Alert archive / Missouri / Tornado Watches in 2003
Tornado Watch 321
The Storm Prediction Center issued this tornado watch at May 9, 2003, 4:45 PM CDT for 5 states. It was in force for 6 hr.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- May 9, 2003, 4:45 PM CDT (21:45 UTC)
- Expired
- May 9, 2003, 11:00 PM CDT
- In force
- 6 hr
- Issued by
- the Storm Prediction Center
All 84 counties
Benton County, AR, Carroll County, AR, Calhoun County, IL, Greene County, IL, Morgan County, IL, Pike County, IL, Scott County, IL, Allen County, KS, Bourbon County, KS, Chautauqua County, KS, Cherokee County, KS, Crawford County, KS, Labette County, KS, Linn County, KS, Miami County, KS, Montgomery County, KS, Neosho County, KS, Wilson County, KS, Audrain County, MO, Barry County, MO, Barton County, MO, Bates County, MO, Benton County, MO, Boone County, MO, Callaway County, MO, Camden County, MO, Carroll County, MO, Cass County, MO, Cedar County, MO, Chariton County, MO, Christian County, MO, Cole County, MO, Cooper County, MO, Dade County, MO, Dallas County, MO, Gasconade County, MO, Greene County, MO, Henry County, MO, Hickory County, MO, Howard County, MO, Jackson County, MO, Jasper County, MO, Johnson County, MO, Laclede County, MO, Lafayette County, MO, Lawrence County, MO, Lincoln County, MO, Linn County, MO, Livingston County, MO, Macon County, MO, Maries County, MO, Marion County, MO, McDonald County, MO, Miller County, MO, Moniteau County, MO, Monroe County, MO, Montgomery County, MO, Morgan County, MO, Newton County, MO, Osage County, MO, Pettis County, MO, Pike County, MO, Polk County, MO, Pulaski County, MO, Ralls County, MO, Randolph County, MO, Ray County, MO, Saline County, MO, Shelby County, MO, St. Clair County, MO, Stone County, MO, Vernon County, MO, Warren County, MO, Webster County, MO, Craig County, OK, Delaware County, OK, Mayes County, OK, Nowata County, OK, Osage County, OK, Ottawa County, OK, Pawnee County, OK, Rogers County, OK, Tulsa County, OK, Washington County, OK
The radar
The Springfield radar (KSGF), 93 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:48 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.
Warnings issued inside it
46 tornado, severe thunderstorm and flash flood warnings for its counties while it was in force.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 9, 5:12 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LSX | Audrain, Monroe, Ralls | 48 min |
| May 9, 5:47 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LSX | Pike, Ralls | 43 min |
| May 9, 5:51 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TSA | Osage, Pawnee | 54 min |
| May 9, 5:53 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | EAX | Johnson, Lafayette | 52 min |
| May 9, 5:56 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LSX | Greene | 49 min |
| May 9, 5:59 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LSX | Boone | 46 min |
| May 9, 6:05 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LSX | Audrain, Monroe | 40 min |
| May 9, 6:10 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Morgan, Scott | 65 min |
| May 9, 6:17 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | LSX | Pike | 43 min |
| May 9, 6:18 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | LSX | Boone | 42 min |
| May 9, 6:28 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | EAX | Saline | 62 min |
| May 9, 6:42 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | LSX | Calhoun, Pike | 48 min |
| May 9, 6:45 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LSX | Greene | 30 min |
| May 9, 6:56 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | LSX | Greene, Macoupin | 49 min |
| May 9, 6:56 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | EAX | Miami | 64 min |
| May 9, 7:11 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Cass, Menard, Morgan, Sangamon | 64 min |
| May 9, 7:18 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LSX | Audrain | 42 min |
| May 9, 7:31 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | EAX | Johnson | 59 min |
| May 9, 7:42 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | LSX | Greene, Macoupin | 48 min |
| May 9, 7:42 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | EAX | Lafayette | 63 min |
| May 9, 8:21 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | EAX | Miami | 39 min |
| May 9, 8:22 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | EAX | Saline | 38 min |
| May 9, 8:23 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | EAX | Howard, Randolph | 67 min |
| May 9, 8:26 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LSX | Pike, Ralls | 49 min |
| May 9, 8:31 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TSA | Osage, Pawnee | 59 min |
| May 9, 8:43 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | EAX | Cass | 62 min |
| May 9, 8:55 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | EAX | Jackson | 65 min |
| May 9, 9:02 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LSX | Pike | 43 min |
| May 9, 9:04 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | EAX | Miami | 41 min |
| May 9, 9:09 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | EAX | Lafayette | 66 min |
| May 9, 9:11 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | LSX | Pike | 49 min |
| May 9, 9:11 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | EAX | Macon | 64 min |
| May 9, 9:16 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | EAX | Cass | 6 hr |
| May 9, 9:22 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Morgan, Scott | 53 min |
| May 9, 9:30 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | EAX | Cass | 30 min |
| May 9, 10:00 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | Allen | 30 min |
| May 9, 10:01 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | EAX | Jackson | 59 min |
| May 9, 10:02 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TSA | Washington | 43 min |
| May 9, 10:03 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | EAX | Lafayette | 42 min |
| May 9, 10:09 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TSA | Nowata | 66 min |
| May 9, 10:12 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | EAX | Cass | 63 min |
| May 9, 10:16 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | EAX | Saline | 59 min |
| May 9, 10:28 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | EAX | Johnson | 62 min |
| May 9, 10:31 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | SGF | Barton, Jasper | 44 min |
| May 9, 10:44 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | EAX | Johnson | 61 min |
| May 9, 10:56 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX | Morgan, Sangamon | 49 min |
Discussions around it
SPC mesoscale discussions over the same counties from four hours before the watch to its end.
