Alert archive / Oklahoma / Tornado Warnings in 1990
Tornado Warning 9, NWS Norman, OK
NWS Norman, OK issued this tornado warning at Mar 13, 1990, 6:57 PM CST for Jefferson County, Stephens County, Oklahoma. It was in force for 33 min. 3 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
- Mar 13, 1990, 6:57 PM CST (00:57 UTC)
- Expired
- Mar 13, 1990, 7:30 PM CST
- In force
- 33 min
- Issued by
- NWS Norman, OK
- Area
- Whole counties
Counties Jefferson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 13, 6:57 PM CST | Tornado F1 | Stephens, OK | |
| Mar 13, 6:58 PM CST | Tornado F3 | Jefferson, OK | |
| Mar 13, 7:00 PM CST | Tornado F3 | Stephens, 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, 1.0 hours before the alert went out and 110 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
- 1624 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -9 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 695 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 39 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 115 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 128 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.8
- Supercell composite
- 4.7
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 TTAA00 KOKC 140059 TOROKC OKC067-137-140130- BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OKLAHOMA CITY OK 657 PM CST TUE MAR 13 1990 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OKLAHOMA CITY HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 730 PM CST FOR THE FOLLOWING OKLAHOMA LOCATIONS... IN SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA ...NORTHERN JEFFERSON COUNTY...EASTERN STEPHENS COUNTY AT 657 PM RADAR INDICATED A POSSIBLE TORNADO 5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF LOCO MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH. PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM SHOULD MOVE TO SHELTER NOW. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY REINFORCED BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT...DITCH OR LOW SPOT AND CcOVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.
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, 2:33 PM CST, 4 hours 24 minutes before
OKZALL-132200- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OKLAHOMA CITY OK 230 PM CST TUE MAR 13 1990 ...TORNADO WATCH CENTRAL AND WESTERN OKLAHOMA UNTIL 9 PM... AT 230 PM STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED OVER SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA NEAR FREDERICK AND WEST OF WALTERS. THESE STORMS DEVELOPED EXPLOSIVELY DURING THE PAST 30 MINUTES AND WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. THE ATMOSPHERE ACROSS WESTERN AND CENTRAL OKLAHOMA IS EXTREMELY UNSTABLE AND THE POTENTIAL EXIST FOR THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THE EVENING. THE WIND STRUCTURE OF THE ATMOSPHERE IS ALSO FAVORABLE FOR TORNADO DEVELOPMENT WITH A FEW OF THE SEVERE STORMS. PERSONS OVER WESTERN AND CENTRAL OKLAHOMA SHOULD REMAIN ALERT TO RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING AND BE ALERT FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND WARNINGS FROM THE NATINAL WEATHER SERVICE.
Special weather statement, Mar 13, 2:34 PM CST, 4 hours 23 minutes before
TXZ019-20-132130- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA FALLS TX 225 PM CST TUE MAR 13 1990 ...TORNADO WATCH FOR WICHITA AND THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES UNTIL 9PM CST THIS TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. AT 220 PM CST THUNDERSTORMS WERE RADIDLY DEVELOPING AND INCREASING IN INTENSITY ACROSS WESTERN WICHITA AND WILBARGER COUNTIES. THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE WEST OF BURKBURNETT AND NEAR VERNON. MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. A TORNADO WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES TO DEVELOP IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. DAMAGING WIND..LARGE HAIL..VERY HEAVY RAIN AND DEADLY LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE WITH THE HEAVIER THUNDER- STORMS. BE ALERT TO CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY IF A WARNING IS ISSUED OR SEVERE WEATHER IS SIGHTED.
Special weather statement, Mar 13, 3:20 PM CST, 3 hours 37 minutes before
TXZ019-20-132230- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA FALLS TX 320 PM CST TUE MAR 13 1990 ...TORNADO WATCH FOR WICHITA AND THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES UNTIL 9PM CST THIS TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. AT 320 PM CST A THUNDERSTORM HAD DEVELOPED SOUTHWEST OF LAKE KICKAPOO... NEAR MEGARGEL. THIS STORM WAS BUILDING RAPIDLY AND MAY CONTAIN SOME HAIL STRONG WINDS ALONG WITH VERY HEAVY RAINS. MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR. OTHER THUNDERSTORMS...SOME SEVERE WERE IN OKLAHOMA SOUTH OF LAWTON AND NORTHEAST OF FREDERICK. MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR. A TORNADO WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES TO DEVELOP IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. DAMAGING WIND..LARGE HAIL..VERY HEAVY RAIN AND DEADLY LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE WITH THE HEAVIER THUNDER- STORMS.
