Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 1998

Tornado Warning 14, NWS Fort Worth, TX

May 8, 1998Young County, Texas

NWS Fort Worth, TX issued this tornado warning at May 8, 1998, 6:58 PM CDT for Young County, Texas. It was in force for 32 min. 4 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
May 8, 1998, 6:58 PM CDT (23:58 UTC)
Expired
May 8, 1998, 7:30 PM CDT
In force
32 min
Issued by
NWS Fort Worth, TX
Area
Whole counties; the outline is the Mesonet’s reconstruction

County Young County, TX

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 8, 7:13 PM CDTHail 0.75Newcastle, TX
May 8, 7:18 PM CDTHail 1.75Graham, TX
May 8, 7:24 PM CDTHail 4Graham, TX
May 8, 7:24 PM CDTHail 1.75Graham, 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 watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 8, 1:15 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Fort Worth, TX (KFWD), launched 12:00Z, 12.0 hours before the alert went out and 128 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 12:00Z on 1998-05-08Temperature 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, Fort Worth, TX at 12:00Z on 1998-05-08The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 7 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
1721 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
26 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
7 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
167 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.

411 
WFUS1 KFTW 090001 RRA
TORFTW
TXC503-090030-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
658 PM CDT FRI MAY 8 1998

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FORT WORTH HAS ISSUED A

   * TORNADO WARNING FOR
     YOUNG COUNTY IN TEXAS
     INCLUDING GRAHAM

   * UNTIL 730 PM CDT

   * AT 657 PM CDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR DETECTED A
     DEVELOPING TORNADO 20 MILES WEST OF GRAHAM...MOVING EAST AT 55
     MILES PER HOUR.

   * TORNADO WILL BE
     ABOUT 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF GRAHAM AT 710 PM CDT AND ABOUT
     4 MILES NORTH OF GRAHAM AT 720 PM CDT

LAT...LON 3317 9840 3301 9862 3317 9896 3328 9863

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 8, 2:28 PM CDT, 4 hours 30 minutes before
TXZ103-104-118>120-090200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
228 PM CDT FRI MAY 8 1998

A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BE MOVING THROUGH THE DALLAS FORT
WORTH METROPLEX FROM THE WEST EARLY TONIGHT.  IF THE LINE DEVELOPS...
SOME OF ITS THUNDERSTORMS COULD PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN OF 1 TO 2
INCHES IN LESS THAN A HOUR. THE RESULT WILL BE THE RAPID ONSET OF
URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOODING IN THE DALLAS FORT WORTH METROPLEX.
ESPECIALLY THREATENED WILL BE FLOOD PRONE UNDERPASSES...ROADS AND
STREETS THAT ARE LOW WATER CROSSINGS AND SMALL STREAMS WITH A HISTORY
OF RAPIDLY RISING WATER DURING HEAVY RAIN EVENTS.

WHILE EXACT TIMING OF THE THUNDERSTORM LINE IS STILL UNCERTAIN ...
THE BEST WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY APPEARS TO BE BETWEEN 8 PM CDT AND
MIDNIGHT.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTORS SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER SITUATION
CLOSELY THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT AND BE READY TO TAKE PREPAREDNESS
ACTIONS IF THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACHES THE METROPLEX.

RESIDENTS ARE URGED NOT TO DRIVE THEIR CARS AROUND BARRICADES OR
ACROSS ROADS THAT ARE WATER COVERED.  SMALL STREAMS AND AREAS IN
THE VICINITY OF STORM SEWERS CAN BE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS. RESIDENTS
...ESPECIALLY SMALL CHILDREN...SHOULD NOT PLAY IN OR NEAR THESE
AREAS.

THIS WEATHER SITUATION IS BEING CLOSELY MONITORED AND ADDITIONAL
STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED AS CONDITIONS WARRANT.  LISTEN TO NOAA
WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO...TV OR LOCAL CABLE PROVIDER
FOR LATER UPDATES.
Special weather statement, May 8, 2:28 PM CDT, 4 hours 30 minutes before
TXZ103-104-118>120-090200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
228 PM CDT FRI MAY 8 1998

A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BE MOVING THROUGH THE DALLAS FORT
WORTH METROPLEX FROM THE WEST EARLY TONIGHT.  IF THE LINE DEVELOPS...
SOME OF ITS THUNDERSTORMS COULD PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN OF 1 TO 2
INCHES IN LESS THAN A HOUR. THE RESULT WILL BE THE RAPID ONSET OF
URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOODING IN THE DALLAS FORT WORTH METROPLEX.
ESPECIALLY THREATENED WILL BE FLOOD PRONE UNDERPASSES...ROADS AND
STREETS THAT ARE LOW WATER CROSSINGS AND SMALL STREAMS WITH A HISTORY
OF RAPIDLY RISING WATER DURING HEAVY RAIN EVENTS.

