Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 1998

Tornado Warning 7, NWS Fort Worth, TX

January 21, 1998Leon County, Texas

NWS Fort Worth, TX issued this tornado warning at Jan 21, 1998, 4:58 PM CST for Leon County, Texas. It was in force for 62 min. 1 report 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
Jan 21, 1998, 4:58 PM CST (22:58 UTC)
Expired
Jan 21, 1998, 6:00 PM CST
In force
62 min
Issued by
NWS Fort Worth, TX
Area
Whole counties

County Leon County, TX

The radar

The Ft Hood radar (KGRK), 147 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:00 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
Jan 21, 5:28 PM CSTTornado F1Leona, TXA tornado severely damaged the roof of a restaurant. The manager of the restaurant, who was inside the building at the time, received minor injuries.

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
Jan 21, 2:15 PM CSTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Fort Worth, TX (KFWD), launched 12:00Z, 11.0 hours before the alert went out and 210 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 1998-01-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 45 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 12:00Z on 1998-01-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 92 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
45 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-18 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
500 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
54 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
92 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
154 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.

322 
WFUS1 KFTW 212259 RRA
TORFTW
TXC289-220000-
 
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
458 PM CST WED JAN 21 1998
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FORT WORTH HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  600 PM CST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS
 
   ...SOUTHERN LEON COUNTY
 
AT 458 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO DETECT A
TORNADO ON THE LEON/MADISON COUNTY LINE JUST EAST OF NORMANGEE. MOVEMENT
IS EAST NORTHEAST AT 15 TO 20 MPH. A TORNADO WAS REPORTED BY
THE PUBLIC NEAR HILLTOP LAKE...OR 4 MILES WEST NORTHWEST OF NORMANGEE
AT 435 PM. HAIL TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER...WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60
MPH...VERY HEAVY RAIN...AND DEADLY LIGHTNING ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.
 
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM SITUATION.  ACT QUICKLY.  IF YOU ARE
IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO MOVE TO A SHELTER BELOW GROUND IF
AVAILABLE.  OTHERWISE...GO TO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR POSSIBLE.  AVOID WINDOWS.  ABANDON CARS AND MOBILE HOMES
FOR A REINFORCED BUILDING OR GET INTO A DITCH OR CULVERT.
 
 
 
&

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, Jan 21, 4:30 PM CST, 28 minutes before
TXZ092>095-102>107-117>123-130>135-143>148-156>162-174-175-220815-

SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR NORTH TEXAS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
430 PM CST WED JAN 21 1998

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR THE REMAINDER OF
THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT ALONG AND EAST OF A LINE FROM GAINESVILLE
TO WEATHERFORD TO HAMILTON TO LAMPASAS.

LATE THIS AFTERNOON...A COLD FRONT WAS LOCATED NEAR A MARSHALL TO
TYLER TO WACO TO KILLEEN LINE...WITH SURFACE LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPING
NEAR AUSTIN.  AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL APPROACH NORTH TEXAS
FROM THE WEST TONIGHT...WHICH WILL FURTHER ENHANCE SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT...ESPECIALLY NEAR AND SOUTH OF THE COLD
FRONT.

NORTH OF THE COLD FRONT...ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED
WITH THE MAIN THREAT BEING HAIL UP TO 1 INCH IN DIAMETER.  THESE
STORMS WILL OCCUR ABOVE A LAYER OF LOW CLOUDS. THUS THEY WILL BE
EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE VISUALLY.

ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE COLD FRONT...ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS ARE
FAVORABLE FOR MORE SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER.  THE MAIN THREAT WILL
BE FROM LARGE HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF BASEBALLS...WITH A FEW TORNADOES
ALSO POSSIBLE.

REMAIN ALERT AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS
FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FORT WORTH.
Special weather statement, Jan 21, 4:30 PM CST, 28 minutes before
TXZ092>095-102>107-117>123-130>135-143>148-156>162-174-175-220815-

SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR NORTH TEXAS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
430 PM CST WED JAN 21 1998

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR THE REMAINDER OF
THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT ALONG AND EAST OF A LINE FROM GAINESVILLE
TO WEATHERFORD TO HAMILTON TO LAMPASAS.

