Alert archive / Virginia / Tornado Warnings in 1994

Tornado Warning 4, NWS Wakefield, VA

June 21, 1994Caroline County, Virginia

NWS Wakefield, VA issued this tornado warning at Jun 21, 1994, 7:53 PM EDT for Caroline County, Virginia. It was in force for 22 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jun 21, 1994, 7:53 PM EDT (23:53 UTC)
Expired
Jun 21, 1994, 8:15 PM EDT
In force
22 min
Issued by
NWS Wakefield, VA
Area
Whole counties

County Caroline County, VA

The nearest sounding before it

Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 12:00Z, 11.9 hours before the alert went out and 103 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, Washington/Dulle, VA at 12:00Z on 1994-06-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 341 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, Washington/Dulle, VA at 12:00Z on 1994-06-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 125 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
341 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-41 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
613 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
24 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
125 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
142 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KRIC 212355
TORRIC
VAC033-220015-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RICHMOND VA
753 PM EDT TUE JUN 21 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RICHMOND HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  815 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN NORTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA
 
   ...NORTHEASTERN CAROLINE COUNTY
 
AN OFF DUTY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD IN THE
VICINITY OF PORT ROYAL IN NORTHEASTERN CAROLINE COUNTY.
 
 
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.
 
 
LIPSON
&

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 21, 5:22 PM EDT, 2 hours 31 minutes before
VAZ074>078-084>098-212325-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORFOLK VA
522 PM EDT TUE JUN 21 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM FOR THE NORTHERN
NECK...MIDDLE PENINSULA AND INTERIOR SOUTHEAST...

AT 5:20 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
ACROSS CENTRAL VIRGINIA NORTHWEST OF RICHMOND. A STRONG THUNDERSTORM
WAS DETECTED IN SOUTHERN GREENSVILLE COUNTY NEAR THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY
LINE. MOVEMENT OF THIS STORM WAS TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 MPH.
STRONG GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT DEADLY LIGHTNING AND POSSIBLY SOME SMALL
HAIL MAY ACCOMPANY THIS STORM.

BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND SEEK SHELTER
QUICKLY IF STORMS APPROACH. TUNE IN NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL
RADIO OR TV STATION FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.

STEPHENS
Special weather statement, Jun 21, 5:24 PM EDT, 2 hours 29 minutes before
VAZ074>078-084>098-212325-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORFOLK VA
522 PM EDT TUE JUN 21 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM FOR THE NORTHERN
NECK...MIDDLE PENINSULA AND INTERIOR SOUTHEAST...

AT 5:20 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
ACROSS CENTRAL VIRGINIA NORTHWEST OF RICHMOND. A STRONG THUNDERSTORM
WAS DETECTED IN SOUTHERN GREENSVILLE COUNTY NEAR THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY
LINE. MOVEMENT OF THIS STORM WAS TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 MPH.
STRONG GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT DEADLY LIGHTNING AND POSSIBLY SOME SMALL
HAIL MAY ACCOMPANY THIS STORM.

BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND SEEK SHELTER
QUICKLY IF6 STORMS APPROACH. TUNE IN NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL
RADIO OR TV STATION FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.

STEPHENS
Special weather statement, Jun 21, 5:47 PM EDT, 2 hours 6 minutes before
VAZ021-036-037-047>049-056-060>073-079>083-DDHHMM-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RICHMOND VA
 545 PM EDT TUE JUNE 21 1994

 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR MOST OF VIRGINIA UNTIL 10 PM...
 ...THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE IN THE VIRGINIA PIEDMONT...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM FOR MOST OF
VIRGINIA THIS EVENING. STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED
TO DEVELOP OUT AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT NOW LOCATED OVER THE LOWER GREAT
LAKES. THIS FRONT WILL BE PUSHING THROUGH VIRGINIA LATER TONIGHT
BUT IN THE MEANTIME VIRGINIA RESIDENTS WILL HAVE TO CONTEND WITH THE
POSSIBILITY OF SEVERE THUNDESRTORMS.

