Alert archive / Arkansas / Tornado Warnings in 1998

Tornado Warning 32, NWS Little Rock, AR

June 4, 1998Polk County, Arkansas

NWS Little Rock, AR issued this tornado warning at Jun 4, 1998, 10:07 PM CDT for Polk County, Arkansas. It was in force for 48 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
Jun 4, 1998, 10:07 PM CDT (03:07 UTC)
Expired
Jun 4, 1998, 10:55 PM CDT
In force
48 min
Issued by
NWS Little Rock, AR
Area
Whole counties

County Polk County, AR

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jun 4, 10:15 PM CDTTornado F1Cove, AR
Jun 4, 10:15 PM CDTTornado F1Vandervoort, 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
Jun 4, 6:00 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Shreveport, LA (KSHV), launched 00:00Z, 3.1 hours before the alert went out and 227 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 1998-06-05Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2429 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, Shreveport, LA at 00:00Z on 1998-06-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 2 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
2429 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-77 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1497 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
18 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
2 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
91 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.2
Supercell composite
3.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

836 
WFUS1 KLIT 050308 RRA
TORLIT
ARC113-050355-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
1007 PM CDT THU JUN 4 1998


THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LITTLE ROCK HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  POLK COUNTY IN WESTERN ARKANSAS

* UNTIL 1055 PM CDT

* AT 1006 PM CDT... DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A POSSIBLE
  TORNADO 15 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MENA OR 1 MILE SOUTHWEST OF COVE
  MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO INCLUDE...
COVE                         AROUND 1009 PM CDT...
VANDERVOORT                  AROUND 1009 PM CDT...
HATFIELD                     AROUND 1010 PM CDT...
POTTER                       AROUND 1015 PM CDT...
MENA                         AROUND 1020 PM CDT...

A DOPPLER RADAR DETECTED TORNADO MEANS THAT THERE IS STRONG
ROTATION WITHIN A STORM. THE STORM MAY NOT BE PRODUCING A TORNADO
AT THE MOMENT...BUT IS EXPECTED TO DURING THE WARNING PERIOD. FOR
YOUR SAFETY...GO INDOORS NOW TO AN INTERIOR ROOM AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

46

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, Jun 4, 6:00 PM CDT, 4 hours 7 minutes before
ARZ003>009-012>017-021>024-030>032-037>042-050>052-059-050500-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
600 PM CDT THU JUN 4 1998

...TORNADO WATCH FOR NORTHERN AND WESTERN ARKANSAS UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT...

A STORM SYSTEM ALOFT WAS MOVING ACROSS THE PLAINS THIS AFTERNOON TOWARD
THE MID-MISSISSIPPI VALLEY AND THE SOUTH CENTRAL UNITED STATES. THE SYSTEM
WAS BRINGING COLDER AIR OVERHEAD...WHICH WILL MOVE OVER MUCH WARMER
CONDITIONS AT GROUND LEVEL MAKING THE ATMOSPHERE UNSTABLE. THE SYSTEM
WILL INTERACT WITH A STATIONARY FRONT ACROSS NORTHERN ARKANSAS TO PRODUCE
STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN THE NATURAL STATE.

WITH SEVERE WEATHER POSSIBLE...A TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR
ABOUT THE NORTHWEST HALF OF ARKANSAS UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT. THE WATCH
INCLUDES AREAS NORTH AND WEST OF PIGGOTT...CONWAY...HOT SPRINGS...AND
ASHDOWN.

STORMS THAT BECOME SEVERE IN THE WATCH AREA WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
DIME SIZE HAIL OR LARGER...STRONG TO DAMAGING WINDS...WITH TORNADOES
POSSIBLE. FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND TORRENTIAL RAIN WILL ALSO ACCOMPANY
SOME OF THE STRONGER STORMS.

PEOPLE IN NORTHERN AND WESTERN ARKANSAS ARE ADVISED TO KEEP AN EYE ON
THE SKY THIS EVENING...AND KEEP TRACK OF THE LATEST WEATHER CONDITIONS.
BE READY TO SEEK APPROPRIATE SHELTER IF A WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR
AREA BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

46
Local storm report, Jun 4, 7:32 PM CDT, 2 hours 35 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
732 PM CDT THU JUN 4 1998

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

0715 PM    COAL HILL                 AR   70 MPH TSTM GUST
06/04/98   JOHNSON                        STORM SPOTTER OBSERVED 60
                                          TO 70 MPH WINDS.

0715 PM    COAL HILL                 AR   .75 INCH HAIL
06/04/98   JOHNSON                        STORM SPOTTER OBSERVED
                                          DIME SIZE HAIL.

