Alert archive / Arkansas / Tornado Warnings in 1999

Tornado Warning 49, NWS Little Rock, AR

March 5, 1999Montgomery County, Arkansas

NWS Little Rock, AR issued this tornado warning at Mar 5, 1999, 6:41 PM CST for Montgomery County, Arkansas. It was in force for 49 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
Mar 5, 1999, 6:41 PM CST (00:41 UTC)
Expired
Mar 5, 1999, 7:30 PM CST
In force
49 min
Issued by
NWS Little Rock, AR
Area
Whole counties

County Montgomery County, AR

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Mar 5, 6:53 PM CSTHail 1.75Mt Ida, 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
Mar 5, 4:00 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr
Mar 5, 5:30 PM CSTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Shreveport, LA (KSHV), launched 00:00Z, 0.7 hours before the alert went out and 229 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, Shreveport, LA at 00:00Z on 1999-03-06Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 859 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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, Shreveport, LA at 00:00Z on 1999-03-06The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 158 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
859 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-20 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
753 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
43 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
158 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
259 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.2
Supercell composite
7.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

999 
WFUS1 KLIT 060042 RRA
TORLIT
ARC097-060130-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
641 PM CST FRI MAR 5 1999

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LITTLE ROCK HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  MONTGOMERY COUNTY IN WESTERN ARKANSAS

* UNTIL 730 PM CST

* AT 640 PM CST... DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A TORNADO 7 MILES
  NORTHEAST OF MOUNT IDA OR 2 MILES WEST OF WASHITA... MOVING EAST AT
  30 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO INCLUDE...
WASHITA                      AROUND 645 PM CST...
STORY                        AROUND 645 PM CST...
FANNIE                       AROUND 655 PM CST...

A DOPPLER RADAR DETECTED TORNADO MEANS THAT THERE IS STRONG ROTATION
WITHIN A STORM. THE STORM MAY NOT BE PRODUCING A TORNADO AT THE MOMENT.
..BUT IS EXPECTED TO DURING THE WARNING PERIOD. FOR YOUR SAFETY...GO
INDOORS NOW TO AN INTERIOR ROOM AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

22/46

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, Mar 5, 4:05 PM CST, 2 hours 36 minutes before
ARZ003>005-012-013-021>023-030-031-037>043-050>054-059>061-060200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
405 PM CST FRI MAR 5 1999

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN WESTERN ARKANSAS UNTIL 10PM...

AT 330 PM THIS AFTERNOON...STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS BEGAN TO DEVELOP
ACROSS EASTERN OKLAHOMA. THE STORMS WERE AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT...WHICH
WAS MOVING INTO WARM AND MOIST AIR. AS THE FRONT MOVES EAST TONIGHT...
STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS WILL CONTINUE FORMING AND WILL BECOME MORE
NUMEROUS.

BECAUSE OF THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
HAS BEEN POSTED FOR MUCH OF WESTERN ARKANSAS UNTIL 10PM. THE WATCH
INCLUDES AREAS WEST OF MOUNTAIN HOME...MORRILTON...BENTON...AND
PRESCOTT...AND NORTH OF PRESCOTT AND ASHDOWN.

TEMPERATURES ALOFT WERE RATHER COLD THIS AFTERNOON...MAKING IT
EASIER FOR HAIL TO FORM. THEREFORE...LARGE HAIL IS THE MAIN SEVERE
WEATHER THREAT. ALSO...STORMS THAT DEVELOP WILL MOVE FAIRLY QUICKLY...
WHICH TENDS TO INCREASE THE THREAT OF STRONG TO DAMAGING WIND.
ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE.

PEOPLE IN WESTERN ARKANSAS SHOULD GET READY FOR SEVERE WEATHER
THIS EVENING. BE READY TO SEEK SHELTER IN A SAFE PLACE IF A
WARNING IS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

46
Special weather statement, Mar 5, 4:05 PM CST, 2 hours 36 minutes before
ARZ003>005-012-013-021>023-030-031-037>043-050>054-059>061-060200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
405 PM CST FRI MAR 5 1999

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN WESTERN ARKANSAS UNTIL 10PM...

AT 330 PM THIS AFTERNOON...STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS BEGAN TO DEVELOP
ACROSS EASTERN OKLAHOMA. THE STORMS WERE AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT...WHICH
WAS MOVING INTO WARM AND MOIST AIR. AS THE FRONT MOVES EAST TONIGHT...
STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS WILL CONTINUE FORMING AND WILL BECOME MORE
NUMEROUS.

BECAUSE OF THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
HAS BEEN POSTED FOR MUCH OF WESTERN ARKANSAS UNTIL 10PM. THE WATCH
INCLUDES AREAS WEST OF MOUNTAIN HOME...MORRILTON...BENTON...AND
PRESCOTT...AND NORTH OF PRESCOTT AND ASHDOWN.

TEMPERATURES ALOFT WERE RATHER COLD THIS AFTERNOON...MAKING IT
EASIER FOR HAIL TO FORM. THEREFORE...LARGE HAIL IS THE MAIN SEVERE
WEATHER THREAT. ALSO...STORMS THAT DEVELOP WILL MOVE FAIRLY QUICKLY...
WHICH TENDS TO INCREASE THE THREAT OF STRONG TO DAMAGING WIND.
ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE.

