Alert archive / Arkansas / Tornado Warnings in 1998
Tornado Warning 9, NWS Little Rock, AR
NWS Little Rock, AR issued this tornado warning at Apr 16, 1998, 10:20 AM CDT for White County, Arkansas. It was in force for 35 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
- Apr 16, 1998, 10:20 AM CDT (15:20 UTC)
- Expired
- Apr 16, 1998, 10:55 AM CDT
- In force
- 35 min
- Issued by
- NWS Little Rock, AR
- Area
- Whole counties
County White County, AR
The radar
The Little Rock radar (KLZK), 66 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 15:19 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 16, 10:37 AM CDT | Hail 0.75 | Bradford, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 16, 7:30 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Little Rock, AR (KLZK), launched 12:00Z, 3.3 hours before the alert went out and 170 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
- 708 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -5 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 497 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 69 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 119 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 223 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.8
- Supercell composite
- 2.8
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 TTAA00 KLIT 161520 RRA TORLIT ARC145-161555- BULLETIN TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR 1020 AM CDT THU APR 16 1998 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LITTLE ROCK HAS ISSUED A * TORNADO WARNING FOR... WHITE COUNTY IN CENTRAL ARKANSAS * UNTIL 1055 AM CDT * AT 1019 AM CDT... DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A POSSIBLE TORNADO 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF SEARCY OR 5 MILES WEST OF BALD KNOB MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO INCLUDE... BALD KNOB AROUND 1015 AM CDT... WORDEN AROUND 1018 AM CDT... RUSSELL AROUND 1015 AM CDT... BRADFORD AROUND 1020 AM CDT... THOSE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO SHOULD GO TO AN INTERIOR ROOM AWAY FROM WINDOWS. PUT AS MANY WALLS BETWEEN YOURSELF AND THE OUTDOORS AS YOU CAN. ABANDON MOBILE HOMES AND GO TO A STRONG BUILDING OR UNDERGROUND SHELTER. IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...AND NO BUILDINGS ARE AVAILABLE...LAY IN A DITCH OR CULVERT TO AVOID FLYING DEBRIS. BUT BEWARE OF RISING WATER. 48/25
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, Apr 16, 5:20 AM CDT, 5 hours before
ARZ027-028-034>036-040>062-070-071-161200- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR 520 AM CDT THU APR 16 1998 ...ALL SEVERE WEATHER WATCHES CANCELLED OR EXPIRED... MOST SEVERE WEATHER HAS ENDED ACROSS THE STATE EARLY THIS MORNING... AND HAS MOVED INTO TENNESSEE. A STORM SYSTEM WAS APPROACHING FROM NORTHEAST TEXAS...AND WILL MOVE ALONG A COLD FRONT WHICH EXTENDS THROUGH CENTRAL ARKANSAS. NEAR THE FRONT...SCATTERED STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TODAY...BUT THE THREAT OF WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER HAS ENDED FOR NOW. SEVERE WEATHER WATCHES WHICH WERE IN EFFECT FROM SOUTHWEST THROUGH CENTRAL INTO EAST CENTRAL ARKANSAS HAVE EITHER EXPIRED OR HAVE BEEN CANCELLED. EVEN SO...PEOPLE IN ARKANSAS SHOULD EXPECT AT LEAST SOME SEVERE WEATHER TODAY. WATCHES MAY BE ISSUED LATER TODAY AS A COLD FRONT PUSHES THROUGH THE STATE. BE READY TO SEEK APPROPRIATE SHELTER IF WARNINGS ARE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. 46
Special weather statement, Apr 16, 5:20 AM CDT, 5 hours before
ARZ027-028-034>036-040>062-070-071-161200- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR 520 AM CDT THU APR 16 1998 ...ALL SEVERE WEATHER WATCHES CANCELLED OR EXPIRED... MOST SEVERE WEATHER HAS ENDED ACROSS THE STATE EARLY THIS MORNING... AND HAS MOVED INTO TENNESSEE. A STORM SYSTEM WAS APPROACHING FROM NORTHEAST TEXAS...AND WILL MOVE ALONG A COLD FRONT WHICH EXTENDS THROUGH CENTRAL ARKANSAS. NEAR THE FRONT...SCATTERED STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TODAY...BUT THE THREAT OF WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER HAS ENDED FOR NOW. SEVERE WEATHER WATCHES WHICH WERE IN EFFECT FROM SOUTHWEST THROUGH CENTRAL INTO EAST CENTRAL ARKANSAS HAVE EITHER EXPIRED OR HAVE BEEN CANCELLED. EVEN SO...PEOPLE IN ARKANSAS SHOULD EXPECT AT LEAST SOME SEVERE WEATHER TODAY. WATCHES MAY BE ISSUED LATER TODAY AS A COLD FRONT PUSHES THROUGH THE STATE. BE READY TO SEEK APPROPRIATE SHELTER IF WARNINGS ARE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. 46
Special weather statement, Apr 16, 7:50 AM CDT, 2 hours 30 minutes before