0723 PM    HUNT                      AR   1.75 INCH HAIL
06/04/98   JOHNSON                        OES REPORTED GOLF BALL
                                          SIZE HAIL.

28
Local storm report, Jun 4, 7:32 PM CDT, 2 hours 35 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
732 PM CDT THU JUN 4 1998

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

0715 PM    COAL HILL                 AR   70 MPH TSTM GUST
06/04/98   JOHNSON                        STORM SPOTTER OBSERVED 60
                                          TO 70 MPH WINDS.

0715 PM    COAL HILL                 AR   .75 INCH HAIL
06/04/98   JOHNSON                        STORM SPOTTER OBSERVED
                                          DIME SIZE HAIL.

0723 PM    HUNT                      AR   1.75 INCH HAIL
06/04/98   JOHNSON                        OES REPORTED GOLF BALL
                                          SIZE HAIL.

28
Local storm report, Jun 4, 7:58 PM CDT, 2 hours 9 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
758 PM CDT THU JUN 4 1998

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

0730 PM    8 W CLARKSVILLE           AR   1 INCH HAIL
06/04/98   JOHNSON                        DIME TO QUARTER SIZE
                                          HAIL...TREES
                                          DOWN...BARRELS BLOWN OVER
                                          IN HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION
                                          FROM 8 W CLARKSVILLE TO
                                          EAST SIDE OF CLARKSVILLE
                                          830 TO 847 PM

0735 PM    6 N CLARKSVILLE           AR   .75 INCH HAIL
06/04/98   JOHNSON

0735 PM    3 N CLARKSVILLE           AR   1.75 INCH HAIL
06/04/98   JOHNSON

0736 PM                              AR   1.75 INCH HAIL
06/04/98   JOHNSON                        QUARTER TO GOLF BALL SIZE
                                          HAIL IN WOODLAND AND LONG
                                          PINE AREAS.

28
Local storm report, Jun 4, 7:58 PM CDT, 2 hours 9 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
758 PM CDT THU JUN 4 1998

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

0730 PM    8 W CLARKSVILLE           AR   1 INCH HAIL
06/04/98   JOHNSON                        DIME TO QUARTER SIZE
                                          HAIL...TREES
                                          DOWN...BARRELS BLOWN OVER
                                          IN HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION
                                          FROM 8 W CLARKSVILLE TO
                                          EAST SIDE OF CLARKSVILLE
                                          830 TO 847 PM

0735 PM    6 N CLARKSVILLE           AR   .75 INCH HAIL
06/04/98   JOHNSON

0735 PM    3 N CLARKSVILLE           AR   1.75 INCH HAIL
06/04/98   JOHNSON

0736 PM                              AR   1.75 INCH HAIL
06/04/98   JOHNSON                        QUARTER TO GOLF BALL SIZE
                                          HAIL IN WOODLAND AND LONG
                                          PINE AREAS.

28
Local storm report, Jun 4, 8:16 PM CDT, 1 hour 51 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
816 PM CDT THU JUN 4 1998

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

0723 PM    COAL HILL                 AR   85 MPH TSTM GUST
06/04/98   JOHNSON

28

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 4, 7:50 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKLogan, Pope60 min
Jun 4, 8:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKVan Buren65 min
Jun 4, 8:42 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKConway48 min
Jun 4, 9:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKJohnson, Newton61 min
Jun 4, 10:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKPolk65 min
Jun 4, 10:32 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKMontgomery, Pike48 min
Jun 4, 11:26 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKVan Buren34 min
Jun 4, 11:33 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKCleburne32 min
Jun 4, 11:51 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKGarland, Hot Spring, Saline64 min
Jun 4, 11:51 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKConway, Perry64 min
Jun 4, 11:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKDallas, Grant63 min
Jun 4, 11:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKFaulkner, Pulaski63 min
Jun 5, 12:00 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKIndependence50 min
Jun 5, 12:19 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKCalhoun, Ouachita66 min
Jun 5, 12:24 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKWhite66 min
Jun 5, 12:27 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKWoodruff63 min
Jun 5, 12:38 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKCleveland, Jefferson, Lonoke62 min
Jun 5, 12:58 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKPrairie62 min
Jun 5, 1:02 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKArkansas63 min
Jun 5, 1:12 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKLincoln63 min
Jun 5, 1:16 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKMonroe49 min
Jun 5, 1:25 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKDesha65 min
Jun 5, 9:38 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKDallas47 min
Jun 5, 10:18 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKLincoln32 min
Jun 5, 10:38 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKArkansas47 min
Jun 5, 11:43 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKScott37 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.