Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 1995

Tornado Warning 31, NWS Fort Worth, TX

May 5, 1995Tarrant County, Texas

NWS Fort Worth, TX issued this tornado warning at May 5, 1995, 7:06 PM CDT for Tarrant County, Texas. It was in force for 69 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 5, 1995, 7:06 PM CDT (00:06 UTC)
Expired
May 5, 1995, 8:15 PM CDT
In force
69 min
Issued by
NWS Fort Worth, TX
Area
Whole counties

County Tarrant County, TX

The radar

The Dallas/Ft Worth radar (KFWS), 22 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:08 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Fort Worth, TX (KFWD), launched 00:00Z, 0.1 hours before the alert went out and 7 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, Fort Worth, TX at 00:00Z on 1995-05-06Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1242 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Fort Worth, TX at 00:00Z on 1995-05-06The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 184 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
1242 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-6 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
677 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
41 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
184 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
315 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.8
Supercell composite
9.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KFTW 060006
TORFTW
TXC439-060115-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
706 PM CDT FRI MAY 5 1995
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FORT WORTH HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  815 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS
 
   ...TARRANT COUNTY
 
AT 705 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR DETECTED A TORNADO
5 MILES WEST OF BENBROOK. MOVEMENT WAS EAST AT 25 MPH. THE PATH
OF THIS STORM WILL TAKE IT ALONG I20 IN SOUTHERN TARRANT COUNTY.
 
PERSONS IN BENBROOK AND SOUTHWEST FORT WORTH ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STO
AND SHOULD TAKE COVER NOW!
 
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.
 
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 5, 1:16 PM CDT, 5 hours 50 minutes before
TXZ091>167-051900-

SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR NORTH TEXAS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FT WORTH TX
115 PM CDT FRI MAY 5 1995

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT FOR
THAT PORTION OF NORTH TEXAS GENERALLY SOUTH OF AN OLNEY-MINERAL WELLS-
HILLSBORO-JACKSONVILLE-CARTAGE LINE.  THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF
HASKELL...ABILENE...EASTLAND...SAN SABA...STEPHENVILLE...HAMILTON...
TEMPLE...PALESTINE...CENTERVILLE...NACOGDOCHES AND LUFKIN.

THE MAIN THREAT TONIGHT WILL FROM LARGE HAIL AND POTENTIAL DAMAGING
WINDS.  THE FORMATION OF A FEW SUPERCELLS OVER THE WESTERN AREAS IS
POSSIBLE. THIS MAY RESULT IN LARGE SIZE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS AND A
ISOLATED TORNADOES.

A SERIES OF UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES WILL BE TRANSVERSING ACROSS NORTH
TEXAS OUT OF A VERY ACTIVE...DEEP UPPER LEVEL LOW OVER THE
SOUTHWESTERN STATES THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THE FIRST OF THESE WAVES WAS
LOCATED OVER WEST TEXAS AT MIDDAY AND WILL PUSH INTO NORTH TEXAS THIS
EVENING AND LINGER THROUGH SATURDAY.  A WARM FRONT DIVIDED THE STATE
ALONG A MIDLAND-BROWNWOOD-TYLER LINE...AND TO THE SOUTH...DEWPOINTS
WHERE IN THE IN THE 60S AND 70S. THE ATMOSPHERE OVER THE THREATEN AREA
WAS UNSTABLE...AND WITH COOLER TEMPERATURES ALOFT MOVING EAST OUT OF
NEW MEXICO THIS EVENING...DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE COULD BE RAPID.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS OFFICIALS AND STORM SPOTTERS SHOULD BE READY
FOR POSSIBLE ACTIVATION TONIGHT WITHIN THE THREAT AREA.  AN THREAT OF
SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO REOCCUR ON OVER THE WEEKEND.
Special weather statement, May 5, 1:25 PM CDT, 5 hours 41 minutes before
TXZ091>167-051900-

SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR NORTH TEXAS...CORRECTED.
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FT WORTH TX
115 PM CDT FRI MAY 5 1995

...CORRECTED.

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT FOR THAT
PORTION OF NORTH TEXAS GENERALLY SOUTH OF AN OLNEY-MINERAL WELLS-
HILLSBORO-JACKSONVILLE-CARTAGE LINE.  THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF
HASKELL...ABILENE...EASTLAND...SAN SABA...STEPHENVILLE...HAMILTON...
TEMPLE...PALESTINE...CENTERVILLE...NACOGDOCHES AND LUFKIN.

THE MAIN THREAT TONIGHT WILL FROM LARGE HAIL AND POTENTIAL DAMAGING
WINDS.  THE FORMATION OF A FEW SUPERCELLS OVER THE WESTERN AREAS IS
POSSIBLE. THIS MAY RESULT IN LARGE SIZE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS AND A
ISOLATED TORNADOES.

