Alert archive / Tennessee / Flash Flood Warnings in 1990

Flash Flood Warning 20, NWS Memphis, TN

December 21, 19904 counties in Tennessee

NWS Memphis, TN issued this flash flood warning at Dec 21, 1990, 6:20 PM CST for 4 counties in Tennessee. It was in force for 4 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued: Dec 21, 1990, 6:20 PM CST (00:20 UTC)
Expired: Dec 21, 1990, 10:15 PM CST
In force: 4 hr
Issued by: NWS Memphis, TN
Area: Whole counties

Counties Fayette County, TN, Haywood County, TN, Shelby County, TN, Tipton County, TN

The radar

The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KMEM 220026
FFWMEM
TNC033-047-053-075-113-157-167-220415-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
620 PM CST FRI DEC 21 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A
FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1015 PM CST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN WEST TENNESSEE
 
   ...CROCKETT COUNTY...FAYETTE COUNTY...GIBSON COUNTY...HAYWOOD COUNT   ...MADISON COUNTY...SHELBY COUNTY...TIPTON COUNTY
 
PERSISTENT HEAVY RAINS HAVE CAUSED EXTENSIVE FLOODING PROBLEMS ACROSS
MUCH OF WEST TENNESSEE. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES HAVE BEEN
REPORTED IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS TODAY. LOW LYING AREAS INCLUDING STREET
INTERSECTIONS...LOW WATER BRIDGES...AND CREEK OR RIVER BOTTOM REGIONS
ARE ESPECIALLY SUCEPTIBLE. SOME ROADS ARE UNDER WATER AND ARE CLOSED
TO TRAFFIC.
 
RAIN WILL CONTINUE TO FALL THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT COMPOUNDING THE
PROBLEM. THE GROUND IS ALMOST COMPLETELY SATURATED SO ANY MORE RAIN
WILL BE RUNOFF.
 
BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE
THE DANGERS OF FLOODS AND FLASH FLOODS.  IF FLASH FLOODING IS
OBSERVED...ACT QUICKLY.  MOVE UP TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS.  DO
NOT STAY IN AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.
 
DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY.  THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO
CROSS SAFELY.  VEHICLES CAUGHT IN RISING WATER SHOULD BE
ABANDONED QUICKLY.  MOVE TO HIGHER GR#OUND.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood 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, Dec 21, 2:02 PM CST, 4 hours 18 minutes before

TNZ011-012-013-014-015-MSZ001-004-ARZ012-013-014-212100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
203 PM CST FRI DEC 21 1990

...TORNADO WATCH AND FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR THIS AFTERNOON
AND TONIGHT FOR THE MID-SOUTH AREA...

THE MID-SOUTH SHOULD BE BRACING FOR TURBULENT WEATHER IN THE NEXT 24 H
HEAVY RAINS FROM THIS MORNING HAVE SATURATED THE AREA AND MORE IS
EXPECTED AS A SLOW MOVING ARCTIC COLD FRONT APPROACHES.

AT MID-AFTERNOON RADAR AND SATELLITE IMAGERY INDICATED A LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN FROM JUST SOUTH OF MEMPHIS SOUTHWEST
ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO NEAR HELENA.

EXPECT SOME MORE FLOODING...LIGHTNING...STRONG WINDS... AND HAIL
WITH THESE STORMS.

TORNADOES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE UNTIL THE COLD FRONT ARRIVES LATER
TONIGHT.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL TV STATION FOR LATEST
UPDATES. PLEASE REPORT ANY SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE OR YOUR >LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT.

Special weather statement, Dec 21, 2:05 PM CST, 4 hours 15 minutes before

TNZ011-012-013-014-015-MSZ001-004-ARZ012-013-014-212100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
203 PM CST FRI DEC 21 1990

...TORNADO WATCH AND FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR THIS AFTERNOON
AND TONIGHT FOR THE MID-SOUTH AREA...

MID-SOUTHERNERS SHOULD BE BRACING FOR TURBULENT WEATHER.
HEAVY RAINS FROM THIS MORNING HAVE SATURATED THE AREA AND MORE IS
EXPECTED AS A SLOW MOVING ARCTIC COLD FRONT APPROACHES.

AT MID-AFTERNOON RADAR AND SATELLITE IMAGERY INDICATED A LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN FROM JUST SOUTH OF MEMPHIS SOUTHWEST
ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO NEAR HELENA.

EXPECT SOME MORE FLOODING...LIGHTNING...STRONG WINDS... AND HAIL
WITH THESE STORMS.

TORNADOES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE UNTIL THE COLD FRONT ARRIVES LATER
TONIGHT.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL TV STATION FOR LATEST
UPDATES. PLEASE REPORT ANY SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE OR YOUR LOCACL POLICE DEPARTMENT.

