Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 1998

Tornado Warning 34, NWS Fort Worth, TX

October 2, 1998Tarrant County, Texas

NWS Fort Worth, TX issued this tornado warning at Oct 2, 1998, 7:48 PM CDT for Tarrant County, Texas. It was in force for 57 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
Oct 2, 1998, 7:48 PM CDT (00:48 UTC)
Expired
Oct 2, 1998, 8:45 PM CDT
In force
57 min
Issued by
NWS Fort Worth, TX
Area
Whole counties; the outline is the Mesonet’s reconstruction

County Tarrant County, TX

The radar

The Dallas/Ft Worth radar (KFWS), 24 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:50 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
Oct 2, 8:10 PM CDTHail 1Azle, TX
Oct 2, 8:10 PM CDTThunderstorm WindAzle, TXThunderstorm winds blew trees down onto an apartment complex.
Oct 2, 8:30 PM CDTThunderstorm Wind 63Ft Worth, TX
Oct 2, 8:40 PM CDTThunderstorm WindSaginaw, TXLight poles were blown down by strong thunderstorm winds.

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
Oct 2, 2:45 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Fort Worth, TX (KFWD), launched 00:00Z, 0.8 hours before the alert went out and 7 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 1998-10-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2565 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, Fort Worth, TX at 00:00Z on 1998-10-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 214 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
2565 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-12 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
908 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
39 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
214 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
329 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
4.2
Supercell composite
26.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

647 
WFUS1 KFTW 030049 RRA
TORFTW
TXC439-030145-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
748 PM CDT FRI OCT 2 1998

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FORT WORTH HAS ISSUED A

   * TORNADO WARNING FOR
     TARRANT COUNTY IN TEXAS
     INCLUDING WHITE SETTLEMENT...WATAUGA...SOUTHLAKE...SANSOM
     PARK...SAGINAW...RIVER OAKS...RICHLAND HILLS...NORTH RICHLAND
     HILLS...LAKE WORTH...KENNEDALE...KELLER...HURST...HALTOM CITY...
     GRAPEVINE...FORT WORTH...FOREST HILL...EULESS...EDGECLIFF
     VILLAGE...EAGLE MOUNTAIN...COLLEYVILLE...BENBROOK...BEDFORD...
     AZLE AND ARLINGTON

   * UNTIL 845 PM CDT

   * AT 744 PM CDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR DETECTED A
     DEVELOPING TORNADO 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF AZLE...MOVING EAST AT 35
     MILES PER HOUR.

   * OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE WESTWORTH...WESTOVER
     HILLS...PELICAN BAY...PECAN ACRES...PANTEGO...LAKESIDE...
     HASLET...DALWORTHINGTON GARDENS AND BLUE MOUND

    THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL AND 
    VERY HIGH WINDS.

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.

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CDT FOR TEXAS.

LAT...LON 3268 9756 3261 9705 3297 9704 3299 9754

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, Oct 2, 5:30 PM CDT, 2 hours 18 minutes before
TXZ091>095-100>107-115>123-129>135-141>148-156>162-174-175-030200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
530 PM CDT FRI OCT 2 1998

...SEVERE WEATHER EXPECTED OVER NORTH TEXAS THIS EVENING...
...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM FOR MOST OF NORTH TEXAS
ALONG AND NORTH OF A BROWNWOOD TO WACO TO LUFKIN LINE...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT TONIGHT ALONG AND NORTH OF A
EASTLAND TO CANTON TO ATLANTA LINE...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE IN NORTH TEXAS THROUGH THIS EVENING
...BRINGING THE THREAT OF HIGH WINDS...HAIL AND TORNADOES. WITH MANY
NORTH TEXAS RESIDENTS PLANNING ACTIVITIES OUTDOORS OR AWAY FROM HOME
TONIGHT...INCREASED AWARENESS OF RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER IS A VERY
IMPORTANT SAFETY MATTER.

LATE THIS AFTERNOON...AN OUTFLOW BOUNDARY EXTENDED FROM ABILENE TO
JUST SOUTH OF DALLAS TO MOUNT PLEASANT. HEAVY...POTENTIALLY
FLOODING...RAINS ARE POSSIBLE ALONG AND NORTH OF THIS BOUNDARY WHERE
SOME LOCATIONS RECEIVED 1 TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN FROM ACTIVITY EARLIER
TODAY.

RESIDENTS OF NORTH TEXAS SHOULD KEEP INFORMED OF THIS RAPIDLY
CHANGING SEVERE WEATHER THREAT THIS EVENING.  THIS IS ESPECIALLY
TRUE IF THEY ARE PLANNING ON OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES...SUCH AS SPORTING
EVENTS...WHERE ACCESS TO THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION IS LIMITED.

