Alert archive / Oklahoma / Tornado Warnings in 1990
Tornado Warning 34, NWS Norman, OK
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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 26, 11:10 PM CDT | Hail 0.75 | Stephens, OK | |
| May 26, 11:40 PM CDT | Hail 1.75 | Grady, 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.
- 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
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 DRUMMONDSpecial 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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 26, 7:10 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Kingfisher | 50 min |
| May 26, 7:34 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Canadian | 41 min |
| May 26, 7:53 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Canadian | 52 min |
| May 26, 8:00 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Kingfisher | 45 min |
| May 26, 8:22 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Oklahoma | 53 min |
| May 26, 8:45 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Caddo, Canadian, Grady | 60 min |
| May 26, 8:52 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Caddo | 53 min |
| May 26, 9:06 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Cleveland, McClain | 69 min |
| May 26, 9:06 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Oklahoma | 69 min |
| May 26, 9:18 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Noble | 42 min |
| May 26, 9:39 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Caddo | 36 min |
| May 26, 9:43 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Comanche, Grady | 32 min |
| May 26, 10:13 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Cleveland, Grady, McClain, Pottawatomie | 47 min |
| May 26, 10:13 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Stephens | 47 min |
| May 26, 10:59 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Pottawatomie, Seminole | 61 min |
| May 26, 10:59 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Cleveland, Garvin, Grady, McClain | 61 min |
| May 26, 10:59 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Stephens | 61 min |
| May 26, 11:26 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Hughes, Pontotoc | 49 min |
| May 26, 11:37 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Stephens | 23 min |
| May 26, 11:57 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Garvin | 63 min |
| May 27, 12:13 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Coal, Murray, Pontotoc | 62 min |
| May 27, 12:38 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Johnston | 67 min |
| May 27, 1:10 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Atoka, Coal | 65 min |
| May 27, 2:10 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Atoka, Pushmataha | 50 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.