Alert archive / Oklahoma / Tornado Warnings in 1991

Tornado Warning 13, NWS Norman, OK

March 21, 1991Bryan County, Oklahoma

NWS Norman, OK issued this tornado warning at Mar 21, 1991, 7:52 PM CST for Bryan County, Oklahoma. It was in force for 23 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
Mar 21, 1991, 7:52 PM CST (01:52 UTC)
Expired
Mar 21, 1991, 8:15 PM CST
In force
23 min
Issued by
NWS Norman, OK
Area
Whole counties

County Bryan County, OK

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Mar 21, 7:52 PM CSTTornado F0Bryan, 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, 1.9 hours before the alert went out and 175 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 1991-03-22Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2 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 1991-03-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -66 square meters per square second.1939587897117136Sfc1 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
2 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-155 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1767 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
88 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-66 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
27 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 KOKC 220155
TOROKC
OKC013-220215-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OKLAHOMA CITY OK
752 PM CST THU MAR 21 1991
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OKLAHOMA CITY HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  815 PM CST
FOR THE FOLLOWING OKLAHOMA LOCATIONS...
 
IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA
 
   ...EASTERN BRYAN COUNTY
 
AT 752 PM RADAR INDICATED A TORNADO 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF BOKCHITO
MOVING EAST NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. STORM SPOTTERS HAVE REPORTED A
TORNADO IN THIS AREA.
 
DO NOT USE YOUR CAR TO TRY TO OUTRUN A TORNADO.  CARS ARE EASILY
TOSSED AROUND BY TORNADO WINDS.  IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN THE PATH OF
A TORNADO...LEAVE THE CAR AND GO TO A STRONG BUILDING.  IF NO
STRUCTURE IS NEARBY...SEEK SHELTER IN A DITCH OR LOW SPOT.

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 21, 6:36 PM CST, 1 hour 16 minutes before
TXZ020-019-220135-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA FALLS TX
635 PM CST THU MAR 21 1991

TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CST FOR THE FOLLOWING
NORTH TEXAS COUNTIES...ARCHER...CLAY...JACK...KNOX...MONTAGUE...
WICHITA...WILBARBER AND YOUNG. THIS INCLUDES COTTON COUNTY OF
SOUTH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA.

AT 6PM...THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORM AFFECTING THIS SECTION OF NORTH
CENTRAL TEXAS WAS OCCURRING ON THE RED RIVER IN EXTREME NORTHERN
MONTAGUE COUNTY. MOVEMENT WAS EAST NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

ELSEWHERE...ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WERE NOTED OVER PORTIONS OF
CLAY AND JACK COUNTIES. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE NOT CONSIDERED
SEVERE.

HOWEVER...CONDITIONS REMAIN FAVORABLE FOR RAPID INTENSIFICATION
FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS. ESPECIALLY IN THE COUNTIES EAST OF
WICHITA FALLS...THIS INCLUDES CLAY...MONTAGUE AND JACK COUNTIES.

EARLIER...VERY HEAVY RAIN WAS REPORTED OUT OF HENRIETTA IN CLAY
COUNTY. A LIGHTNING INDUCED HOUSE FIRE WAS ALSO REPORTED.
Special weather statement, Mar 21, 6:40 PM CST, 1 hour 12 minutes before
TXZ020-019-220135-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION TO TIME...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA FALLS TX
635 PM CST THU MAR 21 1991

TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CST FOR THE FOLLOWING
NORTH TEXAS COUNTIES...ARCHER...CLAY...JACK...KNOX...MONTAGUE...
WICHITA...WILBARBER AND YOUNG. THIS INCLUDES COTTON COUNTY OF
SOUTH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA.

AT 630 PM...THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORM AFFECTING THIS SECTION OF NORTH
CENTRAL TEXAS WAS OCCURRING ON THE RED RIVER IN EXTREME NORTHERN
MONTAGUE COUNTY. MOVEMENT WAS EAST NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

ELSEWHERE...ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WERE NOTED OVER PORTIONS OF
CLAY AND JACK COUNTIES. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE NOT CONSIDERED
SEVERE.

HOWEVER...CONDITIONS REMAIN FAVORABLE FOR RAPID INTENSIFICATION
FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS. ESPECIALLY IN THE COUNTIES EAST OF
WICHITA FALLS...THIS INCLUDES CLAY...MONTAGUE AND JACK COUNTIES.

