Alert archive / Oklahoma / Tornado Warnings in 1999

Tornado Warning 22, NWS Tulsa, OK

April 22, 1999Nowata County, Washington County, Oklahoma

NWS Tulsa, OK issued this tornado warning at Apr 22, 1999, 3:55 PM CDT for Nowata County, Washington County, Oklahoma. It was in force for 35 min. 1 report came from 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, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Apr 22, 1999, 3:55 PM CDT (20:55 UTC)
Expired
Apr 22, 1999, 4:30 PM CDT
In force
35 min
Issued by
NWS Tulsa, OK
Area
Whole counties; the outline is the Mesonet’s reconstruction

Counties Nowata County, OK, Washington County, OK

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Apr 22, 4:10 PM CDTHail 2.75Lenapah, OKThere were several reports of extremely large hail from Nowata County. First, there were two reports of baseball-sized hail 2 and 3 miles east of Lenapah at 415 PM CDT, while another report noted golfball-sized hail between Nowata and Coffeyville at 410 PM CD

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 nearest sounding before it

Springfield, MO (KSGF), launched 12:00Z, 8.9 hours before the alert went out and 168 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 12:00Z on 1999-04-22Temperature 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°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Springfield, MO at 12:00Z on 1999-04-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 139 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
1444 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
40 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
139 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
123 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.

999 
WFUS54 KTSA 222059 RRA
TORTUL
OKC105-147-222130-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
355 PM CDT THU APR 22 1999

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR
  NOWATA COUNTY IN OKLAHOMA
  NORTHERN WASHINGTON COUNTY IN OKLAHOMA

* UNTIL 430 PM CDT

* AT 355 PM CDT...RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG
  ROTATION 3 MILES SOUTH OF WANN. MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH...THIS
  DANGEROUS STORM COULD PRODUCE A TORNADO AT ANY TIME.

* SOME LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...  WANN...
  LENAPAH AND DELAWARE

IN ADDITION TO THE THREAT OF A TORNADO...LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING
STRAIGHT LINE WINDS CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. GO TO A SAFE
PLACE NOW

LAT...LON 3696 9586 3681 9586 3673 9545 3695 9541

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 22, 3:50 PM CDT, 5 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 22, 3:50 PM CDT, 5 minutes before
EASTERN OKLAHOMA/NORTHWEST ARKANSAS FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
350 PM CDT THU APR 22 1999

PROBLEM(S) OF THE DAY:
WILL THERE BE SEVERE CONVECTION?
WILL THE CONVECTION BE SCATTERED OR NUMEROUS?
WHAT TYPE(S) OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL OCCUR?

PARTIAL CLEARING AND RESULTANT INSOLATION HAS BEEN SUFFICIENT TO
BREAK THE CAP IN AREAS TO THE NW OF TUL LATE THIS AFTERNOON.
CONVECTION HAS GRADUALLY INCREASED ALONG THE COLD FRONT OVER SE KS
WITH ACTIVITY SLOWLY BUILDING S ALONG FRONT INTO PARTS OF NE OK.
FRONT PROGGD TO SAG S TONIGHT...EXTENDING FROM NW AR INTO NW TX BY
12Z FRI.  WEAKENING CAP...FRONTAL CONVERGENCE AND UPPER DIVERGENCE
FROM ENTRANCE REGION OF 110 KT H3 JET SHOULD ALLOW FOR AN INCREASE IN
CONVECTION ALONG AND N OF FRONT OVERNIGHT.  WILL PLACE HIGHEST POPS
OVER FAR NE OK/NW AR.

WITH UPPER FLOW NEARLY PARALLELING BOUNDARY...EXPECT FRONT TO BECOME
NEARLY STATIONARY OVER ECNTRL OK BY FRI AFTERNOON.  (PREFERRED THE
FARTHER S PLACEMENT OF FRONT PER AVN/ETA).  PERSISTENT SLY LLVL FLOW
INTO BOUNDARY ALONG WITH DECENT MOISTURE POOLING NEAR FRONT (PWS
AROUND 1.5) MAY ALLOW FOR A MCS TO FORM OVER NE OK BY LATE
AFTERNOON/EARLY EVENING WITH ACTIVITY PEELING OFF TO THE ESE INTO NW
AR OVERNIGHT.  AREAS S OF THE FRONT SHOULD MAINTAIN DECENT CAP...SO
CHCS WILL BE KEPT VERY LOW.  HEAVY RAINFALL IS A DEFINENT POSSIBLITY
OVER FAR NE OK/NW AR...BUT WILL HOLD OFF ON ANY FFA FOR NOW.

