Alert archive / Arkansas / Tornado Warnings in 1998

Tornado Warning 29, NWS Little Rock, AR

May 9, 1998Bradley County, Calhoun County, Arkansas

NWS Little Rock, AR issued this tornado warning at May 9, 1998, 7:17 PM CDT for Bradley County, Calhoun County, Arkansas. It was in force for 63 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
May 9, 1998, 7:17 PM CDT (00:17 UTC)
Expired
May 9, 1998, 8:20 PM CDT
In force
63 min
Issued by
NWS Little Rock, AR
Area
Whole counties

Counties Bradley County, AR, Calhoun County, AR

The radar

The Little Rock radar (KLZK), 147 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:21 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 9, 7:20 PM CDTHail 0.88Harrell, AR
May 9, 7:35 PM CDTHail 0.88Warren, 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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 9, 6:00 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Shreveport, LA (KSHV), launched 00:00Z, 0.3 hours before the alert went out and 175 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, Shreveport, LA at 00:00Z on 1998-05-10Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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, Shreveport, LA at 00:00Z on 1998-05-10The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 47 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
2 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-14 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2710 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
64 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
47 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
86 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.

000 
TTAA00 KLIT 100017 RRA
TORLIT
ARC011-013-100120-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
717 PM CDT SAT MAY 9 1998


THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LITTLE ROCK HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN CALHOUN COUNTY IN SOUTHWESTERN ARKANSAS
  BRADLEY COUNTY IN SOUTHEASTERN ARKANSAS

* UNTIL 820 PM CDT

* AT 716 PM CDT... DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A POSSIBLE
  TORNADO 9 MILES SOUTHEAST OF HAMPTON OR 9 MILES WEST OF HERMITAGE
  MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO INCLUDE...
HERMITAGE                    AROUND 735 PM CDT...
FARMVILLE                    AROUND 735 PM CDT...
VICK                         AROUND 740 PM CDT...
MT OLIVE                     AROUND 745 PM CDT...
CARMEL                       AROUND 745 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.

22/206

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, 6:51 PM CDT, 26 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
651 PM CDT SAT MAY 9 1998

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

643 PM     HARMONY GROVE             AR   WIND DAMAGE
5/9/98     OUACHITA                       TREE ON HOME. ROOF OFF
                                          TRAILER.
                                          BY OES.

16
Local storm report, May 9, 7:00 PM CDT, 17 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARIZING PAST FEW HOURS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
700 PM CDT SAT MAY 9 1998

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

643 PM     HARMONY GROVE             AR   WIND DAMAGE
5/9/98     OUACHITA                       TREE ON HOME. ROOF OFF
                                          TRAILER.
                                          BY OES.

133 PM     BERGMAN                   AR   1.00 INCH HAIL
5/9/98     BOONE                          BY OES

635 PM     BISMARCK                  AR   1.50 INCH HAIL
5/9/98     HOT SPRING                     FROM HAM RADIO

641 PM     2 NE CAMDEN               AR   FUNNEL CLOUD
5/9/98     OUACHITA                       FROM OES
630 PM     CANEY                     AR   1.00 INCH HAIL
5/9/98     HOT SPRING                     BY STORM SPOTTER

630 PM     2 SE BISMARCK             AR   1.00 INCH HAIL
5/9/98     HOT SPRING                     BY COOP OBSERVER

625 PM     4 E BISMARCK              AR   1.75 INCH HAIL
5/9/98     HOT SPRING                     CARS DAMAGED
                                          REPORTED BY WAYNES
                                          GROCERY IN BISMARCK

634 PM     HARMONY GROVE             AR   1.00 INCH HAIL
5/9/98     OUACHITA                       BY COUNTY SHERIFF

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

16
Local storm report, May 9, 7:01 PM CDT, 16 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARIZED OF PREVIOUSLY SENT...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
701 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

550 PM     OKOLONA                   AR   0.75 INCH HAIL
5/9/98     CLARK                          REPORTED BY COUNTY SHERIFF

