Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 1996

Tornado Warning 55, NWS Fort Worth, TX

October 21, 1996Hamilton County, Texas

NWS Fort Worth, TX issued this tornado warning at Oct 21, 1996, 2:58 PM CDT for Hamilton County, Texas. It was in force for 32 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: Oct 21, 1996, 2:58 PM CDT (19:58 UTC)
Expired: Oct 21, 1996, 3:30 PM CDT
In force: 32 min
Issued by: NWS Fort Worth, TX
Area: Whole counties

County Hamilton County, TX

The radar

The Dallas/Ft Worth radar (KFWS), 123 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:00 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.

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Oct 21, 3:15 PM CDT	Tornado F0	Hamilton, TX
Oct 21, 3:30 PM CDT	Hail 0.75	Hico, TX

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.

The nearest sounding before it

Fort Worth, TX (KFWD), launched 12:00Z, 8.0 hours before the alert went out and 147 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 2851 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -4 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 681 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 42 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 77 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 91 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.9
Supercell composite: 4.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KFTW 211958
TORFTW
TXC193-212030-
 
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
258 PM CDT MON OCT 21 1996
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FORT WORTH HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  330 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS
 
   ...EASTERN HAMILTON COUNTY
 
AT 258 PM...A DEVELOPING TORNADO WAS DETECTED BY RADAR 2 MILES SOUTH OF
FAIRY MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THE STORM TAKE
COVER IMMEDIATELY!!!
 
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

Local storm report, Oct 21, 12:00 PM CDT, 2 hours 58 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
1155 AM CDT MON OCT 21 1996

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0722 AM    LINGLEVILLE               TX   1 INCH HAIL
10/21/96   ERATH

0807 AM    GRANBURY                  TX   1 INCH HAIL
10/21/96   HOOD

0838 AM    JOSHUA                    TX   .75 INCH HAIL
10/21/96   JOHNSON

0845 AM    5 E CROWLEY               TX   80 MPH TSTM GUST
10/21/96   TARRANT

0845 AM    3 SE CROWLEY              TX   HANGAR BLOWN DOWN
10/21/96   TARRANT                        DAMAGED AIRCRAFT

0850 AM    BURLESON                  TX   80 MPH TSTM GUST
10/21/96   JOHNSON

0850 AM    BURLESON                  TX   1.75 INCH HAIL
10/21/96   JOHNSON

0930 AM    PALO PINTO                TX   .75 INCH HAIL
10/21/96   PALO PINTO

0942 AM    MINERAL WELLS             TX   .75 INCH HAIL
10/21/96   PALO PINTO

0942 AM    EAGLE MTN LAKE            TX   .75 INCH HAIL
10/21/96   TARRANT

1013 AM    WEATHERFORD               TX   .75 INCH HAIL
10/21/96   PARKER

1015 AM    WEATHERFORD               TX   1.75 INCH HAIL
10/21/96   PARKER
1017 AM    WEATHERFORD               TX   2 INCH HAIL
10/21/96   PARKER

1031 AM    ALEDO                     TX   2.75 INCH HAIL
10/21/96   PARKER                         WINDOWS BROKEN

1031 AM    8 E WEATHERFORD           TX   2.75 INCH HAIL
10/21/96   PARKER

1039 AM    EASTLAND                  TX   2.75 INCH HAIL
10/21/96   EASTLAND

1047 AM    FT WORTH                  TX   .75 INCH HAIL
10/21/96   TARRANT

1050 AM    FT WORTH                  TX   1.75 INCH HAIL
10/21/96   TARRANT

1114 AM    BEDFORD                   TX   1 INCH HAIL
10/21/96   TARRANT

1114 AM    BEDFORD                   TX   60 MPH TSTM GUST
10/21/96   TARRANT

1127 AM    IRVING                    TX   1 INCH HAIL
10/21/96   DALLAS

1143 AM    ADDISON                   TX   1 INCH HAIL
10/21/96   DALLAS

1143 AM    IRVING                    TX   1.5 INCH HAIL
10/21/96   DALLAS

Local storm report, Oct 21, 1:54 PM CDT, 1 hour 4 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
155 PM CDT MON OCT 21 1996

