Alert archive / Louisiana / Tornado Warnings in 1990

Tornado Warning 15, NWS Shreveport, LA

May 12, 1990De Soto Parish, Louisiana

NWS Shreveport, LA issued this tornado warning at May 12, 1990, 2:48 AM CDT for De Soto Parish, Louisiana. It was in force for 57 min. 1 report 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 12, 1990, 2:48 AM CDT (07:48 UTC)
Expired
May 12, 1990, 3:45 AM CDT
In force
57 min
Issued by
NWS Shreveport, LA
Area
Whole counties

County De Soto Parish, LA

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 12, 3:01 AM CDTTornado F1De Soto, LA

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

Longview/Gregg, TX (KGGG), launched 00:00Z, 7.8 hours before the alert went out and 88 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, Longview/Gregg, TX at 00:00Z on 1990-05-12Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 263 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, Longview/Gregg, TX at 00:00Z on 1990-05-12The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 442 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
263 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-331 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
847 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
60 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
442 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
773 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KSHV 120749
TORSHV
LAC031-120845-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
248 AM CDT SAT MAY 12 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SHREVEPORT HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  345 AM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS..
 
IN NORTHWEST LOUISIANA
 
   ...NORTHERN DESOTO PARISH
 
AT 240 AM CDT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADARS IN SHREVEPORT
AND LONGVIEW SHOWED A POSSIBLE TORNADO LOCATED NORTHEAST OF
GALLAWAY TEXAS.
 
MOVEMENT WAS EAST NORTHEAST NEAR 40 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 11, 10:04 PM CDT, 4 hours 44 minutes before
OKZ026-TXZ022-023-027-028-032-033-ARZ009-010-011-016-LAZ001-002-
003-004-005-006-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
1000 PM CDT FRI MAY 11 1990

SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO
DEVELOP AND RACE NORTHEASTWARD FROM EAST CENTRAL TEXAS ACROSS
NORTHEAST TEXAS INTO SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS.

THE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 TO 60 MPH AND MAY PRODUCE
SPOTTY SMALL HAIL...BRIEF STRONG WIND GUSTS AND HEAVY RAINFALL.

THE AREA OF SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN A 50 MILE WIDE
AREA EXTENDING FROM NEAR GLENWOOD ARKANSAS TO THE TEXARKANA AREA
TO THE LONGVIEW AND TYLER AREAS.

LOCALIZED HEAVY RAINFALL AMOUNTS WILL OCCUR OVERNIGHT...AND SINCE
ALL MAJOR STREAMS ARE IN FLOOD...ALL CREEKS AND BAYOUS ARE IN
BACKWATER...THUS ADDITIONAL LOW AREA FLOODING MAY DEVELOP.
.
THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DISRUPT FLOOD FIGHT ACTIVITIES
IN THE RED RIVER VALLEY OF SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS AND THE ADJACENT AREAS
OF NORTHEAST TEXAS.

LEVEE SYSTEMS ARE BEING TAXED BY THE CREST OF NEAR 32 FEET AT
INDEX AND 32.4 AT FULTON AND DOWNSTREAM TO GARLAN CITY.
Special weather statement, May 11, 11:30 PM CDT, 3 hours 18 minutes before
OKZ026-TXZ022-023-027-028-032-033-ARZ009-010-011-016-LAZ001-002-
003-004-005-006-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
1125 PM CDT FRI MAY 11 1990

NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO DEVELOP
AND RACE NORTHEAST ACROSS NORTHEAST TEXAS...SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA...
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS AND EXTREME NORTHWEST LOUISIANA.

THE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 TO 60 MILES AN HOUR AND
WERE PRODUCING BRIEF STRONG WIND GUSTS AND HEAVY RAINFALL.

THE AREA OF SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED NORTHWEST OF A
LINE FROM NEAR RISON ARKANSAS TO EL DORADO ARKANSAS TO HOMER LOUISIANA
TO WASKOM TEXAS TO HENDERSON TEXAS TO NEAR CROCKETT TEXAS.

LOCALIZED HEAVY RAINFALL AMOUNTS WILL OCCUR OVERNIGHT...AND SINCE
ALL MAJOR STREAMS ARE IN FLOOD...ALL CREEKS AND BAYOUS ARE IN
BACKWATER...THUS ADDITIONAL LOW AREA FLOODING MAY DEVELOP.
.
THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DISRUPT FLOOD FIGHT ACTIVITIES
IN THE RED RIVER VALLEY OF SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS AND THE ADJACENT AREAS
OF NORTHEAST TEXAS.

LEVEE SYSTEMS ARE BEING TAXED BY THE CREST OF NEAR 32 FEET AT
INDEX AND 32.4 AT FULTON AND DOWNSTREAM TO GARLAN CITY.