533 PM     MARSHALL                  AR   1.00 INCH HAIL
5/9/98     SEARCY

533 PM     MARSHALL                  AR   ONE TREE DOWN
5/9/98     SEARCY

515 PM     MURFREESBORO              AR   1.75 INCH HAIL
5/9/98     PIKE

0230 PM    DEER                      AR   .88 INCH HAIL
05/09/98   NEWTON                         REPORTED BY THE PUBLIC

0233 PM    EVERTON                   AR   .75 INCH HAIL
05/09/98   BOONE                          REPORTED BY COUNTY OES

0240 PM    RUSSELLVILLE              AR   .88 INCH HAIL
05/09/98   POPE                           7E RUSSELLVILLE ON I40

0252 PM    BUFORD                    AR   1 INCH HAIL
05/09/98   BAXTER                         REPORTED BY HAM RADIO
                                          OPERATORS
48/16
Local storm report, May 9, 7:01 PM CDT, 16 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARIZED OF PREVIOUSLY SENT...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
701 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

550 PM     OKOLONA                   AR   0.75 INCH HAIL
5/9/98     CLARK                          REPORTED BY COUNTY SHERIFF

533 PM     MARSHALL                  AR   1.00 INCH HAIL
5/9/98     SEARCY

533 PM     MARSHALL                  AR   ONE TREE DOWN
5/9/98     SEARCY

515 PM     MURFREESBORO              AR   1.75 INCH HAIL
5/9/98     PIKE

0230 PM    DEER                      AR   .88 INCH HAIL
05/09/98   NEWTON                         REPORTED BY THE PUBLIC

0233 PM    EVERTON                   AR   .75 INCH HAIL
05/09/98   BOONE                          REPORTED BY COUNTY OES

0240 PM    RUSSELLVILLE              AR   .88 INCH HAIL
05/09/98   POPE                           7E RUSSELLVILLE ON I40

0252 PM    BUFORD                    AR   1 INCH HAIL
05/09/98   BAXTER                         REPORTED BY HAM RADIO
                                          OPERATORS
48/16
Local storm report, May 9, 7:07 PM CDT, 10 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
707 PM CDT SAT MAY 9 1998

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

230 PM     DEER                      AR   0.75 INCH HAIL
5/9/98     NEWTON

623 PM     CRYSTAL SPRING            AR   0.50 INCH HAIL
5/9/98     GARLAND                        BY STORM SPOTTER

650 PM     HARMONY GROVE             AR   1.00 INCH HAIL
5/9/98     OUACHITA                       BY COUNTY SHERIFF

650 PM     HARMONY GROVE             AR   WIND DAMAGE
5/9/98     OUACHITA                       ROOF OFF HOUSE
                                          LARGE TREE DOWN
655 PM     CRYSTAL SPRINGS           AR   0.50 INCH HAIL
5/9/98     GARLAND                        BY PUBLIC

705 PM     AMITY                     AR   POSSIBLE FUNNEL
5/9/98     CLARK                          BY HAMS

16
Local storm report, May 9, 7:07 PM CDT, 10 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
707 PM CDT SAT MAY 9 1998

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

230 PM     DEER                      AR   0.75 INCH HAIL
5/9/98     NEWTON

623 PM     CRYSTAL SPRING            AR   0.50 INCH HAIL
5/9/98     GARLAND                        BY STORM SPOTTER

650 PM     HARMONY GROVE             AR   1.00 INCH HAIL
5/9/98     OUACHITA                       BY COUNTY SHERIFF

650 PM     HARMONY GROVE             AR   WIND DAMAGE
5/9/98     OUACHITA                       ROOF OFF HOUSE
                                          LARGE TREE DOWN
655 PM     CRYSTAL SPRINGS           AR   0.50 INCH HAIL
5/9/98     GARLAND                        BY PUBLIC

705 PM     AMITY                     AR   POSSIBLE FUNNEL
5/9/98     CLARK                          BY HAMS

16

The office that day

Everything else NWS Little Rock, AR issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 9, 7:04 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKIndependence, Stone66 min
May 9, 7:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKGrant62 min
May 9, 7:21 PM CDTTornado WarningLZKGarland34 min
May 9, 7:24 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKHot Spring51 min
May 9, 7:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKWhite33 min
May 9, 7:46 PM CDTTornado WarningLZKHot Spring34 min
May 9, 7:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKDrew64 min
May 9, 8:01 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKGrant64 min
May 9, 8:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKJefferson62 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.