Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 1998

Tornado Warning 15, NWS Fort Worth, TX

May 8, 1998Wise County, Texas

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

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 8, 8:31 PM CDTTornado F0Paradise, TXA 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 CDTThunderstorm WindBridgeport, TXThunderstorm 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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 8, 8:00 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC6 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.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Fort Worth, TX at 00:00Z on 1998-05-09Temperature 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 00:00Z on 1998-05-09The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 193 square meters per square second.1939587897117136156Sfc1 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
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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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 9740

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, 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.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 8, 7:35 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDJack50 min
May 8, 7:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDWise65 min
May 8, 8:02 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDYoung58 min
May 8, 8:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDJack63 min
May 8, 8:31 PM CDTTornado WarningFWDPalo Pinto, Stephens29 min
May 8, 8:37 PM CDTTornado WarningFWDDenton38 min
May 8, 8:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDStephens, Young62 min
May 8, 9:05 PM CDTTornado WarningFWDPalo Pinto, Parker40 min
May 8, 9:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDCollin, Denton59 min
May 8, 9:38 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDTarrant67 min
May 8, 9:46 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDParker29 min
May 8, 10:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDHunt45 min
May 8, 10:10 PM CDTTornado WarningFWDTarrant35 min
May 8, 10:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDParker47 min
May 8, 10:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDMills44 min
May 8, 10:21 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDFannin54 min
May 8, 10:38 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDCollin37 min
May 8, 10:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDTarrant49 min
May 8, 10:48 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningFWDTarrant117 min
May 8, 11:12 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDDallas48 min
May 8, 11:22 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDHunt53 min
May 8, 11:35 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDCollin, Rockwall55 min
May 8, 11:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDDelta46 min
May 8, 11:52 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDKaufman53 min
May 8, 11:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDHopkins46 min
May 9, 12:11 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDHunt49 min
May 9, 12:20 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDRains, Van Zandt55 min
May 9, 1:01 AM CDTTornado WarningFWDVan Zandt14 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.