Alert archive / Oklahoma / Tornado Warnings in 1999

Tornado Warning 63, NWS Tulsa, OK

May 11, 1999Cherokee County, Mayes County, Oklahoma

NWS Tulsa, OK issued this tornado warning at May 11, 1999, 7:53 PM CDT for Cherokee County, Mayes County, Oklahoma. It was in force for 52 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
May 11, 1999, 7:53 PM CDT (00:53 UTC)
Expired
May 11, 1999, 8:45 PM CDT
In force
52 min
Issued by
NWS Tulsa, OK
Area
Whole counties; the outline is the Mesonet’s reconstruction

Counties Cherokee County, OK, Mayes County, OK

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 11, 8:20 PM CDTThunderstorm Wind 57Locust Grove, OK

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 11, 6:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Springfield, MO (KSGF), launched 00:00Z, 0.9 hours before the alert went out and 144 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 1999-05-12Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1007 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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, Springfield, MO at 00:00Z on 1999-05-12The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 33 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
1007 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-54 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1168 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
19 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
33 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
83 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 120054 RRA
TORTUL
OKC021-097-120145-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
753 PM CDT TUE MAY 11 1999

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR
  NORTHERN CHEROKEE COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
  SOUTHEASTERN MAYES COUNTY IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA

* UNTIL 845 PM CDT

* AT 753 PM CDT...RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG
  ROTATION 5 MILES SOUTH OF LOCUST GROVE. MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH...
  THIS DANGEROUS STORM COULD PRODUCE A TORNADO AT ANY TIME.

* SOME LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...  SCRAPER AND 
  PEGGS 

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

VERY HEAVY RAIN MAY MAKE THIS TORNADO INVISIBLE - TAKE COVER NOW IF
YOU WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE OR HEAR IT COMING IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO GET TO
A SAFE PLACE.

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 3623 9524 3606 9530 3595 9488 3616 9481

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 May 11, 3:45 PM CDT, 4 hours 8 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 11, 3:45 PM CDT, 4 hours 8 minutes before
EASTERN OKLAHOMA/NORTHWEST ARKANSAS FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
345 PM CDT TUE MAY 11 1999

PROBLEM(S) OF THE DAY:
WILL THERE BE SEVERE CONVECTION?
WILL THERE BE HEAVY RAINFALL?
POPS

CLOUDS HANGING TOUGH THIS AFTERNOON OVER MUCH OF THE FA...BUT
ABUNDANT SUNSHINE PREVAILED OVER FAR ERN OK AND PORTIONS OF NW
ARKANSAS. SURFACE FRONT HAS PORGRESSED AT A SNAILS PACE...WITH MID
AFTERNOON POSTIONING JUST EAST OF A KANSAS CITY TO OKLAHOMA CITY TO
WICHITA FALLS LINE. LOTS OF CLOUDS AND WARM AIR ALOFT HAS KEPT
CONVECTION IN CHECK THUS FAR. COULD STILL SEE SOME ACTIVITY FIRE
ALONG THE FRONT LATE THIS AFTERNOON...PARTICULARY IN AREAS NORTH AND
OF TUL. UPPER TROUGH STILL EXPECTED TO LIFT OUT TONIGHT BRINGING
ASSOCIATED S/W ENERGY ACROSS THE AREA. SURFACE FRONT SHOULD PROGRESS
EASTWARD IN RESPONSE TO UPPER SYSTEM LIFTING OUT. EXPECT SHOWERS AND
STORMS TO FIRE IN VICINITY OF FRONT AS THE COLDER AIR ALOFT WEAKENS
THE CAP. ACTIVITY MAY FORM INTO A COMPLEX OF STORMS AS ACTIVITY MOVES
ACROSS THE FA TONIGHT AND EARLY TOMORROW MORNING. ETA CONSISTENT WITH
PLACING ERN OK IN RIGHT ENTRANCE REGION OF H3 80 KT JET MAX. LOOKS
LIKE BEST LIFT WILL BE OVER NE OK AND NW ARKANSAS. THERE COULD ALSO
BE SOME HEAVY RAINS WITH SLOW MOVING FRONT. WILL NOT ISSUE FFA AT
THIS TIME AS MOST PRECIP IS EXPECTED OVER AREAS WHERE FFG VALUES ARE
THE HIGHEST.

FRONT EXPECTED TO BE THROUGH NW AR AND SE OK BY 12Z TOMORROW. WILL
LEAVE LOW POPS IN FOR MORNING TO COVER LINGERING ACTIVITY. DRIER AIR
ADVECTING IN BEHIND THE FRONT SHOULD RESULT IN A PARTLY CLOUDY SKY
OVER THE FA TOMORROW AFTERNOON AND NIGHT. STUCK PRETTY CLOSE TO
GUIDANCE(NGM MOS AVAILABLE) BUT OPTED FOR COOLER FAN NUMBERS IN LATER
PERIODS.

