Alert archive / Virginia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1994

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 13, NWS Wakefield, VA

May 25, 1994Chesterfield County, Virginia

NWS Wakefield, VA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 25, 1994, 8:07 PM EDT for Chesterfield County, Virginia. It was in force for 53 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 25, 1994, 8:07 PM EDT (00:07 UTC)
Expired
May 25, 1994, 9:00 PM EDT
In force
53 min
Issued by
NWS Wakefield, VA
Area
Whole counties

County Chesterfield County, VA

The nearest sounding before it

Wallops Is Stn, VA (KWAL), launched 00:00Z, 0.1 hours before the alert went out and 202 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 00:00Z on 1994-05-26Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1607 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 00:00Z on 1994-05-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 129 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
1607 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-77 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1214 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
32 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
129 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
114 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
2.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KRIC 260010 RRA
SVRRIC
VAC041-260100-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RICHMOND VA
807 PM EDT WED MAY 25 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RICHMOND HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  900 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA
 
   ...CHESTERFIELD COUNTY
 
AT 808 PM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH A
STRONG POSSIBILITY OF LARGE HAIL MOVING INTO SOUTHWESTERN CHESTERFIELD
COUNTY. THE STORM IS MOVING EAST AT 25 TO 30 MPH.
 
 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55
MPH...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.
FOR YOUR PROTEC
TION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.  HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO
DON'T DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm 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, May 25, 3:54 PM EDT, 4 hours 13 minutes before
VAZ066-068-070-079-251200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RICHMOND VA
350 PM EDT WED MAY 25 1994

 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING RAPIDLY OVER CENTRAL VIRGINIA...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR AREAS NORTH AND WEST OF
RICHMOND THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. AT 345PM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR
SHOWED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS RAPIDLY DEVELOPING OVER CENTRAL NOTTOWAY
AND WESTERN CHESTERFIELD COUNTIES IN VIRGINIA. THE STORMS ARE MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. OTHER STORMS WERE DEVELOPING OVER AMELIA AND
NORTHERN BRUNSWICK COUNTIES.

THE STORMS OVER WESTERN CHESTERFIELD AND NORTHERN LUNENBURG MAY BE
PRODUCING HAIL. WINDS BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MPH ARE ASLO POSSIBLE WITH
THESE STORMS. DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN IS
POSSIBLE WITH ANY OF THESE STORMS.

WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL CHANGE VERY RAPIDLY OVER CENTRAL VIRGINIA THIS
AFTERNOON...AND ANYONE PLANNING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING SHOULD BE PREPARED TO MOVE INDOORS QUICKLY.

SKYWARN SPOTTERS ARE REQUESTED TO RELAY ANY SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS
IMMEDIATLY TO THE WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN RICHMOND.

 BPM
Special weather statement, May 25, 3:58 PM EDT, 4 hours 9 minutes before
VAZ066-068-070-079-251200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...COR
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RICHMOND VA
350 PM EDT WED MAY 25 1994

 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING RAPIDLY OVER CENTRAL VIRGINIA...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR AREAS NORTH AND WEST OF
RICHMOND THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. AT 345PM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR
SHOWED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS RAPIDLY DEVELOPING OVER CENTRAL NOTTOWAY
AND WESTERN CHESTERFIELD COUNTIES IN VIRGINIA. THE STORMS ARE MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. OTHER STORMS WERE DEVELOPING OVER AMELIA AND
NORTHERN BRUNSWICK COUNTIES.

THE STORMS OVER WESTERN CHESTERFIELD AND NORTHERN NOTTOWAY MAY BE
PRODUCING HAIL. WINDS BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MPH ARE ASLO POSSIBLE WITH
THESE STORMS. DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN IS
POSSIBLE WITH ANY OF THESE STORMS.

WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL CHANGE VERY RAPIDLY OVER CENTRAL VIRGINIA THIS
AFTERNOON...AND ANYONE PLANNING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING SHOULD BE PREPARED TO MOVE INDOORS QUICKLY.

SKYWARN SPOTTERS ARE REQUESTED TO RELAY ANY SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS
IMMEDIATLY TO THE WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN RICHMOND.

 BPM
Special weather statement, May 25, 4:40 PM EDT, 3 hours 27 minutes before
VAZ074>078-252200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORFOLK VA
440 PM EDT WED MAY 25 1994

...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHERN NECK OF VIRGINIA...

