Alert archive / Kentucky / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1998
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 30, NWS Louisville, KY
NWS Louisville, KY issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 15, 1998, 12:11 PM EDT for Marion County, Taylor County, Kentucky. It was in force for 19 min. 2 reports 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
- Apr 15, 1998, 12:11 PM EDT (16:11 UTC)
- Expired
- Apr 15, 1998, 12:30 PM EDT
- In force
- 19 min
- Issued by
- NWS Louisville, KY
- Area
- Whole counties
Counties Marion County, KY, Taylor County, KY
The radar
The Louisville radar (KLVX), 81 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 16:12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 15, 12:15 PM EDT | Hail 1 | Finley, KY | |
| Apr 15, 12:15 PM EDT | Hail 1 | Jessietown, KY |
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 nearest sounding before it
Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 12:00Z, 4.2 hours before the alert went out and 188 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
- 767 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -65 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 716 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 53 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 134 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 163 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 5.1
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
435 WUUS1 KSDF 151612 RRA SVRSDF KYC155-217-151630- BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY 1211 PM EDT WED APR 15 1998 * SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR MARION COUNTY - SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY NORTHERN TAYLOR COUNTY - SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY * UNTIL 1230 PM EDT * SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED HOBSON IMMEDIATELY JESSIETOWN BY 1220 PM EDT LEBANON BY 1225 PM EDT AT 1210 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS NEAR HOBSON OR 45 MILES NORTHWEST OF SOMERSET. THE LINE IS MOVING NORTHEAST AROUND 40 MPH. * IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE OR IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM...SEEK SHELTER INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS AND STAY OFF THE TELEPHONE UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED. KOCH/COX
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm 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, Apr 15, 7:25 AM EDT, 4 hours 46 minutes before
KYZ023>043-045>049-053>057-061>067-070>078-081-082-INZ076-079-083- 084-089>092-151630- CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND SOUTH-CENTRAL INDIANA SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY 725 AM EDT WED APR 15 1998 THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS INDICATED THAT A HIGH RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER EXISTS ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA AND A SMALL PART OF NORTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY...MAINLY THOSE AREAS NORTH AND WEST OF LOUISVILLE. IN ADDITION A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER EXISTS ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF EAST AND SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY AS WELL. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION. A LOW PRESSURE CENTER OVER NORTHEAST KANSAS WILL TRACK INTO NORTH CENTRAL MISSOURI THIS AFTERNOON...WHILE AN ASSOCIATED WARM FRONT SHIFTS NORTHWARD INTO NORTHERN ILLINOIS AND INDIANA. MEANWHILE... STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO ADVECT WARM MOIST AND VERY UNSTABLE AIR INTO THE REGION AS WE HEAD INTO THE AFTERNOON HOURS. THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE MID MISSISSIPPI VALLEY THIS AFTERNOON...AND MOVE TO CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA BY EARLY EVENING...AND THEN CONTINUE ACROSS OUR REGION OVERNIGHT. THE EXPECTED INSTABILITY ALONG WITH STRONG WIND FIELDS IN THE ATMOSPHERE WILL BE FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. TORNADOES ALSO ARE POSSIBLE WITH THE STRONGEST CELLS. SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE NECESSARY LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OR THE MEDIA FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON THIS WEATHER SITUATION. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK...PLEASE REFERENCE THE PUBLIC SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK (MKCPWOMKC) AS ISSUED BY THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OKLAHOMA. VLD
Special weather statement, Apr 15, 7:25 AM EDT, 4 hours 46 minutes before
KYZ023>043-045>049-053>057-061>067-070>078-081-082-INZ076-079-083- 084-089>092-151630- CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND SOUTH-CENTRAL INDIANA SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY 725 AM EDT WED APR 15 1998 THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS INDICATED THAT A HIGH RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER EXISTS ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA AND A SMALL PART OF NORTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY...MAINLY THOSE AREAS NORTH AND WEST OF LOUISVILLE. IN ADDITION A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER EXISTS ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF EAST AND SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY AS WELL. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION. A LOW PRESSURE CENTER OVER NORTHEAST KANSAS WILL TRACK INTO NORTH CENTRAL MISSOURI THIS AFTERNOON...WHILE AN ASSOCIATED WARM FRONT SHIFTS NORTHWARD INTO NORTHERN ILLINOIS AND INDIANA. MEANWHILE... STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO ADVECT WARM MOIST AND VERY UNSTABLE AIR INTO THE REGION AS WE HEAD INTO THE AFTERNOON HOURS. THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE MID MISSISSIPPI VALLEY THIS AFTERNOON...AND MOVE TO CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA BY EARLY EVENING...AND THEN CONTINUE ACROSS OUR REGION OVERNIGHT. THE EXPECTED INSTABILITY ALONG WITH STRONG WIND FIELDS IN THE ATMOSPHERE WILL BE FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. TORNADOES ALSO ARE POSSIBLE WITH THE STRONGEST CELLS. SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE NECESSARY LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OR THE MEDIA FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON THIS WEATHER SITUATION. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK...PLEASE REFERENCE THE PUBLIC SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK (MKCPWOMKC) AS ISSUED BY THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OKLAHOMA. VLD
Local storm report, Apr 15, 11:23 AM EDT, 48 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
1123 AM EDT WED APR 15 1998
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
1105-1115 AM KY 1 - 11/2 HAIL. REPRTED AS
04/15/98 GRAYSON SIZE OF GUMBALLS.
