Alert archive / Mississippi / Tornado Warnings in 1998

Tornado Warning 53, NWS Memphis, TN

May 9, 1998Lowndes County, Mississippi

NWS Memphis, TN issued this tornado warning at May 9, 1998, 6:19 PM CDT for Lowndes County, Mississippi. It was in force for 46 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
May 9, 1998, 6:19 PM CDT (23:19 UTC)
Expired
May 9, 1998, 7:05 PM CDT
In force
46 min
Issued by
NWS Memphis, TN
Area
Whole counties

County Lowndes County, MS

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 9, 6:36 PM CDTHail 1.75Crawford, MS

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
May 9, 2:00 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 11.3 hours before the alert went out and 158 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, Birmingham, AL at 12:00Z on 1998-05-09Temperature 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°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Birmingham, AL at 12:00Z on 1998-05-09The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -22 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
1345 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
74 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-22 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
43 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 092319 RRA
TORMEM
MSC087-100005-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
619 PM CDT SAT MAY 9 1998


THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  LOWNDES COUNTY IN NORTHEASTERN MISSISSIPPI

* UNTIL 705 PM CDT

* AT 617 PM CDT... DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A POSSIBLE TORNADO
  4 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ARTESIA MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MILES AN HOUR.

* THE TORNADO IS EXPECTED TO BE NEAR...
  PENNS BY 625 PM CDT
  COLUMBUS BY 635 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, May 9, 5:00 PM CDT, 1 hour 19 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>092-100600-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
500 PM CDT SAT MAY 9 1998

THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER OVER NORTH MISSISSIPPI..
EXTREME SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE AND NORTHEAST ARKANSAS GENERALLY ALONG
AND SOUTH OF A JONESBORO TO JACKSON TO SAVANNAH LINE. THERE IS A
SLIGHT TO MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER ELSEWHERE IN THE MISSOURI
BOOTHEEL..NORTHEAST ARKANSAS AND WEST TENNESSEE.

TORNADO WATCHES WERE IN EFFECT EARLY THIS EVENING FOR THE ENTIRE
MIDSOUTH. WATCHES WILL EXPIRE IN RANDOLPH AND LAWRENCE COUNTIES IN
ARKANSAS AT 6 PM CDT..AND AT 8 PM IN ALL OTHER AREAS.

A STRENGTHENING LOW PRESSURE AREA OVER SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS WILL TRACK
NORTHEAST THROUGH THE EVENING BRINGING ABUNDANT MOISTURE FROM THE GULF
OF MEXICO ACROSS THE MID SOUTH. AN ASSOCIATED WARM FRONT WILL MOVE
NORTHWARD INTO NORTHERN ARKANSAS AND WEST TENNESSEE..SERVING AS THE
FOCAL POINT FOR THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM THAT DEVELOP THIS EVENING ACROSS THE MIDSOUTH WILL
HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL..STRONG DAMAGING WINDS AND
A FEW DAMAGING TORNADOES. IN ADDITION..LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO
POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.

RESIDENTS OF THE MID SOUTH SHOULD MONITOR NOAA WEATHER
RADIO..COMMERCIAL RADIO..TV OR CABLE TV FOR THE LATEST WEATHER
INFORMATION ON THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION.
Special weather statement, May 9, 5:00 PM CDT, 1 hour 19 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>092-100600-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
500 PM CDT SAT MAY 9 1998

THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER OVER NORTH MISSISSIPPI..
EXTREME SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE AND NORTHEAST ARKANSAS GENERALLY ALONG
AND SOUTH OF A JONESBORO TO JACKSON TO SAVANNAH LINE. THERE IS A
SLIGHT TO MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER ELSEWHERE IN THE MISSOURI
BOOTHEEL..NORTHEAST ARKANSAS AND WEST TENNESSEE.

TORNADO WATCHES WERE IN EFFECT EARLY THIS EVENING FOR THE ENTIRE
MIDSOUTH. WATCHES WILL EXPIRE IN RANDOLPH AND LAWRENCE COUNTIES IN
ARKANSAS AT 6 PM CDT..AND AT 8 PM IN ALL OTHER AREAS.

