Alert archive / Virginia / Tornado Warnings in 1993
Tornado Warning 4, NWS Wakefield, VA
NWS Wakefield, VA issued this tornado warning at Aug 6, 1993, 1:35 PM EDT for Chesterfield County, Virginia. It was in force for 25 min.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Aug 6, 1993, 1:35 PM EDT (17:35 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 6, 1993, 2:00 PM EDT
- In force
- 25 min
- Issued by
- NWS Wakefield, VA
- Area
- Whole counties
County Chesterfield County, VA
The nearest sounding before it
Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 12:00Z, 5.6 hours before the alert went out and 175 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
- 353 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -32 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 756 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 63 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 174 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 240 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 1.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 TTAA00 KRIC 061736 TORRIC VAC041-570-061800- BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RICHMOND VA 135 PM EDT FRI AUG 6 1993 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RICHMOND HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 200 PM EDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS... IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA ...SOUTHERN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY AND THE INDEPENDENT CITY OF ...IC COLONIAL HGTS A THUNDERSTORM MOVING ACROSS SOUTHERN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY HAS JUST PRODUCED DAMAGE...POSSIBLY FROM A TORNADO. THE STORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHERN AND SOUTHEASTERN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY...INCLUDING THE COLONIAL HEIGHTS AREA. TAKE COVER!!! IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY REI&NFORCED BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT...DITCH OR LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS. WOLF &
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, Aug 6, 10:34 AM EDT, 3 hours 1 minute before
VAZ003-004-006-007-017-018-061530- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RICHMOND VA 1035 AM EDT FRI AUG 6 1993 ...LARGE AREA OF RAIN...SOME HEAVY...APPROACHING THE RICHMOND AREA... AT 1025 AM EDT...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A LARGE AREA OF RAIN OVER MOST OF VIRGINIA. THERE WAS A LARGE BREAK IN THE RAIN OVER AREAS SOUTH AND EAST OF RICHMOND. THE RAIN WAS MOVING TO THE EAST AT 20 MPH. THE HEAVIEST RAIN HAS BEEN FALLING BETWEEN RICHMOND AND THE CHARLOTTESVILLE AND LYNCHBURG AREAS. RAINFALL AMOUNTS IN THIS REGION OF THE STATE ARE IN THE ONE-HALF TO ONE INCH RANGE...PERHAPS LOCALLY HEAVIER. RAINFALL AMOUNTS HAVE BEEN MUCH LIGHTER IN THE RICHMOND AREA...WITH LESS THAN ONE-TENTH OF AN INCH AT THE RICHMOND AIRPORT THIS MORNING. DURING THE PAST 2 HOURS...RADAR HAS SHOWN AN INCREASE IN PRECIPITATION COVERAGE WEST AND SOUTH OF RICHMOND. RADAR IMAGERY AT 1025 AM SHOWED A LARGE AREA OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN FROM BUCKINGHAM...CUMBERLAND... AND AMELIA COUNTIES SOUTHWARD TO THE VIRGINIA/NORTH CAROLINA BORDER. THIS HEAVIER RAINFALL WILL SPREAD EASTWARD ACROSS THE RICHMOND METRO AREA DURING THE NEXT HOUR OR TWO. RAINFALL AMOUNTS THROUGH TODAY WILL