Alert archive / Arkansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2001

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 171, NWS Tulsa, OK

May 20, 2001Crawford County, Sebastian County, Arkansas

NWS Tulsa, OK issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 20, 2001, 11:07 PM CDT for Crawford County, Sebastian County, Arkansas. It was in force for 38 min. 3 reports 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
May 20, 2001, 11:07 PM CDT (04:07 UTC)
Expired
May 20, 2001, 11:45 PM CDT
In force
38 min
Issued by
NWS Tulsa, OK
Area
Whole counties

Counties Crawford County, AR, Sebastian County, AR

The radar

The Western Arkansas radar (KSRX), 15 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:10 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 20, 11:25 PM CDTThunderstorm WindKibler, ARThunderstorm winds blew large tree limbs down.
May 20, 11:44 PM CDTThunderstorm Wind 65 EFt Smith, AR
May 20, 11:44 PM CDTHail 1Ft Smith, 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
May 20, 11:00 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC4 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Springfield, MO (KSGF), launched 00:00Z, 4.1 hours before the alert went out and 172 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 2001-05-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1724 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 2001-05-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 178 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
1724 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-4 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
670 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
43 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
178 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
232 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.7
Supercell composite
8.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WUUS54 KTSA 210407 RRA
SVRTUL
ARC033-131-OKC079-210445-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
1107 PM CDT SUN MAY 20 2001

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm 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 severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 20, 9:50 PM CDT, 1 hour 17 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 20, 9:50 PM CDT, 1 hour 17 minutes before
EASTERN OKLAHOMA/NORTHWEST ARKANSAS FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
950 PM CDT SUN MAY 20 2001

UPDATED FORECAST A WHILE AGO TO ADJUST FOR NEW TOR WATCH WHICH
REPLACED EXPIRED WATCHES IN ERN OK. MAY CLEAR SOME NE OK COUNTIES
SOON. DROPPED POPS IN A FEW NORTH AND WEST COUNTIES. RAISED MIN
TEMPS A DEGREE OR TWO BUT FRONT NOW IN CENTRAL KS...SHOULD MAKE IT
TO NE OK BEFORE 12Z. A FEW ISOLATED TSRA IN SE KS BUT NOT EXPECTED
TO INCREASE IN COVERAGE. STILL LOOKS VERY COOL TOMORROW.

FCSTID = 26

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

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 20, 9:30 PM CDT, 1 hour 37 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
930 PM CDT SUN MAY 20 2001

...CUMULATIVE REPORTS FOR THE DAY THROUGH 930 PM CDT...

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

0850 AM    WISTER                    OK    WIND DAMAGE
05/20/01   LE FLORE                        ROOFS BLOWN OFF SEVERAL
                                           BUILDINGS. TREES DOWN
                                           JUST NORTH OF WISTER.
                                           REPORTED BY EMERGENCY
                                           MANAGEMENT.

0450 PM    5 NW HANNA                OK    TORNADO
05/20/01   MCINTOSH                        DAMAGE REPORTED AT
                                           INDIAN NATION TURNPIKE
                                           TOLL BOOTH.

0522 PM    2 S STIDHAM               OK    TORNADO
05/20/01   MCINTOSH                        SAME
                                           TORNADO...CONTINUING ENE

0535 PM    7 SW BURBANK              OK    67 MPH TSTM GUST
05/20/01   OSAGE                           MESONET MEASUREMENT

0548 PM    VIVIAN                    OK    1.75 INCH HAIL
05/20/01   MCINTOSH

0550 PM    2 N BROKEN ARROW          OK    1 INCH HAIL
05/20/01   TULSA

0556 PM    2 N FAIRFAX               OK    1 INCH HAIL
05/20/01   OSAGE                           REPORTED BY POLICE DEPT

0607 PM    SAND SPGS                 OK    1.75 INCH HAIL
05/20/01   TULSA                           AMATEUR RADIO REPORT

0630 PM    1 S PAWHUSKA              OK    TORNADO
05/20/01   OSAGE                           AMATEUR RADIO REPORT

0639 PM    5 W PAWHUSKA              OK    65 MPH TSTM GUST
05/20/01   OSAGE                           ESTIMATE BY AMATEUR RADIO

