Alert archive / Oklahoma / Tornado Warnings in 1990

Tornado Warning 34, NWS Norman, OK

May 26, 1990Grady County, Stephens County, Oklahoma

NWS Norman, OK issued this tornado warning at May 26, 1990, 11:01 PM CDT for Grady County, Stephens County, Oklahoma. It was in force for 29 min. 2 reports 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 26, 1990, 11:01 PM CDT (04:01 UTC)
Expired
May 26, 1990, 11:30 PM CDT
In force
29 min
Issued by
NWS Norman, OK
Area
Whole counties

Counties Grady County, OK, Stephens County, OK

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 26, 11:10 PM CDTHail 0.75Stephens, OK
May 26, 11:40 PM CDTHail 1.75Grady, OK

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

Norman, OK (KOUN), launched 00:00Z, 4.0 hours before the alert went out and 67 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, Norman, OK at 00:00Z on 1990-05-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 3596 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, Norman, OK at 00:00Z on 1990-05-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 101 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
3596 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-26 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
867 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
46 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
101 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
261 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
4.5
Supercell composite
18.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KOKC 270404 COR
TOROKC
OKC051-137-270430-

BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING...CORRECT MOVEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OKLAHOMA CITY OK
1101 PM CDT SAT MAY 26 1990

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OKLAHOMA CITY HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1130 PM CDT
FOR THE FOLLOWING OKLAHOMA LOCATIONS...

IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA

   ...SOUTHERN GRADY COUNTY

IN SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA

   ...NORTHERN STEPHENS COUNTY

AT 1100 PM...RADAR INDICATED AND A PUBLIC REPORT OF A TORNADO 4 MILES
NORTHWEST OF BRAY MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.

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.

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, May 26, 5:19 PM CDT, 5 hours 42 minutes before
OKZ005-010-011-016-262300-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OKLAHOMA CITY OK
515 PM CDT SAT MAY 26 1990

...THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA...

AT 515 PM RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
FROM NEAR CASHION TO 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ENID. ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORM
DEVELOPMENT IS POSSIBLE ACROSS OTHER PARTS OF NORTHCENTRAL AND CENTRAL
OKLAHOMA THIS EVENING.

STORMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO DEVELOP RAPIDLY AND REACH SEVERE LEVELS.

RESIDENTS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS
AND LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE SEVERE WEATHER WATCHES AND WARNINGS FROM THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
Special weather statement, May 26, 5:41 PM CDT, 5 hours 20 minutes before
TXZ020-019-262345-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA FALLS TX
540 PM CDT SAT MAY 26 1990

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT FOR THE FOLLOWING
NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNTIES...CLAY...JACK AND MONTAGUE...THIS
WATCH INCLUDES COTTON COUNTY OF OKLAHOMA...

AT 535PM CDT...A FEW THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED OVER NORTH TEXAS IN
EASTERN DENTON COUNTY AND EXTENDED TO THE SOUTHWEST TO NEAR STEPHENVILLE.

THE THUNDERSTORMSF WERE MOVING TO THE EAST AT ABOUT 25 MILES AN HOUR.

HAIL TO THREE QUARTERS OF AN INCH WAS REPORTED EARLIER AT STEPHENVILLE.
Local storm report, May 26, 6:07 PM CDT, 4 hours 54 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OKLAHOMA CITY OK
606 PM CDT SAT MAY 26 1990

TIME(CDT)      COUNTY          EVENT
540 PM         MAJOR           NICKEL SIZE HAIL 5 MILES NORTHEAST
                               OF AMES.
555 PM         GARFIELD        DIME SIZE HAIL AT DRUMMOND
Special weather statement, May 26, 7:46 PM CDT, 3 hours 15 minutes before
OKZ013-018-019-020-023-024-025-026-270300-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OKLAHOMA CITY OK
745 PM CDT SAT MAY 26 1990

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 324... ISSUED EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON FOR PARTS
OF SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA... IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT
FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...

IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA... SEQUOYAH.

IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA... ATOKA... CHOCTAW... COAL... HASKELL...
HUGHES... LATIMER... LEFLORE... MCCURTAIN... PITTSBURG... PUSHMATAHA.

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 324 REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT FOR
LOVE... MARSHALL... AND BRYAN COUNTIES IN SOUTH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA.
Special weather statement, May 26, 8:10 PM CDT, 2 hours 51 minutes before
OKZ005>008-010>013-015>020-022>026-271200-
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OKLAHOMA CITY OK
800 PM CDT SAT MAY 26 1990

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS EXPANDED THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR
TONIGHT TO INCLUDE ALL OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN OKLAHOMA. THE WATCH AREA
NOW IS EAST OF A LINE FROM CHEROKEE TO WALTERS.

INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DEVELOPED IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA JUST NORTHWEST
OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY AREA THIS EVENING. CONDITIONS REMAIN FAVORABLE FOR
ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND INTENSIFICATION OF THUNDERSTORMS OVERNIGHT
AS A STORM SYSTEM MOVES EASTWARD FROM NEW MEXICO.

A SURFACE BOUNDARY GENERATED BY THUNDERSTORMS LAST NIGHT AND THIS
MORNING HAS PUSHED WESTWARD THROUGH MOST OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN
OKLAHOMA. THE NORTHWARD FLOW OF MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIR HAS INCREASED
TO THE SOUTH OF THIS BOUNDARY. WITH AN INCREASING FLOW OF UNSTABLE AND
VERY HUMID AIR INTO THE STATE AND A STORM SYSTEM APPROACHING FROM THE
WEST... THERE IS AN INCREASING POTENTIAL FOR WIDESPREAD THUNDERSTORM
DEVELOPMENT ALONG AND EAST OF THE SURFACE BOUNDARY. ALTHOUGH HEAVY
RAIN IS NOT EXPECTED TO FALL OVER THE ENTIRE FLASH FLOOD WATCH AREA...
CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR EXCESSIVE RAINFALL AND FLOODING IN
SOME PARTS OF THE WATCH AREA LATER TONIGHT. RESIDENTS IN THE WATCH
AREA... WHICH NOW INCLUDES THE ENID... OKLAHOMA CITY... LAWTON...
ARDMORE... AND TULSA AREAS... ARE ADVISED TO REMAIN ALERT FOR FURTHER
UPDATES AS THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION DEVELOPS.

REMEMBER A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS FLASH FLOODING IS POSSIBLE WITHIN
THE WATCH AREA. PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREA ARE ADVISED TO CHECK
PREPAREDNESS REQUIREMENTS... KEEP INFORMED... AND BE READY FOR QUICK
ACTION IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED OR A WARNING IS ISSUED.
Local storm report, May 26, 10:37 PM CDT, 24 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OKLAHOMA CITY OK
1030 PM CDT SAT MAY 26 1990

...PRELIMINARY REPORT...

TIME(CDT)      COUNTY          EVENT
800 PM(APPROX) CADDO/CANADIAN  TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR THE COUNTY
                               LINE 2-3 MILES EAST OF HINTON AND
                               DESTROYED SEVERAL HOMES AND OVERTURNED
                               VEHICLES. THE PATH WAS ESTIMATED NEAR
                               1/4 MILE WIDE. NO INJURIES HAVE BEEN
                               REPORTED.

UNKNOWN TIME   CADDO           ADDITIONAL DAMAGE WAS REPORTED NEAR AND
                               2 MILES EAST OF BINGER...POSSIBLY FROM
                               THE SAME TORNADO. DETAILS REMAIN
                               INCOMPLETE. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
                               WILL BE CONTAINED IN A LATER STORM
                               REPORT.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Norman, OK issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 26, 7:10 PM CDTTornado WarningOUNKingfisher50 min
May 26, 7:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCanadian41 min
May 26, 7:53 PM CDTTornado WarningOUNCanadian52 min
May 26, 8:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNKingfisher45 min
May 26, 8:22 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNOklahoma53 min
May 26, 8:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCaddo, Canadian, Grady60 min
May 26, 8:52 PM CDTTornado WarningOUNCaddo53 min
May 26, 9:06 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCleveland, McClain69 min
May 26, 9:06 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNOklahoma69 min
May 26, 9:18 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNNoble42 min
May 26, 9:39 PM CDTTornado WarningOUNCaddo36 min
May 26, 9:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNComanche, Grady32 min
May 26, 10:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCleveland, Grady, McClain, Pottawatomie47 min
May 26, 10:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNStephens47 min
May 26, 10:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNPottawatomie, Seminole61 min
May 26, 10:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCleveland, Garvin, Grady, McClain61 min
May 26, 10:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNStephens61 min
May 26, 11:26 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNHughes, Pontotoc49 min
May 26, 11:37 PM CDTTornado WarningOUNStephens23 min
May 26, 11:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNGarvin63 min
May 27, 12:13 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCoal, Murray, Pontotoc62 min
May 27, 12:38 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNJohnston67 min
May 27, 1:10 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNAtoka, Coal65 min
May 27, 2:10 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNAtoka, Pushmataha50 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Oklahoma, 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.