Alert archive / Arkansas / Tornado Warnings in 1998
Tornado Warning 27, NWS Little Rock, AR
NWS Little Rock, AR issued this tornado warning at May 9, 1998, 6:18 PM CDT for Hot Spring County, Arkansas. It was in force for 62 min. 5 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
- May 9, 1998, 6:18 PM CDT (23:18 UTC)
- Expired
- May 9, 1998, 7:20 PM CDT
- In force
- 62 min
- Issued by
- NWS Little Rock, AR
- Area
- Whole counties
County Hot Spring County, AR
The radar
The Little Rock radar (KLZK), 85 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:22 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 9, 6:25 PM CDT | Hail 1.75 | Bismarck, AR | Hail up to golfball size damaged several vehicles. |
| May 9, 6:30 PM CDT | Hail 1 | Caney, AR | |
| May 9, 6:30 PM CDT | Hail 1 | Bismarck, AR | |
| May 9, 6:35 PM CDT | Hail 1.5 | Bismarck, AR | |
| May 9, 7:18 PM CDT | Hail 0.75 | Malvern, AR |
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 9, 6:00 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 5 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Shreveport, LA (KSHV), launched 12:00Z, 11.3 hours before the alert went out and 218 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
- 620 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -266 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 677 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 81 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 127 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 149 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.6
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 TTAA00 KLIT 092318 RRA TORLIT ARC059-100020- BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR 618 PM CDT SAT MAY 9 1998 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LITTLE ROCK HAS ISSUED A * TORNADO WARNING FOR... HOT SPRING COUNTY IN SOUTHWESTERN ARKANSAS * UNTIL 720 PM CDT * AT 617 PM CDT... DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A POSSIBLE TORNADO 25 MILES WEST OF MALVERN OR 4 MILES WEST OF BISMARCK MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO INCLUDE... BISMARCK AROUND 625 PM CDT... CANEY AROUND 625 PM CDT... DE ROCHE AROUND 640 PM CDT... FRIENDSHIP AROUND 645 PM CDT... DONALDSON AROUND 655 PM CDT... IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO...HEAD INDOORS NOW. GO TO AN INTERIOR ROOM AWAY FROM WINDOWS ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. PUT AS MANY WALLS BETWEEN YOURSELF AND THE OUTDOORS AS YOU CAN. ABANDON MOBILE HOMES NOW. MOVE TO A STRONG BUILDING OR UNDERGROUND SHELTER. IF THERE ARE NO BUILDINGS NEARBY...LAY IN A DITCH TO AVOID FLYING DEBRIS. BUT BEWARE OF RISING WATER. 25/206
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
Local storm report, May 9, 5:53 PM CDT, 25 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED FOR ISSUE TIME
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
553 PM CDT SAT MAY 9 1998
TIME(EDIT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
550 PM OKOLONA AR 0.75 INCH HAIL
5/9/98 CLARK REPORTED BY COUNTY SHERIFF
16Special weather statement, May 9, 5:56 PM CDT, 22 minutes before
ARZ003>008-012>017-021>025-030>034-037>047-050>057-059>075-100130- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR 556 PM CDT SAT MAY 9 1998 ...TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 11 PM FOR MOST OF ARKANSAS... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH FOR MOST OF ARKANSAS EFFECTIVE UNTIL 11 PM TONIGHT. THE WATCH AREA IS GENERALLY WEST OF A LINE FROM POCAHONTAS TO WEST HELENA AND EAST OF A LINE FROM HARRISON TO WALDRON. SOME LARGER CITIES IN THE WATCH INCLUDE...LITTLE ROCK...HARRISON...TEXARKANA...EL DORADO...PINE BLUFF...MOUNTAIN HOME...AND HOT SPRINGS. A STRONG UPPER LEVEL LOW AND A SURFACE WARM FRONT WILL BE MOVING ACROSS ARKANSAS TONIGHT. WARM AND VERY MOIST AIR HAS BEEN PUSHED NORTH INTO THE STATE DURING THE DAY AND THIS WILL PROVIDE THE FUEL FOR THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT. THE WINDS IN THE ATMOSPHERE ARE VERY FAVORABLE FOR TORNADO DEVELOPMENT...MAKING THIS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND TORNADO WARNINGS HAVE ALREADY BEEN ISSUED THIS EVENING. GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED AT MURFEESBORO AROUND 515 PM. IF THUNDERSTORMS THREATEN YOUR AREA TONIGHT...REMAIN CALM AND SEEK SHELTER INDOORS...AWAY FROM WINDOWS. KEEP CLOSE TABS ON THE WEATHER BY TUNING TO YOUR LOCAL MEDIA OR CABLE T.V. OUTLET FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, May 9, 5:56 PM CDT, 22 minutes before
