Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 1992

Tornado Warning 18, NWS Fort Worth, TX

May 18, 1992Bell County, Texas

NWS Fort Worth, TX issued this tornado warning at May 18, 1992, 6:59 PM CDT for Bell County, Texas. It was in force for 46 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 18, 1992, 6:59 PM CDT (23:59 UTC)
Expired
May 18, 1992, 7:45 PM CDT
In force
46 min
Issued by
NWS Fort Worth, TX
Area
Whole counties

County Bell County, TX

The nearest sounding before it

Stephenville/Cla, TX (KSEP), launched 12:00Z, 12.0 hours before the alert went out and 144 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, Stephenville/Cla, TX at 12:00Z on 1992-05-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Stephenville/Cla, TX at 12:00Z on 1992-05-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 2 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
649 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
5 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
2 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
13 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KACT 182359
TORACT
TXC027-190045-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WACO TX
659 PM CDT MON MAY 18 1992
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WACO TX  HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  745 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS
 
   ...WESTERN BELL COUNTY
 
AT 754 PM CDT A PUBLIC REPORT OF A FUNNEL CLOUD APPROXAMATELY 10 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF KILLEEN TX MOVING NORTH AT 10 MPH.
 V
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 COVER 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, May 18, 1:58 PM CDT, 5 hours 1 minute before
TXZ031-032-037-182000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WACO TX
156 PM CDT MON MAY 18 1992

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR TODAY FOR BELL...BOSQUE...
CORYELL...FALLS...HILL...LEON...LIMESTONE AND MCLENNAN COUNTIES OF
CENTRAL AND EAST TEXAS...

...A FLOOD AND FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR TODAY FOR BRAZOS...
MADISON AND ROBERTSON COUNTIES OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS...

AT 150 PM CDT RADAR INDICATED A BAND OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING
FROM FORT WORTH TO BURNET. THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE ABOUT 15 MILE SOUTHWEST
OF GATESVILLE AND JUST EAST OF WALNUT SPRINGS. THESE WERE PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN.
ALSO AN AREA OF MAINLY LIGHT RAIN WAS OCCURRING OVER HENDERSON AND NAVARRO
COUNTIES...AND FROM SINGLETON TO BRENHAM. MOVEMENT WAS NORTH AT 10 MILES AN
HOUR.

RESIDENTS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR <
FLASH FLOODING. IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND
IMMEDIATELY. MOTORISTISTS ARE URGED TO NEVER CROSS WATER THAT COVERS
THE ROAD. MOST FATALITIES OCCURR WHEN VEHICLES ARE SWEPT AWAY BY MOVING
WATER.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS.
Special weather statement, May 18, 2:09 PM CDT, 4 hours 50 minutes before
TXZ031-032-037-182000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WACO TX
156 PM CDT MON MAY 18 1992

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR TODAY FOR BELL...BOSQUE...
CORYELL...FALLS...HILL...LEON...LIMESTONE AND MCLENNAN COUNTIES OF
CENTRAL AND EAST TEXAS...

...A FLOOD AND FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR TODAY FOR BRAZOS...
MADISON AND ROBERTSON COUNTIES OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS...

AT 150 PM CDT RADAR INDICATED A BAND OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING
FROM FORT WORTH TO BURNET. THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE ABOUT 15 MILES SOUTHWEST
OF GATESVILLE AND JUST EAST OF WALNUT SPRINGS. THESE STORMS WERE PRODUCING
HEAVY RAIN. ALSO AN AREA OF MAINLY LIGHT RAIN WAS OCCURRING OVER HENDERSON
AND NAVARRO COUNTIES...AND FROM SINGLETON TO BRENHAM. MOVEMENT WAS NORTH AT
10 MILES AN HOUR.

RESIDENTS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR <
FLASH FLOODING. IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND
IMMEDIATELY. MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO NEVER CROSS WATER THAT COVERS
THE ROAD. MOST FATALITIES OCCUR WHEN VEHICLES ARE SWEPT AWAY BY MOVING
WATER.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS.
Special weather statement, May 18, 3:08 PM CDT, 3 hours 51 minutes before
TXZ031-032-037-182130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WACO TX
308 PM CDT MON MAY 18 1992

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR TODAY FOR BELL...BOSQUE...
CORYELL...FALLS...HILL...LEON...LIMESTONE AND MCLENNAN COUNTIES OF
CENTRAL AND EAST TEXAS...

...A FLOOD AND FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR TODAY FOR BRAZOS...
MADISON AND ROBERTSON COUNTIES OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS...

AT 306 PM CDT RADAR INDICATED NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND A FEW WIDELY SCATTERRED
THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS. THE STRONGEST STORMS
WERE NEAR VALLEY MILLS...AND NEAR NEW BADEN. THESE STORMS CONTAINED HEAVY
RAIN.