ARZ014-016>018-023>028-031>036-039-043>049-055>058-161500- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR 750 AM CDT THU APR 16 1998 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FROM CENTRAL INTO NORTHEAST ARKANSAS... A CLUSTER OF FAST MOVING THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPED EARLY THIS MORNING IN WESTERN ARKANSAS...AND HAS MOVED INTO THE CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE. THE STORMS HAVE HAD A HISTORY OF PRODUCING WIND DAMAGE AND LARGE HAIL. WITH THE STORMS MOVING ACROSS THE REGION...AND WITH A FRONT HEADED THROUGH THE STATE THIS MORNING...CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE WEATHER. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN POSTED FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL INTO NORTHEAST ARKANSAS UNTIL 1PM CDT. THE WATCH INCLUDES AREAS SOUTH OF CLINTON AND PIGGOTT...NORTH OF SHERIDAN AND WEST HELENA...AND EAST OF PERRYVILLE. DAMAGING WIND AND DIME SIZE HAIL ARE THE MAIN SEVERE WEATHER THREATS IN THE WATCH AREA. PEOPLE FROM CENTRAL INTO NORTHEAST ARKANSAS SHOULD EXPECT SEVERE WEATHER INTO THIS AFTERNOON. BE READY TO FIND APPROPRIATE SHELTER IF A WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR COUNTY BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. 46 46
Special weather statement, Apr 16, 7:50 AM CDT, 2 hours 30 minutes before
ARZ014-016>018-023>028-031>036-039-043>049-055>058-161500- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR 750 AM CDT THU APR 16 1998 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FROM CENTRAL INTO NORTHEAST ARKANSAS... A CLUSTER OF FAST MOVING THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPED EARLY THIS MORNING IN WESTERN ARKANSAS...AND HAS MOVED INTO THE CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE. THE STORMS HAVE HAD A HISTORY OF PRODUCING WIND DAMAGE AND LARGE HAIL. WITH THE STORMS MOVING ACROSS THE REGION...AND WITH A FRONT HEADED THROUGH THE STATE THIS MORNING...CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE WEATHER. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN POSTED FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL INTO NORTHEAST ARKANSAS UNTIL 1PM CDT. THE WATCH INCLUDES AREAS SOUTH OF CLINTON AND PIGGOTT...NORTH OF SHERIDAN AND WEST HELENA...AND EAST OF PERRYVILLE. DAMAGING WIND AND DIME SIZE HAIL ARE THE MAIN SEVERE WEATHER THREATS IN THE WATCH AREA. PEOPLE FROM CENTRAL INTO NORTHEAST ARKANSAS SHOULD EXPECT SEVERE WEATHER INTO THIS AFTERNOON. BE READY TO FIND APPROPRIATE SHELTER IF A WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR COUNTY BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. 46 46
The office that day
Everything else NWS Little Rock, AR issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 15, 7:47 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Johnson | 48 min |
| Apr 15, 8:26 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Pope | 49 min |
| Apr 15, 8:52 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Johnson | 48 min |
| Apr 15, 9:06 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | LZK | Van Buren | 64 min |
| Apr 15, 10:04 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | LZK | Cleburne, Stone | 46 min |
| Apr 15, 10:49 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | LZK | Independence, Izard, Stone | 61 min |
| Apr 15, 11:11 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Polk | 64 min |
| Apr 15, 11:29 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Pulaski | 31 min |
| Apr 16, 12:09 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Independence | 66 min |
| Apr 16, 12:58 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Jackson | 47 min |
| Apr 16, 4:30 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Newton | 50 min |
| Apr 16, 5:46 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Fulton | 34 min |
| Apr 16, 5:52 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Polk | 48 min |
| Apr 16, 6:15 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Scott | 50 min |
| Apr 16, 6:21 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Sharp | 49 min |
| Apr 16, 6:34 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Montgomery, Yell | 61 min |
| Apr 16, 6:55 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Garland | 50 min |
| Apr 16, 7:05 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Perry | 50 min |
| Apr 16, 7:15 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Saline | 50 min |
| Apr 16, 7:35 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Pulaski | 50 min |
| Apr 16, 8:06 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Lonoke | 49 min |
| Apr 16, 8:34 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Prairie | 51 min |
| Apr 16, 9:00 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Monroe | 50 min |
| Apr 16, 10:04 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | White | 51 min |
| Apr 16, 10:33 AM CDT | Tornado Warning | LZK | Jackson | 47 min |
| Apr 16, 10:38 AM CDT | Tornado Warning | LZK | Woodruff | 32 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.