IN THE EXTENDED...WILL KEEP DRY AS MOST EXTENDED MODELS ARE
CONSISTENT WITH WEAK H5 RIDGING SETTING UP FRI AND SAT. LEE TROUGHING
WILL RESULT IN RETURN FLOW AT THE SURFACE BY FRIDAY. UPPER RIDGE
SHIFTS OFF TO THE EAST WITH SW FLOW SETTING UP AGAIN SUNDAY. THIS AND
A SURFACE DRYLINE/PACIFIC FRONT TO THE WEST OF FA WARRANTS CHANCE
POPS FOR SUNDAY.

FCSTID = 23
TUL   57  75  56  79 /  60  20   0   0
FSM   59  77  55  80 /  50  30   0   0
MLC   60  78  56  80 /  50  20   0   0
BVO   58  74  53  79 /  60  20   0   0
FYV   57  73  52  78 /  60  30   0   0
IDB   60  80  58  82 /  40  20   0   0
BYV   56  72  51  77 /  60  30   0   0
MIO   58  80  52  77 /  60  30   0   0
MKO   58  76  55  80 /  60  20   0   0
F10   57  75  56  79 /  60  20   0   0
HHW   60  80  58  82 /  40  20   0   0

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

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

HAZARDOUS WEATHER EXPECTED NEXT 24 HOURS: CHANCE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
NGM CONFIDENCE:  MODEL OUTPUT NOT AVAILABLE
ETA CONFIDENCE:  7 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

Local storm report, May 11, 6:45 PM CDT, 1 hour 8 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED TIMES
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
645 PM CDT TUE MAY 11 1999

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

0640 PM    2 W PRYOR                 OK    2.75 INCH HAIL
05/11/99   MAYES
Local storm report, May 11, 6:45 PM CDT, 1 hour 8 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED TIMES
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
645 PM CDT TUE MAY 11 1999

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

0640 PM    2 W PRYOR                 OK    2.75 INCH HAIL
05/11/99   MAYES
Local storm report, May 11, 7:15 PM CDT, 38 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
715 PM CDT TUE MAY 11 1999

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

0712 PM    PRYOR                     OK    .88 INCH HAIL
05/11/99   MAYES

0714 PM    CHOUTEAU                  OK    1.75 INCH HAIL
05/11/99   MAYES
Local storm report, May 11, 7:15 PM CDT, 38 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
715 PM CDT TUE MAY 11 1999

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

0712 PM    PRYOR                     OK    .88 INCH HAIL
05/11/99   MAYES

0714 PM    CHOUTEAU                  OK    1.75 INCH HAIL
05/11/99   MAYES
Local storm report, May 11, 7:44 PM CDT, 9 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
744 PM CDT TUE MAY 11 1999

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

0729 PM    TULLAHASSEE               OK    .88 INCH HAIL
05/11/99   WAGONER
Local storm report, May 11, 7:44 PM CDT, 9 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
744 PM CDT TUE MAY 11 1999

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

0729 PM    TULLAHASSEE               OK    .88 INCH HAIL
05/11/99   WAGONER

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 11, 7:23 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningTSAMayes2 hr
May 11, 7:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSAWagoner48 min
May 11, 7:28 PM CDTTornado WarningTSAMayes32 min
May 11, 7:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSAChoctaw38 min
May 11, 7:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSAMcIntosh35 min
May 11, 7:46 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSAPittsburg59 min
May 11, 7:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSACherokee, Muskogee48 min
May 11, 8:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSAChoctaw30 min
May 11, 8:19 PM CDTTornado WarningTSAMuskogee41 min
May 11, 8:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSAPittsburg47 min
May 11, 8:38 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSAChoctaw52 min
May 11, 8:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSAPushmataha46 min
May 11, 8:45 PM CDTTornado WarningTSACherokee, Muskogee45 min
May 11, 8:46 PM CDTTornado WarningTSAChoctaw29 min
May 11, 9:06 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningTSAMuskogee3 hr
May 11, 9:07 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningTSAPittsburg, Pushmataha2 hr
May 11, 9:07 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningTSAChoctaw2 hr
May 11, 9:11 PM CDTTornado WarningTSAChoctaw34 min
May 11, 9:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSAPittsburg45 min
May 11, 9:25 PM CDTTornado WarningTSAMuskogee, Sequoyah50 min
May 11, 9:26 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSAPushmataha49 min
May 11, 9:29 PM CDTTornado WarningTSACherokee46 min
May 11, 9:42 PM CDTTornado WarningTSAChoctaw48 min
May 11, 9:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSARogers, Tulsa51 min
May 11, 10:09 PM CDTTornado WarningTSASequoyah51 min
May 11, 10:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSAPushmataha44 min
May 11, 10:29 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSAMuskogee, Okmulgee, Wagoner46 min
May 11, 10:29 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSAChoctaw46 min
May 11, 10:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSAAdair, Cherokee51 min
May 11, 10:46 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSALeFlore29 min
May 11, 10:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSASequoyah51 min
May 11, 11:10 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningTSAChoctaw, Pushmataha110 min
May 11, 11:10 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningTSAPittsburg110 min
May 12, 12:40 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningTSAChoctaw, Pushmataha3 hr
May 12, 3:00 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningTSACherokee, Muskogee, Wagoner3 hr

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.