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

1141 AM    ADDISON                   TX   58 MPH TSTM GUST
10/21/96   DALLAS

1221 PM    MANSFIELD                 TX   2 INCH HAIL
10/21/96   TARRANT

1238 PM    FT WORTH                  TX   .75 INCH HAIL
10/21/96   TARRANT

1239 PM    5 SW FT WORTH             TX   1.75 INCH HAIL
10/21/96   TARRANT

1256 PM    FT WORTH                  TX   1 INCH HAIL
10/21/96   TARRANT

0103 PM    DALLAS                    TX   FLOODING
10/21/96   DALLAS                         SEVERAL ROADS CLOSED DUE
                                          TO HIGH WATER

0115 PM    6 NW MANSFIELD            TX   .88 INCH HAIL
10/21/96   TARRANT

0130 PM    IRVING                    TX   1 INCH HAIL
10/21/96   DALLAS

0140 PM    DALLAS                    TX   1 INCH HAIL
10/21/96   DALLAS

0144 PM    DALLAS                    TX   1.5 INCH HAIL
10/21/96   DALLAS

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Oct 21, 6:45 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Comanche	30 min
Oct 21, 6:55 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Erath	50 min
Oct 21, 7:36 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Hood, Parker	69 min
Oct 21, 7:36 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Somervell	69 min
Oct 21, 8:07 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Johnson, Tarrant	68 min
Oct 21, 8:12 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	FWD	Hood	33 min
Oct 21, 8:20 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	FWD	Johnson	25 min
Oct 21, 8:21 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Stephens	69 min
Oct 21, 8:51 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	FWD	Johnson, Tarrant	39 min
Oct 21, 9:11 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Dallas, Ellis	49 min
Oct 21, 9:17 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Palo Pinto	43 min
Oct 21, 9:41 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Parker	64 min
Oct 21, 10:01 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Dallas, Rockwall	44 min
Oct 21, 10:09 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	FWD	Dallas, Rockwall	36 min
Oct 21, 10:17 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Kaufman	28 min
Oct 21, 10:20 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Eastland	55 min
Oct 21, 10:20 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Tarrant	55 min
Oct 21, 10:27 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	FWD	Hunt	63 min
Oct 21, 10:39 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Erath, Palo Pinto	66 min
Oct 21, 10:56 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	FWD	Eastland, Erath	34 min
Oct 21, 10:59 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Dallas	61 min
Oct 21, 11:24 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Tarrant	36 min
Oct 21, 11:37 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Parker, Wise	68 min
Oct 21, 11:37 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Hood	68 min
Oct 21, 11:41 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Collin	49 min
Oct 21, 11:58 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Dallas	62 min
Oct 21, 12:20 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	FWD	Dallas	115 min
Oct 21, 12:25 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Tarrant	65 min
Oct 21, 1:00 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Dallas	60 min
Oct 21, 1:08 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	FWD	Tarrant	2 hr
Oct 21, 1:24 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Comanche	66 min
Oct 21, 1:43 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Hunt, Rockwall	47 min
Oct 21, 1:50 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Erath, Hamilton	55 min
Oct 21, 1:55 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Dallas	35 min
Oct 21, 2:06 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Kaufman	54 min
Oct 21, 2:17 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Bosque	58 min
Oct 21, 2:40 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Rains, Van Zandt	65 min
Oct 21, 2:40 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Hopkins	65 min
Oct 21, 2:45 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Hamilton	60 min
Oct 21, 2:45 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Denton, Tarrant	60 min
Oct 21, 3:11 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	FWD	Bosque	49 min
Oct 21, 3:14 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Collin, Dallas	61 min
Oct 21, 3:16 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	FWD	Hill	44 min
Oct 21, 3:43 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Hamilton	62 min
Oct 21, 3:59 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	FWD	Ellis, Hill	61 min
Oct 21, 4:01 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Bosque	59 min
Oct 21, 4:34 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	FWD	Ellis	3 hr
Oct 21, 4:44 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Navarro	46 min
Oct 21, 4:59 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Ellis, Kaufman	61 min
Oct 21, 4:59 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Hill	61 min
Oct 21, 5:14 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Henderson	61 min
Oct 21, 5:30 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Van Zandt	60 min
Oct 21, 5:30 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Navarro	60 min
Oct 21, 5:40 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Coryell, Lampasas	65 min
Oct 21, 6:10 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Henderson	65 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Texas, 1996 Every tornado warning in 1996 Tornadoes in 1996

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.