Alert archive / Missouri / Tornado Warnings in 1993

Tornado Warning 10, NWS St. Louis, MO

July 31, 1993City of Saint Louis, Missouri

NWS St. Louis, MO issued this tornado warning at Jul 31, 1993, 5:32 PM CDT for City of Saint Louis, Missouri. It was in force for 28 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 31, 1993, 5:32 PM CDT (22:32 UTC)
Expired
Jul 31, 1993, 6:00 PM CDT
In force
28 min
Issued by
NWS St. Louis, MO
Area
Whole counties

County City of Saint Louis, MO

The nearest sounding before it

Paducah/Barkley, KY (KPAH), launched 12:00Z, 10.5 hours before the alert went out and 217 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, Paducah/Barkley, KY at 12:00Z on 1993-07-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Paducah/Barkley, KY at 12:00Z on 1993-07-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 25 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
1134 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
19 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
25 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
131 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 KSTL 312233
TORSTL
MOC510-312300-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
532 PM CDT SAT JUL 31 1993
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ST LOUIS HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  600 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN EAST CENTRAL MISSOURI THE INDEPENDENT CITY OF
 
   ...ST LOUIS CITY
 
AT 528 PM...A FUNNEL CLOUD WAS REPORTED AT LAMBERT FIELD IN ST LOUIS
COUNTY. SEVERAL OTHER REPORTS OF FUNNEL CLOUDS AND TORNADO TOUCHDOWNS
HAVE BEEN RECEIVED. AT 528 PM...THE NATIONAL GUARD REPORTED A CONFIRMED
TOUCHDOWN IN THE PORTAGE DES SIOUX AREA OF NORTHERN ST CHARLES COUNTY.
 
THIS DANGEROUS STORM IS MOVING EAST SOUTHEAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR.
RESIDENTS IN THE CITY OF ST LOUIS SHOULD TAKE SHELTER NOW.
 
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM SITUATION.  ACT QUICKLY.  IF YOU ARE
IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO MOVE TO A SHELTER BELOW GROUND IF
AVAILABLE.  OTHERWISE...GO TO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THXE LOWEST
FLOOR POSSIBLE.  AVOID WINDOWS.  ABANDON CARS AND MOBILE HOMES
FOR A REINFORCED BUILDING OR GET INTO A DITCH OR CULVERT.
 
SHEA/RP
&

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, Jul 31, 3:05 PM CDT, 2 hours 27 minutes before
MOZ006-312100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA MO
305 PM CDT SAT JUL 31 1993

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF CENTRAL MISSOURI
UNTIL 800 PM...

AT 305 PM...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST ACROSS
NORTHERN PARTS OF CENTRAL MISSOURI. THE LEADING EDGE OF THE STORMS
WAS FROM 20 MILES NORTH OF MARHALL...NEAR BRUNSWICK...TO 20 MILES
NORTHEAST OF MOBERLY. THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE IN A LINE FROM 5 MILES
NORTH OF SALISBURY TO 20 MILES NORTHEAST OF MOBERLY...NEAR SHELBINA.
THESE STORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

THE TOWNS OF HIGBEE...HARRISBURG...CLARK AND CENTRALIA ARE IN THE PATH
OF THESE STORMS BEFORE 400 PM. THESE STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE AT ANY
MOMENT...SO BE PREPARED FOR LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS...ALONG WITH
HEAVY RAINS AND DEADLY LIGHTNING. STAY INDOORS AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
BE ALERT FOR FLOODED STREETS AND SMALL STREAMS. NEVER CROSS A FLOODED
ROADWAY. IF YOU SPOT SEVERE WEATHER...CALL THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY FOR RELAY OF THE INFORMATION TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

STANLEY
Special weather statement, Jul 31, 3:07 PM CDT, 2 hours 25 minutes before
MOZ001-002-004-005-008-009-312300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
315 PM CDT SAT JUL 31 1993

...A NEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR PARTS OF
NORTHWEST MISSOURI...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
FOR PARTS OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI UNTIL 1000 PM.  THIS NEW WATCH AREA
INCLUDES THE KANSAS CITY METRO AREA AND ST JOSEPH.

CONDITIONS REMAIN FAVORABLE ACROSS THIS AREA FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.  IF YOU LIVE IN OR CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA...
REMAIN ALERT FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WHICH PRODUCE LARGE HAIL...
DAMAGING WIND AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING.  IF STORMS APPROACH...MOVE TO A
PLACE OF SHELTER AND LI`STEN FOR LATER UPDATES.

SHEA
Special weather statement, Jul 31, 3:13 PM CDT, 2 hours 19 minutes before
MOZ006-312100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA MO
305 PM CDT SAT JUL 31 1993

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF CENTRAL MISSOURI
UNTIL 800 PM...