WHILE THE GREATEST THREAT FROM SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE FROM HAIL AND
HIGH WINDS...THERE IS A REAL THREAT OF TORNADOES.  RESIDENTS OF NORTH
TEXAS SHOULD STAY TUNExD TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...LOCAL RADIO...TV
OR CABLE STATION TO REMAIN INFORMED OF ANY AND ALL WEATHER WATCHES
AND WARNINGS.

THIS PRODUCT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON OUR INTERNET WEB PAGE AT
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/fwd
Local storm report, Oct 2, 5:36 PM CDT, 2 hours 12 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
536 PM CDT FRI OCT 02 1998

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

0516 PM    6 W GRAHAM                TX   TORNADO
10/02/98   YOUNG                          TORNADO REPORTED BY COUNTY
                                          SPOTTER. POWER LINES ARE
                                          DOWN

0525 PM    5 N GRAHAM                TX   TORNADO
10/02/98   YOUNG                          SPOTTERS CONTINUE TO
                                          REPORT A TORNADO ON THE
                                          GROUND.
Local storm report, Oct 2, 5:43 PM CDT, 2 hours 5 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
543 PM CDT FRI OCT 02 1998

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

0530 PM    1 N GRAHAM                TX   TORNADO
10/02/98   YOUNG                          TORNADO ON THE GROUND HAS
                                          OVERTURNED CARS
Local storm report, Oct 2, 6:10 PM CDT, 1 hour 38 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
610 PM CDT FRI OCT 02 1998

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

0555 PM    3 NE GRAHAM               TX   TORNADO
10/02/98   YOUNG                          NUMEROUS TREES DOWN
                                          BETWEEN GRAHAM AND BRYSON
                                          (JACK CO)

0557 PM    BRYSON ,                   TX   WIND DAMAGE
10/02/98   JACK                           60-70 MPH WINDS AND DIME
                                          HAIL
Local storm report, Oct 2, 6:10 PM CDT, 1 hour 38 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
610 PM CDT FRI OCT 02 1998

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

0555 PM    3 NE GRAHAM               TX   TORNADO
10/02/98   YOUNG                          NUMEROUS TREES DOWN
                                          BETWEEN GRAHAM AND BRYSON
                                          (JACK CO)

0557 PM    BRYSON ,                   TX   WIND DAMAGE
10/02/98   JACK                           60-70 MPH WINDS AND DIME
                                          HAIL
Local storm report, Oct 2, 6:50 PM CDT, 58 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
650 PM CDT FRI OCT 02 1998

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

0538 PM    LEWISVILLE                TX   WIND DAMAGE
10/02/98   DENTON                         MINOR DAMAGE TO A
                                          RESIDENCE

0632 PM    CRYSTAL FALLS             TX   1 INCH HAIL
10/02/98   STEPHENS                       QUARTER HAIL

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 2, 7:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDCollin45 min
Oct 2, 7:04 PM CDTTornado WarningFWDJack26 min
Oct 2, 7:11 PM CDTTornado WarningFWDParker49 min
Oct 2, 7:14 PM CDTTornado WarningFWDCollin, Hunt46 min
Oct 2, 7:18 PM CDTTornado WarningFWDWise42 min
Oct 2, 7:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDPalo Pinto, Stephens64 min
Oct 2, 8:01 PM CDTTornado WarningFWDCollin59 min
Oct 2, 8:04 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDParker56 min
Oct 2, 8:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDDallas, Tarrant65 min
Oct 2, 8:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDPalo Pinto, Stephens61 min
Oct 2, 9:00 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningFWDCollin, Dallas, Denton, Tarrant3 hr
Oct 2, 9:00 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningFWDDelta, Hopkins, Hunt3 hr
Oct 2, 9:05 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDParker55 min
Oct 2, 9:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDEastland, Erath64 min
Oct 2, 10:02 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDErath, Palo Pinto58 min
Oct 2, 10:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDHopkins, Hunt, Rains67 min
Oct 2, 10:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDHood, Parker60 min
Oct 2, 10:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDJohnson60 min
Oct 2, 11:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDHood, Somervell62 min
Oct 3, 4:38 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningFWDGrayson4 hr
Oct 3, 4:54 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningFWDFannin4 hr
Oct 3, 7:24 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningFWDHunt4 hr
Oct 3, 4:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDStephens45 min
Oct 3, 5:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDStephens45 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.