EARLIER...VERY HEAVY RAIN WAS REPORTED OUT OF HENRIETTA IN CLAY
COUNTY. A LIGHTNING INDUCED HOUSE FIRE WAS ALSO REPORTED.
Special weather statement, Mar 21, 7:05 PM CST, 47 minutes before
TXZ020-019-220205-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA FALLS TX
705 PM CST THU MAR 21 1991

TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CST FOR THE FOLLOWING
NORTH TEXAS COUNTIES...ARCHER...CLAY...JACK...KNOX...MONTAGUE...
WICHITA...WILBARBER AND YOUNG. THIS INCLUDES COTTON COUNTY OF
SOUTH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA.

AT 700 PM...ALL SIGNIFICANT THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WAS OCCURRING
OVER OR NEAR CLAY...MONTAGUE AND JACK COUNTIES.

A BAND OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED SOUTHWEST OUT OF OKLAHOMA
THROUGH BOWIE INTO THE JACKSBORO VICINITY. ANOTHER ISOLATED
THUNDERSTORM WAS NOTED ALONG AND NORTH OF THE RED RIVER NORTH
OF MONTAGUE COUNTY. AN ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED
IN SOUTHWEST WISE COUNTY. MOVEMENT OF ALL ACTIVITY WAS NORTHEAST
AT 40 MPH.

EARLIER...SCOTLAND IN EASTERN CLAY COUNTY REPORTED FOUR TENTHS OF
AN INCH AND MARBLE SIZE HAIL COVERING THE GROUND.

MUCH OF THE RADAR RETURN ON THE WICHITA FALLS SCOPE WAS FALSE ECHO.
Local storm report, Mar 21, 7:09 PM CST, 43 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OKLAHOMA CITY OK
700 PM CST THU MAR 21 1991

TIME (CST)   COUNTY        REPORT

1:50 PM      TILLMAN       6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CHATTANOOGA.  1 INCH HAIL
                           AND 65 MPH WINDS.  REPORTED BY TILLMAN CO CD.
2:08 PM      GRADY         5 MILES NORTHWEST OF RUSH SPRINGS.  DIME SIZE HAIL.
2:10 PM      GRADY         6 MILES WEST AND 2 MILES NORTH OF RUSH SPRINGS.
                           HALF DOLLAR SIZE HAIL.
2:40 PM      COTTON        AT RANDLETT.  GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL.
2:45 PM      CLEVELAND     NEAR STELLA.  QUARTER SIZE HAIL.
2:50 PM      STEPHENS      IN DUNCAN.  NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND 68 MPH WIND.
3:05 PM      GRADY         IN COX CITY.  NICKEL SIZE HAIL.
3:24 PM      CARTER        IN WILSON AND HEALDTON.  GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL
                           COVERING THE GROUND.  FROM ARDMORE EOC.
3:33 PM      CARTER        5 MILES WEST OF LONE GROVE.  1 INCH HAIL.  FROM NWS
                           EMPLOYEE.
3:43 PM      GARVIN        7 MILES WSW PAULS VALLEY.  DIME SIZE HAIL.
3:48 PM      GARVIN        3 MILES SOUTHWEST OF PAULS VALLEY.  GOLF BALL
                           SIZE HAIL AND 75 TO 80 MPH WINDS.
3:55 PM      LOVE          9 MILES SOUTH OF WILSON.  GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL
                           AND 50 MPH WINDS.  FROM OHP.
4:00 PM      CARTER        AT ARDMORE.  GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL.
4:11 PM      CARTER        AT ARDMORE AIRPARK.  GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL AND
                           70 TO 90 MPH WINDS.   FROM ARDMORE EOC.
4:22 PM      PONTOTOC      4 MILES WEST OF ADA (PICKETT COMMUNITY.  TORNADO
                           ON GROUND.  FROM OHP TROOPER.
4:40 PM      JOHNSTON      3 MILES SOUTH OF TISHOMINGO.  HALF DOLLAR SIZE
                           HAIL.
4:49 PM      JOHNSTON      1 1/2 MILES EAST OF MANNSVILLE.  1 1/4 INCH HAIL
                           COVERING THE GROUND.
5:14 PM      ATOKA         7 MILES WEST OF CANEY.  TORNADO REJPORTED BY ATOKA
                           CO SHERIFF DEPARTMENT.
5:16 PM      CARTER        3 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ARDMORE.  BRIEF TORNADO
                           TOUCHDOWN.  FROM ARDMORE EOC.
Special weather statement, Mar 21, 7:11 PM CST, 41 minutes before
TXZ020-019-220205-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION TO 4TH PARAGRAPH...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA FALLS TX
705 PM CST THU MAR 21 1991

TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CST FOR THE FOLLOWING
NORTH TEXAS COUNTIES...ARCHER...CLAY...JACK...KNOX...MONTAGUE...
WICHITA...WILBARBER AND YOUNG. THIS INCLUDES COTTON COUNTY OF
SOUTH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA.