AT 305 PM...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST ACROSS
NORTHERN PARTS OF CENTRAL MISSOURI. THE LEADING EDGE OF THE STORMS
WAS FROM 20 MILES NORTH OF MARHALL...NEAR BRUNSWICK...TO 20 MILES
NORTHEAST OF MOBERLY. THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE IN A LINE FROM 5 MILES
NORTH OF SALISBURY TO 20 MILES NORTHEAST OF MOBERLY...NEAR SHELBINA.
THESE STORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

THE TOWNS OF HIGBEE...HARRISBURG...CLARK AND CENTRALIA ARE IN THE PATH
OF THESE STORMS BEFORE 400 PM. THESE STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE AT ANY
MOMENT...SO BE PREPARED FOR LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS...ALONG WITH
HEAVY RAINS AND DEADLY LIGHTNING. STAY INDOORS AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
BE ALERT FOR FLOODED STREETS AND SMALL STREAMS. NEVER CROSS A FLOODED
ROADWAY. IF YOU SPOT SEVERE WEATHER...CALL THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY FOR RELAY OF THE INFORMATION TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

STANLEY
Special weather statement, Jul 31, 3:15 PM CDT, 2 hours 17 minutes before
MOZ001-002-004-005-008-009-312300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
315 PM CDT SAT JUL 31 1993

...A NEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR PARTS OF
NORTHWEST MISSOURI...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
FOR PARTS OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI UNTIL 1000 PM.  THIS NEW WATCH AREA
INCLUDES THE KANSAS CITY METRO AREA AND ST JOSEPH.

CONDITIONS REMAIN FAVORABLE ACROSS THIS AREA FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.  IF YOU LIVE IN OR CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA...
REMAIN ALERT FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WHICH PRODUCE LARGE HAIL...
DAMAGING WIND AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING.  IF STORMS APPROACH...MOVE TO A
PLACE OF SHELTER AND LISTEN FOR LATER UPDATES.

SHEA
Special weather statement, Jul 31, 4:15 PM CDT, 1 hour 17 minutes before
MOZ012-312330-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
415 PM CDT SAT JUL 31 1993

...STRONG WINDS ARE HEADING TOWARDS ST LOUIS...

A LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVING OUT OF NORTHEAST
MISSOURI AND TOWARDS ST LOUIS THIS AFTERNOON.  THESE STORMS HAVE
PRODUCED WIND DAMAGE AND GUSTS TO 60 MILES AN HOUR OVER AREAS
NORTHWEST OF ST LOUIS.

AS THESE STORMS MOVE SOUTHEAST...PEOPLE IN THE ST LOUIS AREA AND
ESPECIALLY PEOPLE WORKING AROUND THE RIVER FLOODING SHOULD PREPARE
FOR POSSIBLE SEVERE WEATHER AND STRONG WIND.  THESE STORMS SHOULD
ARRIVE IN THE AT LOUIS METRO AREA BETWEEN 530 AND 630 PM.

ALL PEOPLE ON BOATS OR LEVEES HELPING WITH FLOOD PROBLEMS SHOULD
BE ADVISED OF THESE APPROACHING STORMS AND BE READY TO FIND SHELTER.

SHEA
Special weather statement, Jul 31, 4:17 PM CDT, 1 hour 15 minutes before
MOZ012-312330-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
415 PM CDT SAT JUL 31 1993

...STRONG WINDS ARE HEADING TOWARDS ST LOUIS...

A LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVING OUT OF NORTHEAST
MISSOURI AND TOWARDS ST LOUIS THIS AFTERNOON.  THESE STORMS HAVE
PRODUCED WIND DAMAGE AND GUSTS TO 60 MILES AN HOUR OVER AREAS
NORTHWEST OF ST LOUIS.

AS THESE STORMS MOVE SOUTHEAST...PEOPLE IN THE ST LOUIS AREA AND
ESPECIALLY PEOPLE WORKING AROUND THE RIVER FLOODING SHOULD PREPARE
FOR POSSIBLE SEVERE WEATHER AND STRONG WIND.  THESE STORMS SHOULD
ARRIVE IN THE AT LOUIS METRO AREA BETWEEN 530 AND 630 PM.

ALL PEOPLE ON BOATS OR LEVEES HELPING WITH FLOOD PROBLEMS SHOULD
BE ADVISED OF THESE APPROACHING STORMS AND BE READY TO FIND SHELTER.

SHEA

The office that day

Everything else NWS St. Louis, MO issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 30, 10:41 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningLSXSaint Louis3 hr
Jul 31, 3:06 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXMonroe, Shelby54 min
Jul 31, 4:02 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXRalls43 min
Jul 31, 4:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXAudrain37 min
Jul 31, 4:14 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXPike46 min
Jul 31, 4:31 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXLincoln44 min
Jul 31, 5:02 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXSaint Charles, Warren43 min
Jul 31, 5:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXSaint Louis, City of Saint Louis45 min
Jul 31, 5:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXFranklin45 min
Jul 31, 5:20 PM CDTTornado WarningLSXSaint Charles, Saint Louis40 min
Jul 31, 5:37 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningLSXSaint Louis, City of Saint Louis2 hr
Jul 31, 5:53 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXJefferson52 min
Jul 31, 6:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXWashington45 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Missouri, 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.