National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Huntsville Tornado, Nov. 15, 1989 - Southern Region Disaster Survey

Appendix B

 

ZCZC BHMSFDBHM
TTAAOO KBHM 150903
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM, AL
301 AM CST WED NOV 15 1989

VERY IMPRESSIVE SYSTEM HEADING OUR WAY.  AT 5Z CDFNT 
FROM S ILL TO SE OKLA.  DEW POINTS DROP OFF 30 DEGREES 
IN LESS THAN 100 MILES BEHIND FNT.  BY 6PM CST TODAY NGM 
HAS FRONT ALONG MSL-BIX LN. BY 12Z THU 534 THKNS LN ON 
MSL WITH 522 LN NR MSL 12 HRS LATER. THE ONLY PLACE IN 
AL AND NWFL WHOS HIGH TEMPS THU WILL BE GREATER 
THAN WED NIGHT LOWS WILL BE DHN AND AQQ AND MAYBE 
MOB.  STEADY OF FALLING TEMPS THU ALMOST 
EVERYWHERE.  PLS READ SWODY1.

HSV 74/40/40 990 BHM 76/44/45 980 MGM 82/50/53 891
DHN 82/59/65 681 AUO 80/49/55 881 MOB 82/52/58 680
PNS 80/55/62 681 AQQ 80/62/69 681

.AL...WND ADVISORY AREA LAKES AL ZONES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 
.NWFL...NONE.

NNNN



ZCZC BHMZFPAL
TTAAOO KBHM 151039
ALABAMA ZONE FORECASTS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
500 AM CST WED NOV 15 1989

ALZOO1>005-151800-
AL01-AL02-AL03-AL04-AL05-
ALABAMA ZONES 1 2 3 4 5
500 AM CST WED NOV 15 1989

.TODAY...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...SOME MAY BE 
SEVERE.  A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR AREA LAKES 
FOR SOUTH WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH.  HIGH IN THE MID 70S.
CHANCE OF RAIN IS 90 PERCENT.
.TONIGHT...THUNDERSTORMS ENDING EARLY AND TURNING 
COLDER.  LOW AROUND 40.  CONTINUED WINDY WITH NORTH 
WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH.  CHANCE OF RAIN IS 90 PERCENT.
.THURSDAY...WINDY AND COLD.  STEADY OR FALLING 
TEMPERATURES.  HIGH AROUND 40.  NORTH WIND 15 TO 25 MPH.

...Original text included the remainder of 
Alabama Zones 6 through 18...

NNNN

ZCZC BHMSWSAL 
TTAAOO KBHM 151135
ALABAMA WEATHER SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
540 AM CST WED NOV 15 1989

A MOIST SOUTHERLY WIND FLOW KEPT CLOUDS AND 
PATCHES OF RAIN OVER MOST OF ALABAMA DURING THE
NIGHT.  OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURES WERE IN THE 60S. THESE
READINGS ARE WHAT WE USUALLY EXPECT FOR
NORMAL HIGH TEMPERATURES FOR MID NOVEMBER.

RAINFALL AMOUNTS DURING THE NIGHT WERE GENERALLY
LIGHT.  RAINFALL TOTALS SINCE TUESDAY MORNING HAVE 
BEEN MOSTLY AROUND A HALF INCH BUT A FEW LOCATIONS 
HAVE REPORTED AMOUNTS AROUND ONE INCH.

A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WAS ADVANCING
TOWARDS ALABAMA TODAY.  THIS STORM SYSTEM HAS THE
POTENTIAL TO TRIGGER SEVERE WEATHER ACROSS
ALABAMA DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.  RESIDENTS OF
ALABAMA ARE ADVISED TO MONITOR THEIR LOCAL
TV ... RADIO OR NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR THE LATEST 
WEATHER INFORMATION.

ONCE THE COLD FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH THE LOW 
PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVES ACROSS THE STATE TONIGHT
NORTHERLY WINDS WILL USHER IN MUCH COLDER AIR. 
IN FACT HIGH TEMPERATURES ON THURSDAY ACROSS THE
NORTH HALF OF THE STATE WILL ONLY BE IN THE 40S.