PEOPLE IN WESTERN ARKANSAS SHOULD GET READY FOR SEVERE WEATHER
THIS EVENING. BE READY TO SEEK SHELTER IN A SAFE PLACE IF A
WARNING IS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

46
Special weather statement, Mar 5, 5:50 PM CST, 51 minutes before
ARZ012>014-016-021>025-030>034-037>046-050>056-059>063-066>068-
070>073-060155-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
550 PM CST FRI MAR 5 1999

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM FOR MUCH OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL
ARKANSAS...

A TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR MUCH OF THE WESTERN THREE QUARTERS
OF ARKANSAS THIS EVENING UNTIL 11 PM CST. THE WATCH INCLUDES MOST AREAS
WEST OF A NEWPORT TO PINE BLUFF TO EL DORADO LINE.

VERY WARM AND MOIST AIR IS FLOWING NORTHWARD ACROSS THE STATE. AT THE
SAME TIME...A STRONG COLD FRONT IS MOVING EAST OUT OF OKLAHOMA.
THE CLASH OF THESE TWO AIR MASSES IS CAUSING VIOLENT THUNDERSTORMS TO
FORM OVER EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND WESTERN ARKANSAS THIS EVENING.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE EAST... AND MAY AFFECT
PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS LATER THIS EVENING. THE WIND PATTERN ALOFT
SUGGESTS THE POSSILITY OF TORNADOES WITH THESE STORMS.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. PERSONS IN AND CLOSE TO THE TORNADO WATCH
AREA SHOULD KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE WEATHER THIS EVENING. STAY TUNED TO
LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS... NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR NETWORK TELEVISION FOR
FURTHER STATEMENTS AND WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, Mar 5, 5:50 PM CST, 51 minutes before
ARZ012>014-016-021>025-030>034-037>046-050>056-059>063-066>068-
070>073-060155-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
550 PM CST FRI MAR 5 1999

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM FOR MUCH OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL
ARKANSAS...

A TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR MUCH OF THE WESTERN THREE QUARTERS
OF ARKANSAS THIS EVENING UNTIL 11 PM CST. THE WATCH INCLUDES MOST AREAS
WEST OF A NEWPORT TO PINE BLUFF TO EL DORADO LINE.

VERY WARM AND MOIST AIR IS FLOWING NORTHWARD ACROSS THE STATE. AT THE
SAME TIME...A STRONG COLD FRONT IS MOVING EAST OUT OF OKLAHOMA.
THE CLASH OF THESE TWO AIR MASSES IS CAUSING VIOLENT THUNDERSTORMS TO
FORM OVER EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND WESTERN ARKANSAS THIS EVENING.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE EAST... AND MAY AFFECT
PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS LATER THIS EVENING. THE WIND PATTERN ALOFT
SUGGESTS THE POSSILITY OF TORNADOES WITH THESE STORMS.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. PERSONS IN AND CLOSE TO THE TORNADO WATCH
AREA SHOULD KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE WEATHER THIS EVENING. STAY TUNED TO
LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS... NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR NETWORK TELEVISION FOR
FURTHER STATEMENTS AND WARNINGS.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Little Rock, AR issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 5, 6:02 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKPolk63 min
Mar 5, 6:04 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKScott36 min
Mar 5, 6:22 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKJohnson48 min
Mar 5, 6:34 PM CSTTornado WarningLZKVan Buren66 min
Mar 5, 6:45 PM CSTTornado WarningLZKPike65 min
Mar 5, 6:47 PM CSTTornado WarningLZKConway33 min
Mar 5, 6:58 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKGarland62 min
Mar 5, 7:15 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKBoone50 min
Mar 5, 7:26 PM CSTTornado WarningLZKCleburne59 min
Mar 5, 7:28 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKSaline62 min
Mar 5, 7:31 PM CSTTornado WarningLZKClark64 min
Mar 5, 7:40 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKVan Buren65 min
Mar 5, 7:47 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKPulaski58 min
Mar 5, 7:51 PM CSTTornado WarningLZKHot Spring49 min
Mar 5, 7:57 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKFaulkner38 min
Mar 5, 8:02 PM CSTTornado WarningLZKIndependence, White63 min
Mar 5, 8:17 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKLonoke48 min
Mar 5, 8:24 PM CSTTornado WarningLZKLonoke, Pulaski51 min
Mar 5, 8:32 PM CSTTornado WarningLZKGrant63 min
Mar 5, 8:42 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKPrairie48 min
Mar 5, 8:54 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKHot Spring31 min
Mar 5, 9:03 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKArkansas, Monroe42 min
Mar 5, 9:09 PM CSTTornado WarningLZKJefferson61 min
Mar 5, 9:33 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKGrant32 min
Mar 5, 9:51 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKCleburne34 min
Mar 5, 9:57 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKArkansas, Lincoln48 min
Mar 5, 10:40 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKArkansas, Desha, Lincoln45 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Arkansas, 1999Every tornado warning in 1999Tornadoes in 1999

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.