AT 700 PM...ALL SIGNIFICANT THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WAS OCCURRING
OVER OR NEAR CLAY...MONTAGUE AND JACK COUNTIES.

A BAND OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED SOUTHWEST OUT OF OKLAHOMA
THROUGH BOWIE INTO THE JACKSBORO VICINITY. ANOTHER ISOLATED
THUNDERSTORM WAS NOTED ALONG AND NORTH OF THE RED RIVER NORTH
OF MONTAGUE COUNTY. AN ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED
IN SOUTHWEST WISE COUNTY. MOVEMENT OF ALL ACTIVITY WAS NORTHEAST
AT 40 MPH.
EARLIER...SCOTLAND IN EASTERN ARCHER COUNTY REPORTED FOUR TENTHS OF
AN INCH AND MARBLE SIZE HAIL COVERING THE GROUND.

MUCH OF THE RADAR RETBURN ON THE WICHITA FALLS SCOPE WAS FALSE ECHO.
Special weather statement, Mar 21, 7:34 PM CST, 18 minutes before
TXZ020-019-220230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA FALLS TX
730 PM CST THU MAR 21 1991

TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CST FOR THE FOLLOWING
NORTH TEXAS COUNTIES...ARCHER...CLAY...JACK...KNOX...MONTAGUE...
WICHITA...WILBARBER AND YOUNG. THIS INCLUDES COTTON COUNTY OF
SOUTH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA.

AROUND SUNSET...TWO LINES OF THUNDERSTORMS WERE INDICATED BY THE
WICHITA FALLS RADAR.

ONE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED FROM NEAR DCAUTER IN WISE
COUNTY TO ALONG THE COOKE/MONTAGUE COUNTY LINE.

ANOTHER BAND OF DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORMS WERE OCCURRING FROM EAST
SOUTH OF SEYMOUR TO WEST OF ABILINE. MOVEMENT OF ALL ACTIVITY WAS
NORTHEAST AT NEAR 40 MPH.

RESIDENTS IN EXTREME EASTERN MONTAGUE SHOULD EXPECT THE STRONGEST
THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IN THE NEXT HOUR.

THUNDERSTORMS TO THE SOUTHWEST OF WICHITA FALLS MAY AFFECT THE LOCAL
AREA BEFORE 9PM. FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND ISLOATED AREAS OF HEAVY RAIN
SHOU)LD BE EXPECTED OVER PORTIONS OF BAYLOR AND MONTAGUE COUNTIES IN
THE NEXT 30 MINUTES.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 21, 6:00 PM CSTTornado WarningOUNBryan45 min
Mar 21, 6:03 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNJefferson, Love42 min
Mar 21, 6:15 PM CSTTornado WarningOUNPushmataha45 min
Mar 21, 6:19 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCarter, Johnston, Love, Marshall56 min
Mar 21, 6:41 PM CSTTornado WarningOUNAtoka, Bryan49 min
Mar 21, 6:58 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNPushmataha62 min
Mar 21, 7:07 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNBryan68 min
Mar 21, 7:10 PM CSTTornado WarningOUNBryan35 min
Mar 21, 7:15 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNJohnston, Marshall60 min
Mar 21, 7:15 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNLove60 min
Mar 21, 7:39 PM CSTTornado WarningOUNMarshall36 min
Mar 21, 8:05 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNAtoka, Pushmataha55 min
Mar 21, 8:11 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNChoctaw64 min
Mar 21, 8:41 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNJefferson64 min
Mar 21, 9:25 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCarter65 min
Mar 21, 9:58 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNLove47 min
Mar 21, 10:30 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCarter, Johnston, Marshall45 min
Mar 21, 11:01 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCoal, Hughes, Pontotoc59 min
Mar 21, 11:40 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNAtoka, Bryan, Johnston65 min
Mar 22, 1:37 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNJefferson, Love53 min
Mar 22, 1:44 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNMarshall61 min
Mar 22, 1:49 AM CSTTornado WarningOUNMarshall26 min
Mar 22, 2:16 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNAtoka, Bryan, Johnston59 min
Mar 22, 3:15 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNAtoka45 min
Mar 22, 6:51 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNChoctaw, Pushmataha69 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Oklahoma, 1991Every tornado warning in 1991Tornadoes 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.