ALSO ..A 50 MILE WIDE AREA OF SCATTERED SHOWERS WAS NOTED FROM NEAR
ARCADIA LOUISIANA TO ZWOLLE LOUISIANA TO SOUTH OF LUFKIN TEXAS.

AHEAD OF THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...AN UPPER LEVEL IMPULSE WAS
PRODUCING STRONG GUSTY WINDS ACROSS NORTHEAST AND CENTRAL LOUISIANA.
Special weather statement, May 12, 1:21 AM CDT, 1 hour 27 minutes before
OKZ026-TXZ022-023-027-028-032-033-ARZ009-010-011-016-LAZ001-002-
003-004-005-006-120800-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
110 AM CDT SAT MAY 12 1990

NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO DEVELOP
AND RACE NORTHEAST ACROSS NORTHEAST TEXAS...SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA...
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS AND NORTHWEST LOUISIANA.

THE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST NORTHEAST NEAR 50 MILES AN HOUR AND WERE
PRODUCING BRIEF STRONG WIND GUSTS AND HEAVY RAINFALL NEAR ONE INCH.

THE AREA OF SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED NORTHWEST OF A
LINE FROM NEAR PINE BLUFF ARKANSAS TO NEAR FARMERVILLE LOUISIANA TO
CAMPTI LOUISIANA TO SOUTHWEST OF LUFKIN TEXAS. WITHIN THIS AREA A 15
MILE BAND OF THUNDERSTORMS THAT WERE PRODUCING ONE TO TWO INCH RAINS
AND STREET AND UNDERPASS FLOODING AS WELL AS GUSTY WINDS WERE NOTED
FROM NEAR STAMPS ARKANSAS TO JEFFERSON TEXAS TO HENDERSON TEXAS.
.
ANOTHER 15 MILE WIDE BAND OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM NEAR
HALL SUMMIT LOUISIANA TO NEAR CENTER TEXAS. THESE STORMS WERE
LIKELY PRODUCING RAINFALL AMOUNTS NEAR ONE INCH.

THE LOCALIZED HEAVY RAINFALL AMOUNTS WILL CONTINUE TO OCCUR
OVERNIGHT. ALL MAJOR STREAMS ARE IN FLOOD...ALL CREEKS AND BAYOUS
ARE IN BACKWATER SO ADDITIONAL LOW AREA FLOODING WILL DEVELOP.

THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DISRUPT FLOOD FIGHT ACTIVITIES
IN THE RED RIVER VALLEY OF SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS AND THE ADJACENT AREAS
OF NORTHEAST TEXAS.

THE LEVEE SYSTEMS WERE BEING TAXED BY THE CREST OF NEAR 32 FEET AT
INDEX AND 32.4 AT FULTON AND DOWNSTREAM TO GARLAND CITY.

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND AFFECT THE
AREA TONIGHT AND SATURDAY. THE ADDITIONAL WATER WILL CAUSE MINOR
7INCREASES IN THE CREST STAGES EXPECTED ON AREA RIVERS AND STREAMS OR
AT LEAST PROLONG THE HIGH WATER SITUATION.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Shreveport, LA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 12, 1:57 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSHVBossier, Caddo48 min
May 12, 2:29 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSHVClaiborne, Webster61 min
May 12, 5:13 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSHVNatchitoches62 min
May 12, 5:57 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSHVWinn63 min
May 12, 8:09 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSHVDe Soto66 min
May 12, 8:49 AM CDTTornado WarningSHVSabine56 min
May 12, 9:23 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningSHVBossier, Caddo, Red River, Webster4 hr
May 12, 9:23 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningSHVDe Soto, Natchitoches, Sabine4 hr
May 12, 9:42 AM CDTTornado WarningSHVNatchitoches48 min
May 12, 10:45 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSHVCaldwell, Winn60 min
May 12, 10:45 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSHVOuachita60 min
May 12, 11:46 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSHVCaddo, De Soto59 min
May 12, 11:46 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSHVFranklin59 min
May 12, 12:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSHVMadison, Tensas65 min
May 12, 12:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSHVBienville, De Soto, Red River94 min
May 12, 1:30 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningSHVBienville, Bossier, Webster4 hr
May 12, 1:30 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningSHVDe Soto, Sabine4 hr
May 12, 1:30 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningSHVCaddo4 hr
May 12, 1:30 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningSHVNatchitoches, Red River4 hr
May 12, 1:50 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSHVNatchitoches, Winn55 min
May 12, 2:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSHVCaldwell, Winn61 min
May 12, 3:08 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningSHVWinn2 hr
May 12, 3:51 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSHVFranklin, Tensas69 min
May 12, 6:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSHVCaddo, De Soto57 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Louisiana, 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.