Alert archive / Arkansas / Tornado Warnings in 1999

Tornado Warning 16, NWS Tulsa, OK

April 8, 1999Crawford County, Franklin County, Arkansas

NWS Tulsa, OK issued this tornado warning at Apr 8, 1999, 7:30 PM CDT for Crawford County, Franklin County, Arkansas. It was in force for 30 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline the Iowa Environmental Mesonet reconstructed for it; the warning itself named whole counties.

The facts

Issued
Apr 8, 1999, 7:30 PM CDT (00:30 UTC)
Expired
Apr 8, 1999, 8:00 PM CDT
In force
30 min
Issued by
NWS Tulsa, OK
Area
Whole counties; the outline is the Mesonet’s reconstruction

Counties Crawford County, AR, Franklin County, AR

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Apr 8, 6:15 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC4 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Springfield, MO (KSGF), launched 00:00Z, 0.5 hours before the alert went out and 131 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, Springfield, MO at 00:00Z on 1999-04-09Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 737 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, Springfield, MO at 00:00Z on 1999-04-09The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 453 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
737 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-8 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
937 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
83 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
453 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
582 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
2.5
Supercell composite
13.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

999 
WFUS54 KTSA 090031 RRA
TORTUL
ARC033-047-090100-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
730 PM CDT THU APR 8 1999

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR
  CRAWFORD COUNTY IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
  FRANKLIN COUNTY IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

* UNTIL 800 PM CDT

* AT 730 PM CDT...RADAR INDICATED A DEVELOPING TORNADO 4 MILES
  NORTHEAST OF CHESTER. THIS DANGEROUS STORM IS MOVING EAST AT 25
  MPH.

* SOME LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...  CHESTER AND
  CASS

IF YOU ARE IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM...TAKE COVER NOW IF NO
UNDERGROUND SHELTER IS AVAILABLE MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE
LOWEST FLOOR. MOBILE HOMES AND VEHICLES SHOULD BE ABANDONED FOR MORE
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. AVOID WINDOWS

LAT...LON 3582 9419 3564 9421 3559 9371 3581 9369

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.

NWS Tulsa, OK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Apr 8, 4:00 PM CDT, 3 hours 30 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 8, 4:00 PM CDT, 3 hours 30 minutes before
EASTERN OKLAHOMA/NORTHWEST ARKANSAS FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
400 PM CDT THU APR 8 1999

PROBLEM(S) OF THE DAY:
WILL THERE BE CONVECTION?
POPS
WILL THE PRECIP MEASURE?

CAP HAS HELD STRONG THROUGH THE AFTERNOON WHICH HAS SUPRESSED TSRA
DEVELPMENT. DRYLINE MOVED THROUGH TULSA AROUND 2030Z. EXPECT DRYLINE
TO BE THROUGH ALL OF THE FA BY THIS EVENING. DESPITE UNSTABLE
ATMOSPHERE AHEAD OF DRYLINE CAP LOOKS TO HOLD ON. UPPER SUPPORT STAYS
TO THE NORTH. ANY TSRA DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE IN FAR NE ZONES...WILL
WORD SLIGHT CHANCE THERE THIS EVENING. WITH STRONG WEST WINDS BEHIND
DRYLINE...WILL GO AHEAD AND EXTEND WIND ADVISORY THROUGH THE EVENING
FOR ALL BUT SOUTHEAST OK AND WEST CENTRAL AR. NEXT UPPER SYSTEM AND
SURFACE LOW APPROACH VICINITY OF FA TOMORROW NIGHT AND EARLY SAT.
SOUTHERLY WINDS RETURN TOMORROW AFTERNOON WITH DEWPOINTS IN THE 50S
AND LOWER 60S. ATMOSPHERE MAY BE TOO CAPPED FOR ANY TSRA ACTIVITY.
ALL MODELS...WITH THE NGM THE SLOWEST KEEP BEST UPPER SUPPORT TO THE
NORTH AGAIN. LOOKS LIKE A SIMILAR SITUATION AS EXPERIENCED TODAY.
SYSTEM PULLS OUT SATURDAY LEAVING PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES. WENT CLOSER TO
FAN NUMBERS FOR THIS CYCLE AS FWC MINIMUMS SEEM TOO COOL.

IN THE EXTENDED...LEFT PRETTY MUCH AS IS FOR THE WEEKEND. MODELS IN
DISAGREEMENT OVER SYSTEM APPROACHING THE FA EARLY IN THE WEEK.
FASTEST IS THE MRF BRINGING UPPER SYS OVER NE OK TUES NIGHT. WILL
SIDE WITH SLOWER SOULTIONS AND KEEP MONDAY DRY AND MENTION SLIGHT
CHANCE FOR TUESDAY.

