Alert archive / Oklahoma / Tornado Warnings in 1996

Tornado Warning 9, NWS Norman, OK

April 21, 1996Jefferson County, Oklahoma

NWS Norman, OK issued this tornado warning at Apr 21, 1996, 6:17 PM CDT for Jefferson County, Oklahoma. It was in force for 43 min. 2 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline the Iowa Environmental Mesonet reconstructed for it; the warning itself named whole counties, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: Apr 21, 1996, 6:17 PM CDT (23:17 UTC)
Expired: Apr 21, 1996, 7:00 PM CDT
In force: 43 min
Issued by: NWS Norman, OK
Area: Whole counties; the outline is the Mesonet’s reconstruction

County Jefferson County, OK

The radar

The Altus AFB radar (KFDR), 122 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:18 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
Apr 21, 6:30 PM CDT	Tornado F1	Ringling, OK
Apr 21, 6:33 PM CDT	Tornado F1	Healdton, 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Norman, OK (KOUN), launched 12:00Z, 11.3 hours before the alert went out and 116 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: 0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL: 1941 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 55 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 267 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 464 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KOKC 212318
TOROKC
OKC067-220000-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OKLAHOMA CITY OK
617 PM CDT SUN APR 21 1996

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OKLAHOMA CITY HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 700 PM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE
FOLLOWING COUNTIES

IN SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA
     NORTHERN JEFFERSON

INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS
     CORNISH AND RINGLING

AT 617 PM CDT DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A DEVELOPING TORNADO 10 MILES WEST
OF RINGLING MOVING EAST-NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. PERSONS FROM RINGLING WEST
TAKE COVER NOW!

TAKE COVER NOW. THE SAFEST PLACE IS A BASEMENT UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE.  OTHERWISE...SEEK
SHELTER IN A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR.  USE BLANKETS...PILLOWS...OR CUSHIONS TO COVER YOUR
BODY.  AVOID WINDOWS.  ABANDON MOBILE HOMES FOR A REINFORCED
BUILDING OR LIE FLAT IN A DITCH OR CULVERT.


LAT...LON 3410  9751 3418  9786 3431  9789 3431  9755
DA

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.

NWS Norman, OK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Apr 21, 4:13 PM CDT, 2 hours 4 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 21, 4:13 PM CDT, 2 hours 4 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OKLAHOMA CITY OK
400 PM CDT SUN APR 21 1996

SVR TSTMS CONT TO DVLP ACRS PTNS OF FA THIS AFTN. WL BE ACTIVE EVE AS
TSTMS SPRD NEWD ACRS FA. CDFNT OK PNHDL WL MOV INTO SCNTRL/ERN OK BY MON
MRNG...AND OUT OF FA BY LATE MON. STG TSTMS MAY AGN BE PSBL ACRS SERN OK
ON MON. WL MENTN SLGT CHC SHWRS FOR TUES IN NRN ZNS AS S/W MOVS ACRS
AREA. MID LVL RH'S INCRS ENUF TO SUPPORT SOME SHWRS.

FCSTID = 32
OKC   55  69  49  76 /  70  50  10   0
HBR   50  68  46  78 /  40  20  10   0
SPS   55  70  49  80 /  40  20  10   0
GAG   46  65  40  76 /  30   0   0  20
PNC   51  64  46  73 /  70  30  10  20
DUA   59  71  49  76 /  70  60  10   0

.OKC...
OK.x..NONE.
TX...NONE.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 21, 12:20 PM CDT, 5 hours 57 minutes before

OKZ004>053-TXZ083>090-212130-

THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OKLAHOMA CITY OK
1230 PM CDT SUN APR 21 1996

THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND
TONIGHT OVER MUCH OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA AND WESTERN NORTH
TEXAS. THIS AREA OF MODERATE RISK IN GENERALLY EAST OF A LINE THAT
EXTENDS FROM SEYMOUR...TO HOBART...TO MEFORD. THERE IS A
SIGNIFICANT POTENTIAL FOR TORNADOES IN THIS AREA...IN ADDITION TO LARGE
HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. LOCALIZED HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO POSSIBLE
ACROSS MUCH OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN OKLAHOMA.

A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXISTS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING
ACROSS THE REST OF WESTERN OKLAHOMA AND WESTERN NORTH TEXAS. LARGE HAIL
AND DAMAGING WINDS ARE THE PRIMARY THREAT WITH THESE
THUNDERSTORMS...HOWEVER ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE.

SEVERAL FACTORS WILL COMBINE TO PRODUCE CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT. A LOW PRESSURE CENTER WILL CONTINUE TO
DEVELOP ACROSS THE TEXAS PANHANDLE DURING THE AFTERNOON...AS IT MOVES
SLOWLY EAST. COUNTER-CLOCKWISE CIRCULATION AROUND THE LOW WILL HELP PUSH
A WARM FRONT NORTH...ACROSS SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA AND INTO CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
BY LATE AFTERNOON. LOW LEVEL MOISTURE WILL INCREASE RAPIDLY BEHIND THIS
FRONT...BROUGHT BY STRONG SOUTHERLY LOW LEVEL WINDS. THIS WILL INCREASE
INSTABILITY AND PROVIDE FUEL FOR THUNDERSTORMS THAT DEVELOP. IN
ADDITION...STRONG WESTERLY UPPER LEVEL WINDS WILL ENHANCE A VERTICAL
WIND PROFILE FAVORABLE FOR SUPERCELL DEVELOPMENT.

