Alert archive / Tennessee / Tornado Warnings in 1998

Tornado Warning 29, NWS Memphis, TN

April 16, 1998Hardin County, Tennessee

NWS Memphis, TN issued this tornado warning at Apr 16, 1998, 3:03 PM CDT for Hardin County, Tennessee. It was in force for 47 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, 3:03 PM CDT (20:03 UTC)
Expired
Apr 16, 1998, 3:50 PM CDT
In force
47 min
Issued by
NWS Memphis, TN
Area
Whole counties

County Hardin County, TN

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Apr 16, 3:15 PM CDTHail 1Crump, TN

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 16, 10:00 AM CDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Little Rock, AR (KLZK), launched 12:00Z, 8.1 hours before the alert went out and 166 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 1998-04-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 708 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Little Rock, AR at 12:00Z on 1998-04-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 119 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

739 
WFUS1 KMEM 162002 RRA
TORMEM
TNC071-162050-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
303 PM CDT THU APR 16 1998


THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  HARDIN COUNTY IN WESTERN TENNESSEE

* UNTIL 350 PM CDT

* AT 301 PM CDT... DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A POSSIBLE TORNADO NEAR
  STANTONVILLE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

* THE TORNADO IS EXPECTED TO BE NEAR...
  SAVANNAH BY 315 PM CDT

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING HALF DOLLAR SIZE HAIL.

.IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO...THE SAFEST PLACE IS A
BASEMENT. GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO
BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SAFETY IN AN INTERIOR ROOM SUCH AS A
CLOSET ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. USE BLANKETS...PILLOWS...OR CUSHIONS TO
COVER YOUR BODY. AVOID WINDOWS.



&

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, 10:45 AM CDT, 4 hours 18 minutes before
ARZ008-009-017-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MOZ113-115-MSZ001>017-
020>024-030-031-TNZ001>004-019>021-048>054-088>092-162320-

SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
1045 AM CDT THU APR 16 1998

      ...SEVERE WEATHER LIKELY OVER THE MID SOUTH TODAY...

THIS OUTLOOK COVERS THE ENTIRE COUNTY WARNING AREA OF THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN MEMPHIS TENNESSEE..INCLUDING WEST
TENNESSEE..NORTHEAST ARKANSAS..NORTH MISSISSIPPI..AND THE MISSOURI
BOOTHEEL.

THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN NORTH MISSISSIPPI..AND
MUCH OF WEST TENNESSEE ALONG AND EAST OF A PARIS TO MEMPHIS LINE.
THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN NORTHEAST
ARKANSAS..THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL AND EXTREME NORTHWEST TENNESSEE THIS
AFTERNOON.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF WEST TENNESSEE AND NORTH
MISSISSIPPI UNTIL 4 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON.

A COLD FRONT EXTENDING FROM A LOW PRESSURE AREA OVER INDIANA
SOUTHWESTWARD ACROSS SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AND NORTHEAST ARKANSAS TO
TEXAS WILL MOVE SLOWLY EASTWARD THIS AFTERNOON.

THE FRONT WILL INTERACT WITH WARM AND VERY HUMID AND UNSTABLE AIR
AHEAD OF IT OVER THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY AND SOUTHEASTERN
STATES. IN ADDITION...UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES AND STRONG WINDS
ALOFT WILL MAKE THE ATMOSPHERE VERY FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THAT COULD PRODUCE TORNADOES..LARGE HAIL..AND
DAMAGING WINDS..ESPECIALLY IN WEST TENNESSEE AND NORTH MISSISSIPPI.

LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES..EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS..STORM
SPOTTER GROUPS..AND OTHER INTERESTED CONCERNS SHOULD CONTINUE TO
MONITOR THIS WEATHER SITUATION AND BE READY FOR SEVERE WEATHER
EMERGENCIES FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY.
Special weather statement, Apr 16, 10:45 AM CDT, 4 hours 18 minutes before
ARZ008-009-017-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MOZ113-115-MSZ001>017-
020>024-030-031-TNZ001>004-019>021-048>054-088>092-162320-

SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
1045 AM CDT THU APR 16 1998

      ...SEVERE WEATHER LIKELY OVER THE MID SOUTH TODAY...