FORECAST BECOMES A BIT MORE IFFY BY SAT.  CONVECTIVE OUTFLOW SHOULD
KEEP BOUNDARY NEAR STATIONARY ACRS ECNTRL OR SE OK...WITH A SLOW
DRIFT TO THE N BY SAT NIGHT.  WILL KEEP CHC POPS OVER MOST OF THE
AREA...WITH LOWEST POPS OVER SRN ZONES.

MRF/ECMWF IN DECENT AGREEMENT MAINTAINING SWLY FLOW OVER SRN PLAINS
WITH SIGNIFICANT CHUNK OF ENERGY EJECTING INTO PLAINS LATE SUN INTO
MON.  WILL MAINTAIN CHCS OF SHRA/TSRA THROUGHOUT EXTENDED PERIOD.

FCSTID = 18
TUL   60  70  58  65 /  30  40  40  40
FSM   63  80  62  73 /  10  20  30  30
MLC   64  80  63  72 /  10  20  30  30
BVO   58  68  56  63 /  30  40  40  40
FYV   59  76  59  68 /  40  40  50  40
IDB   64  84  64  80 /   5  20  20  20
BYV   59  76  59  68 /  40  40  50  40
MIO   58  70  57  65 /  40  40  50  40
MKO   60  73  60  68 /  30  40  40  40
F10   60  70  58  65 /  30  40  40  40
HHW   64  84  64  80 /   5  20  20  20

....
AR...NONE.
OK...NONE.

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

HAZARDOUS WEATHER EXPECTED NEXT 24 HOURS: CHANCE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
NGM CONFIDENCE:  6 ON A SCALE OF 0 TO 10
ETA CONFIDENCE:  8 ON A SCALE OF 0 TO 10
AVN CONFIDENCE:  8 ON A SCALE OF 0 TO 10
FCST CONFIDENCE: 8 ON A SCALE OF 0 TO 10

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 22, 11:30 AM CDT, 4 hours 25 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
1130 AM CDT THU APR 22 1999

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0025 AM    SAND SPGS                 OK   65 MPH TSTM GUST
04/22/99   OSAGE                          65 MPH GUST ESTIMATED BY
                                          NWS EMPLOYEE NEAR
                                          GILCREASE MUSEUM

0110 AM    BIG CABIN                 OK   60 MPH TSTM GUST
04/22/99   MAYES

0115 AM    PRYOR                     OK   WIND DAMAGE
04/22/99   MAYES                          SEVERAL LIMBS DOWN UP TO 2
                                          INCHES IN DIAMETER.

0120 AM    ADAIR                     OK   WIND DAMAGE
04/22/99   MAYES                          MINOR ROOF DAMAGE.
                                          SHINGLES BLOWN OFF ROOF.
Local storm report, Apr 22, 11:30 AM CDT, 4 hours 25 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
1130 AM CDT THU APR 22 1999

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0025 AM    SAND SPGS                 OK   65 MPH TSTM GUST
04/22/99   OSAGE                          65 MPH GUST ESTIMATED BY
                                          NWS EMPLOYEE NEAR
                                          GILCREASE MUSEUM

0110 AM    BIG CABIN                 OK   60 MPH TSTM GUST
04/22/99   MAYES

0115 AM    PRYOR                     OK   WIND DAMAGE
04/22/99   MAYES                          SEVERAL LIMBS DOWN UP TO 2
                                          INCHES IN DIAMETER.

0120 AM    ADAIR                     OK   WIND DAMAGE
04/22/99   MAYES                          MINOR ROOF DAMAGE.
                                          SHINGLES BLOWN OFF ROOF.
Local storm report, Apr 22, 12:40 PM CDT, 3 hours 15 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED 2ND REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
1240 PM CDT THU APR 22 1999

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0025 AM    SAND SPGS                 OK   65 MPH TSTM GUST
04/22/99   OSAGE                          65 MPH GUST ESTIMATED BY
                                          NWS EMPLOYEE NEAR
                                          GILCREASE MUSEUM

0110 AM    BIG CABIN                 OK   60 MPH TSTM GUST
04/22/99   CRAIG

0115 AM    PRYOR                     OK   WIND DAMAGE
04/22/99   MAYES                          SEVERAL LIMBS DOWN UP TO 2
                                          INCHES IN DIAMETER.

