Alert archive / Arkansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1998

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 64, NWS Memphis, TN

April 8, 1998St. Francis County, Arkansas

NWS Memphis, TN issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 8, 1998, 5:25 PM CDT for St. Francis County, Arkansas. It was in force for 50 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 8, 1998, 5:25 PM CDT (22:25 UTC)
Expired
Apr 8, 1998, 6:15 PM CDT
In force
50 min
Issued by
NWS Memphis, TN
Area
Whole counties

County St. Francis County, AR

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Apr 8, 5:45 PM CDTHail 1.75Colt, 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
Apr 8, 4:45 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Little Rock, AR (KLZK), launched 12:00Z, 10.4 hours before the alert went out and 76 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, Little Rock, AR at 12:00Z on 1998-04-08Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Little Rock, AR at 12:00Z on 1998-04-08The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 170 square meters per square second.1939587897117136Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
2519 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
87 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
170 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
224 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 KMEM 082225 RRA
SVRMEM
ARC123-082315-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
525 PM CDT WED APR 8 1998


THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS TN HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 615 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...

IN NORTHEASTERN ARKANSAS

   ...ST. FRANCIS COUNTY


AT 524 PM CDT... DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH
LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS 12 MILES NORTHWEST OF FORREST CITY OR
7 MILES WEST OF COLT MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.


.A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA. REMEMBER...
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES WITH
LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING. REMAIN CALM BUT BE ALERT TO RAPIDLY
CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS.

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 8, 11:30 AM CDT, 5 hours 55 minutes before
ARZ027-028-035-036-048-049-058-MSZ001>005-007>016-020>023-TNZ049-
050-052>054-088>092-081700-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
1130 AM CDT WED APR 8 1998

...TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED IN EAST ARKANSAS...

THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER HAS ENDED IN EAST ARKANSAS. TORNADO
WATCH NUMBER 183 HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR EAST ARKANSAS. TORNADO WATCH
NUMBER 183 REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM FOR SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE AND
MUCH OF NORTH MISSISSIPPI. STAY TUNED TO THIS STATION FOR LATE
STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
Local storm report, Apr 8, 11:57 AM CDT, 5 hours 28 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TENNESSEE
1157 AM CDT WED APR 08 1998

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

0734 AM    CORDOVA                   TN   1.75 INCH HAIL
04/08/98   SHELBY

0840 AM    30 SW HELENA              AR   1.25 INCH HAIL
04/08/98   PHILLIPS

0910 AM    CLARKSDALE FLTCHR ARPT    MS   1 INCH HAIL
04/08/98   COAHOMA                        QUARTER TO NICKLE SIZE

0920 AM    SLEDGE                    MS   1 INCH HAIL
04/08/98   QUITMAN                        REORTED BY SHERIFFS OFFICE

0920 AM    HENDERSON                 TN   .75 INCH HAIL
04/08/98   CHESTER

0955 AM    OAKLAND                   TN   .75 INCH HAIL
04/08/98   FAYETTE

0955 AM    MEMPHIS                   TN   WIND DAMAGE
04/08/98   SHELBY                         TREES AND POWER LINES
                                          BLOWM DOWN IN NORTHEAST
                                          PART OF TOWN.

1035 AM    MIDDLETON                 TN   1 INCH HAIL
04/08/98   HARDEMAN

1050 AM    SELMER                    TN   .75 INCH HAIL
04/08/98   MCNAIRY

1105 AM    HENDERSON                 TN   WIND DAMAGE
04/08/98   CHESTER                        NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER
                                          LINES DOWN

1121 AM    SAVANNAH                  TN   WIND DAMAGE
04/08/98   HARDIN                         TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN
                                          IN SAVANNAH AND SOUTHEAST
                                          OF SAVANNAH.
Local storm report, Apr 8, 12:01 PM CDT, 5 hours 24 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TENNESSEE
1201 PM CDT WED APR 08 1998

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

0734 AM    CORDOVA                   TN   1.75 INCH HAIL
04/08/98   SHELBY

0840 AM    30 SW HELENA              AR   1.25 INCH HAIL
04/08/98   PHILLIPS

0910 AM    CLARKSDALE FLTCHR ARPT    MS   1 INCH HAIL
04/08/98   COAHOMA                        QUARTER TO NICKLE SIZE

0920 AM    SLEDGE                    MS   1 INCH HAIL
04/08/98   QUITMAN                        REORTED BY SHERIFFS OFFICE

0920 AM    HENDERSON                 TN   .75 INCH HAIL
04/08/98   CHESTER

0955 AM    OAKLAND                   TN   .75 INCH HAIL
04/08/98   FAYETTE

0955 AM    MEMPHIS                   TN   WIND DAMAGE
04/08/98   SHELBY                         TREES AND POWER LINES
                                          BLOWM DOWN IN NORTHEAST
                                          PART OF TOWN.