A SERIES OF UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES WILL BE TRANSVERSING ACROSS NORTH
TEXAS OUT OF A VERY ACTIVE...DEEP UPPER LEVEL LOW OVER THE
SOUTHWESTERN STATES THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THE FIRST OF THESE WAVES WAS
LOCATED OVER WEST TEXAS AT MIDDAY AND WILL PUSH INTO NORTH TEXAS THIS
EVENING AND LINGER THROUGH SATURDAY.  A WARM FRONT DIVIDED THE STATE
ALONG A MIDLAND-BROWNWOOD-TYLER LINE...AND TO THE SOUTH...DEWPOINTS
WHERE IN THE IN THE 60S AND 70S. THE ATMOSPHERE OVER THE THREATEN AREA
WAS UNSTABLE...AND WITH COOLER TEMPERATURES ALOFT MOVING EAST OUT OF
NEW MEXICO THIS EVENING...DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE WEATHER COULD BE
RAPID.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS OFFICIALS AND STORM SPOTTERS SHOULD BE READY
FOR POSSIBLE ACTIVATION TONIGHT WITHIN THE THREAT AREA.  ANOTHER ROUND
OF SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO REOCCUR ON OVER THE WEEKEND.
Special weather statement, May 5, 1:28 PM CDT, 5 hours 38 minutes before
TXZ091>167-051900-

SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR NORTH TEXAS...CORRECTED.
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FT WORTH TX
115 PM CDT FRI MAY 5 1995

...CORRECTED.

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT FOR THAT
PORTION OF NORTH TEXAS GENERALLY SOUTH OF AN OLNEY-MINERAL WELLS-
HILLSBORO-JACKSONVILLE-CARTAGE LINE.  THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF
HASKELL...ABILENE...EASTLAND...SAN SABA...STEPHENVILLE...HAMILTON...
TEMPLE...PALESTINE...CENTERVILLE...NACOGDOCHES AND LUFKIN.

THE MAIN THREAT TONIGHT WILL BE FROM LARGE HAIL AND POTENTIAL DAMAGING
WINDS.  THE FORMATION OF A FEW SUPERCELLS OVER THE WESTERN AREAS IS
POSSIBLE. THIS MAY RESULT IN LARGE SIZE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS AND A
ISOLATED TORNADOES.

A SERIES OF UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES WILL BE TRANSVERSING ACROSS NORTH
TEXAS OUT OF A VERY ACTIVE...DEEP UPPER LEVEL LOW OVER THE
SOUTHWESTERN STATES THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THE FIRST OF THESE WAVES WAS
LOCATED OVER WEST TEXAS AT MIDDAY AND WILL PUSH INTO NORTH TEXAS THIS
EVENING AND LINGER THROUGH SATURDAY.  A WARM FRONT DIVIDED THE STATE
ALONG A MIDLAND-BROWNWOOD-TYLER LINE... AND TO THE SOUTH...DEWPOINTS
WHERE IN THE IN THE 60S AND 70S. THE ATMOSPHERE OVER THE THREATEN AREA
WAS UNSTABLE...AND WITH COOLER TEMPERATURES ALOFT MOVING EAST OUT OF
NEW MEXICO THIS EVENING...DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE WEATHER COULD BE
RAPID.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS OFFICIALS AND STORM SPOTTERS SHOULD BE READY
FOR POSSIBLE ACTIVATION TONIGHT WITHIN THE THREAT AREA.  ANOTHER ROUND

OF SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO REOCCUR ON OVER THE WEEKEND.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 5, 7:21 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDBrown69 min
May 5, 7:37 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningFWDHood, Parker3 hr
May 5, 7:37 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningFWDTarrant3 hr
May 5, 7:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDMills66 min
May 5, 7:52 PM CDTTornado WarningFWDDallas22 min
May 5, 8:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDEllis63 min
May 5, 8:38 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDHill67 min
May 5, 8:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDHamilton64 min
May 5, 8:58 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningFWDDallas, Ellis2 hr
May 5, 9:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDKaufman57 min
May 5, 9:09 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningFWDHill, Navarro3 hr
May 5, 9:09 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningFWDBosque3 hr
May 5, 9:09 PM CDTTornado WarningFWDDallas32 min
May 5, 9:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDNavarro59 min
May 5, 9:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDHamilton46 min
May 5, 9:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDVan Zandt60 min
May 5, 9:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDMcLennan64 min
May 5, 10:02 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDRains, Wood58 min
May 5, 10:14 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDSmith61 min
May 5, 10:21 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDBosque, Coryell39 min
May 5, 10:42 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningFWDDallas, Tarrant3 hr
May 5, 10:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDLimestone, McLennan63 min
May 5, 11:04 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDCherokee56 min
May 5, 11:04 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDUpshur56 min
May 6, 12:14 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningFWDHill, Limestone, McLennan2 hr
May 6, 12:41 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDLimestone34 min
May 6, 5:28 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDStonewall62 min
May 6, 6:34 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDStonewall56 min
May 6, 6:43 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDEastland62 min
May 6, 7:25 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDTaylor35 min
May 6, 7:25 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDShackelford35 min
May 6, 7:51 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDHaskell69 min
May 6, 7:59 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDErath31 min
May 6, 10:33 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDMontague62 min
May 6, 11:24 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDCooke66 min
May 6, 12:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDGrayson43 min
May 6, 1:52 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDWise53 min
May 6, 2:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDDenton50 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Texas, 1995Every tornado warning in 1995Tornadoes in 1995

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.