Local storm report, Mar 13, 6:38 PM CST, 19 minutes before
STORM REPORT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OKLAHOMA CITY OK 1020 AM CST TUE MAR 13 1990 ...STORM REPORTS FOR THE AFTERNOON OF MARCH 13TH... TIME(CST) COUNTY EVENT 238 PM TILLMAN NICKEL SIZE HAIL IN GRANDFIELD 240 PM TILLMAN 3/4 INCH HAIL 5 WEST OF FREDERICK 312 PM COMANCHE 1 1/2 INCH HAIL NEAR GERONIMO 322 PM COMANCHE NICKEL SIZE HAIL 2 NORTH OF LAWTON 347 PM CANADIAN QUARTER SIZE HAIL 8 SOUTHWEST OF YUKON 351 PM COMANCHE QUARTER SIZE HAIL AT FLETCHER 358 PM GRADY QUARTER SIZE HAIL 5 WEST OF RUSH SPRINGS 404 PM GRADY DIME SIZE HAIL 3 SOUTHWEST OF RUSH SPRINGS 408 PM GRADY QUARTER SI4ZE HAIL IN RUSH SPRINGS 410 PM GRADY 60 MPH WINDS 2 SOUTH OF RUSH SPRINGS 416 PM GRADY GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL 4 NORTH OF RUSH SPRINGS
Local storm report, Mar 13, 6:39 PM CST, 18 minutes before
STORM REPORT...CORRECT ISSUE TIME NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OKLAHOMA CITY OK 639 PM CST TUE MAR 13 1990 ...STORM REPORTS FOR THE AFTERNOON OF MARCH 13TH... TIME(CST) COUNTY EVENT 238 PM TILLMAN NICKEL SIZE HAIL IN GRANDFIELD 240 PM TILLMAN 3/4 INCH HAIL 5 WEST OF FREDERICK 312 PM COMANCHE 1 1/2 INCH HAIL NEAR GERONIMO 322 PM COMANCHE NICKEL SIZE HAIL 2 NORTH OF LAWTON 347 PM CANADIAN QUARTER SIZE HAIL 8 SOUTHWEST OF YUKON 351 PM COMANCHE QUARTER SIZE HAIL AT FLETCHER 358 PM GRADY QUARTER SIZE HAIL 5 WEST OF RUSH SPRINGS 404 PM GRADY DIME SIZE HAIL 3 SOUTHWEST OF RUSH SPRINGS 408 PM G7RADY QUARTER SIZE HAIL IN RUSH SPRINGS 410 PM GRADY 60 MPH WINDS 2 SOUTH OF RUSH SPRINGS 416 PM GRADY GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL 4 NORTH OF RUSH SPRINGS
Local storm report, Mar 13, 6:53 PM CST, 4 minutes before
STORM REPORT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OKLAHOMA CITY OK 653 PM CST TUE MAR 13 1990 ...STORM REPORTS FOR THE AFTERNOON OF MARCH 13TH... TIME(CST) COUNTY EVENT 436 PM MCCLAIN DIME SIZE HAIL IN CRINER 443 PM MCCLAIN FUNNEL CLOUD 8 NORTH OF LINDSAY 447 PM GARVIN TREES UPROOTED NEAR LINDSAY 457 PM MCCLAIN TORNADO NEAR DIBBLE AT HWYS 39 AND 76 456 PM MCCLAIN TORNADO TOUCHDOWN IN CRINER 504 PM MCCLAIN TORNADO 3 SOUTH OF DIBBLE 507 PM GRADY QUARTER SIZE HAIL AT CHICKASHA 513 PM GRADY DIME SIZE HAIL 2 SOUTHWEST OF ALEX 516 PM CLEVELAND NICKEL SIZE HAIL IN NORMAN 518 PM GRADY R NICKEL SIZE HAIL 8 NORTH OF ALEX 520 PM MCCLAIN QUARTER SIZE HAIL 3 SOUT OF GOLDSBY
The office that day
Everything else NWS Norman, OK issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 13, 6:01 PM CST | Tornado Warning | OUN | Jefferson, Stephens | 29 min |
| Mar 13, 6:23 PM CST | Tornado Warning | OUN | Lincoln, Pottawatomie | 37 min |
| Mar 13, 6:26 PM CST | Tornado Warning | OUN | Jefferson, Stephens | 34 min |
| Mar 13, 6:45 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Cotton, Stephens | 60 min |
| Mar 13, 7:04 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Pottawatomie, Seminole | 41 min |
| Mar 13, 7:04 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Lincoln | 41 min |
| Mar 13, 7:10 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Carter, Garvin, Murray | 65 min |
| Mar 13, 7:18 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Lincoln, Oklahoma | 57 min |
| Mar 13, 7:31 PM CST | Tornado Warning | OUN | Carter | 29 min |
| Mar 13, 7:34 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Comanche, Cotton, Stephens | 56 min |
| Mar 13, 7:52 PM CST | Tornado Warning | OUN | Garvin | 38 min |
| Mar 13, 8:18 PM CST | Tornado Warning | OUN | Garvin | 42 min |
| Mar 13, 8:42 PM CST | Tornado Warning | OUN | Garvin, McClain | 48 min |
| Mar 13, 8:42 PM CST | Tornado Warning | OUN | Pottawatomie | 48 min |
| Mar 13, 8:53 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Jackson, Kiowa, Tillman | 67 min |
| Mar 13, 9:20 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Seminole | 55 min |
| Mar 13, 9:36 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Caddo, Kiowa, Washita | 69 min |
| Mar 13, 9:48 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Hughes | 57 min |
| Mar 13, 10:26 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Blaine, Garfield, Kingfisher, Major | 64 min |
| Mar 13, 10:26 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Custer | 64 min |
| Mar 13, 10:26 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Grant | 64 min |
| Mar 13, 11:43 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Garfield, Noble | 47 min |
| Mar 14, 12:52 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Jackson | 53 min |
| Mar 14, 1:38 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Logan | 37 min |
| Mar 14, 2:00 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Payne | 30 min |
| Mar 14, 2:34 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Canadian, Grady | 26 min |
| Mar 14, 4:50 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Coal, Pontotoc | 35 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.