0120 AM    ADAIR                     OK   WIND DAMAGE
04/22/99   MAYES                          MINOR ROOF DAMAGE.
                                          SHINGLES BLOWN OFF ROOF.
Local storm report, Apr 22, 12:40 PM CDT, 3 hours 15 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED 2ND REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
1240 PM CDT THU APR 22 1999

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0025 AM    SAND SPGS                 OK   65 MPH TSTM GUST
04/22/99   OSAGE                          65 MPH GUST ESTIMATED BY
                                          NWS EMPLOYEE NEAR
                                          GILCREASE MUSEUM

0110 AM    BIG CABIN                 OK   60 MPH TSTM GUST
04/22/99   CRAIG

0115 AM    PRYOR                     OK   WIND DAMAGE
04/22/99   MAYES                          SEVERAL LIMBS DOWN UP TO 2
                                          INCHES IN DIAMETER.

0120 AM    ADAIR                     OK   WIND DAMAGE
04/22/99   MAYES                          MINOR ROOF DAMAGE.
                                          SHINGLES BLOWN OFF ROOF.
Special weather statement, Apr 22, 1:00 PM CDT, 2 hours 55 minutes before
ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-231100-

EASTERN OKLAHOMA/NORTHWEST ARKANSAS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
100 PM CDT THU APR 22 1999

A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT
ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA AND FAR NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.

.SYNOPSIS...
EARLY MORNING CONVECTION HAS CAUSED A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM TO FORM OVER
SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS THIS MORNING.  HOWEVER...THIS SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO
WEAKEN AS IT LIFTS NORTHEASTWARD ALONG A FRONTAL BOUNDARY WHICH EXTENDS
FROM NORTHEAST KANSAS INTO THE TEXAS PANHANDLE.  IN THE MEANTIME...A NEW
LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM DEVELOPING OVER THE EASTERN TEXAS PANHANDLE WILL
ALSO BEGIN A NORTHEASTWARD TREK ALONG THE SAME QUASI-STATIONARY BOUNDARY
THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.  THIS WILL DRAG A DRY LINE EXTENDING
SOUTHWARD FROM THE LOW CLOSER TO EASTERN OKLAHOMA.

.DISCUSSION...
A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE NEAR THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY
THROUGH TONIGHT.  MOST OF THIS ACTIVITY WILL REMAIN NORTH AND WEST OF
EASTERN OKLAHOMA THIS AFTERNOON.  HOWEVER...AS THE SECOND LOW PRESSURE
SYSTEM LIFTS INTO KANSAS THIS EVENING...THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL MOVE
SOUTHEASTWARD INTO NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA TONIGHT.

THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT WILL BE INHIBITED BY A CAPPING LAYER OF WARM
AIR ALOFT OVER MOST OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS THIS
AFTERNOON.  HOWEVER...ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS MAY DEVELOP IN OSAGE AND
PAWNEE COUNTIES WHERE THE CAP IS SLIGHTLY WEAKER.  AS THE FRONTAL
BOUNDARY MOVES INTO NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA TONIGHT...THE WEAKENING CAP MAY
ALLOW A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP NORTHWEST OF INTERSTATE 44
THIS EVENING.  THE STORMS MAY MOVE ACROSS THE REST OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA
LATE TONIGHT AND INTO FAR NORTHWEST ARKANSAS TOWARDS MORNING.

FAVORABLE WIND PROFILES EXIST AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT FOR THE
FORMATION OF LARGE HAIL AND WITH MODERATE INSTABILITY ACROSS THE AREA.
DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND AN ISOLATED TORNADO WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE.

.EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND SPOTTER ACTIVATION...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED IN THE OUTLOOK AREA LATER THIS
EVENING MAINLY IN LOCATIONS NORTHWEST OF INTERSTATE 44.  AFTER
MIDNIGHT...SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED IN LOCATIONS NORTH OF
HIGHWAY 412.
Special weather statement, Apr 22, 1:00 PM CDT, 2 hours 55 minutes before
ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-231100-

EASTERN OKLAHOMA/NORTHWEST ARKANSAS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
100 PM CDT THU APR 22 1999

A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT
ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA AND FAR NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.

