Alert archive / Mississippi / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1991

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 21, NWS Memphis, TN

March 22, 1991Pontotoc County, Mississippi

NWS Memphis, TN issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 22, 1991, 6:00 PM CST for Pontotoc County, Mississippi. It was in force for 60 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
Mar 22, 1991, 6:00 PM CST (00:00 UTC)
Expired
Mar 22, 1991, 7:00 PM CST
In force
60 min
Issued by
NWS Memphis, TN
Area
Whole counties

County Pontotoc County, MS

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Mar 22, 6:02 PM CSTThunderstorm Wind 0Pontotoc, MS
Mar 22, 6:50 PM CSTThunderstorm Wind 0Pontotoc, MS

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

Centreville/Bibb, AL (KCKL), launched 00:00Z, 0.0 hours before the alert went out and 225 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, Centreville/Bibb, AL at 00:00Z on 1991-03-23Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1360 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, Centreville/Bibb, AL at 00:00Z on 1991-03-23The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 238 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
1360 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-23 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
852 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
53 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
238 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
324 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
2.3
Supercell composite
7.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KTUP 230000
SVRTUP
MSC003-081-115-117-145-230100-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUPELO MS
600 PM CST FRI MAR 22 1991
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TUPELO HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  700 PM CST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI
 
   ...ALCORN COUNTY...NORTHERN LEE COUNTY...PONTOTOC COUNTY
   ...PRENTISS COUNTY...UNION COUNTY
 
AT 555 PM CST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM 10 MILES SOUTH OF PONTOTOC MISSISSIPPI TO
20 MILES EAST OF SAVANNAH TENNEESSEE. THIS LINE WAS MOVING EAST AT 20
MPH WHILE INDIVIDUAL STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.
 
A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA.  REMEMBER
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES
WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING.  REMAIN CALM BUT BE ALERT TO
RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS.
 
NNNN

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm 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 22, 2:06 PM CST, 3 hours 54 minutes before
TNZ012-013-014-015-MSZ001-004-ARZ012-013-014-222100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
205 PM CST FRI MAR 22 1991

... TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 55 HAS BEEN POSTED UNTIL 9 PM CST FOR MUCH OF
WEST TENNESSEE AND NORTHEAST ARKANSAS .. ALONG WITH ADJACENT PARTS
 OF MISSOURI .. KENTUCKY .. AND MIDDLE TENNESSEE ....

AT 200 PM THUNDERSTORMS WERE GAINING STRENGTH IN A NEARLY NORTH -
SOUTH BAND ALONG THE MISSISSIPI RIVER FROM THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL SOUTH
TO JUST EAST OF PINE BLUFF ARKANSAS.  THE DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORMS
WERE RACING NORTHEAST AT MORE THAN 60 MPH.

THE STRONGER OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE LARGE HAIL AND
DESTRUCTIVE WINDS AND THERE WILL BE A CONTINUING POTENTIAL FOR
TORNADOES THROUGH THIS FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND INTO TONIGHT.

WEATHER RADAR INDICATED THE MORE INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS TO BE MOVING
INTO SOUTHERN TUNICA COUNTY MISSISSIPPI .. MOVING ACROSS THE WEST
MEMPHIS AREA OF CRITTENDEN COUNTY ARKANSAS . AND INTO SOUTHWEST DESOTO
COUNTY MISSISSIPPI.

YOU SHOULD KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON WEATHER IN YOUR AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING - BE PREPARED TO MOVE QUICKLY TO A SAFE PLACE IF THREATENING
WEATHER APPROACHES OR IF A WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YO1UR AREA.

STAY TUNED TO THIS STATION FOR LATER BULLETINS ON TODAY'S EXPLOSIVE
AND DANGEROUS WEATHER.
Special weather statement, Mar 22, 2:51 PM CST, 3 hours 9 minutes before
MSZ004-005-222200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUPELO MS
251 PM CST FRI MAR 22 1991

...TORNADO WATCH 56 IN EFFECT FOR NORTH MISSISSIPPI UNTIL 900 PM
CST...

