Alert archive / Arkansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 129, NWS Little Rock, AR

May 27, 1997Independence County, Arkansas

NWS Little Rock, AR issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 27, 1997, 1:14 AM CDT for Independence County, Arkansas. It was in force for 61 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
May 27, 1997, 1:14 AM CDT (06:14 UTC)
Expired
May 27, 1997, 2:15 AM CDT
In force
61 min
Issued by
NWS Little Rock, AR
Area
Whole counties

County Independence County, AR

The radar

The Little Rock radar (KLZK), 119 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 06:15 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 27, 1:40 AM CDTThunderstorm Wind 50Salado, ARThunderstorm winds downed some trees and destroyed an outbuilding.
May 27, 1:50 AM CDTThunderstorm Wind 50Oil Trough, ARThunderstorm winds destroyed several outbuildings and damaged the roofs of a few buildings.

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 watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 26, 9:00 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Little Rock, AR (KLZK), launched 00:00Z, 6.2 hours before the alert went out and 179 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, Little Rock, AR at 00:00Z on 1997-05-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 4008 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, Little Rock, AR at 00:00Z on 1997-05-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 30 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
4008 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-14 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
884 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
30 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
121 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.8
Supercell composite
4.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

The text of this product is not in the archive. The NWS text archive before 2002 is incomplete.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm 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 26, 9:37 PM CDT, 3 hours 37 minutes before
ARZ003>009-012>018-020>028-030>073-270500-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
935 PM CDT MON MAY 26 1997

...TORNADO WATCH IN NORTHERN ARKANSAS UNTIL 3AM...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN NORTHERN ARKANSAS OVERNIGHT...
...SEVERE WEATHER AND HEAVY RAIN LIKELY IN NORTHERN ARKANSAS OVERNIGHT...

THUNDERSTORMS WERE RAPIDLY DEVELOPING MONDAY EVENING IN MUCH OF
SOUTHERN MISSOURI...EASTERN OKLAHOMA...AND PARTS OF NORTHERN ARKANSAS.
SEVERE WEATHER WAS WIDESPREAD...WITH REPORTS OF TORNADOES...LARGE
HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS.

AS OF 930 PM...THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM JUST NORTH OF MEMPHIS
TO SPRINGFIELD IN MISSOURI. FROM SPRINGFIELD...SCATTERED STORMS
EXTENDED INTO EASTERN OKLAHOMA NEAR MCALESTER.

OVERNIGHT...THE STORMS IN MISSOURI WILL CONTINUE SAGGING SOUTH
INTO NORTHERN ARKANSAS ALONG A SLOW MOVING FRONT. SEVERE WEATHER
WILL BE LIKELY IN NORTHERN ARKANSAS...WITH EXCESSIVE RAIN IN SOME
AREAS.

FARTHER WEST...THE STORMS IN EASTERN OKLAHOMA WILL BE MORE
SLUGGISH...AND WILL MOVE VERY SLOWLY TOWARD WESTERN ARKANSAS.
THESE STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO WEAKEN SOMEWHAT AS THEY MOVE
EAST...BUT MAY STILL PRODUCE SOME SEVERE WEATHER.

IN PARTS OF CENTRAL INTO SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS...ONLY WIDELY SCATTERED
TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED OVERNIGHT...WITH STORMS
MORE ORGANIZED IN NORTHERN INTO WESTERN SECTIONS OF THE STATE.
IN CENTRAL INTO SOUTHEAST SECTIONS...STORMS THAT EVENTUALLY
DEVELOP WILL DO SO AFTER MIDNIGHT.

PEOPLE IN ARKANSAS...ESPECIALLY IN NORTHERN AND WESTERN SECTIONS...
SHOULD KEEP AN EYE ON THE WEATHER TONIGHT...AND BE PREPARED FOR
SEVERE WEATHER AND POSSIBLE FLASH FLOODING. LISTEN FOR LATER
STATEMENTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICER.

46
Special weather statement, May 27, 12:26 AM CDT, 48 minutes before
ARZ037>045-050>056-059>063-066>068-070>073-270730-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
1226 AM CDT TUE MAY 27 1997

...TORNADO WATCH MUCH OF SOUTHERN ARKANSAS UNTIL 5 AM...

A TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR MUCH OF SOUTHERN ARKANSAS UNTIL 5
OCLOCK THIS MORNING. THE WATCH IS GENERALLY WEST OF A LINE THAT EXTENDS
FROM NEAR EL DORADO TO JUST EAST OF LITTLE ROCK. THE WATCH INCLUDES
LITTLE ROCK...HOT SPRINGS...TEXARKANA AND EL DORADO.

THUNDERSTORMS WERE RAPIDLY DEVELOPING EARLY THIS MORNING OVER MUCH OF
WESTERN ARKANSAS. SEVERE WEATHER WAS WIDESPREAD...WITH REPORTS OF
LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. WIND FLOW ALOFT IS ALSO FAVORABLE FOR
ISOLATED TORNADOES.