NNNN

ZCZC BHMSPSBHM
TTAAOO KBHM 151138
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 
500 AM CST WED NOV 15 1989

...SEVERE WEATHER THREAT TO ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA...

A POWERFUL STORM SYSTEM ORGANIZING OVER THE 
SOUTHERN PLAINS IS EXPECTED TO AFFECT MUCH OF THE
SOUTHEAST...INCLUDING ALABAMA...DURING THE NEXT 24 
HOURS.

FORECASTERS AT THE NATIONAL SEVERE STORM FORECAST 
CENTER IN KANSAS CITY MISSOURI HAVE ISSUED A
PRELIMINARY OUTLOOK CALLING FOR A SIGNIFICANT 
THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN ALABAMA AND
NORTHWEST FLORIDA ... AS WELL AS PARTS OF ADJACENT
STATES TODAY AND TONIGHT.  A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM IS 
DEFINED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AS ONE THAT 
PRODUCES HAIL 3/4 INCH OR LARGER AND/OR WIND GUSTS OF
58 MPH OR GREATER.  THE STORM CENTER ALSO INDICATED
THAT CONDITIONS MAY BECOME FAVORABLE FOR THE
FORMATION OF TORNADOES.

THIS IS ONLY A PRELIMINARY OUTLOOK THERE ARE NO 
SEVERE WEATHER WATCHES OR WARNINGS IN EFFECT FOR 
ALABAMA AT THIS TIME. THE GREATEST THREAT OF SEVERE 
WEATHER IN ALABAMA WILL PROBABLY BE FROM
THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE NIGHTTIME HOURS.

RESIDENTS OF ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA SHOULD 
CHECK ON WEATHER DEVELOPMENTS DURING THE DAY. 
LISTEN TO RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS IN YOUR AREA 
TO FIND OUT IF A WATCH OR WARNING IS IN EFFECT.  NOAA 
WEATHER RADIO...OPERATED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER 
SERVICE...IS AN EXCELLENT SOURCE OF CONTINUOUS UP TO 
DATE INFORMATION ON SEVERE WEATHER.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS SHOULD PLAN TO
HAVE WARNING CENTERS STAFFED THIS AFTERNOON AND 
TONIGHT.  UTILITIES COMPANIES AS WELL AS COUNTY AND
LOCAL OFFICIALS MAY ALSO WANT TO MAKE PRELIMINARY 
PLANS TO HAVE ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL AVAILABLE
SHOULD THE SEVERE WEATHER DEVELOP.

NNNN

ZCZC MKCSWODY1
ACUSI KM KC 151229 AMD 
MKC AC 151235 AMD

CONVECTIVE OUTLOOK..REF AFOS NMCGPH940
VALID 151235 - 161200
REF WW 747 TIL 18Z

OTRW...THERE IS A MDT RISK OF SVR S TDA OVR MS AND 
AL...MUCH OF SRN TN...PTNS OF WRN AND NRN GA...AND THE 
WRN FL PNHDL.  THE MDT RISK AREA IS TO THE RGT OF A LN 
FM 40 WSW GPT HEZ GLH MEM BNA CSV AHN MCN PAM.

SURROUNDING THE AREA OF MDT RISK..THERE IS A SLGT 
RISK OF SVR S TO THE RGT OF A LN FM BPT TXK HOT BLV 
CMI SBN TOL PKB BLF HKY AGS 30 SE TLH.

GEN S ARE FCST TO THE RGT OF A LN FM LRD ACT HRO
SM MKG OSC.  SLGT RISK AREA EXPANDED NWD AS 12Z RA0BS 
INDC AMS ACRS THE WRN OVR TN VLY MUCH MORE UNSTBL 
THAN FCST BY PROGS. 12Z PAH SOUNDING HAS MINUS 9 
LIFTED INDEX WMI LRG POS AREA.  SVR COMPLEX ACRS
SRN IL E OF STL EXPCD TO RMN STG NEXT SVRL HRS AS WRM
MOIST SWLY LOW LVL FLOW DESTABILIZES AMS ACRS 
INDIANA AND WRN OH.

..HIRT.. 11/15/89

NNNN

ZCZC MKCSWODY1
ACUS1 KMKC 151500
MKC AC 151500

CONVECTIVE OURLOOK..REF AFOS NMCGPH940

VALID 151500 - 16120OZ

WW NR 747 VALID TIL 18Z.

THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF SVR TSTMS PTNS OF ERN AR..ERN 
LA..MS..AL.. TN..KY..GA..NWRN FL. AREA IS TO RT OF LN FM 50 S
GPT BTR ESF ELD JBR PAH SDF LEX LOZ TYS AHN AGS VLD 20 S 
TLH.

THERE IS ALSO A SLGT RISK OF SVR ELSW TO RT OF LN 
FM GLS SH HOT SLO DNV JXN MTC YNG INT CHS SSI CTY.

GEN TSTM ACTVTY TO RT OF LN FM MFE ALI TYS STI MKG APN.

VIGOROUS UPR LVL TROF DIGGING SEWD INTO CNTRL U.S. IN 
RESPONSE TO VRY STG JET MAX MOVG SEWD OVR MT/WY.  
AMS RAS BECOME VRY UNSTBL FM LA ACRS MS INTO TN/KY
WITH SFC BASED LI OF MINUS 7 TO MINUS 9. LATEST LFM 
TENDS TO SHOW NEG TILT TO TROF ACRS GULF CST STATES 
DURG PD AS STG BAND OF PVA MOVES EWD ACRS MS/AL/GA.  
PRONOUNCED MID LVL DRYING PROGD TO MOVE EWD ACRS 
LA/MS/AL TO N OF STG SUBTROP JET ORIENTED FM C TX
EWD TO SRN FL. SVR TSTMS EXPCD TO EXPLODE DURG AFTN 
AHD STG CDFNT FM ERN VMS AR/LA INTO TN/KY AND MOVE
EWD ACRS VRY UNSTBL AMS.  LOW LVL JET EXPCD TO CONT 
STG AHD CDFNT FM LA/MS INTO KY PROVIDING FVRBL MSTR 
CNVRGNC PAT.  INCRSG UP LVL DVRGNC PAT OVR HIGH RISK
AREA GIVES THREAT OF DMGG TORNADOES.  ISOLD SVR
TSTMS ALSO PSBL WITH SFC LOW MOVG NEWD ACRS IND/SERN 
MI/OH WHERE AMS HAS LI OF MINUS 3 TO MINUS 5.

A PUBLIC SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK WILL BE ISSUED
SHORTLY UNDER AFOS HEADER MKCPWOMKC.

..WILSON.. 11/15/89

NNNN


ZCZC MKCPWOMKC
TRAAOO KMKC 151530
PUBLIC SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY MO

KANSAS CM MISSOURI
0930 AM CST WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 15 1989

..SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OUTBREAK EXPECTED TODAY
FROM THE TENNESSEE VALLEY INTO THE SOUTHEASTERN
STATES.

THE NATIONAL SEVERE STORMS FORECAST CENTER IN 
KANSAS CITY MISSOURI IS FORECASTING AN OUTBREAK OF
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND TORNADOES TODAY INTO 
TONIGHT OVER MUCH OF THE TENNESSEE VALLEY AND
PARTS OF THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES.

THE STATES WHICH ARE MOST LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE THE
BRUNT OF THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY INCLUDE
PARTS OF EASTERN ARKANSAS...EASTERN LOUISIANA...
MISSISSIPPI...ALABAMA...TENNESSEE...KENTUCKY...GEORGIA...
AND PARTS OF NORTHWESTERN FLORIDA.