WAIDLEYSpecial weather statement, Apr 15, 11:45 AM EDT, 26 minutes before
KYZ023>043-045>049-053>057-061>067-070>078-081-082-INZ076-079-083- 084-089>092-151630- CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND SOUTH-CENTRAL INDIANA SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY 1145 AM EDT WED APR 15 1998 THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS INDICATED THAT A HIGH RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXISTS ACROSS ALL OF WESTERN AND A PORTION OF SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY TODAY AND TONIGHT. ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA...A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXISTS. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL AND TORNADOES ACROSS THE MODERATE AND HIGH RISK AREAS. A WARM FRONT WILL MOVE NORTH ACROSS CENTRAL KENTUCKY EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. THUNDERSTORMS ALONG AND NORTH OF THE FRONT WILL PUSH EAST ACROSS NORTHERN AND EASTERN KENTUCKY THIS AFTERNOON. THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL PRODUCE HAIL AND TORRENTIAL RAIN. AFTER THE WARM FRONT PASSES...WARM MOIST AND INCREASINGLY UNSTABLE AIR WILL FILTER ACROSS CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA DURING THE MID AND LATE AFTERNOON HOURS. THIS UNSTABLE AIR MASS WILL BE CONDUCIVE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADDITIONAL SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON. SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. AT THIS TIME...IT APPEARS THE MAIN THREAT FOR ORGANIZED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR TONIGHT. GIVEN MODERATE TO STRONG INSTABILITY AND A HIGH DEGREE OF DEEP LAYERED VERTICAL WIND SHEAR IN THE ATMOSPHERE...SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT APPEARS LIKELY ACROSS PARTS OF MISSOURI...NORTHERN ARKANSAS...AND WESTERN PORTIONS OF KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE WITHIN THE HIGH RISK AREA. THESE STORMS WILL THEN MOVE EAST ACROSS CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA TONIGHT AND OVERNIGHT...WHILE POSSIBLY DEVELOPING INTO A SEVERE SQUALL LINE WITH EMBEDDED BOW ECHOES. THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS...HAIL...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND A FEW TORNADOES. THIS IS AN UPDATED OUTLOOK. STAY TUNED FOR ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OR MEDIA OUTLETS AS WEATHER CONDITIONS CHANGE. SEVERE WEATHER WATCHES AND WARNINGS MAY BE NEEDED LATE TODAY AND TONIGHT. SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE NECESSARY LATE TODAY AND ESPECIALLY TONIGHT ACROSS CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA. FUNK
Special weather statement, Apr 15, 11:45 AM EDT, 26 minutes before
KYZ023>043-045>049-053>057-061>067-070>078-081-082-INZ076-079-083- 084-089>092-151630- CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND SOUTH-CENTRAL INDIANA SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY 1145 AM EDT WED APR 15 1998 THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS INDICATED THAT A HIGH RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXISTS ACROSS ALL OF WESTERN AND A PORTION OF SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY TODAY AND TONIGHT. ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA...A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXISTS. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL AND TORNADOES ACROSS THE MODERATE AND HIGH RISK AREAS. A WARM FRONT WILL MOVE NORTH ACROSS CENTRAL KENTUCKY EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. THUNDERSTORMS ALONG AND NORTH OF THE FRONT WILL PUSH EAST ACROSS NORTHERN AND EASTERN KENTUCKY THIS AFTERNOON. THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL PRODUCE HAIL AND TORRENTIAL RAIN. AFTER THE WARM FRONT PASSES...WARM MOIST AND INCREASINGLY UNSTABLE AIR WILL FILTER ACROSS CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA DURING THE MID AND LATE AFTERNOON HOURS. THIS UNSTABLE AIR MASS WILL BE CONDUCIVE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADDITIONAL SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON. SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. AT THIS TIME...IT APPEARS THE MAIN THREAT FOR ORGANIZED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR TONIGHT. GIVEN MODERATE TO STRONG INSTABILITY AND A HIGH DEGREE OF DEEP LAYERED VERTICAL WIND SHEAR IN THE ATMOSPHERE...SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT APPEARS LIKELY ACROSS PARTS OF MISSOURI...NORTHERN ARKANSAS...AND WESTERN PORTIONS OF KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE WITHIN THE HIGH RISK AREA. THESE STORMS WILL THEN MOVE EAST ACROSS CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA TONIGHT AND OVERNIGHT...WHILE POSSIBLY DEVELOPING INTO A SEVERE SQUALL LINE WITH EMBEDDED BOW ECHOES. THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS...HAIL...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND A FEW TORNADOES. THIS IS AN UPDATED OUTLOOK. STAY TUNED FOR ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OR MEDIA OUTLETS AS WEATHER CONDITIONS CHANGE. SEVERE WEATHER WATCHES AND WARNINGS MAY BE NEEDED LATE TODAY AND TONIGHT. SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE NECESSARY LATE TODAY AND ESPECIALLY TONIGHT ACROSS CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA. FUNK
The office that day
Everything else NWS Louisville, KY issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 15, 10:56 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LMK | Grayson | 34 min |
| Apr 15, 11:28 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LMK | Hart | 32 min |
| Apr 15, 11:32 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LMK | Larue | 33 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Kentucky, 1998Every severe thunderstorm warning 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.