AT 345 PM CST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI. THIS LINE EXTENDED
FROM 10 MILES WEST OF CLEVELAND TO 20 MILES EAST OF MEMPHIS TENNESSEE.
THIS LINE WAS MOVING EAST AT 20 MILES AN HOUR AND WILL MOVE INTO
LAFAYETTE COUNTY AROUND 530 PM CST.

THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY HEAVY
RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT LIGHTNING STRIKES...LARGE HAIL
AND POSSIBLY A TORNADO. IF YOU ARE IN NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI THIS
AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING YOU ARE URGED TO KEEP WEATHER ALERT AND BE
PREPARED TO SEEK A SAFE SHELTER IF A WARNING SHOULD BE ISSUED.

STAY TUNED TO THIS STATION FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.

NNNN
Special weather statement, Mar 22, 2:52 PM CST, 3 hours 8 minutes before
MSZ004-005-222200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUPELO MS
251 PM CST FRI MAR 22 1991

...TORNADO WATCH 56 IN EFFECT FOR NORTH MISSISSIPPI UNTIL 900 PM
CST...

AT 245 PM CST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI. THIS LINE EXTENDED
FROM 10 MILES WEST OF CLEVELAND TO 20 MILES EAST OF MEMPHIS
TENNESSEE. THIS LINE WAS MOVING EAST AT 20 MILES AN HOUR AND WILL
MOVE INTO LAFAYETTE COUNTY AROUND 430 PM CST.

THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY HEAVY
RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT LIGHTNING STRIKES...LARGE HAIL
AND POSSIBLY A TORNADO. IF YOU ARE IN NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI THIS
AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING YOU ARE URGED TO KEEP WEATHER ALERT AND
BE PREPARED TO SEEK A SAFE SHELTER IF A WARNING SHOULD BE ISSUED.

STAY TUNED TO THIS STATION FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.

NNNN
Special weather statement, Mar 22, 3:32 PM CST, 2 hours 28 minutes before
TNZ012-013-014-015-MSZ001-004-ARZ012-013-014-222230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
332 PM CST FRI MAR 22 1991

AT 330 PM WEATHER RADAR LOCATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IN A 30-MILE WIND
BAND THAT STRETCHED NORTHEAST TO SOUTHWEST ACROSS WEST TENNESSEE AND
NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI - FROM NEAR DRESDEN IN WEAKLEY COUNTY TENNESSEE
TO NEAR JACKSON TENNESSEE TO NEAR MOSCOW TENNESSEE TO NEAR HERNANDO
AND SENATOBT MARSHALL COUNTY
MISSISSIPPI .. NEAR BYHALIA - OVER NORTH-CENTRAL FAYETTE COUNTY
TENNESSEE .. NEAR SOMERVILLE - AND OVER QUITMAN COUNTY MISSISSIPPI ..
NEAR MARKS.

OTHER THAN VERY HEAVY RAIN .. DEADLY LIGHTNING .. AND STRONG WINDS ..
ONLY SMALLIA MISSISSIPPI AND TO NEAR MARKS MISSISSIPPI.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE RACING NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 60 MPH WHILE THE
ELONGATED AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS PRESSING TOWARD THE SOUTHEAST
ABOUT 15 MPH.

STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING ACROSS NORTHWES - GENERALLY PEA-SIZED - HAIL HAS BEEN REPORTED AS THESE
THUNDERSTORMS MOVE THROUGH.

THE POTENTIAL FOR TORNADO DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES .. HOWEVER.  TORNADO
WATCHES CONTINUE IN EFFECT OVER EAST ARKANSAS .. WEST TENNESSEE .. AND
NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI UNTIL 9 PM TONIGHT.