A LACK OF SUFFICIENT LOW LEVEL MOISTURE MAY LIMIT THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL
IN EXTREME WESTERN SECTIONS OF OKLAHOMA AND WESTERN NORTH TEXAS.

THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION. PEOPLE ARE URGED TO
REVIEW TORNADO SAFETY RULES AND KEEP ABREAST OF THE LATEST WEATHER
FORECASTS.

EMERGENCY MANAGERS AND STORM SPOTTER GROUPS SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR
ACTIVATION THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

22

Local storm report, Apr 21, 4:24 PM CDT, 1 hour 53 minutes before

LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OKLAHOMA CITY OK
420 PM CDT SUN APR 21 1996

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

250 PM       4 S VERNON               TX       2.5 INCH HAIL
04/21/96     WILBARGER

305 PM       8 N STILLWATER           OK       2.5 INCH HAIL
04/21/96     PAYNE

309 PM       3 N ELECTRA              TX       0.75 INCH HAIL
04/21/96     WICHITA

335 PM       LAKE KICKAPOO            TX       1.75 INCH HAIL
04/21/96     ARCHER

340 PM       TIPTON                   OK       2.75 INCH HAIL
04/21/96     TILLMAN

358 PM       WICHITA FALLS            TX       1.75 INCH HAIL
04/21/96     WICHITA

420 PM       10 NE PERRY              OK       0.75 INCH HAIL
04/21/96     NOBLE

FM

Local storm report, Apr 21, 5:49 PM CDT, 28 minutes before

LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OKLAHOMA CITY OK
550 PM CDT SUN APR 21 1996

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

345 PM       SNYDER                   OK       1.00 INCH HAIL
04/21/96     KIOWA

415 PM       ROOSEVELT                OK       1.50 INCH HAIL
04/21/96     KIOWA

430 PM       LAKE KICKAPOO            TX       1.75 INCH HAIL
04/21/96     WICHITA

430 PM       ELECTRA                  TX       0.75 INCH HAIL
04/21/96     WICHITA

430 PM       MEERS                    OK       0.75 INCH HAIL
04/21/96     COMANCHE

435 PM       3 E WALTERS              OK       0.75 INCH HAIL
04/21/96     COTTON

456 PM       GRANDFIELD               OK       0.88 HAIL
04/21/96     TILLMAN

458 PM       3 SE HOLLIDAY            TX       1.75 INCH HAIL
04/21/96     ARCHER

500 PM       SEYMOUR                  TX       2.75 INCH HAIL
04/21/96     BAYLOR

504 PM       ADDINGTON                OK       1.75 INCH HAIL
04/21/96     JEFFERSON

505 PM       7 E ADDINGTON            OK       1.75 INCH HAIL
04/21/96     JEFFERSON                         COVERING GROUND

510 PM       MABELLE                  TX       2.75 INCH HAIL
04/21/96     BAYLOR

523 PM       12 E COMANCHE            OK       2.50 INCH HAIL
04/21/96     STEPHENS

525 PM       2 E WALTERS              OK       0.75 INCH HAIL
04/21/96     COTTON

525 PM       9 S ELECTRA              TX       1.75 INCH HAIL
04/21/96     WICHITA

530 PM       5 N HEALDTON             OK       1.00 INCH HAIL
04/21/96     CARTER

DMD(

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 21, 2:37 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Logan, Noble, Payne	53 min
Apr 21, 2:48 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Tillman	57 min
Apr 21, 3:24 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Garfield, Kingfisher	36 min
Apr 21, 3:36 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Comanche, Cotton, Tillman	54 min
Apr 21, 3:36 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Kiowa	54 min
Apr 21, 3:55 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Garfield, Kingfisher, Logan, Noble	50 min
Apr 21, 4:01 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	OUN	Garfield, Logan, Noble	44 min
Apr 21, 4:01 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	OUN	Kingfisher	44 min
Apr 21, 4:25 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Comanche, Cotton, Kiowa, Tillman	50 min
Apr 21, 4:25 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Jefferson, Stephens	50 min
Apr 21, 4:25 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Caddo, Washita	50 min
Apr 21, 4:38 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	OUN	Cotton, Jefferson, Stephens	52 min
Apr 21, 4:42 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Logan, Noble, Payne	48 min
Apr 21, 4:42 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Garfield, Kingfisher	48 min
Apr 21, 4:52 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	OUN	Noble	38 min
Apr 21, 5:12 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Comanche, Cotton, Stephens	63 min
Apr 21, 5:12 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Carter, Jefferson	63 min
Apr 21, 5:24 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Noble	51 min
Apr 21, 5:35 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Kingfisher	40 min
Apr 21, 5:35 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Garvin	40 min
Apr 21, 5:41 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	OUN	Carter, Garvin, Murray	49 min
Apr 21, 6:05 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Garfield, Kingfisher	40 min
Apr 21, 6:05 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Noble	40 min
Apr 21, 6:08 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Beckham	52 min
Apr 21, 6:10 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Comanche, Cotton, Stephens, Tillman	65 min
Apr 21, 6:10 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Jefferson	65 min
Apr 21, 6:22 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	OUN	Garvin, Murray	53 min
Apr 21, 6:28 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	OUN	Carter, Stephens	32 min
Apr 21, 6:40 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Caddo, Grady	35 min
Apr 21, 6:47 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Custer, Washita	43 min
Apr 21, 6:50 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	OUN	Carter, Garvin, Murray, Pontotoc	40 min
Apr 21, 6:53 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	OUN	Beckham, Washita	52 min
Apr 21, 6:54 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Kay	51 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Oklahoma, 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.