Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 1998
Tornado Warning 15, NWS Fort Worth, TX
NWS Fort Worth, TX issued this tornado warning at May 8, 1998, 8:20 PM CDT for Wise County, Texas. It was in force for 25 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
- May 8, 1998, 8:20 PM CDT (01:20 UTC)
- Expired
- May 8, 1998, 8:45 PM CDT
- In force
- 25 min
- Issued by
- NWS Fort Worth, TX
- Area
- Whole counties; the outline is the Mesonet’s reconstruction
County Wise County, TX
The radar
The Dallas/Ft Worth radar (KFWS), 66 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:21 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 8:31 PM CDT | Tornado F0 | Paradise, TX | A tornado touched down at Bay Landing, a private RV park on the southeast side of Lake Bridgeport along US 380. Fifteen campers and recreation vehicles were damaged or destroyed. |
| May 8, 8:45 PM CDT | Thunderstorm Wind | Bridgeport, TX | Thunderstorm winds destroyed a barn and blew down trees. |
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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 8:00 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Fort Worth, TX (KFWD), launched 00:00Z, 1.3 hours before the alert went out and 41 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 2549 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 86 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 193 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 576 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
916
WFUS1 KFTW 090124 RRA
TORFTW
TXC497-090145-
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
820 PM CDT FRI MAY 8 1998
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FORT WORTH HAS ISSUED A
* TORNADO WARNING FOR
WISE COUNTY IN TEXAS
INCLUDING DECATUR AND BRIDGEPORT
* UNTIL 845 PM CDT
* AT 820 PM CDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR DETECTED A
DEVELOPING TORNADO 4 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BRIDGEPORT...MOVING EAST
AT 55 MILES PER HOUR.
* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE PARADISE AND BOYD
* TORNADO WILL BE
NEAR DECATUR AT 835 PM CDT
NEAR BOYD AT 845 PM CDT
LAW ENFORCEMENT RELAYED A PUBLIC REPORT OF A TORNADO NEAR RUNAWAY
BAY AT 820 PM.
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.
LAT...LON 3301 9741 3311 9781 3323 9782 3323 9740What 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, 5 hours 52 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, 5 hours 52 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, 4 hours 40 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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 7:35 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FWD | Jack | 50 min |
| May 8, 7:55 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FWD | Wise | 65 min |
| May 8, 8:02 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FWD | Young | 58 min |
| May 8, 8:27 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FWD | Jack | 63 min |
| May 8, 8:31 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | FWD | Palo Pinto, Stephens | 29 min |
| May 8, 8:37 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | FWD | Denton | 38 min |
| May 8, 8:58 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FWD | Stephens, Young | 62 min |
| May 8, 9:05 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | FWD | Palo Pinto, Parker | 40 min |
| May 8, 9:16 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FWD | Collin, Denton | 59 min |
| May 8, 9:38 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FWD | Tarrant | 67 min |
| May 8, 9:46 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FWD | Parker | 29 min |
| May 8, 10:00 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FWD | Hunt | 45 min |
| May 8, 10:10 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | FWD | Tarrant | 35 min |
| May 8, 10:13 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FWD | Parker | 47 min |
| May 8, 10:16 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FWD | Mills | 44 min |
| May 8, 10:21 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FWD | Fannin | 54 min |
| May 8, 10:38 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FWD | Collin | 37 min |
| May 8, 10:41 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FWD | Tarrant | 49 min |
| May 8, 10:48 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | FWD | Tarrant | 117 min |
| May 8, 11:12 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FWD | Dallas | 48 min |
| May 8, 11:22 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FWD | Hunt | 53 min |
| May 8, 11:35 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FWD | Collin, Rockwall | 55 min |
| May 8, 11:44 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FWD | Delta | 46 min |
| May 8, 11:52 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FWD | Kaufman | 53 min |
| May 8, 11:59 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FWD | Hopkins | 46 min |
| May 9, 12:11 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FWD | Hunt | 49 min |
| May 9, 12:20 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FWD | Rains, Van Zandt | 55 min |
| May 9, 1:01 AM CDT | Tornado Warning | FWD | Van Zandt | 14 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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.