Alert archive / Virginia / Tornado Warnings in 1992

Tornado Warning 2, NWS Wakefield, VA

June 5, 1992Surry County, Virginia

NWS Wakefield, VA issued this tornado warning at Jun 5, 1992, 2:53 PM EDT for Surry County, Virginia. It was in force for 52 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jun 5, 1992, 2:53 PM EDT (18:53 UTC)
Expired
Jun 5, 1992, 3:45 PM EDT
In force
52 min
Issued by
NWS Wakefield, VA
Area
Whole counties

County Surry County, VA

The nearest sounding before it

Wallops Is Stn, VA (KWAL), launched 12:00Z, 6.9 hours before the alert went out and 159 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, Wallops Is Stn, VA at 12:00Z on 1992-06-05Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 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, Wallops Is Stn, VA at 12:00Z on 1992-06-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 75 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
563 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
33 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
75 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
96 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.

000 
TTAA00 KORF 051857
TORORF
VAC095-181-051945-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORFOLK VA
253 PM EDT FRI JUN 5 1992
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORFOLK VA HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  345 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...S...
 
IN EAST CENTRAL VIRGINIA
 
   ...JAMES CITY COUNTY...SURRY COUNTY
 
AT 250 PM WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A POSSIBLE TORNADO 2 MILES SOUTHWEST
OF THE TOWN OF SURRY IN SURRY COUNTY. THE STORM IS MOVING NORTHEAST AT
20 MPH AND WILL TRACK INTO JAMES CITY COUNTY JUST WEST OF WILLIAMSBURG
DURING THE NEXT HOUR.
 
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO...THE SAFEST PLACE IS A
BASEMENT.  GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE.
IF NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER IN AN INTERIOR ROOM
SUCH AS A CLOSET ON THE LOWEST FLOOR.  USE BLANKETS...PILLOWS...
OR CUSHIONS TO COVER YOUR BODY.  AVOID WINDOWS.
 
IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY REINFORCED
BUILDING.  AS A LAST RESORT...SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT...DITCH
OR LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.
 
WALSTON

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.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 5, 1:26 PM EDT, 1 hour 27 minutes before
VAZ001>004-051900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORFOLK VA
1:25 PM EDT FRI JUN 5 1992

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF EASTERN VIRGINIA UNTIL 7 PM EDT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH FOR ALL OF
EASTERN VIRGINIA EFFECTIVE UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS FRIDAY EVENING. THIS
WATCH INCLUDES ALL OF THE HAMPTON ROADS CITIES...EASTERN SHORE...MIDDLE
PENINSULA...NORTHERN NECK AND INTERIOR SOUTHEAST.

AT 1:20 PM WEATHER RADAR INDICATED POSSIBLE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER
NORTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA JUST NORTH OF RALIEGH AND ROCKY MOUNT.
RADAR INDICATES A THUNDERSTORM JUST NORTHWEST OF ROCKY MOUNT COULD
BE PRODUCING A TORNADO. THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING NORTHEAST AT
25 MPH AND COULD AFFECT EASTERN VIRGINIA LATER THIS AFTERNOON. AT THIS
TIME WEATHER RADAR DOES NOT INDICATE ANY THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY OVER
EASTERN VIRGINIA.
>
REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH TORNADOES IN AND CLOSE TO
THE WATCH AREA. THUNDERSTORMS COULD ALSO CONTAIN LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING
THUNDERSTORM WINDS...HEAVY RAINFALL AND DEADLY LIGHTNING.

ALL PERSONS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA SHOULD BE REA.DY TO TAKE QUICK
ACTION IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES OR WARNINGS ARE ISSUED. PLEASE
REPORT ALL SEVERE WEATHER TO YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY FOR RELAY
TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

WALSTON
Special weather statement, Jun 5, 1:35 PM EDT, 1 hour 18 minutes before
VAZ003-004-006-007-051830-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RICHMOND VA
134 PM EDT FRI JUNE 5 1992

 ...TORNADO WATCH FOR MUCH OF SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA...INCLUDING RICHMOND...
    UNTIL 7PM EDT THIS EVENING...

