Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 1993

Tornado Warning 4, NWS Blacksburg, VA

June 4, 1993Randolph County, North Carolina

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this tornado warning at Jun 4, 1993, 7:57 PM EDT for Randolph County, North Carolina. It was in force for 48 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jun 4, 1993, 7:57 PM EDT (23:57 UTC)
Expired
Jun 4, 1993, 8:45 PM EDT
In force
48 min
Issued by
NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area
Whole counties

County Randolph County, NC

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 12.0 hours before the alert went out and 42 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 1993-06-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 774 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 1993-06-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 58 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
774 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-130 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1204 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
33 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
58 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
114 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KGSO 042357
TORGSO
NCC151-050045-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED/EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED 
TORNADO WARNING 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENSBORO NC
757 PM EDT FRI JUN 4 1993

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING 
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 845 PM EDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY

   IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
      RANDOLPH

AT 755 PM A TORNADO WAS REPORTED EAST OF ASHEBORO NEAR CEDAR FALLS.

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO...THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE IS IN
A BASEMENT.  GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE.
IF NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...FIND SHELTER IN AN INTERIOR ROOM
SUCH AS A CLOSET ON THE LOWEST FLOOR.  USE BLANKETS..PILLOWS..
OR CUSHIONS TO COVER YOUR BODY.  AVOID WINDOWS.  ABANDON MOBILE
HOMES FOR STRONGER STRUCTURES.

 THIS REPLACES THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR RANDOLPH COUNTY.

 IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES..YOU SHOULD GO TO A SAFE PLACE
 IMMEDIATELY.  WHEN IT IS SAFE..ASK YOUR> NEAREST LAW ENFOREMENT
 AGENCY TO RELAY YOUR SEVERE WEATHER REPORT TO THE LOCAL NATIONAL
 WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE.

 GTR

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 4, 2:37 PM EDT, 5 hours 20 minutes before
VAZ008-009-041200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LYNCHBURG VA
235 PM EDT FRI JUN 04 1993

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTHWESTERN
   PIEDMONT AND THE SOUTHERN FOOTHILLS UNTIL 7PM TONIGHT...

VOLENS WEATHER RADAR SHOWED THUNDERSTORMS...SOME HEAVY...FORMING OVER
SOUTHWESTERN AND WESTERN VIRGINIA FROM GRAYSON COUNTY TO BATH COUNTY.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN PORTIONS OF WEST VIRGINIA.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING TO THE EAST AT 40 TO 50 MPH AND THERE
IS A GOOD CHANCE THEY COULD PRODUCE STRONG WINDS AND HAIL.

IF THREATENING STORM CONDITIONS OCCUR IN YOUR AREA TAKE SHELTER
AND LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LO~CAL RADIO OR TV STATION
FOR UPDATES AS THEY ARE ISSUED.

MONROE
Special weather statement, Jun 4, 2:41 PM EDT, 5 hours 16 minutes before
VAZ008-009-042100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LYNCHBURG VA
235 PM EDT FRI JUN 04 1993

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTHWESTERN
   PIEDMONT AND THE SOUTHERN FOOTHILLS UNTIL 7PM TONIGHT...

VOLENS WEATHER RADAR SHOWED THUNDERSTORMS...SOME HEAVY...FORMING OVER
SOUTHWESTERN AND WESTERN VIRGINIA FROM GRAYSON COUNTY TO BATH COUNTY.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN PORTIONS OF WEST VIRGINIA.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING TO THE EAST AT 40 TO 50 MPH AND THERE
IS A GOOD CHANCE THEY COULD PRODUCE STRONG WINDS AND HAIL.

IF THREATENING STORM CONDITIONS OCCUR IN YOUR AREA TAKE SHELTER
AND LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TV STATION
FOR UPDATES AS THEY ARE ISSUED.

MONROE
Special weather statement, Jun 4, 6:37 PM EDT, 1 hour 20 minutes before
VAZ008-009-013-014-015-016-042345-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ROANOKE VIRGINIA
637 PM EDT FRI JUN 4 1993

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING WHICH WAS IN EFFECT FOR PATRICK
   COUNTY HAS BEEN CANCELLED...
...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH WHICH IS IN EFFECT FOR WEST CENTRAL
   VIRGINIA WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE AT 700 PM...
...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT TO THE WEST OF
   THE ROANOKE VALLEY...

AT 630 PM RADAR SHOWED RAIN WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS REMAIN OVER
MUCH OF SOUTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA. THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
WHICH PASSED THROUGH EARLIER HAVE MOVED INTO CENTRAL VIRGINIA TO THE
EAST OF LYNCHBURG. A FEW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS REMAIN ALONG THE VIRGINIA
AND NORTH CAROLINA BORDER OVER PATRICK AND HENRY COUNTIES.

REPORTS FROM SKYWARN SPOTTERS ACROSS SOUTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA
REPORT FREQUENT LIGHTNING CONTINUING...AND SOME SPOTS OF HEAVY RAIN
REMAIN...BUT THEY ARE GETTING NO MORE REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER. THIS
WOULD INCLUDE THOSE AREAS ALONG THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS...AND WESTWARD
THROUGH THE ROANOKE VALLEY AREA AND INTO THE NEW RIVER VALLEY AREA.

THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF TREES THAT WERE DOWNED EARLIER...
THAT ARE STILL BLOCKING THE ROADS. MANY POWER LINES ARE ALSO REPORTED TO
BE DOWN...AND MAY BE A HAZARD TO DRIVERS.

JACKSON
Special weather statement, Jun 4, 6:40 PM EDT, 1 hour 17 minutes before
VAZ008-009-013-014-015-016-042345-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ROANOKE VIRGINIA
637 PM EDT FRI JUN 4 1993

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING WHICH WAS IN EFFECT FOR PATRICK
   COUNTY HAS BEEN CANCELLED...
...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH WHICH IS IN EFFECT FOR WEST CENTRAL
   VIRGINIA WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE AT 700 PM...
...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT TO THE WEST OF
   THE ROANOKE VALLEY...

AT 630 PM RADAR SHOWED RAIN WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS REMAIN OVER
MUCH OF SOUTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA. THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
WHICH PASSED THROUGH EARLIER HAVE MOVED INTO CENTRAL VIRGINIA TO THE
EAST OF LYNCHBURG. A FEW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS REMAIN ALONG THE VIRGINIA
AND NORTH CAROLINA BORDER OVER PATRICK AND HENRY COUNTIES.

REPORTS FROM SKYWARN SPOTTERS ACROSS SOUTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA
REPORT FREQUENT LIGHTNING CONTINUING...AND SOME SPOTS OF HEAVY RAIN
REMAIN...BUT THEY ARE GETTING NO MORE REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER. THIS
WOULD INCLUDE THOSE AREAS ALONG THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS...AND WESTWARD
THROUGH THE ROANOKE VALLEY AREA AND INTO THE NEW RIVER VALLEY AREA.

THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF TREES THAT WEREx DOWNED EARLIER...
THAT ARE STILL BLOCKING THE ROADS. MANY POWER LINES ARE ALSO REPORTED TO
BE DOWN...AND MAY BE A HAZARD TO DRIVERS.

JACKSON
Special weather statement, Jun 4, 7:44 PM EDT, 13 minutes before
VAZ008-009-014-050145-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ROANOKE VIRGINIA
744 PM EDT FRI JUN 4 1993

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING WHICH WAS IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN
   PITTSYLVANNIA COUNTY AND THE CITY OF DANVILLE HAS EXPIRED...
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM FOR
   PORTIONS OF THE SOUTHWEST PIEDMONT AND SOUTHERN FOOTHILLS...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM FOR THE
FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN THE SOUTHWEST PIEDMONT AND SOUTHERN FOOTHILLS:
AMHERST...APPOMATTOX...CHARLOTTE AND HALIFAX.  AT 735 PM RADAR SHOWED
AN AREA OF RAIN WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS OVER CENTRAL VIRGINIA.
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER EASTERN VIRGINIA FROM NEAR RICHMOND...
EXTENDING SOUTHWARD INTO NORTH CAROLINA.

MORE THUNDERSTORMS MAY DEVELOP OVER THE SOUTHWEST PIEDMONT AND
SOUTHERN FOOTHILLS. LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS CAN STILL BE EXPECTED
FROM THE FEW THUNDERSTORMS THAT REMAIN EMBEDDED IN THE RAIN. NUMEROUS
REPORTS OF DOWNED TREES AND POWER LINES INDICATE THAT DRIVING COULD
STILL BE HAZARDOUS ACROSS WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA.

JACKSON
Special weather statement, Jun 4, 7:46 PM EDT, 11 minutes before
VAZ008-009-014-050145-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ROANOKE VIRGINIA
744 PM EDT FRI JUN 4 1993

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING WHICH WAS IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN
   PITTSYLVANNIA COUNTY AND THE CITY OF DANVILLE HAS EXPIRED...
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM FOR
   PORTIONS OF THE SOUTHWEST PIEDMONT AND SOUTHERN FOOTHILLS...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM FOR THE
FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN THE SOUTHWEST PIEDMONT AND SOUTHERN FOOTHILLS:
AMHERST...APPOMATTOX...CHARLOTTE AND HALIFAX.  AT 735 PM RADAR SHOWED
AN AREA OF RAIN WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS OVER CENTRAL VIRGINIA.
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER EASTERN VIRGINIA FROM NEAR RICHMOND...
EXTENDING SOUTHWARD INTO NORTH CAROLINA.

MORE THUNDERSTORMS MAY DEVELOP OVER THE SOUTHWEST PIEDMONT AND
SOUTHERN FOOTHILLS. LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS CAN STILL BE EXPECTED
FROM THE FEW THUNDERSTORMS THAT REMAIN EMBEDDED IN THE RAIN. NUMEROUS
REPORTS OF DOWNED TREES AND POWER LINES INDICATE THAT DRIVING COULD
STILL BE HAZARDOUS ACROSS WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA.

JACKSON

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 4, 5:13 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKWilkes62 min
Jun 4, 6:45 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKAlexander60 min
Jun 4, 6:45 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKDavie60 min
Jun 4, 7:09 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKDavidson, Davie51 min
Jun 4, 7:28 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKRowan47 min
Jun 4, 7:38 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKGuilford, Randolph67 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in North Carolina, 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.