1035 AM    MIDDLETON                 TN   1 INCH HAIL
04/08/98   HARDEMAN

1050 AM    SELMER                    TN   .75 INCH HAIL
04/08/98   MCNAIRY

1105 AM    HENDERSON                 TN   WIND DAMAGE
04/08/98   CHESTER                        NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER
                                          LINES DOWN

1115 AM    GLEASON                   TN   WIND DAMAGE
04/08/98   WEAKLEY                        TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN
                                          FROM THUNDERSTORM WINDS

1121 AM    SAVANNAH                  TN   WIND DAMAGE
04/08/98   HARDIN                         TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN
                                          IN SAVANNAH AND SOUTHEAST
                                          OF SAVANNAH.

1130 AM    PURYEAR                   TN   .75 INCH HAIL
04/08/98   HENRY
Local storm report, Apr 8, 12:01 PM CDT, 5 hours 24 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TENNESSEE
1201 PM CDT WED APR 08 1998

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

0734 AM    CORDOVA                   TN   1.75 INCH HAIL
04/08/98   SHELBY

0840 AM    30 SW HELENA              AR   1.25 INCH HAIL
04/08/98   PHILLIPS

0910 AM    CLARKSDALE FLTCHR ARPT    MS   1 INCH HAIL
04/08/98   COAHOMA                        QUARTER TO NICKLE SIZE

0920 AM    SLEDGE                    MS   1 INCH HAIL
04/08/98   QUITMAN                        REORTED BY SHERIFFS OFFICE

0920 AM    HENDERSON                 TN   .75 INCH HAIL
04/08/98   CHESTER

0955 AM    OAKLAND                   TN   .75 INCH HAIL
04/08/98   FAYETTE

0955 AM    MEMPHIS                   TN   WIND DAMAGE
04/08/98   SHELBY                         TREES AND POWER LINES
                                          BLOWM DOWN IN NORTHEAST
                                          PART OF TOWN.

1035 AM    MIDDLETON                 TN   1 INCH HAIL
04/08/98   HARDEMAN

1050 AM    SELMER                    TN   .75 INCH HAIL
04/08/98   MCNAIRY

1105 AM    HENDERSON                 TN   WIND DAMAGE
04/08/98   CHESTER                        NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER
                                          LINES DOWN

1115 AM    GLEASON                   TN   WIND DAMAGE
04/08/98   WEAKLEY                        TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN
                                          FROM THUNDERSTORM WINDS

1121 AM    SAVANNAH                  TN   WIND DAMAGE
04/08/98   HARDIN                         TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN
                                          IN SAVANNAH AND SOUTHEAST
                                          OF SAVANNAH.

1130 AM    PURYEAR                   TN   .75 INCH HAIL
04/08/98   HENRY
Special weather statement, Apr 8, 12:27 PM CDT, 4 hours 58 minutes before
MSZ001>005-007>016-020>023-TNZ049-050-052>054-088>092-081800-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
1227 PM CDT WED APR 8 1998

...TORNADO WATCH CANCELLED FOR SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE...

THE THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER HAS ENDED OVER SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE.
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 183 HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE.
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 183 REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF NORTH
MISSISSIPPI UNTIL 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON. STAY TUNED TO THIS STATION
FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, Apr 8, 12:27 PM CDT, 4 hours 58 minutes before
MSZ001>005-007>016-020>023-TNZ049-050-052>054-088>092-081800-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
1227 PM CDT WED APR 8 1998

...TORNADO WATCH CANCELLED FOR SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE...

THE THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER HAS ENDED OVER SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE.
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 183 HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE.
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 183 REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF NORTH
MISSISSIPPI UNTIL 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON. STAY TUNED TO THIS STATION
FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Memphis, TN issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 8, 8:34 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGPhillips31 min
Apr 8, 5:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCross47 min
Apr 8, 6:04 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCrittenden51 min
Apr 8, 6:21 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGLee49 min
Apr 8, 6:24 PM CDTTornado WarningMEGCrittenden21 min
Apr 8, 6:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGMississippi48 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Arkansas, 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.