AT 125 PM EDT WEATHER SERVICE RADAR DETECTED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM JUST
SOUTH OF MECKLENBURG COUNTY. THIS STORM IS MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 25
MPH...AND WILL MOVE OVER EXTREME EASTERN MECKLENBURG AND SOUTHWESTERN
BRUNSWICK COUNTIES DURING THE NEXT HOUR. HAIL...HEAVY RAIN...AND GUSTY
WINDS WILL ACCOMPANY THIS STORM.

WEATHER RADAR DECTED OTHER SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS NORTHERN
NORTH CAROLINA AND WESTERN VIRGINIA. A NEWLY FORMED SHOWER WAS DETECTED
OVER WESTERN AMELIA COUNTY.

STAY TUNED TO LOCAL TV...RADIO...OR NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEATHER RADIO
FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

WOLF
Special weather statement, Jun 5, 2:07 PM EDT, 46 minutes before
VAZ001>004-052000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORFOLK VA
2:05 PM EDT FRI JUN 5 1992

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF EASTERN VIRGINIA UNTIL 7 PM EDT...
...THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OVER INTERIOR SOUTHEAST...

A TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF EASTERN VIRGINIA UNTIL
7 PM EDT. THIS INCLUDES THE HAMPTON ROADS CITIES...EASTERN SHORE...
MIDDLE PENINSULA...NORTHERN NECK AND INTERIOR SOUTHEAST.

AT 200 PM WEATHER RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE INTERIOR
SOUTHEAST. ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WERE INDICATED BETWEEN WAVERLY IN
SUSSEX COUNTY TO SPRING GROVE IN SURRY COUNTY. THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALSO
INDICATED JUST NORTHWEST OF WILLIAMSBURG OVER JAMES CITY COUNTY.
THE THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 TO 20 MPH. ADDITIONAL
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE INDICATED OVER NORTHERN NORTH CAROLINA AND
COULD AFFECT EASTER VIRGINIA LATER THIS AFTERNOON.
>
REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH TORNADOES IN AND CLOSE TO
THE WATCH AREA. THUNDERSTORMS COULD ALSO CONTAIN LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING
THUNDERSTORM WINDS...HEAVY RAINFALL AND DEADLY LIGHTNING.

ALL PERSONS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATC5H AREA SHOULD BE READY TO TAKE QUICK
ACTION IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES OR WARNINGS ARE ISSUED. PLEASE
REPORT ALL SEVERE WEATHER TO YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY FOR RELAY
TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

WALSTON
Special weather statement, Jun 5, 2:26 PM EDT, 27 minutes before
VAZ003-004-006-007-051830-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RICHMOND VA
225 PM EDT FRI JUNE 5 1992

 ...TORNADO WATCH FOR MUCH OF SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA...INCLUDING RICHMOND...
    UNTIL 7PM EDT THIS EVENING...

AT 220 PM EDT WEATHER SERVICE RADAR DETECTED A CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
OVER NORTHWEST NOTTAWAY AND SOUTHWEST AMELIA. THE STORMS WERE SLOWLY MOVING TO
THE NORTHEAST AT AROUND 10 MPH. THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
SMALL HAIL...HEAVY RAIN...AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS.

WEATHER RADAR DECTED OTHER SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE COUNTIES
OF MECKLENBURG...LUNENBURG...BRUNSWICK AND PRINCE GEORGE.

STAY TUNED TO LOCAL TV...RADIO...OR NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEATHER RADIO
FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

CHILLAG

The office that day

Everything else NWS Wakefield, VA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 5, 2:53 PM EDTTornado WarningAKQJames City52 min
Jun 5, 5:25 PM EDTTornado WarningAKQNorthampton35 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Virginia, 1992Every tornado warning in 1992Tornadoes in 1992

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.