0654 PM    1 NW STIGLER              OK    TORNADO
05/20/01   HASKELL                         EMERGENCY MGMT REPORT

0655 PM    WHITEFIELD                OK    .75 INCH HAIL
05/20/01   HASKELL                         EMERGENCY MGMT REPORT

0655 PM    3 WNW STIGLER             OK    92 MPH TSTM GUST
05/20/01   HASKELL                         MESONET MEASUREMENT

0657 PM    STIGLER                   OK    TORNADO
05/20/01   HASKELL                         TV CHASE TEAM REPORTED
                                           20 SECOND TOUCHDOWN

0721 PM    VERA                      OK    .88 INCH HAIL
05/20/01   WASHINGTON                      AMATEUR RADIO REPORT

0755 PM    2 W SPIRO                 OK    TORNADO
05/20/01   LE FLORE                        EMERGENCY MGMT REPORT

0755 PM    ASHLAND                   OK    1.75 INCH HAIL
05/20/01   PITTSBURG                       PUBLIC REPORT

0802 PM    FT SMITH                  AR    4.5 INCH HAIL
05/20/01   SEBASTIAN                       EMERGENCY MGMT REPORT

0813 PM    4 S LOCUST GROVE          OK    .75 INCH HAIL
05/20/01   MAYES                           EMER MGMT REPORT

0817 PM    FT CHAFFEE                AR    1.75 INCH HAIL
05/20/01   SEBASTIAN                       EMER MGMT REPORT

0835 PM    PEGGS                     OK    .88 INCH HAIL
05/20/01   CHEROKEE                        EMER MGMT REPORT

0851 PM    4 NE CLIFTY               AR    TORNADO
05/20/01   MADISON                         REPORTED BY CARROLL
                                           COUNTY LAW ENF

0851 PM    3 W BRANCH                AR    TORNADO
05/20/01   FRANKLIN                        EMER MGMT REPORT

0904 PM    BRANCH                    AR    1 INCH HAIL
05/20/01   FRANKLIN                        EMER MGMT REPORT

0920 PM    3 S HEAVENER              OK    .75 INCH HAIL
05/20/01   LE FLORE                        EMER MGMT REPORT
Local storm report, May 20, 9:33 PM CDT, 1 hour 34 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
933 PM CDT SUN MAY 20 2001

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

0850 AM    WISTER                    OK    WIND DAMAGE
05/20/01   LE FLORE                        ROOFS BLOWN OFF SEVERAL
                                           BUILDINGS. TREES DOWN
                                           JUST NORTH OF WISTER.
                                           REPORTED BY EMERGENCY
                                           MANAGEMENT.

0450 PM    5 NW HANNA                OK    TORNADO
05/20/01   MCINTOSH                        DAMAGE REPORTED AT
                                           INDIAN NATION TURNPIKE
                                           TOLL BOOTH.

0522 PM    2 S STIDHAM               OK    TORNADO
05/20/01   MCINTOSH                        SAME
                                           TORNADO...CONTINUING ENE

0535 PM    7 SW BURBANK              OK    67 MPH TSTM GUST
05/20/01   OSAGE                           MESONET MEASUREMENT

0548 PM    VIVIAN                    OK    1.75 INCH HAIL
05/20/01   MCINTOSH

0550 PM    2 N BROKEN ARROW          OK    1 INCH HAIL
05/20/01   TULSA

0556 PM    2 N FAIRFAX               OK    1 INCH HAIL
05/20/01   OSAGE                           REPORTED BY POLICE DEPT

0607 PM    SAND SPGS                 OK    1.75 INCH HAIL
05/20/01   TULSA                           AMATEUR RADIO REPORT

0630 PM    1 S PAWHUSKA              OK    TORNADO
05/20/01   OSAGE                           AMATEUR RADIO REPORT

0639 PM    5 W PAWHUSKA              OK    65 MPH TSTM GUST
05/20/01   OSAGE                           ESTIMATE BY AMATEUR RADIO

0654 PM    1 NW STIGLER              OK    TORNADO
05/20/01   HASKELL                         EMERGENCY MGMT REPORT

0655 PM    WHITEFIELD                OK    .75 INCH HAIL
05/20/01   HASKELL                         EMERGENCY MGMT REPORT