AN OUTBREAK OF TORNADOES AND SEVERE 
THUNDERSTORMS IS FORECAST TO DEVELOP WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON INTO WEDNESDAY NIGHT FROM EASTERN 
PORTIONS OF THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY ACROSS THE
TENNESSEE VALLEY TO THE CENTRAL GULF COAST.  A
STRONG COLD FRONT WILL SWEEP ACROSS THE
SOUTHEASTERN STATES THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT
WITH SEVERAL AREAS OF LOW PRESSURE MOVING
NORTHWARD ALONG THE COLD FRONT FROM THE LOWER
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY ACROSS THE TENNESSEE AND OHIO
VALLEYS TO THE LOWER GREAT LAKES.  STRONG
SOUTHERLY WINDS AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT WILL BRING
MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIR NORTHWARD INTO THE
TENNESSEE VALLEY SETTING THE STAGE FOR AN EXPLOSIVE
CONFRONTATION OF AIR MASSES.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP LATE
THIS MORNING AND EARLY THIS AFTERNOON FROM WESTERN
KENTUCKY ACROSS WESTERN TENNESSEE...EASTERN
ARKANSAS...WESTERN MISSISSIPPI TO EASTERN LOUISIANA.
LINES OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE FORECAST TO MOVE
RAPIDLY NORTHEAST ACROSS THE TENNESSEE VALLEY AND
THE CENTRAL GULF COAST THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.
THESE THUNDERSTORMS COULD PRODUCE DAMAGING
TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL...AND DESTRUCTIVE WINDSTORMS.

ALL PERSONS IN THE THREATENED AREA ARE URGED TO
REVIEW SA RULES...AND LISTEN TO RADIO..TV..OR NOAA 
WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WATCHES OR WARNINGS.  THIS IS A POTENTIALLY
DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION FOR THE AFFECTED
AREAS AND SHOULD BE MONITORED CLOSELY.

..LARRY WILSON..

ZCZC BHMSFDBHM
TTAA00 KBHM 151544
STATE FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM, AL
944 AM CST WED NOV 15 1989

REFERENCE SWODY1 AND PWOMKC.

THE SYSTEM DESCRIBED AS IMPRESSIVE ON THE LAST SFD
LOOKS EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE THIS MORNING. STRONG PVA
FCST FOR SE STATE LATE THIS AFTERNOON AS 500 MB TROF
DEEPENS AND MOVES INTO MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. MORNING 
SOUNDINGS INDICATIVE OF SVR WX WITH EQUILIBRIUM LVLS
ARND 37 THSD WITH POTENTIAL MAX TOPS 48 THSD.
ENERGY INDICES ALSO SUBSTANTIAL.  CHART 24Y ALSO
SHOWS SE STATES IN FAVORABLE POSITION WITH RESPECT TO
BOTH SUB-TROPICAL JET AND MAIN JET.

ALL OF THAT ANTI-CLIMACTIC WITH REFERENCE TO THE TWO
PRODUCTS ABOVE.

NOT PLANNING ANY MAJOR CHG TO CURRENT FCST.  ALL
OFFICES IN BHM AREA SHOULD REVIEW STAFFING
REQUIREMENTS AND LINE UP ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL FOR
LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND TNGT.

BESIDES STAFF PLANNING, WE ARE PREPARING A SPECIAL WX
STATEMENT TO GO OUT AFTER ZONE PKG TO TRY TO DRAW 
MORE ATTENTION TO THE SITUATION.

WL ALSO ADD PHRASE TO "TONIGHT" ABT NEED FOR LAKE
WIND ADVISORY.

.AL...LWA ZONES 1 THROUGH 9
.NWFL...NONE.

NNNN

ZCZC BHMZFPAL
TTAA00 KBHM 151635

ALABAMA ZONE FORECASTS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1045 AM CST WED NOV 15 1989

ALZ001>005-160000-
AL01-AL02-AL03-AL04-AL05-
ALABAMA ZONES 1 2 3 4 5
1045 AM CST WED NOV 15 1989

.THIS AFTERNOON...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...SOME
MAY BE SEVERE. LAKE WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR AREA
LAKES FOR SOUTH WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH.  HIGH IN THE MID
70S.  CHANCE OF RAIN IS 90 PERCENT.
.TONIGHT...THUNDERSTORMS ENDING EARLY AND TURNING 
COLDER.  LOW AROUND 40. CONTINUED WINDY WITH NORTH
WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH. A LAKE WIND ADVISORY WILL BE 
REQUIRED.  CHANCE OF RAIN IS 90 PERCENT.
.THURSDAY...WINDY AND COLD. STEADY OR FALLING 
TEMPERATURES. HIGH AROUND 40. NORTH WIND 15 TO 25
MPH.

$$

...ORIGINAL TEXT INCLUDED REMAINDER OF 
ALABAMA ZONES 6 THROUGH 18 ...
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