Alert archive / Nebraska / Tornado Warnings in 1990

Tornado Warning 1, NWS Omaha, NE

March 13, 1990Butler County, Nebraska

NWS Omaha, NE issued this tornado warning at Mar 13, 1990, 7:03 PM CST for Butler County, Nebraska. It was in force for 27 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Mar 13, 1990, 7:03 PM CST (01:03 UTC)
Expired
Mar 13, 1990, 7:30 PM CST
In force
27 min
Issued by
NWS Omaha, NE
Area
Whole counties

County Butler County, NE

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

Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 00:00Z, 1.1 hours before the alert went out and 65 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, Omaha, NE at 00:00Z on 1990-03-14Temperature 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, Omaha, NE at 00:00Z on 1990-03-14The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 87 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
3595 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
40 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
87 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
98 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 KLNK 140103
TORLNK
NEC023-140130-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED/EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED 
TORNADO WARNING 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN NE
703 PM CST TUE MAR 13 1990

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING 
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 730 PM CST FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY

   IN THE SOUTHEAST PART OF NEBRASKA
      BUTLER

AT 700 PM CST RADAR SHOWS A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF
PRODUCING TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTENING IN
NORTHERN YORK COUNTY...ABOUT 48 MILES WEST OF LINCOLN.
THIS THUNDERSTORM IS MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 50 MPH
AND WILL MOVE INTO BUTLER COUNTY SHORTLY.  THIS WARNING INCLUDES
THE TOWN OF DAVID CITY.

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO...THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE IS IN
A BASEMENT.  GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE.
IF NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...FIND SHELTER IN AN INTERIOR ROOM
SUCH AS A CLOSET ON THE LOWEST FLOOR.  USE BLANKETS...PILLOWS...
OR CUSHIONS TO COV\ER YOUR BODY.  AVOID WINDOWS.

 DAVIS

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, Mar 13, 2:16 PM CST, 4 hours 47 minutes before
NEZ001-005-011-132100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA NE
110 PM MST TUE MAR 13 1990

...A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE WESTERN HALF OF THE
   NEBRASKA THROUGH TONIGHT...
...A WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE EASTERN HALF OF THE
PANHANDLE...TONIGHT...

AN INTENSE STORM SYSTEM IS PRODUCING SNOW IN THE PANHANDLE OF
NEBRASKA.  AS OF 1PM MST SNOW AMOUNTS INCLUDED 5 INCHES AT
MORRILL AND 3 INCHES AT MITCHELL.  SATELLITE IMAGES INDICATE MORE
SNOW IS LIKELY THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.   SOME SNOW ACCUMULATIONS
UP TO TEN INCHES ARE POSSIBLE ALONG THE WYOMING BORDER BEFORE THE SNOW
TAPERS OFF LATER TONIGHT.

IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO TRAVEL IN THE PANHANDLE THIS AFTERNOON OR
TONIGHT BE PREPARED FOR WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS.

GAVERS/WATTERS
Special weather statement, Mar 13, 2:20 PM CST, 4 hours 43 minutes before
NEZ010-020-131900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA NE
215 PM CST TUE MAR 13 1990

...THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING ACROSS OMAHA/COUNCIL BLUFFS...

AT 205 PM CST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED THUNDERSTORMS MOVING
ACROSS THE OMAHA/COUNCIL BLUFFS AREA.  THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE
FROM SOUTHERN SARPY COUNTY INTO SOUTHWESTERN POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAIN...SMALL HAIL AND
STRONG GUSTY WINDS AS THEY MOVE ACROSS THE OMAHA/COUNCIL BLUFFS
METROPOLITAN AREA.  THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF EASTERN NEBRASKA AS WELL AS
WESTERN IOWA UNTIL 600 PM CST.  THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL
TO PRODUCE SEVERE WEATHER INCLUDING TORNADOES.

PEOPLE IN EASTERN NEBRASKA AND ADJACENT SOUTHWEST IOWA SHOULD CONTINUE
TO MONITOR THE WEATHER CLOSELY THROUGH THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON.  BE
PREPARED TO TAKE SHELTER IN CASE A SEVERE WEATHER WARNING IS ISSUED.

SEELEY
Special weather statement, Mar 13, 3:03 PM CST, 4 hours before
NEZ010-020-IAZ009-131900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA NE
255 PM CST TUE MAR 13 1990

...THUNDERSTORMS HAVE MOVED OUT OF THE OMAHA/COUNCIL BLUFF AREA...

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED THAT THUNDERSTORMS HAVE MOVED OUT
OF THE OMAHA/COUNCIL BLUFFS AREA AND INTO WEST CENTRAL IOWA.
AT 250 PM CST THE HEAVIEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE FROM NORTHEAST HARRISON
INTO NORTHWEST SHELBY COUNTY OF IOWA...45 MILES NORTHEAST OF OMAHA.

NEW THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP IN SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA.  STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS WERE INDICATED NEAR BEATRICE AND IN NORTHWEST
RICHARDSON COUNTY...75 MILES SOUTH OF OMAHA.  ALL OF THE THUNDERSTORMS
WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF EASTERN NEBRASKA AS WELL AS
WESTERN IOWA UNTIL 600 PM CST.  THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL
TO PRODUCE SEVERE WEATHER INCLUDING TORNADOES.

CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE WEATHER CLOSELY THROUGH THE REST OF THE
AFTERNOON.  LISTEN TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADIO STATION OR
OTHER LOCAL TELEVISION AND RADIO STATIONS.  BE PREPARED TO TAKE SHELTER
IF A SEVERE WEATHER WARNING IS ISSUED.

SEELEY
Special weather statement, Mar 13, 4:48 PM CST, 2 hours 15 minutes before
NEZ001-005-011-132100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA NE
345 PM MST TUE MAR 13 1990

...A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE PANHANDLE TONIGHT...
...A WINTER STORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA
FOR LATE TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...

AN INTENSE STORM SYSTEM IS PRODUCING SNOW IN THE PANHANDLE OF
NEBRASKA.  SCOTTSBLUFF AND ALLIANCE REPORTED 2 INCHES OF NEW SNOW IN
THE PAST HOUR.  MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW CONTINUES TO FALL IN PARTS OF
THE PANHANDLE.  SOME SNOW ACCUMULATIONS UP TO 8 INCHES ARE LIKELY
TONIGHT...ESPECIALLY IN HIGHER ELEVATIONS ALONG THE WYOMING BORDER.

TRAVEL IN THE PARTS OF THE PANHANDLE WILL BE DIFFICULT TONIGHT...
MOTORISTS SHOULkD REDUCE SPEED AND BE PREPARED FOR SLIPPERY ROADS.

GAVERS
Special weather statement, Mar 13, 6:09 PM CST, 54 minutes before
NEZ010-020-IAZ009-140100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA NE
600 PM CST TUE MAR 13 1990

...A TORNADO WATCH WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT FOR MUCH OF
EASTERN NEBRASKA AND ADJACENT SOUTHWEST IOWA...

AT 600 PM CST...MOST OF THE THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA
AND ADJACENT SOUTHWEST IOWA HAD DISSIPATED.  HOWEVER...MORE
THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVER THE REGION THIS EVENING.
THESE STORMS MAY BE SEVERE AND SOME MAY PRODUCE TORNADOES.

PEOPLE IN SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA AND SOUTHWEST IOWA SHOULD CONTINUE TO
MONITOR THE WEATHER.  BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO A STRONG REINFORCED
BUILDING IF SEVERE WEATHER IS REPORTED OR IF A WARNING IS ISSUED.

LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL NEWS MEDIA FOR ADDITIONAL
STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
JOHNSON
Special weather statement, Mar 13, 6:20 PM CST, 43 minutes before
NEZ001-005-011-140300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA NE
615 PM MST TUE MAR 13 1990

...A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE PANHANDLE TONIGHT...
...A WINTER STORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA
FOR LATE TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...

AN INTENSE STORM SYSTEM CONTINUES PRODUCING SNOW IN THE PANHANDLE OF
NEBRASKA.  AS OF 5 PM MST SNOWFALL AMOUNTS IN THE PANHANDLE INCLUDED
7 INCHES AT CHADRON...4 INCHES AT SCOTTSBLUFF...AND 3 INCHES AT
ALLIANCE.  SOME SNOW ACCUMULATIONS UP TO 10 INCHES ARE LIKELY
TONIGHT...ESPECIALLY IN HIGHER ELEVATIONS ALONG THE WYOMING BORDER.

TRAVEL IN THE PANHANDLE WILL BE DIFFICULT TONIGHT.  MOTORISTS
SHOULD EXPECT TO ENCOUNTER DELAYS DUE TO SNOW.  WITH PARTICULARLY
HEAVY SNOW IN THE NORTHERN PANHANDLE...STAY HOME IF YOU CAN.

FREEZING RAIN HAD SPREAD INTO NORTHWEST NEBRASKA JUST EAST OF
THE PANHANDLE.  AT 5 PM MST MULLEN REPORTED FREEZING RAIN BEGINNING
TO COAT SURFACES.  VALENTINE CONTINUED TO RECEIVE LIGHT RAIN WITH
A TEMPERATURE OF 34 DEGREES.

DRIVING CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY TO DETERIORATE IN NORTHWEST
NEBRASKA JUST EAST OF THE PANHANDLE IN THE NEXT FEW HOURS.
A WINTER STORM WATCH IS STILL IN EFFECT FOR LATER TONIGHT.

POLLACK

The office that day

Everything else NWS Omaha, NE issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 13, 7:33 PM CSTTornado WarningOAXButler27 min
Mar 13, 7:49 PM CSTTornado WarningOAXDodge, Saunders46 min
Mar 13, 8:04 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXJefferson, Saline, Seward56 min
Mar 13, 8:06 PM CSTTornado WarningOAXButler24 min
Mar 13, 8:24 PM CSTTornado WarningOAXSeward36 min
Mar 13, 9:11 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXLancaster64 min
Mar 13, 9:37 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXCass, Sarpy, Saunders68 min
Mar 13, 10:23 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXWashington52 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Nebraska, 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.