WHILE EXACT TIMING OF THE THUNDERSTORM LINE IS STILL UNCERTAIN ...
THE BEST WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY APPEARS TO BE BETWEEN 8 PM CDT AND
MIDNIGHT.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTORS SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER SITUATION
CLOSELY THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT AND BE READY TO TAKE PREPAREDNESS
ACTIONS IF THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACHES THE METROPLEX.

RESIDENTS ARE URGED NOT TO DRIVE THEIR CARS AROUND BARRICADES OR
ACROSS ROADS THAT ARE WATER COVERED.  SMALL STREAMS AND AREAS IN
THE VICINITY OF STORM SEWERS CAN BE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS. RESIDENTS
...ESPECIALLY SMALL CHILDREN...SHOULD NOT PLAY IN OR NEAR THESE
AREAS.

THIS WEATHER SITUATION IS BEING CLOSELY MONITORED AND ADDITIONAL
STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED AS CONDITIONS WARRANT.  LISTEN TO NOAA
WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO...TV OR LOCAL CABLE PROVIDER
FOR LATER UPDATES.
Special weather statement, May 8, 3:40 PM CDT, 3 hours 18 minutes before
TXZ091>095-100>107-115>123-129>135-141>148-156>162-174-175-090200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
340 PM CDT FRI MAY 8 1998

THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS LATE THIS AFTERNOON
AND TONIGHT ACROSS MOST OF NORTH TEXAS.  THE MODERATE RISK AREA IS
ALONG AND NORTH OF A COMANCHE TO ATHENS LINE AND INCLUDES THE CITIES
OF GRAHAM...EASTLAND...BRIDGEPORT...GRANBURY...SHERMAN...PARIS...
SULPHUR SPRINGS AND THE DALLAS/FORT WORTH METROPLEX.  THERE IS A
SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT ACROSS
THE REST OF NORTH TEXAS.  GATESVILLE...WACO...TEMPLE...MEXIA AND
PALESTINE ARE INCLUDED IN THE SLIGHT RISK AREA.

A STRONG UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WAS LOCATED OVER SOUTHEAST
NEW MEXICO LATE THIS AFTERNOON...MOVING GENERALLY EAST.  MEANWHILE...
A SURFACE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM HAS DEVELOPED OVER NORTHEASTERN NEW
MEXICO WITH A DRY LINE EXTENDING ALONG A TUCUMCARI TO BIG SPRING TO
DEL RIO LINE. INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DEVELOPED OVER WEST TEXAS
ALONG THE DRY LINE AND OVER NORTHWEST TEXAS IN RESPONSE TO THE
APPROACHING UPPER LEVEL LOW.

THE DRY LINE IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO MOVE EAST UNTIL SUNSET AND
THEN STALL.  THE ASSOCIATED LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD MOVE
EASTWARD INTO NORTH TEXAS AFTER DARK.  THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL
ENCOUNTER ONLY A SHALLOW LAYER OF LOW LEVEL MOISTURE TO FEED
ON...SO CONTINUATION OF THE THUNDERSTORMS AFTER DARK WILL DEPEND
MAINLY ON THE INTENSITY OF THE UPPER LEVEL LOW AND AND ITS
TRACK.

VERTICAL WIND PROFILES WILL REMAIN HIGHLY FAVORABLE FOR
SUPERCELL DEVELOPMENT...WITH THE AIR MASS MODERATELY UNSTABLE.
ISOLATED SUPERCELLS ARE POSSIBLE OVER NORTH TEXAS AHEAD OF THE
DRY LINE THUNDERSTORMS.  SUPERCELLS WOULD BE MORE LIKELY WITH
THE DRY LINE ACTIVITY.  LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS AND A FEW INTENSE
TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.

THIS LINE SHOULD REACH A GRAHAM-EASTLAND-BROWNWOOD LINE AROUND 700
PM...A GAINESVILLE-FORT WORTH-GATESVILLE LINE AROUND 1000 PM AND A
PARIS-ATHENS-FRANKLIN LINE SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS AND STORM SPOTTER GROUPS SHOULD
CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE WEATHER THIS AFTERNOON AND SHOULD PREPARE
FOR ACTIVATION THIS AFTERNOON OR TONIGHT.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 8, 6:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDYoung57 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Texas, 1998Every tornado warning in 1998Tornadoes in 1998

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.