Alert archive / Arkansas / Tornado Warnings in 1998
Tornado Warning 56, NWS Memphis, TN
NWS Memphis, TN issued this tornado warning at May 9, 1998, 8:29 PM CDT for Mississippi County, Poinsett County, Arkansas. It was in force for 46 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- May 9, 1998, 8:29 PM CDT (01:29 UTC)
- Expired
- May 9, 1998, 9:15 PM CDT
- In force
- 46 min
- Issued by
- NWS Memphis, TN
- Area
- Whole counties
Counties Mississippi County, AR, Poinsett County, AR
The watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 9, 7:30 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Little Rock, AR (KLZK), launched 00:00Z, 1.5 hours before the alert went out and 100 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
- 832 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -22 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 804 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 44 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 60 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 65 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.3
- Supercell composite
- 1.8
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 TTAA00 KMEM 100128 RRA TORMEM ARC093-111-100215- BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 829 PM CDT SAT MAY 9 1998 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A * TORNADO WARNING FOR... MISSISSIPPI COUNTY IN NORTHEASTERN ARKANSAS EXTREME EASTERN POINSETT COUNTY IN NORTHEASTERN ARKANSAS * UNTIL 915 PM CDT * AT 826 PM CDT... DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A POSSIBLE TORNADO 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF MARKED TREE OR 3 MILES WEST OF LEPANTO..MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. * THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR... LEPANTO AT 835 PM CDT DYESS BY 840 PM CDT BASSETT BY 855 PM CDT WILSON BY 905 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, 3 hours 29 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, 3 hours 29 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, 2 hours 59 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, 2 hours 59 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.
Local storm report, May 9, 8:04 PM CDT, 25 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TENNESSEE
804 PM CDT SAT MAY 09 1998
TIME(CDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0611 PM BLACK ROCK AR .75 INCH HAIL
05/09/98 LAWRENCE 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF BLACK
ROCK
0623 PM WALNUT RIDGE AR .75 INCH HAIL
05/09/98 LAWRENCE
0625 PM NOLAND AR WIND DAMAGE
05/09/98 RANDOLPH SEVERAL TREES DOWN
0636 PM CRAWFORD MS 1.75 INCH HAIL
05/09/98 LOWNDES
0655 PM PARAGOULD AR WIND DAMAGE
05/09/98 GREENE TREES DOWN BLOCKING ROUTE
412 WEST OF PARAGOULD
0748 PM CARDWELL MO 1 INCH HAIL
05/09/98 DUNKLINLocal storm report, May 9, 8:04 PM CDT, 25 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TENNESSEE
804 PM CDT SAT MAY 09 1998
TIME(CDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0611 PM BLACK ROCK AR .75 INCH HAIL
05/09/98 LAWRENCE 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF BLACK
ROCK
0623 PM WALNUT RIDGE AR .75 INCH HAIL
05/09/98 LAWRENCE
0625 PM NOLAND AR WIND DAMAGE
05/09/98 RANDOLPH SEVERAL TREES DOWN
0636 PM CRAWFORD MS 1.75 INCH HAIL
05/09/98 LOWNDES
0655 PM PARAGOULD AR WIND DAMAGE
05/09/98 GREENE TREES DOWN BLOCKING ROUTE
412 WEST OF PARAGOULD
0748 PM CARDWELL MO 1 INCH HAIL
05/09/98 DUNKLINThe office that day
Everything else NWS Memphis, TN issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 9, 7:13 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Greene | 17 min |
| May 9, 7:16 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Mississippi | 49 min |
| May 9, 7:20 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Poinsett | 65 min |
| May 9, 7:31 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | MEG | Craighead, Poinsett | 49 min |
| May 9, 8:04 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Mississippi | 51 min |
| May 9, 8:57 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Mississippi | 48 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.