Special weather statement, Dec 21, 2:55 PM CST, 3 hours 25 minutes before

MSZ004-005-007-212200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUPELO MS
255 PM CST FRI DEC 21 1990

   ...TORNADO WATCH NO. 784 AND 785 WILL BE IN EFFECT UNTIL 9PM THIS
      EVENING FOR ALL OF NORTH MISSISSIPPI...

AT 240 PM CST...TUPELO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR WAS INDICATING A
POSSIBLE TORNADO OVER EXTREME EASTERN GRENADA COUNTY AND EXTREME
SOUTHWESTERN CALHOUN COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI.

THIS STORM WAS MOVING FTO THE NORTH NORTHEAST AT 45 MILES AN HOUR.

ANYONE LIVING IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM SHOULD BECOME WEATHER
ALERT AS THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS STORM. PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE
MADE NOW TO ENSURE SAFETY.

NNNN

Special weather statement, Dec 21, 3:35 PM CST, 2 hours 45 minutes before

MSZ004-005-007-212230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUPELO MS
335 PM CST FRI DEC 21 1990

  ...TORNADO WATCH NO. 784 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9PM THIS EVENING....
  ...TORNADO WATCH NO. 785 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9PM THIS EVENING....

AT 330 PM CST...TUPELO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR WAS INDICATING A
RATHER LARGE AREA OF THUNDERSTORM AND RAINSHOWER ACTIVITY OVER MUCH OF
NORTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI AND OVER EXTREME SOUTHWEST
TENNESSEE AND EXTREME NORTHEAST ARKANSAS.

THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WAS INDICATED OVER AN AREA FROM
NORTH YAZOO COUNTY EXTENDING TO THE NORTH TO SOUTHERN LEFLORE COUNTY
IN WEST CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI AND ALSO FROM ST. FRANCIS COUNTY IN
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS EXTENDING TO THE NORTHEAST TO DYERSBURG  TENNESSEE.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTH NORTHEAST AT 45 MILES AN
HOUR.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF PRODUCING LOCALLY HEAVY
RAINS...FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND SMALL
HAIL.

ANYONE LIVING IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BECOME
WEATHER ALERT AND TAKE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS SHOULF THREATENING
WEATHER APPROACH.

NNNN

Special weather statement, Dec 21, 4:41 PM CST, 1 hour 39 minutes before

MSZ004-005-007-212345-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUPELO MS
441 PM CST FRI DEC 21 1990

  ....TORNADO WATCH NO. 784 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9PM THIS EVENING....
  ....TORNADO WATCH NO. 785 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9PM THIS EVENING....

AT 435 PM CST...TUPELO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR WAS INDICATING A
RATHER LARGE AREA OF THUNDERSTORM AND RAINSHOWER ACTIVITY OVER ALL OF
NORTH MISSISSIPPI EXCEPT FOR THE EXTREME NORTHEASTERN SECTION OF THE
STATE.

THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WAS LOCATED OVER NORTHEASTERN
CARROL COUNTY AND SOUTH CENTRAL GRENADA COUNTY. VERY STRONG
THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WAS ALSO INDICATED OVER THE HOLMES...ATTALA AND
YAZOO COUNTY AREA.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF PRODUCING LOCALLY HEAVY
RAINS...FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WINDS...AND
SMALL HAIL.

ANYONE LIVING IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF( THESE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BECOME
WEATHER ALERT BECAUSE THESE THUNDERSTORMS ALREADY HAVE A DANGEROUS
HISTORY. IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES TAKE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS
TO ENSURE SAFETY.

NNNN

Special weather statement, Dec 21, 5:35 PM CST, 45 minutes before

MSZ004-005-007-220030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUPELO MS
535 PM CST FRI DEC 21 1990

  ....TORNADO WATCH NO. 784 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9PM THIS EVENING....
  ....TORNADO WATCH NO. 785 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9PM THIS EVENING....

AT 530 PM CST...TUPELO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR WAS INDICATING
VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY OVER THE WEBSTER...MOHNTGOMERY AND
CHOCTAW COUNTY AREA. THIS THUNDERSTORM WAS MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT
45 MILES AN HOUR.

RADAR WAS ALSO INDICATING STRONG THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY OVER YALOBUSHA
AND CALHOUN COUNTY. THIS THUNDERSTORM ALREADY HAS A PAST HISTORY OF
DAMAGE. THIS THUNDERSTORM WAS ALSO MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 45 MILES
AN HOUR.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF PRODUCING LOCALLY HEAVY
RAINS...FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL.

ANYONE LIVING IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THES3E THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD TAKE
THE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS NOW TO ENSURE SAFmETY.

MORE STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED AS CONDITIONS WARRANT.

NNNN

The office that day

Everything else NWS Memphis, TN issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Dec 21, 6:20 PM CST	Flash Flood Warning	MEG	Crockett, Gibson, Madison	4 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Tennessee, 1990 Every flash flood 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.