BE READY FOR QUICK ACTION SHOULD THREATENING WEATHER APPROACH OR A
WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA.

STAY TUNED TO THIS STATION FOR LATER BULLETINS.
Special weather statement, Mar 22, 3:35 PM CST, 2 hours 25 minutes before
TNZ012-013-014-015-MSZ001-004-ARZ012-013-014-222230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
332 PM CST FRI MAR 22 1991

AT 330 PM WEATHER RADAR LOCATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IN A 30-MILE WIND
BAND THAT STRETCHED NORTHEAST TO SOUTHWEST ACROSS WEST TENNESSEE AND
NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI - FROM NEAR DRESDEN IN WEAKLEY COUNTY TENNESSEE
TO NEAR JACKSON TENNESSEE TO NEAR MOSCOW TENNESSEE TO NEAR HERNANDO
AND SENATOBIA MISSISSIPPI AND TO NEAR MARKS MISSISSIPPI.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE RACING NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 60 MPH WHILE THE
ELONGATED AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS PRESSING TOWARD THE SOUTHEAST
ABOUT 15 MPH.

STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING ACROSS NORTHWEST MARSHALL COUNTY
MISSISSIPPI .. NEAR BYHALIA - OVER NORTH-CENTRAL FAYETTE COUNTY
TENNESSEE .. NEAR SOMERVILLE - AND OVER QUITMAN COUNTY MISSISSIPPI ..
NEAR MARKS.

OTHER THAN VERY HEAVY RAIN .. DEADLY LIGHTNING .. AND STRONG WINDS ..
ONLY SMALL - GENERALLY PEA-SIZED - HAIL HAS BEEN REPORTED AS THESE
THUNDERSTORMS MOVE THROUGH.

THE POTENTIAL FOR TORNADO DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES .. HOWEVER.  TORNADO
WATCHES CONTINUE IN EFFECT OVER EAST ARKANSAS .. WEST TENNESSEE .. AND
NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI UNTIL 9 PM TONIGHT.

BE READY FOR QUICK ACTION SHOULD THREATENING WEATHER APPROACH OR A
WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA.

STAY TUNED TO THIS STATION FOR LATER BULLETINS.
Special weather statement, Mar 22, 3:37 PM CST, 2 hours 23 minutes before
MSZ004-005-222245-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUPELO MS
337 PM CST FRI MAR 22 1991

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 56 IN EFFECT FOR NORTH MISSISSIPPI UNTIL 900
PM CST THIS FRIDAY EVENING...

AT 330 PM CST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...HAIL
AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING STRIKES MOVING ACROSS NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI.
THIS LINE EXTENDED FROM 5 MILES SOUTH OF CLEVELAND TO SARDIS TO 30
MILES NORTHEAST OF MEMPHIS TENNESSEE. THIS LINE WAS MOVING EAST AT 20
MILES AN HOUR WHILE INDIVIDUAL STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50
MILES AN HOUR.

THIS LINE OF STORMS WILL MOVE INTO WESTERN LAFAYETTE COUNTY BY 400 PM
CST. THIS IS A DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION. IF YOU ARE IN NORTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING YOU SHOULD STAY WEATHER
ALERT AND HAVE PLANS TO GO TO A SAFE SHELTER IF A WARNING SHOULD BE
ISSUED.

STAY TUNED TO THIS STATION FO"R THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.

NNNN

The office that day

Everything else NWS Memphis, TN issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 22, 6:00 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGAlcorn, Lee, Prentiss, Union60 min
Mar 22, 6:57 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGItawamba, Lee, Prentiss, Tishomingo63 min
Mar 22, 6:57 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGChickasaw, Pontotoc63 min
Mar 22, 8:03 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGClay, Itawamba, Monroe57 min
Mar 22, 8:03 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGOktibbeha57 min
Mar 22, 9:01 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGClay, Lowndes, Monroe, Oktibbeha59 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Mississippi, 1991Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1991

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.