A STRENGTHENING LOW PRESSURE AREA OVER SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS WILL TRACK
NORTHEAST THROUGH THE EVENING BRINGING ABUNDANT MOISTURE FROM THE GULF
OF MEXICO ACROSS THE MID SOUTH. AN ASSOCIATED WARM FRONT WILL MOVE
NORTHWARD INTO NORTHERN ARKANSAS AND WEST TENNESSEE..SERVING AS THE
FOCAL POINT FOR THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM THAT DEVELOP THIS EVENING ACROSS THE MIDSOUTH WILL
HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL..STRONG DAMAGING WINDS AND
A FEW DAMAGING TORNADOES. IN ADDITION..LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO
POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.

RESIDENTS OF THE MID SOUTH SHOULD MONITOR NOAA WEATHER
RADIO..COMMERCIAL RADIO..TV OR CABLE TV FOR THE LATEST WEATHER
INFORMATION ON THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION.
Special weather statement, May 9, 5:30 PM CDT, 49 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>092-100600-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
530 PM CDT SAT MAY 9 1998

THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER OVER NORTH MISSISSIPPI..
EXTREME SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE AND NORTHEAST ARKANSAS GENERALLY ALONG
AND SOUTH OF A JONESBORO TO JACKSON TO SAVANNAH LINE. THERE IS A
SLIGHT TO MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER ELSEWHERE IN THE MISSOURI
BOOTHEEL..NORTHEAST ARKANSAS AND WEST TENNESSEE.

TORNADO WATCHES WERE IN EFFECT EARLY THIS EVENING FOR THE ENTIRE
MIDSOUTH. WATCHES WILL EXPIRE IN RANDOLPH AND LAWRENCE COUNTIES IN
ARKANSAS AT 11 PM CDT..AND AT 8 PM IN ALL OTHER AREAS.

A STRENGTHENING LOW PRESSURE AREA OVER SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS WILL TRACK
NORTHEAST THROUGH THE EVENING BRINGING ABUNDANT MOISTURE FROM THE GULF
OF MEXICO ACROSS THE MID SOUTH. AN ASSOCIATED WARM FRONT WILL MOVE
NORTHWARD INTO NORTHERN ARKANSAS AND WEST TENNESSEE..SERVING AS THE
FOCAL POINT FOR THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM THAT DEVELOP THIS EVENING ACROSS THE MIDSOUTH WILL
HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL..STRONG DAMAGING WINDS AND
A FEW DAMAGING TORNADOES. IN ADDITION..LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO
POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.

RESIDENTS OF THE MID SOUTH SHOULD MONITOR NOAA WEATHER
RADIO..COMMERCIAL RADIO..TV OR CABLE TV FOR THE LATEST WEATHER
INFORMATION ON THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION.
Special weather statement, May 9, 5:30 PM CDT, 49 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>092-100600-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
530 PM CDT SAT MAY 9 1998

THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER OVER NORTH MISSISSIPPI..
EXTREME SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE AND NORTHEAST ARKANSAS GENERALLY ALONG
AND SOUTH OF A JONESBORO TO JACKSON TO SAVANNAH LINE. THERE IS A
SLIGHT TO MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER ELSEWHERE IN THE MISSOURI
BOOTHEEL..NORTHEAST ARKANSAS AND WEST TENNESSEE.

TORNADO WATCHES WERE IN EFFECT EARLY THIS EVENING FOR THE ENTIRE
MIDSOUTH. WATCHES WILL EXPIRE IN RANDOLPH AND LAWRENCE COUNTIES IN
ARKANSAS AT 11 PM CDT..AND AT 8 PM IN ALL OTHER AREAS.

A STRENGTHENING LOW PRESSURE AREA OVER SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS WILL TRACK
NORTHEAST THROUGH THE EVENING BRINGING ABUNDANT MOISTURE FROM THE GULF
OF MEXICO ACROSS THE MID SOUTH. AN ASSOCIATED WARM FRONT WILL MOVE
NORTHWARD INTO NORTHERN ARKANSAS AND WEST TENNESSEE..SERVING AS THE
FOCAL POINT FOR THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM THAT DEVELOP THIS EVENING ACROSS THE MIDSOUTH WILL
HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL..STRONG DAMAGING WINDS AND
A FEW DAMAGING TORNADOES. IN ADDITION..LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO
POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.

RESIDENTS OF THE MID SOUTH SHOULD MONITOR NOAA WEATHER
RADIO..COMMERCIAL RADIO..TV OR CABLE TV FOR THE LATEST WEATHER
INFORMATION ON THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION.

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Mississippi, 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.