNDERSTORMS NORTHEAST AND OVER THE FRONT.
Special weather statement, Feb 2, 10:08 PM CST, 58 minutes before
ARZ001-004-007-OKZ013-020-030500-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT SMITH AR
1000 PM CST FRI FEB 2 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST
ARKANSAS UNTIL 300 AM...

WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT 1000 PM INDICATED SCATTERED SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS OVER MUCH OF WEST ARKANSAS AND A SMALL PART OF EAST
OKLAHOMA. THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED IN SOUTHWEST
MONTGOMERY COUNTY ARKANSAS. A THUNDERSTORM IS BUILDING IN SOUTHWEST
LEFLORE COUNTY OKLAHOMA JUST EAST OF TALIHINA. THE SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE
WEATHER IN AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA. IF YOU ARE IN OR NEAR THE WATCH
AREA...BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER. LARGE HAIL...GUSTY
WINDS...AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED WITH SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.

THE THUNDERSTORMS ARE BEING CAUSED BY A STATIONARY FRONT LOCATED ALONG
THE ARKANSAS - LOUISIANA BORDER. STRONG WINDS ALOFT FROM THE SOUTHWEST
ARE MOVING THE THUNDERSTORMS NORTHEAST AND OVER THE FRONT.
Special weather statement, Feb 2, 10:38 PM CST, 28 minutes before
ARZALL-030600-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
1035 PM CST FRI FEB 2 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR SOUTHERN HALF OF ARKANSAS...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 13 CONTINUES IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 AM
CST SATURDAY MORNING FOR ABOUT THE SOUTHERN HALF OF ARKANSAS.

AT 1035 PM CST...RADAR INDICATED SCATTERED SHOWERS AND A FEW STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS OVER ALL BUT THE EXTREME NORTHWESTERN PART OF ARKANSAS.

THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE LOCATED 15 MILES EAST OF ARKADELPHIA...10
MILES NORTHWEST OF PINE BLUFF AND 10 MILES EAST OF CLARENDON.

MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 50 MILES AN HOUR.

PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE WEATHER
CONDITIONS FOR THE NEXT FEW HOURS...AND BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO A SAFE
PLACE IF WARNINGS ARE ISSUED.

22
Special weather statement, Feb 2, 11:02 PM CST, 4 minutes before
ARZ001-004-007-OKZ013-020-030500-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT SMITH AR
1100 PM CST FRI FEB 2 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST
ARKANSAS UNTIL 300 AM...

WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT 1100 PM INDICATED SCATTERED SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS OVER MUCH OF WEST ARKANSAS AND A SMALL PART OF EAST
AND SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA. A BROKEN LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
EXTENDED FROM MOUNTAINBURG ARKANSAS TO 30 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MC ALESTER
OKLAHOMA. ANOTHER LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM NEAR
MORRILTON TO 30 MILES NORTHWEST OF TEXARKANA.

A FEW OF THE THUNDERSTRORMS MAY PRODUCE BRIEF HEAVY RAIN. THERE HAS
BEEN A DECREASE IN INTENSITY IN THE PAST HOUR. THE THUNDERSTORMS ARE
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

DUE TO THE MOVEMENT OF THE STORMS...THE SAME AREAS WILL BE REPEATED
AFFECTED.  THIS MEANS LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER THESE
AREAS. BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER. LARGE HAIL...GUSTY
WINDS...AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED WITH SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Little Rock, AR issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 2, 11:01 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKGrant29 min
Feb 2, 11:23 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKJefferson52 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Arkansas, 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.