MOVEMENT WAS NORTH AT 10 MILES AN HOUR.

RESIDENTS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR <
FLASH FLOODING. IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND
IMMEDIATELY. MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO NEVER CROSS WATER THAT COVERS
THE ROAD. MOST FATALITIES OCCUR WHEN VEHICLES ARE SWEPT AWAY BY MOVING
WATER.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS.
Special weather statement, May 18, 4:25 PM CDT, 2 hours 34 minutes before
TXZ031-032-037-182330-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WACO TX
430 PM CDT MON MAY 18 1992

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR TODAY FOR BELL...BOSQUE...CORYELL...
   FALLS...HILL...LEON...LIMESTONE AND MCLENNAN COUNTIES OF CENTRAL TEXAS...

...A FLOOD AND FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR TODAY FOR BRAZOS...
   COUNTY OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS...

AT 425 PM CDT WACO WEATHER RADAR SHOWED THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN
IN MADISON COUNTY NEAR MIDWAY AND 5 MILES SOUTH OF MADISONVILLE...AND ALONG
THE LEON/FREESTONE COUNTY LINE 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF JEWETT.  OTHER LIGHT TO
MODERATE SHOWERS WERE OCCURRING IN PARTS OF BOSQUE...HILL...CORYELL...BELL...
FALLS...MCLENNAN...LIMESTONE AND ROBERTSON COUNTIES.  ALL THE PRECIPITATION
WAS MOVING NORTH AT 10 MPH.

PERSONS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHCENTRAL TEXAS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT TO CHANGING
WEATHER CONDITIONS.  WATCH FOR RAPIDLY RISING WATER ESPECIALLY DURING
PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN.  MOTORIST SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION.  AND REMEMBER
NEVER ATTEMPT TO CROSS HIGH WATER AREAS EITHER ON FOOT OR IN A VEHICLE.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
06
Special weather statement, May 18, 6:07 PM CDT, 52 minutes before
TXZ025-190000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
605 PM CDT MON MAY 18 1992

AT 600 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A THUNDERSTORM OVER
SOUTH CENTRAL COMANCHE COUNTY. AT 545 PM SPOTTERS IN COMANCHE COUNTY
REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD ABOUT 12 MILES SOUTHEAST OF COMANCHE...NEAR
GUSTINE.  THIS FUNNEL CLOUD HAS NOW DISSIPATED. HOWEVER...CONDITIONS
REMAIN FAVORABLE FOR ADDITIONAL FUNNEL CLOUDS TO DEVELOP WITH THIS
THUNDERSTORM.

NORMALLY...THESE TYPE OF FUNNEL CLOUDS ARE SHORT-LIVED AND DO NOT
REACH THE GROUND.  HOWEVER...RESIDENTS OF COMANCHE COUNTY SHOULD
REMAIN ALERT AS SOMETIMES THESE FUNNEL CLOUDS CAN BRIEFLY TOUCH
DOWN.
Special weather statement, May 18, 6:37 PM CDT, 22 minutes before
TXZ031-032-037-190230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WACO TX
635 PM CDT MON MAY 18 1992

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR TODAY FOR BELL...BOSQUE...CORYELL...
   FALLS...HILL...LEON...LIMESTONE AND MCLENNAN COUNTIES OF CENTRAL TEXAS...

...A FLOOD AND FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR TODAY FOR BRAZOS...
   COUNTY OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS...

AT 630 PM CDT WACO WEATHER RADAR SHOWED THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN
IN BELL COUNTY JUST SOUTH OF SALADO AND 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF TEMPLE.  OTHER
LIGHT TO MODERATE SHOWERS WERE OCCURRING IN PARTS OF BOSQUE...HILL...CORYELL
...BELL...FALLS...MCLENNAN...LIMESTONE...LEON AND MADISON COUNTIES.  ALL THE
PRECIPITATION WAS MOVING NORTH AT 10 MPH.

PERSONS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHCENTRAL TEXAS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT TO CHANGING
WEATHER CONDITIONS.  WATCH FOR RAPIDLY RISING WATER ESPECIALLY DURING TIMES
OF HEAVY TO VERY HEAVY RAINFALL.  MOTORIST SHOULD DRIVE WITH CARE AS HIGH
WATER AREAS ARE MUCH HARDER TO SEE AT NIGHT.  MANY CREEKS...STREAMS AND
RIVERS ARE AT OR NEAR BANKFULL AND MINOR LOW LAND FLOODING MAY BE A
PROBLEM DURING AND AFTER PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS OR PONSSIBLE WARNINGS.
06

The office that day

Everything else NWS Fort Worth, TX issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 17, 7:29 PM CDTTornado WarningFWDBell46 min
May 18, 5:34 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningFWDHunt3 hr
May 18, 5:40 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningFWDCollin3 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Texas, 1992Every tornado warning in 1992Tornadoes in 1992

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.