ARZ003>008-012>017-021>025-030>034-037>047-050>057-059>075-100130- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR 556 PM CDT SAT MAY 9 1998 ...TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 11 PM FOR MOST OF ARKANSAS... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH FOR MOST OF ARKANSAS EFFECTIVE UNTIL 11 PM TONIGHT. THE WATCH AREA IS GENERALLY WEST OF A LINE FROM POCAHONTAS TO WEST HELENA AND EAST OF A LINE FROM HARRISON TO WALDRON. SOME LARGER CITIES IN THE WATCH INCLUDE...LITTLE ROCK...HARRISON...TEXARKANA...EL DORADO...PINE BLUFF...MOUNTAIN HOME...AND HOT SPRINGS. A STRONG UPPER LEVEL LOW AND A SURFACE WARM FRONT WILL BE MOVING ACROSS ARKANSAS TONIGHT. WARM AND VERY MOIST AIR HAS BEEN PUSHED NORTH INTO THE STATE DURING THE DAY AND THIS WILL PROVIDE THE FUEL FOR THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT. THE WINDS IN THE ATMOSPHERE ARE VERY FAVORABLE FOR TORNADO DEVELOPMENT...MAKING THIS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND TORNADO WARNINGS HAVE ALREADY BEEN ISSUED THIS EVENING. GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED AT MURFEESBORO AROUND 515 PM. IF THUNDERSTORMS THREATEN YOUR AREA TONIGHT...REMAIN CALM AND SEEK SHELTER INDOORS...AWAY FROM WINDOWS. KEEP CLOSE TABS ON THE WEATHER BY TUNING TO YOUR LOCAL MEDIA OR CABLE T.V. OUTLET FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WARNINGS.
Local storm report, May 9, 5:56 PM CDT, 22 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
453 PM EDIT SAT MAY 9 1998
TIME(EDIT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
550 PM OKOLONA AR 0.75 INCH HAIL
5/9/98 CLARK REPORTED BY COUNTY SHERIFF
16Local storm report, May 9, 6:18 PM CDT, 0 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
618 PM CDT SAT MAY 9 1998
TIME(EDIT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
535 PM 4 SW MARSHALL AR 1.75 INCH HAIL
5/9/98 SEARCY REPORTED BY HAM RADIO.
535 PM 4 SW MARSHALL AR 67 MPH TSTM GUST
5/9/98 SEARCY REPORTED BY HAMS
535 PM 4 SW MARSHALL AR WIND DAMAGE
5/9/98 SEARCY 18-INCH TREE DOWN ON
HWY 27
16Local storm report, May 9, 6:18 PM CDT, 0 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
618 PM CDT SAT MAY 9 1998
TIME(EDIT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
535 PM 4 SW MARSHALL AR 1.75 INCH HAIL
5/9/98 SEARCY REPORTED BY HAM RADIO.
535 PM 4 SW MARSHALL AR 67 MPH TSTM GUST
5/9/98 SEARCY REPORTED BY HAMS
535 PM 4 SW MARSHALL AR WIND DAMAGE
5/9/98 SEARCY 18-INCH TREE DOWN ON
HWY 27
16The office that day
Everything else NWS Little Rock, AR issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 9, 9:11 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Boone | 49 min |
| May 9, 9:23 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Marion | 52 min |
| May 9, 9:47 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Baxter | 28 min |
| May 9, 1:36 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Boone | 34 min |
| May 9, 1:43 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Johnson, Logan | 47 min |
| May 9, 2:20 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Newton | 50 min |
| May 9, 2:23 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Pope | 32 min |
| May 9, 2:37 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Boone | 48 min |
| May 9, 2:55 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Baxter | 35 min |
| May 9, 4:16 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Fulton, Izard | 49 min |
| May 9, 4:58 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Pike | 47 min |
| May 9, 4:59 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Scott | 61 min |
| May 9, 5:05 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Fulton, Izard, Sharp | 50 min |
| May 9, 5:21 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | LZK | Scott | 64 min |
| May 9, 5:28 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Searcy | 47 min |
| May 9, 5:39 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Clark | 66 min |
| May 9, 5:59 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Stone | 66 min |
| May 9, 6:08 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Ouachita | 62 min |
| May 9, 6:13 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | LZK | Clark | 47 min |
| May 9, 6:26 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Garland, Montgomery | 64 min |
| May 9, 6:33 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | LZK | Ouachita | 47 min |
| May 9, 6:44 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Calhoun | 66 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Arkansas, 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.