The nearest sounding before it
Springfield, MO (KSGF), launched 12:00Z, 9.8 hours before the alert went out and 92 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 2743 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -29 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 727 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 48 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 212 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 256 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 3.1
- Supercell composite
- 12.4
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000
WWUS20 KWNS 092139
SEL1
SPC WW 092145
ILZ000-KSZ000-MOZ000-OKZ000-100400-
URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 321
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
445 PM CDT FRI MAY 9 2003
THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF
WESTERN ILLINOIS
SOUTHEAST KANSAS
NORTHERN AND WESTERN MISSOURI
NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA
EFFECTIVE THIS FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 445 PM UNTIL 1100
PM CDT.
TORNADOES...HAIL TO 3 INCHES IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS
TO 80 MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.
THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS ALONG AND 100 STATUTE MILES EAST AND
WEST OF A LINE FROM 20 MILES EAST SOUTHEAST OF TULSA OKLAHOMA TO
80 MILES NORTH NORTHEAST OF COLUMBIA MISSOURI.
REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.
PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING
WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.
OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 317...WW 318...WW 319...WW
320...
DISCUSSION...VERY UNSTABLE AIRMASS TO E OF DRY LINE/FRONTAL ZONE
FROM SERN KS TO E OF MKC TO NEAR UIN. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL
RAPIDLY DEVELOP VICINITY AND E OF BOUNDARY. 40-50KT OF DEEP LAYER
SHEAR SUPPORT SUPERCELLS WITH LARGE HAIL AND TORNADOES.
AVIATION...TORNADOES AND A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL
SURFACE AND ALOFT TO 3 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND
GUSTS TO 70 KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 600.
MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 24035.
...HALES
360,0971 395,0933 395,0894 360,0934
WWUS20 KWNS 092139
SEL1
SPC WW 092145
ILZ000-KSZ000-MOZ000-OKZ000-100400-
URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 321
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
445 PM CDT FRI MAY 9 2003
THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF
WESTERN ILLINOIS
SOUTHEAST KANSAS
NORTHERN AND WESTERN MISSOURI
NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA
EFFECTIVE THIS FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 445 PM UNTIL 1100
PM CDT.
TORNADOES...HAIL TO 3 INCHES IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS
TO 80 MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.
THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS ALONG AND 100 STATUTE MILES EAST AND
WEST OF A LINE FROM 20 MILES EAST SOUTHEAST OF TULSA OKLAHOMA TO
80 MILES NORTH NORTHEAST OF COLUMBIA MISSOURI.
REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.
PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING
WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.
OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 317...WW 318...WW 319...WW
320...
DISCUSSION...VERY UNSTABLE AIRMASS TO E OF DRY LINE/FRONTAL ZONE
FROM SERN KS TO E OF MKC TO NEAR UIN. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL
RAPIDLY DEVELOP VICINITY AND E OF BOUNDARY. 40-50KT OF DEEP LAYER
SHEAR SUPPORT SUPERCELLS WITH LARGE HAIL AND TORNADOES.
AVIATION...TORNADOES AND A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL
SURFACE AND ALOFT TO 3 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND
GUSTS TO 70 KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 600.
MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 24035.
...HALES
360,0971 395,0933 395,0894 360,0934SPC that day
Everything else SPC issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 7:06 PM CDT | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Hamilton, White | 54 min |
| May 8, 7:55 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | Adams, Brown, Hancock, Henderson, Pike, Scott | 5 hr |
| May 8, 9:10 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | Bureau, Carroll, Cass, Champaign, DeKalb, DeWitt and 32 more | 6 hr |
| May 8, 9:27 PM CDT | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Adams, Brown, Bureau, Carroll, Cass, Champaign and 40 more | 93 min |
| May 8, 11:50 PM CDT | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Adams, Brown, Hancock, Henderson, Pike, Scott | 55 min |
| May 9, 12:05 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | Bond, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Champaign, Christian and 28 more | 6 hr |
| May 9, 2:02 PM CDT | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Edwards, Lawrence, Wabash, Wayne, White | 2 hr |
| May 9, 2:48 PM CDT | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Clinton, Edwards, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin and 15 more | 117 min |
| May 9, 4:17 PM CDT | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Adams, Bond, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Christian and 21 more | 28 min |
| May 9, 5:44 PM CDT | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Champaign, Christian, Clark, Coles, Cumberland, DeWitt and 15 more | 31 min |
| May 9, 6:05 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | Bond, Champaign, Christian, Clark, Clinton, Coles and 13 more | 5 hr |
| May 8, 7:13 PM CDT | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Allen, Anderson, Atchison, Bourbon, Cherokee, Crawford and 13 more | 2 hr |
| May 8, 8:30 PM CDT | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Butler, Chautauqua, Cowley, Elk, Greenwood, Harper and 5 more | 60 min |
| May 8, 9:00 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | Audrain, Benton, Boone, Callaway, Camden, Cole and 26 more | 5 hr |
| May 8, 11:14 PM CDT | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Atoka, Bryan, Carter, Coal, Garvin, Haskell and 16 more | 91 min |
| May 9, 2:52 PM CDT | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Caddo, Carter, Cleveland, Comanche, Cotton, Creek and 15 more | 113 min |
| May 9, 3:35 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | Blaine, Caddo, Canadian, Carter, Cleveland, Comanche and 18 more | 5 hr |
| May 9, 5:36 PM CDT | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Blaine, Caddo, Canadian, Carter, Cleveland, Comanche and 17 more | 84 min |
Nearby
Tornado Watches in Missouri, 2003Tornado Watches in Kansas, 2003Tornado Watches in Oklahoma, 2003Every tornado watch in 2003
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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.