LATE THIS AFTERNOON...A COLD FRONT WAS LOCATED NEAR A MARSHALL TO
TYLER TO WACO TO KILLEEN LINE...WITH SURFACE LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPING
NEAR AUSTIN.  AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL APPROACH NORTH TEXAS
FROM THE WEST TONIGHT...WHICH WILL FURTHER ENHANCE SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT...ESPECIALLY NEAR AND SOUTH OF THE COLD
FRONT.

NORTH OF THE COLD FRONT...ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED
WITH THE MAIN THREAT BEING HAIL UP TO 1 INCH IN DIAMETER.  THESE
STORMS WILL OCCUR ABOVE A LAYER OF LOW CLOUDS. THUS THEY WILL BE
EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE VISUALLY.

ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE COLD FRONT...ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS ARE
FAVORABLE FOR MORE SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER.  THE MAIN THREAT WILL
BE FROM LARGE HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF BASEBALLS...WITH A FEW TORNADOES
ALSO POSSIBLE.

REMAIN ALERT AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS
FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FORT WORTH.
Local storm report, Jan 21, 4:43 PM CST, 15 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
443 PM CST WED JAN 21 1998

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

1255 PM    ENNIS                     TX   .75 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   ELLIS

0235 PM    ROGERS                    TX   .75 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   BELL                           DIME SIZE HAIL BETWEEN
                                          ROGERS AND HOLLAND IN BELL
                                          COUNTY.

0315 PM    BUCKHOLTS                 TX   1 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   MILAM                          ONE INCH HAIL PARTIALLY
                                          COVERING THE GROUND.

0318 PM    HEARNE                    TX   .75 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   ROBERTSON                      HEARNE POLICE REPORTED
                                          DIME SIZE HAIL.

0330 PM    ELLIOTT                   TX   1.75 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   ROBERTSON

0405 PM    GARLAND                   TX   1 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   DALLAS
Local storm report, Jan 21, 4:43 PM CST, 15 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
443 PM CST WED JAN 21 1998

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

1255 PM    ENNIS                     TX   .75 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   ELLIS

0235 PM    ROGERS                    TX   .75 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   BELL                           DIME SIZE HAIL BETWEEN
                                          ROGERS AND HOLLAND IN BELL
                                          COUNTY.

0315 PM    BUCKHOLTS                 TX   1 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   MILAM                          ONE INCH HAIL PARTIALLY
                                          COVERING THE GROUND.

0318 PM    HEARNE                    TX   .75 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   ROBERTSON                      HEARNE POLICE REPORTED
                                          DIME SIZE HAIL.

0330 PM    ELLIOTT                   TX   1.75 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   ROBERTSON

0405 PM    GARLAND                   TX   1 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   DALLAS
Local storm report, Jan 21, 4:48 PM CST, 10 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
448 PM CST WED JAN 21 1998

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

0120 PM    BROWNSBORO                TX   .88 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   HENDERSON                      NICKEL HAIL

0145 PM    1 SE CANTON               TX   .75 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   VAN ZANDT

0425 PM    MURPHY                    TX   1 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   COLLIN                         QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED
                                          BY MURPHY F.D.
Local storm report, Jan 21, 4:57 PM CST, 1 minute before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
457 PM CST WED JAN 21 1998

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

0435 PM    HILLTOP LAKES             TX   TORNADO
01/21/98   LEON                           POSSIBLE TORNADO REPORTED
                                          BY PUBLIC TO SHERIFFS
                                          OFFICE

0435 PM    HILLTOP LAKES             TX   1.75 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   LEON                           IN ADDITION TO A POSSIBLE
                                          TORNADO...GOLFBALL HAIL
                                          WAS REPORTED

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 21, 12:44 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDEllis46 min
Jan 21, 1:00 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDHenderson, Van Zandt60 min
Jan 21, 1:09 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDKaufman66 min
Jan 21, 2:33 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDMilam42 min
Jan 21, 2:42 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDBell, Falls63 min
Jan 21, 3:00 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDRobertson60 min
Jan 21, 3:14 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDMilam61 min
Jan 21, 3:53 PM CSTTornado WarningFWDRobertson52 min
Jan 21, 4:01 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDCollin, Dallas59 min
Jan 21, 4:15 PM CSTTornado WarningFWDLeon45 min
Jan 21, 4:46 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDEllis59 min
Jan 21, 5:22 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDKaufman68 min
Jan 21, 5:34 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningFWDLeon, Robertson4 hr

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.