LIKELY BE IN THE ONE-HALF TO ONE INCH RANGE..LOCALLY HEAVIER...ACROSS CENTRAL VIRGINIA. PERSONS TRAVELLING ACROSS CENTRAL VIRGINIA TODAY SHOULD USE EXTRA CAUTION. THE COMBINATION OF SIGNIFICANT RAIN PLUS DIRT AND OIL ON THE ROADS WILL MAKE FOR SLIPPERY CONDITIONS. SLOW DOWN AND KEEP PLENTY OF BRAKING ROOM BETWEEN YOUR VEHICLE AND THE ONE IN FRONT OF YOU. THE RAIN IS BEING PRODUCED BY LOW PRESSURE MOVING ACROSS NORTHEASTERN TENNESSEE. THIS LOW WILL INTENSIFY AND TRACK ACROSS SOUTHERN VIRGINIA TO NEAR THE RICHMOND AREA BY THIS EVENING...THEN MOVE OFF THE VIRGINIA COAST LATE TONIGHT. THE RAIN ACROSS CENTRAL VIRGINIA WILL TAPER OFF BY THIS EVENING AS THE LOW MOVES TO THE EAST OF THE RICHMOND AREA. ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED AS NEEDED. WOLF
Special weather statement, Aug 6, 10:34 AM EDT, 3 hours 1 minute before
VAZ003-004-006-007-017-018-061530- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RICHMOND VA 1035 AM EDT FRI AUG 6 1993 ...LARGE AREA OF RAIN...SOME HEAVY...APPROACHING THE RICHMOND AREA... AT 1025 AM EDT...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A LARGE AREA OF RAIN OVER MOST OF VIRGINIA. THERE WAS A LARGE BREAK IN THE RAIN OVER AREAS SOUTH AND EAST OF RICHMOND. THE RAIN WAS MOVING TO THE EAST AT 20 MPH. THE HEAVIEST RAIN HAS BEEN FALLING BETWEEN RICHMOND AND THE CHARLOTTESVILLE AND LYNCHBURG AREAS. RAINFALL AMOUNTS IN THIS REGION OF THE STATE ARE IN THE ONE-HALF TO ONE INCH RANGE...PERHAPS LOCALLY HEAVIER. RAINFALL AMOUNTS HAVE BEEN MUCH LIGHTER IN THE RICHMOND AREA...WITH LESS THAN ONE-TENTH OF AN INCH AT THE RICHMOND AIRPORT THIS MORNING. DURING THE PAST 2 HOURS...RADAR HAS SHOWN AN INCREASE IN PRECIPITATION COVERAGE WEST AND SOUTH OF RICHMOND. RADAR IMAGERY AT 1025 AM SHOWED A LARGE AREA OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN FROM BUCKINGHAM...CUMBERLAND... AND AMELIA COUNTIES SOUTHWARD TO THE VIRGINIA/NORTH CAROLINA BORDER. THIS HEAVIER RAINFALL WILL SPREAD EASTWARD ACROSS THE RICHMOND METRO AREA DURING THE NEXT HOUR OR TWO. RAINFALL AMOUNTS THROUGH TODAY WILL LIKELY BE IN THE ONE-HALF TO ONE INCH RANGE..LOCALLY HEAVIER...ACROSS CENTRAL VIRGINIA. PERSONS TRAVELLING ACROSS CENTRAL VIRGINIA TODAY SHOULD USE EXTRA CAUTION. THE COMBINATION OF SIGNIFICANT RAIN PLUS DIRT AND OIL ON THE ROADS WILL MAKE FOR SLIPPERY CONDITIONS. SLOW DOWN AND KEEP PLENTY OF BRAKING ROOM BETWEEN YOUR VEHICLE AND THE ONE IN FRONT OF YOU. THE RAIN IS BEING PRODUCED BY LOW PRESSURE MOVING ACROSS NORTHEASTERN TENNESSEE. THIS LOW WILL INTENSIFY AND TRACK ACROSS SOUTHERN VIRGINIA TO NEAR THE RICHMOND AREA BY THIS EVENING...THEN MOVE OFF THE VIRGINIA COAST LATE TONIGHT. THE RAIN ACROSS CENTRAL VIRGINIA WILL TAPER OFF BY THIS EVENING AS THE LOW MOVES TO THE EAST OF THE RICHMOND AREA. ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED AS NEEDED. WOLF
Special weather statement, Aug 6, 12:18 PM EDT, 1 hour 17 minutes before
VAZ003-004-006-007-017-018-061730-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RICHMOND VA
1220 PM EDT FRI 1993
...WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAIN WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS OVER CENTRAL VIRGINIA...
AT 1200 NOON EDT...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A LARGE AREA OF RAIN WITH
EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS OVER MOST OF VIRGINIA. THIS AREA OF RAIN WAS
MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.