AS OF 1220 AM...THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM NEAR CLARKSVILLE TO NEAR
DE QUEEN. ALL OF THE STORMS WERE HEADING EAST AT ABOUT 30 MPH. SEVERE
WEATHER WILL BE LIKELY OVER MUCH OF SOUTHERN ARKANSAS THIS MORNING...
WITH EXCESSIVE RAIN IN SOME AREAS.

PEOPLE IN ARKANSAS SHOULD KEEP AN EYE ON THE WEATHER TONIGHT...AND BE
PREPARED FOR SEVERE WEATHER. STAY TUNED TO LOCAL TELEVISION...CABLE TV
OUTLETS AND NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND WARNINGS FROM
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

45
Special weather statement, May 27, 12:30 AM CDT, 44 minutes before
ARZ037>045-050>056-059>063-066>068-070>073-270730-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
1226 AM CDT TUE MAY 27 1997

...TORNADO WATCH MUCH OF SOUTHERN ARKANSAS UNTIL 5 AM...

A TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR MUCH OF SOUTHERN ARKANSAS UNTIL 5
OCLOCK THIS MORNING. THE WATCH IS GENERALLY WEST OF A LINE THAT EXTENDS
FROM NEAR EL DORADO TO JUST EAST OF LITTLE ROCK. THE WATCH INCLUDES
LITTLE ROCK...HOT SPRINGS...TEXARKANA AND EL DORADO.

THUNDERSTORMS WERE RAPIDLY DEVELOPING EARLY THIS MORNING OVER MUCH OF
WESTERN ARKANSAS. SEVERE WEATHER WAS WIDESPREAD...WITH REPORTS OF
LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. WIND FLOW ALOFT IS ALSO FAVORABLE FOR
ISOLATED TORNADOES.

AS OF 1220 AM...THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM NEAR CLARKSVILLE TO NEAR
DE QUEEN. ALL OF THE STORMS WERE HEADING EAST AT ABOUT 30 MPH. SEVERE
WEATHER WILL BE LIKELY OVER MUCH OF SOUTHERN ARKANSAS THIS MORNING...
WITH EXCESSIVE RAIN IN SOME AREAS.

PEOPbLE IN ARKANSAS SHOULD KEEP AN EYE ON THE WEATHER TONIGHT...AND BE
PREPARED FOR SEVERE WEATHER. STAY TUNED TO LOCAL TELEVISION...CABLE TV
OUTLETS AND NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND WARNINGS FROM
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

45
Local storm report, May 27, 1:00 AM CDT, 14 minutes before
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The office that day

Everything else NWS Little Rock, AR issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 26, 9:09 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKFulton46 min
May 26, 9:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKSharp62 min
May 26, 9:51 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKFulton34 min
May 26, 10:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKMarion48 min
May 26, 11:35 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKNewton65 min
May 26, 11:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKPolk, Scott60 min
May 26, 11:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKBaxter, Marion46 min
May 26, 11:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKBoone34 min
May 27, 12:03 AM CDTTornado WarningLZKBaxter32 min
May 27, 12:13 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKFulton62 min
May 27, 12:15 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKSearcy50 min
May 27, 12:24 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKMontgomery, Yell61 min
May 27, 12:28 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKSharp47 min
May 27, 12:33 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKMarion32 min
May 27, 12:35 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKIzard50 min
May 27, 12:39 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningLZKFulton, Sharp3 hr
May 27, 12:39 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningLZKBaxter3 hr
May 27, 12:42 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKStone, Van Buren63 min
May 27, 12:46 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKBaxter49 min
May 27, 12:53 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKSharp32 min
May 27, 1:05 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKCleburne50 min
May 27, 1:08 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKPike62 min
May 27, 1:08 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKGarland62 min
May 27, 1:25 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKClark, Hot Spring60 min
May 27, 1:40 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKJackson65 min
May 27, 1:53 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKFaulkner, White62 min
May 27, 1:53 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKConway62 min
May 27, 2:02 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKPerry, Saline63 min
May 27, 2:11 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKWoodruff64 min
May 27, 2:23 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKGrant, Pulaski62 min
May 27, 2:27 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKClark, Dallas, Hot Spring63 min
May 27, 2:48 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKFaulkner, Lonoke, White62 min
May 27, 2:55 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKPrairie65 min
May 27, 2:58 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKJefferson62 min
May 27, 3:10 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKMonroe65 min
May 27, 3:17 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKCleveland63 min
May 27, 3:35 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKArkansas65 min
May 27, 3:56 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKOuachita64 min
May 27, 4:00 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKLincoln65 min
May 27, 4:24 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKDesha61 min
May 27, 4:31 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKCalhoun64 min
May 27, 4:57 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKBradley63 min
May 27, 5:26 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKDrew64 min
May 27, 4:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKSearcy50 min
May 27, 4:49 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKCleburne, Stone46 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Arkansas, 1997Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1997

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.