0655 PM    3 WNW STIGLER             OK    92 MPH TSTM GUST
05/20/01   HASKELL                         MESONET MEASUREMENT

0657 PM    STIGLER                   OK    TORNADO
05/20/01   HASKELL                         TV CHASE TEAM REPORTED
                                           20 SECOND TOUCHDOWN

0721 PM    VERA                      OK    .88 INCH HAIL
05/20/01   WASHINGTON                      AMATEUR RADIO REPORT

0755 PM    2 W SPIRO                 OK    TORNADO
05/20/01   LE FLORE                        EMERGENCY MGMT REPORT

0755 PM    ASHLAND                   OK    1.75 INCH HAIL
05/20/01   PITTSBURG                       PUBLIC REPORT

0802 PM    FT SMITH                  AR    4.5 INCH HAIL
05/20/01   SEBASTIAN                       EMERGENCY MGMT REPORT

0813 PM    4 S LOCUST GROVE          OK    .75 INCH HAIL
05/20/01   MAYES                           EMER MGMT REPORT

0817 PM    FT CHAFFEE                AR    1.75 INCH HAIL
05/20/01   SEBASTIAN                       EMER MGMT REPORT

0835 PM    PEGGS                     OK    .88 INCH HAIL
05/20/01   CHEROKEE                        EMER MGMT REPORT

0851 PM    4 NE CLIFTY               AR    TORNADO
05/20/01   MADISON                         REPORTED BY CARROLL
                                           COUNTY LAW ENF

0851 PM    3 W BRANCH                AR    TORNADO
05/20/01   FRANKLIN                        EMER MGMT REPORT

0904 PM    BRANCH                    AR    1 INCH HAIL
05/20/01   FRANKLIN                        EMER MGMT REPORT

0920 PM    3 S HEAVENER              OK    .75 INCH HAIL
05/20/01   LE FLORE                        EMER MGMT REPORT
Local storm report, May 20, 9:51 PM CDT, 1 hour 16 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...UPDATED TO INCLUDE DAMAGE REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
951 PM CDT SUN MAY 20 2001

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

0657 PM    STIGLER                   OK    TORNADO
05/20/01   HASKELL                         TV CHASE TEAM REPORT.
                                           18 BUILDINGS DAMAGED...
                                            1 BUSINESS DESTROYED...
                                           1 HOME DESTROYED
Local storm report, May 20, 9:54 PM CDT, 1 hour 13 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
954 PM CDT SUN MAY 20 2001

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

0930 PM    6 S MANSFIELD             AR    60 MPH TSTM GUST
05/20/01   SEBASTIAN                       ESTIMATED BY SPOTTER
Local storm report, May 20, 9:54 PM CDT, 1 hour 13 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
954 PM CDT SUN MAY 20 2001

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

0657 PM    STIGLER                   OK    TORNADO
05/20/01   HASKELL                         TV CHASE TEAM REPORT.
                                           18 BUILDINGS DAMAGED...
                                           1 BUSINESS DESTROYED...
                                           1 HOME DESTROYED
Local storm report, May 20, 9:56 PM CDT, 1 hour 11 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
956 PM CDT SUN MAY 20 2001

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

0930 PM    6 S MANSFIELD             AR    60 MPH TSTM GUST
05/20/01   SEBASTIAN                       ESTIMATED BY SPOTTER

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 20, 7:31 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSABenton, Washington44 min
May 20, 7:42 PM CDTTornado WarningTSACrawford, Sebastian63 min
May 20, 7:50 PM CDTTornado WarningTSABenton, Carroll40 min
May 20, 8:06 PM CDTTornado WarningTSAMadison24 min
May 20, 8:15 PM CDTTornado WarningTSAFranklin30 min
May 20, 8:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSACarroll45 min
May 20, 8:36 PM CDTTornado WarningTSACarroll39 min
May 20, 8:38 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSAMadison37 min
May 20, 8:41 PM CDTTornado WarningTSAFranklin34 min
May 20, 8:45 PM CDTTornado WarningTSASebastian45 min
May 20, 11:21 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningTSASebastian84 min
May 20, 11:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSASebastian46 min
May 21, 12:23 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSASebastian52 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Arkansas, 2001Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2001

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.