THE HEAVIES RAIN WAS LOCATED OVER THE RICHMOND AREA AND FROM FARMVILLE
SOUTHWARD TO THE VIRGINIA-NORTH CAROLINA BORDER. THUNDERSTORMS WERE NOTED
OVER CENTRAL CHESTERFIELD COUNTY...AND OVER PRINCE EDWARD...LUNENBURG...
AND MECKLENBURG COUNTIES.
RAINFALL TOTALS THIS MORNING HAVE GEERALLY BEEN IN THE 1 TO 2 INCH RANGE
WEST OF RICHMOND...AND ONE-HALF TO ONE INCH IN THE RICHMOND AREA. ONE-
HALF INCH OF RAIN FELL DURING THE PAST HOUR AT RICHMOND AIRPORT. THE
FOLLOWING ARE A FEW MORNING RAINFALL TOTALS ACROSS CENTRAL VIRGINIA...
ALBEMARLE COUNTAND KEEP
PLENTY OF BRAKING ROOM BETWEEN YOUR VEHICLE AND THE ONE IN FRONT OF
YOU.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED AS NEEDED.
WOLFSpecial weather statement, Aug 6, 12:18 PM EDT, 1 hour 17 minutes before
VAZ003-004-006-007-017-018-061730-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RICHMOND VA
1220 PM EDT FRI 1993
...WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAIN WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS OVER CENTRAL VIRGINIA...
AT 1200 NOON EDT...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A LARGE AREA OF RAIN WITH
EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS OVER MOST OF VIRGINIA. THIS AREA OF RAIN WAS
MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.
THE HEAVIES RAIN WAS LOCATED OVER THE RICHMOND AREA AND FROM FARMVILLE
SOUTHWARD TO THE VIRGINIA-NORTH CAROLINA BORDER. THUNDERSTORMS WERE NOTED
OVER CENTRAL CHESTERFIELD COUNTY...AND OVER PRINCE EDWARD...LUNENBURG...
AND MECKLENBURG COUNTIES.
RAINFALL TOTALS THIS MORNING HAVE GEERALLY BEEN IN THE 1 TO 2 INCH RANGE
WEST OF RICHMOND...AND ONE-HALF TO ONE INCH IN THE RICHMOND AREA. ONE-
HALF INCH OF RAIN FELL DURING THE PAST HOUR AT RICHMOND AIRPORT. THE
FOLLOWING ARE A FEW MORNING RAINFALL TOTALS ACROSS CENTRAL VIRGINIA...
ALBEMARLE COUNTAND KEEP
PLENTY OF BRAKING ROOM BETWEEN YOUR VEHICLE AND THE ONE IN FRONT OF
YOU.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED AS NEEDED.
WOLFThe office that day
Everything else NWS Wakefield, VA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 6, 1:53 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | AKQ | Charles City, Prince George | 37 min |
| Aug 6, 2:00 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | AKQ | Henrico | 30 min |
| Aug 6, 2:10 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | AKQ | Greensville, Southampton, Sussex | 65 min |
| Aug 6, 2:14 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | AKQ | King William, New Kent | 31 min |
| Aug 6, 2:28 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | AKQ | King and Queen | 47 min |
| Aug 6, 2:33 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | AKQ | Southampton, Surry | 57 min |
| Aug 6, 2:45 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | AKQ | York, City of Hampton | 45 min |
| Aug 6, 2:45 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | AKQ | James City | 45 min |
| Aug 6, 2:55 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | AKQ | Isle of Wight | 50 min |
| Aug 6, 2:58 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | AKQ | City of Suffolk | 62 min |
| Aug 6, 3:04 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | AKQ | City of Hampton | 41 min |
| Aug 6, 3:06 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | AKQ | Gloucester | 54 min |
| Aug 6, 3:25 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | AKQ | City of Chesapeake, City of Virginia Beach | 65 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Virginia, 1993Every tornado warning in 1993Tornadoes in 1993
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.