AT 4:38 PM WEATHER RADAR SHOWED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER KING AND QUEEN
COUNTY STARTING TO MOVE INTO ESSEX COUNTY. THE THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING
TOWARD THE EAST 30 MPH.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL...HEAVY DOWNPOURS
...AND DEADLY LIGHTNING. PERSONS IN THIS AREA SHOULD KEEP ALERT FOR
THREATING WEATHER AND BE PREPARED TO SEEK SHELTER.

STAY TUNED TO TV...RADIO...AND NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER UPDATES.

 MV
Special weather statement, May 25, 4:43 PM EDT, 3 hours 24 minutes before
VAZ074>078-252200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORFOLK VA
440 PM EDT WED MAY 25 1994

...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHERN NECK OF VIRGINIA...

AT 4:38 PM WEATHER RADAR SHOWED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER KING AND QUEEN
COUNTY STARTING TO MOVE INTO ESSEX COUNTY. THE THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING
TOWARD THE EAST 30 MPH.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL...HEAVY DOWNPOURS
...AND DEADLY LIGHTNING. PERSONS IN THIS AREA SHOULD KEEP ALERT FOR
THREATING WEATHER AND BE PREPARED TO SEEK SHELTER.

STAY TUNED TO TV...RADIO...AND NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER UPDATES.

 MV
Special weather statement, May 25, 6:43 PM EDT, 1 hour 24 minutes before
VAZ062-063-070-072-073-260000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RICHMOND VA
643 PM EDT WED MAY 25 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR KING WILLIAM AND KING AND QUEEN
HAS EXPIRED AS OF 630PM...

...VERY STRONG STORMS CONTINUE OVER CENTRAL AND WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA...

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM EARLIER OVER KING WILLIAM AND KING AND QUEEN
COUNTIES HAS MOVED EAST AWAY FROM THE AREA. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF VIRGINIA UNTIL 11PM.

AT 625PM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A CLUSTER OF VERY STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTHERN POWHATAN...MUCH OF GOOCHLAND AND WESTERN
HANOVER COUNTIES. ANOTHER STRONG STORM WAS LOCATED OVER SOUTHWESTERN
CHESTERFIELD. THESE STORMS ARE LIKELY PRODUCING HAIL. STRONG
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING
AND BLINDING DOWNPOURS WILL ALSO ACCOMPANY THESE STORMS AS THEY MOVE
TO THE EAST AT 30 MPH.

SKYWARN SPOTTERS ARE REQUESTED TO IMMEDIATELY RELAY ANY SEVERE
REPORTS TO THE WEATHER SERVICE IN RICHMOND.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER UPDATES AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.

 BPM
Special weather statement, May 25, 6:44 PM EDT, 1 hour 23 minutes before
VAZ062-063-070-072-073-260000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RICHMOND VA
643 PM EDT WED MAY 25 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR KING WILLIAM AND KING AND QUEEN
HAS EXPIRED AS OF 630PM...

...VERY STRONG STORMS CONTINUE OVER CENTRAL AND WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA...

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM EARLIER OVER KING WILLIAM AND KING AND QUEEN
COUNTIES HAS MOVED EAST AWAY FROM THE AREA. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF VIRGINIA UNTIL 11PM.

AT 625PM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A CLUSTER OF VERY STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTHERN POWHATAN...MUCH OF GOOCHLAND AND WESTERN
HANOVER COUNTIES. ANOTHER STRONG STORM WAS LOCATED OVER SOUTHWESTERN
CHESTERFIELD. THESE STORMS ARE LIKELY PRODUCING HAIL. STRONG
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING
AND BLINDING DOWNPOURS WILL ALSO ACCOMPANY THESE STORMS AS THEY MOVE
TO THE EAST AT 30 MPH.

SKYWARN SPOTTERS ARE REQUESTED TO IMMEDIATELY RELAY ANY SEVERE
REPORTS TO THE WEATHER SERVICE IN RICHMOND.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER UPDATES AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.

 BPM

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 26, 3:10 PM EDTTornado WarningAKQCity of Hampton50 min
May 26, 3:22 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQCity of Virginia Beach53 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Virginia, 1994Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1994

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.