Alert archive / Tennessee / Tornado Warnings in 1998
Tornado Warning 30, NWS Memphis, TN
NWS Memphis, TN issued this tornado warning at Apr 16, 1998, 4:35 PM CDT for Chester County, Tennessee. 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, 4:35 PM CDT (21:35 UTC)
- Expired
- Apr 16, 1998, 5:10 PM CDT
- In force
- 35 min
- Issued by
- NWS Memphis, TN
- Area
- Whole counties
County Chester County, TN
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 16, 4:40 PM CDT | Hail 1 | Henderson, 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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 16, 4:00 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Little Rock, AR (KLZK), launched 12:00Z, 9.6 hours before the alert went out and 138 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 KMEM 162134 RRA TORMEM TNC023-162210- BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 435 PM CDT THU APR 16 1998 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A * TORNADO WARNING FOR... CHESTER COUNTY IN WESTERN TENNESSEE * UNTIL 510 PM CDT * AT 434 PM CDT... PUBLIC OFFICIALS REPORTED A TORNADO NEAR HENDERSON MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. * THE TORNADO IS EXPECTED TO BE NEAR... JACKS CREEK BY 445 PM CDT .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, 5 hours 50 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, 5 hours 50 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, 3 hours 39 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.Local storm report, Apr 16, 3:45 PM CDT, 50 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TENNESSEE
345 PM CDT THU APR 16 1998
TIME(CDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0215 PM REAGAN TN 1 INCH HAIL
04/16/98 HENDERSON QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED
BY HENDERSON COUNTY EMA
0225 PM MIDDLETON TN 1.75 INCH HAIL
04/16/98 HARDEMAN GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL
REPORTED BY SPOTTER
0250 PM REAGAN TN 1 INCH HAIL
04/16/98 HENDERSON QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED
BY HENDERSON COUNTY SHERIFF
0253 PM SELMER TN 1.25 INCH HAIL
04/16/98 MCNAIRY HALF DOLLAR SIZE HAIL REPORTED
BY SPOTTER
0315 PM CRUMP TN 1 INCH HAIL
04/16/98 HARDIN QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED
BY SAVANNAH CENTRAL DISPATCHThe office that day
Everything else NWS Memphis, TN issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 16, 2:28 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Lake, Obion | 47 min |
| Apr 16, 3:35 AM CDT | Tornado Warning | MEG | Dyer | 35 min |
| Apr 16, 3:56 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Lauderdale | 34 min |
| Apr 16, 4:07 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Crockett | 33 min |
| Apr 16, 4:14 AM CDT | Tornado Warning | MEG | Crockett | 31 min |
| Apr 16, 4:29 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Gibson | 31 min |
| Apr 16, 4:57 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Carroll | 48 min |
| Apr 16, 5:15 AM CDT | Tornado Warning | MEG | Carroll | 35 min |
| Apr 16, 7:55 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Lake | 35 min |
| Apr 16, 8:15 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Obion | 35 min |
| Apr 16, 10:20 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Shelby | 50 min |
| Apr 16, 1:58 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Henderson | 32 min |
| Apr 16, 2:04 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | MEG | Henderson | 21 min |
| Apr 16, 2:17 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Hardeman | 33 min |
| Apr 16, 2:24 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | MEG | Hardeman, McNairy | 51 min |
| Apr 16, 2:34 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Henderson | 21 min |
| Apr 16, 3:03 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | MEG | Hardin | 47 min |
| Apr 16, 4:11 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Hardin, McNairy | 49 min |
| Apr 16, 4:30 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Chester | 35 min |
| Apr 16, 4:36 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | MEG | Hardin | 34 min |
| Apr 16, 4:41 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Henderson | 34 min |
| Apr 16, 5:04 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Hardeman | 31 min |
| Apr 16, 5:31 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Hardin | 34 min |
| Apr 16, 5:37 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | McNairy | 33 min |
| Apr 16, 6:09 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Hardin | 31 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.