THIS OUTLOOK COVERS THE ENTIRE COUNTY WARNING AREA OF THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN MEMPHIS TENNESSEE..INCLUDING WEST
TENNESSEE..NORTHEAST ARKANSAS..NORTH MISSISSIPPI..AND THE MISSOURI
BOOTHEEL.

THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN NORTH MISSISSIPPI..AND
MUCH OF WEST TENNESSEE ALONG AND EAST OF A PARIS TO MEMPHIS LINE.
THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN NORTHEAST
ARKANSAS..THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL AND EXTREME NORTHWEST TENNESSEE THIS
AFTERNOON.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF WEST TENNESSEE AND NORTH
MISSISSIPPI UNTIL 4 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON.

A COLD FRONT EXTENDING FROM A LOW PRESSURE AREA OVER INDIANA
SOUTHWESTWARD ACROSS SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AND NORTHEAST ARKANSAS TO
TEXAS WILL MOVE SLOWLY EASTWARD THIS AFTERNOON.

THE FRONT WILL INTERACT WITH WARM AND VERY HUMID AND UNSTABLE AIR
AHEAD OF IT OVER THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY AND SOUTHEASTERN
STATES. IN ADDITION...UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES AND STRONG WINDS
ALOFT WILL MAKE THE ATMOSPHERE VERY FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THAT COULD PRODUCE TORNADOES..LARGE HAIL..AND
DAMAGING WINDS..ESPECIALLY IN WEST TENNESSEE AND NORTH MISSISSIPPI.

LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES..EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS..STORM
SPOTTER GROUPS..AND OTHER INTERESTED CONCERNS SHOULD CONTINUE TO
MONITOR THIS WEATHER SITUATION AND BE READY FOR SEVERE WEATHER
EMERGENCIES FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY.
Local storm report, Apr 16, 12:56 PM CDT, 2 hours 7 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TENNESSEE
1256 PM CDT THU APR 16 1998

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

0815 AM    WYNNBURG                  TN   WIND DAMAGE
04/16/98   LAKE                           CARPORT TORN FROM HOUSE
                                          ONTO HIGHWAY REPORTED BY
                                          EMA

0825 AM    HORNBEAK                  TN   1.75 INCH HAIL
04/16/98   OBION                          GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL
                                          REPORTED BY SPOTTER

0928 AM    WHEATLEY                  AR   1 INCH HAIL
04/16/98   ST FRANCIS                     QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED
                                          BY POSTMASTER

1015 AM    WEST MEMPHIS              AR   .75 INCH HAIL
04/16/98   CRITTENDEN                     DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED BY
                                          SPOTTER

1120 AM    GREENFIELD                AR   TORNADO
04/16/98   POINSETT                       TORNADO SPOTTED ON THE
                                          GROUND BY SPOTTER. NO
                                          DAMAGE REPORTED.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 16, 2:28 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGLake, Obion47 min
Apr 16, 3:35 AM CDTTornado WarningMEGDyer35 min
Apr 16, 3:56 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGLauderdale34 min
Apr 16, 4:07 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCrockett33 min
Apr 16, 4:14 AM CDTTornado WarningMEGCrockett31 min
Apr 16, 4:29 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGGibson31 min
Apr 16, 4:57 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCarroll48 min
Apr 16, 5:15 AM CDTTornado WarningMEGCarroll35 min
Apr 16, 7:55 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGLake35 min
Apr 16, 8:15 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGObion35 min
Apr 16, 10:20 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGShelby50 min
Apr 16, 1:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGHenderson32 min
Apr 16, 2:04 PM CDTTornado WarningMEGHenderson21 min
Apr 16, 2:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGHardeman33 min
Apr 16, 2:24 PM CDTTornado WarningMEGHardeman, McNairy51 min
Apr 16, 2:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGHenderson21 min
Apr 16, 4:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGHardin, McNairy49 min
Apr 16, 4:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGChester35 min
Apr 16, 4:35 PM CDTTornado WarningMEGChester35 min
Apr 16, 4:36 PM CDTTornado WarningMEGHardin34 min
Apr 16, 4:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGHenderson34 min
Apr 16, 5:04 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGHardeman31 min
Apr 16, 5:31 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGHardin34 min
Apr 16, 5:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGMcNairy33 min
Apr 16, 6:09 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGHardin31 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Tennessee, 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.