Alert archive / Arkansas / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 85, NWS Memphis, TN

May 2, 2008Mississippi County, Arkansas

NWS Memphis, TN issued this tornado warning at May 2, 2008, 2:54 PM CDT for Mississippi County, Arkansas. It was in force for 51 min. 3 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
May 2, 2008, 2:54 PM CDT (19:54 UTC)
Expired
May 2, 2008, 3:45 PM CDT
In force
51 min
Issued by
NWS Memphis, TN
Area
Storm-based polygon

County Mississippi County, AR

The radar

The Memphis radar (KNQA), 53 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:57 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 2, 2:54 PM CDTTORNADOThree Way, ARTORNADO NEAR THREE WAY MOVING NORTHEAST.
May 2, 2:57 PM CDTTORNADO 21 S Three Way, ARTORNADO INITIALLY TOUCHED DOWN JUST SOUTH OF ETOWAH...NEAR THE GARDEN POINT COMMUNITY...AND MOVED NORTHEAST TO NEAR CARROLLS CORNER. MAXIMUM ESTIMATED WINDS WERE AROUND 130 MPH WITH A MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH OF 150 YARDS. A METAL BUILDING WAS DESTROYED AND SEVERAL
May 2, 2:57 PM CDTTORNADO6 N Dyess, ARTORNADO NEAR ETOWAH AREA..REPORTS OF HOMES DAMAGED AND TREES/POWERLINES ON ROAD.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 2, 8:49 AM CDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr
May 2, 1:54 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Little Rock, AR (KLZK), launched 12:00Z, 7.9 hours before the alert went out and 110 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, Little Rock, AR at 12:00Z on 2008-05-02Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1314 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, Little Rock, AR at 12:00Z on 2008-05-02The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 532 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
1314 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-56 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
609 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
51 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
532 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
505 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
3.8
Supercell composite
15.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS54 KMEG 021953
TORMEG
ARC093-022045-
/O.NEW.KMEG.TO.W.0085.080502T1954Z-080502T2045Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
254 PM CDT FRI MAY 2 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  MISSISSIPPI COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...

* UNTIL 345 PM CDT

* AT 254 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR THREE WAY...OR 7 MILES
  NORTHEAST OF LEPANTO...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 43 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  KEISER...OSCEOLA...MANILA...LUXORA...DELL...BURDETTE...GOSNELL AND
  BLYTHEVILLE.

.IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 
GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

.THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS A STORM SHELTER. IF NO
STORM SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE
BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE
BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM
WINDOWS.

.IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

.STAY TUNED TO THIS BROADCAST FOR THE LATEST UPDATES AND INFORMATION.
TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER ONLY...CALL 1 800 4 3 2 0 8 7 5.

LAT...LON 3590 8966 3592 8973 3588 8976 3584 8969
      3582 8972 3582 8977 3574 8988 3575 8994
      3571 8995 3556 9024 3561 9029 3584 9028
      3600 9012 3599 8980
TIME...MOT...LOC 1954Z 228DEG 37KT 3569 9022

$$
2 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS54 KMEG 022000
SVSMEG

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
259 PM CDT FRI MAY 2 2008

ARC093-022045-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0085.000000T0000Z-080502T2045Z/
MISSISSIPPI AR-
259 PM CDT FRI MAY 2 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 345 PM CDT FOR
MISSISSIPPI COUNTY...

AT 259 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR AND STORM 
SPOTTERS WERE TRACKING A CONFIRMED TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS 
LOCATED NEAR THREE WAY...OR 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF KEISER...MOVING 
NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
VICTORIA...OSCEOLA...MANILA...LUXORA...DELL...BURDETTE...GOSNELL AND
BLYTHEVILLE.

.IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 
GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

.THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS A STORM SHELTER. IF NO
STORM SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE
BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE
BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM
WINDOWS.

.IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

LAT...LON 3590 8966 3592 8973 3588 8976 3584 8969
      3582 8972 3582 8977 3574 8988 3575 8994
      3571 8995 3556 9024 3561 9029 3584 9028
      3600 9012 3599 8980
TIME...MOT...LOC 1959Z 228DEG 37KT 3572 9017

$$
000 
WWUS54 KMEG 022034
SVSMEG

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
334 PM CDT FRI MAY 2 2008

ARC093-022045-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0085.000000T0000Z-080502T2045Z/
MISSISSIPPI AR-
334 PM CDT FRI MAY 2 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 345 PM CDT FOR
MISSISSIPPI COUNTY...

AT 334 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR KEISER...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 49 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
OSCEOLA...VICTORIA...MANILA...LUXORA...DELL...BURDETTE...GOSNELL AND
BLYTHEVILLE.

.IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 
PENNY SIZE HAIL AND STRAIGHT LINE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.

.THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS A STORM SHELTER. IF NO
STORM SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE
BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE
BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM
WINDOWS.

.IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

LAT...LON 3590 8966 3592 8973 3588 8976 3584 8969
      3582 8972 3582 8977 3574 8988 3575 8994
      3571 8995 3556 9024 3561 9029 3584 9028
      3600 9012 3599 8980
TIME...MOT...LOC 2034Z 219DEG 43KT 3576 9011

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Memphis, TN issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 2, 3:29 AM CDTWind AdvisoryMEGClay, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Greene, Lawrence and 6 more17 hr
May 2, 10:45 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningMEGLawrence, Randolph2 hr
May 2, 11:09 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCraighead, Greene36 min
May 2, 12:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCraighead, Poinsett47 min
May 2, 12:42 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningMEGCraighead93 min
May 2, 12:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCraighead, Greene21 min
May 2, 12:59 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningMEGGreene91 min
May 2, 1:01 PM CDTTornado WarningMEGCraighead, Greene44 min
May 2, 1:11 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningMEGLawrence64 min
May 2, 1:49 PM CDTTornado WarningMEGCross, St. Francis41 min
May 2, 2:18 PM CDTTornado WarningMEGCross, Mississippi, Poinsett42 min
May 2, 2:25 PM CDTTornado WarningMEGCross, Lee, St. Francis50 min
May 2, 2:56 PM CDTTornado WarningMEGCrittenden, Cross, St. Francis49 min
May 2, 2:57 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningMEGCross, St. Francis93 min
May 2, 3:03 PM CDTTornado WarningMEGLee, Phillips, St. Francis57 min
May 2, 3:23 PM CDTTornado WarningMEGCrittenden, Cross, Mississippi52 min
May 2, 3:31 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningMEGCrittenden, Mississippi89 min
May 2, 3:55 PM CDTTornado WarningMEGMississippi50 min
May 2, 4:03 PM CDTTornado WarningMEGCrittenden, Lee29 min
May 2, 4:05 PM CDTTornado WarningMEGMississippi40 min
May 2, 4:35 PM CDTTornado WarningMEGMississippi40 min
May 2, 4:55 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningMEGMississippi95 min
May 2, 5:06 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGPhillips39 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Arkansas, 2008Every tornado warning in 2008Tornadoes in 2008

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.