FCSTID = 23
TUL   51  78  54  73 /   0   0  20   0
FSM   51  80  55  74 /   0   0  20   0
MLC   52  81  55  75 /   0   0  10   0
BVO   50  78  52  73 /   0   0  20   0
FYV   48  75  52  71 /  10   0  20   0
IDB   51  82  56  76 /   0   0  10   0
BYV   48  75  52  71 /  10   0  20   0
MIO   49  75  51  70 /  10   0  20   0
MKO   51  78  54  73 /   0   0  20   0
F10   51  78  54  73 /   0   0  20   0
HHW   51  82  56  76 /   0   0  10   0

.TUL...
OK...WIND ADVISORY FOR THIS EVENING FOR ZONES OKZ054>071.

AR...WIND ADVISORY FOR THIS EVENING FOR ZONES ARZ001>002...
ARZ010>011.

--------------------
EXPERIMENTAL OUTPUT:

HAZARDOUS WEATHER EXPECTED NEXT 24 HOURS: SLIGHT CHANCE NONE
NGM CONFIDENCE:  5 ON A SCALE OF 0 TO 10
ETA CONFIDENCE:  8 ON A SCALE OF 0 TO 10
AVN CONFIDENCE:  7 ON A SCALE OF 0 TO 10
FCST CONFIDENCE: 8 ON A SCALE OF 0 TO 10

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 8, 6:50 PM CDT, 40 minutes before
ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-091200-

EASTERN OKLAHOMA/NORTHWEST ARKANSAS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
UPDATED FOR SHORT TERM TRENDS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
650 PM CDT THU APR 8 1999

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM FOR PARTS OF NORTHWEST
ARKANSAS.

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEGUN TO DEVELOP ALONG THE DRYLINE
FROM EXTREME NORTHWEST ARKANSAS INTO SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA. THE SHOWERS
AND STORMS HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING SOME THUS FAR AS THEY ARE BATTLING A
STRONG CAP OF WARM AIR ALOFT. HOWEVER INDICATIONS ARE THAT THE CAP
MAY BE WEAKENING JUST ENOUGH TO ALLOW THESE STORMS TO RAPIDLY
INTENSIFY BETWEEN 7 AND 9 PM.

GIVEN THE STRONG INSTABILITY IN PLACE AND VERY FAVORABLE WIND
FIELDS...TORNADIC SUPERCELLS WILL BE POSSIBLE IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
AND PARTS OF EXTREME EASTERN OKLAHOMA THROUGH 10 PM. THE THREAT AREA
WILL BE EAST OF A BENTONVILLE TO SALLISAW TO WILBURTON LINE.

THE DRYLINE SHOULD MOVE EAST OF THE AREA BY 10 PM ENDING THE THREAT
OF SEVERE WEATHER.

SPOTTER GROUPS IN THE THREAT AREA SHOULD CONSIDER ACTIVATING AT THIS
TIME.
Special weather statement, Apr 8, 6:50 PM CDT, 40 minutes before
ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-091200-

EASTERN OKLAHOMA/NORTHWEST ARKANSAS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
UPDATED FOR SHORT TERM TRENDS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
650 PM CDT THU APR 8 1999

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM FOR PARTS OF NORTHWEST
ARKANSAS.

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEGUN TO DEVELOP ALONG THE DRYLINE
FROM EXTREME NORTHWEST ARKANSAS INTO SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA. THE SHOWERS
AND STORMS HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING SOME THUS FAR AS THEY ARE BATTLING A
STRONG CAP OF WARM AIR ALOFT. HOWEVER INDICATIONS ARE THAT THE CAP
MAY BE WEAKENING JUST ENOUGH TO ALLOW THESE STORMS TO RAPIDLY
INTENSIFY BETWEEN 7 AND 9 PM.

GIVEN THE STRONG INSTABILITY IN PLACE AND VERY FAVORABLE WIND
FIELDS...TORNADIC SUPERCELLS WILL BE POSSIBLE IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
AND PARTS OF EXTREME EASTERN OKLAHOMA THROUGH 10 PM. THE THREAT AREA
WILL BE EAST OF A BENTONVILLE TO SALLISAW TO WILBURTON LINE.

THE DRYLINE SHOULD MOVE EAST OF THE AREA BY 10 PM ENDING THE THREAT
OF SEVERE WEATHER.

SPOTTER GROUPS IN THE THREAT AREA SHOULD CONSIDER ACTIVATING AT THIS
TIME.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Tulsa, OK issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 8, 7:58 PM CDTTornado WarningTSAFranklin, Madison32 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.