.SYNOPSIS...
EARLY MORNING CONVECTION HAS CAUSED A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM TO FORM OVER
SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS THIS MORNING.  HOWEVER...THIS SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO
WEAKEN AS IT LIFTS NORTHEASTWARD ALONG A FRONTAL BOUNDARY WHICH EXTENDS
FROM NORTHEAST KANSAS INTO THE TEXAS PANHANDLE.  IN THE MEANTIME...A NEW
LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM DEVELOPING OVER THE EASTERN TEXAS PANHANDLE WILL
ALSO BEGIN A NORTHEASTWARD TREK ALONG THE SAME QUASI-STATIONARY BOUNDARY
THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.  THIS WILL DRAG A DRY LINE EXTENDING
SOUTHWARD FROM THE LOW CLOSER TO EASTERN OKLAHOMA.

.DISCUSSION...
A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE NEAR THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY
THROUGH TONIGHT.  MOST OF THIS ACTIVITY WILL REMAIN NORTH AND WEST OF
EASTERN OKLAHOMA THIS AFTERNOON.  HOWEVER...AS THE SECOND LOW PRESSURE
SYSTEM LIFTS INTO KANSAS THIS EVENING...THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL MOVE
SOUTHEASTWARD INTO NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA TONIGHT.

THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT WILL BE INHIBITED BY A CAPPING LAYER OF WARM
AIR ALOFT OVER MOST OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS THIS
AFTERNOON.  HOWEVER...ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS MAY DEVELOP IN OSAGE AND
PAWNEE COUNTIES WHERE THE CAP IS SLIGHTLY WEAKER.  AS THE FRONTAL
BOUNDARY MOVES INTO NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA TONIGHT...THE WEAKENING CAP MAY
ALLOW A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP NORTHWEST OF INTERSTATE 44
THIS EVENING.  THE STORMS MAY MOVE ACROSS THE REST OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA
LATE TONIGHT AND INTO FAR NORTHWEST ARKANSAS TOWARDS MORNING.

FAVORABLE WIND PROFILES EXIST AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT FOR THE
FORMATION OF LARGE HAIL AND WITH MODERATE INSTABILITY ACROSS THE AREA.
DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND AN ISOLATED TORNADO WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE.

.EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND SPOTTER ACTIVATION...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED IN THE OUTLOOK AREA LATER THIS
EVENING MAINLY IN LOCATIONS NORTHWEST OF INTERSTATE 44.  AFTER
MIDNIGHT...SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED IN LOCATIONS NORTH OF
HIGHWAY 412.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 21, 10:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSAPawnee64 min
Apr 21, 10:44 PM CDTTornado WarningTSAPawnee31 min
Apr 21, 10:54 PM CDTTornado WarningTSAOsage36 min
Apr 21, 11:29 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSAPawnee46 min
Apr 21, 11:46 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSACreek44 min
Apr 22, 12:07 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSAOsage, Tulsa53 min
Apr 22, 12:30 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSANowata, Rogers, Washington45 min
Apr 22, 1:03 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSACraig, Mayes42 min
Apr 22, 1:22 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSADelaware, Ottawa38 min
Apr 22, 3:07 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSAOsage, Washington38 min
Apr 22, 3:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSANowata, Washington36 min
Apr 22, 4:25 PM CDTTornado WarningTSACraig35 min
Apr 22, 4:52 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSANowata38 min
Apr 22, 5:01 PM CDTTornado WarningTSACraig29 min
Apr 22, 5:14 PM CDTTornado WarningTSADelaware, Ottawa46 min
Apr 22, 5:27 PM CDTTornado WarningTSACraig33 min
Apr 22, 5:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSARogers, Tulsa47 min
Apr 22, 5:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSARogers53 min
Apr 22, 5:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSAMayes, Rogers, Wagoner50 min
Apr 22, 6:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSACraig, Delaware45 min
Apr 22, 6:33 PM CDTTornado WarningTSAMayes, Rogers, Wagoner42 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Oklahoma, 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.