WEATHER RADAR AT 5:41 PM INDICATED THE THUNDERSTORMS OVER LOUISA
COUNTY WERE WEAKENING. THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE INDICATED TO
BE OVER NORTHEASTERN BUCKINGHAM COUNTY IN THE VICINITY OF ARVONIA AS
WELL AS IN EASTERN FLUVANNA COUNTY AND WESTERN GOOCHLAND COUNTY NEAR
STAGE JUNCTION AND FIFE.
>
THE MAIN FEATURE OF THESE STORMS ARE VERY HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT
CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. THESE STORMS MAY ALSO PRODUCE STRONG
GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA EATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER UPDATES AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS

LIPSON
Special weather statement, Jun 21, 5:47 PM EDT, 2 hours 6 minutes before
VAZ021-036-037-047>049-056-060>073-079>083-DDHHMM-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RICHMOND VA
 545 PM EDT TUE JUNE 21 1994

 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR MOST OF VIRGINIA UNTIL 10 PM...
 ...THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE IN THE VIRGINIA PIEDMONT...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM FOR MOST OF
VIRGINIA THIS EVENING. STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED
TO DEVELOP OUT AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT NOW LOCATED OVER THE LOWER GREAT
LAKES. THIS FRONT WILL BE PUSHING THROUGH VIRGINIA LATER TONIGHT
BUT IN THE MEANTIME VIRGINIA RESIDENTS WILL HAVE TO CONTEND WITH THE
POSSIBILITY OF SEVERE THUNDESRTORMS.

WEATHER RADAR AT 5:41 PM INDICATED THE THUNDERSTORMS OVER LOUISA
COUNTY WERE WEAKENING. THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE INDICATED TO
BE OVER NORTHEASTERN BUCKINGHAM COUNTY IN THE VICINITY OF ARVONIA AS
WELL AS IN EASTERN FLUVANNA COUNTY AND WESTERN GOOCHLAND COUNTY NEAR
STAGE JUNCTION AND FIFE.
>
THE MAIN FEATURE OF THESE STORMS ARE VERY HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT
CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. THESE STORMS MAY ALSO PRODUCE STRONG
GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA EATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER UPDATES AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS

LIPSON
Special weather statement, Jun 21, 7:25 PM EDT, 28 minutes before
VAZ074>078-084>098-220125-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORFOLK VA
725 PM EDT TUE JUN 21 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM FOR THE NORTHERN
NECK...MIDDLE PENINSULA AND INTERIOR SOUTHEAST...

AT 7:20 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR CONTINUED TO SHOW STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS CENTRAL VIRGINIA. THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE
NORTHWEST OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY IN CHARLES COUNTY MARYLAND. OTHER
THUNDERSTORMS WERE WEST OF THE INTERIOR SOUTHEAST AND IN EASTERN
MIDDLESEX AND LANCASTER COUNTIES AROUND WINDMILL POINT. THE STORMS
WERE MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH. VERY HEAVY RAINS...STRONG GUSTY
WINDS AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE WITH THUNDERSTORMS THIS
EVENING.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER
RADIO FOR THE LATEST WEATHER UPDATES AND SEEK A SAFE SHELTER IF STORMS
APPROACH YOUR AREA.

STEPHENS
N
Special weather statement, Jun 21, 7:25 PM EDT, 28 minutes before
VAZ074>078-084>098-220125-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORFOLK VA
725 PM EDT TUE JUN 21 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM FOR THE NORTHERN
NECK...MIDDLE PENINSULA AND INTERIOR SOUTHEAST...

AT 7:20 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR CONTINUED TO SHOW STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS CENTRAL VIRGINIA. THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE
NORTHWEST OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY IN CHARLES COUNTY MARYLAND. OTHER
THUNDERSTORMS WERE WEST OF THE INTERIOR SOUTHEAST AND IN EASTERN
MIDDLESEX AND LANCASTER COUNTIES AROUND WINDMILL POINT. THE STORMS
WERE MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH. VERY HEAVY RAINS...STRONG GUSTY
WINDS AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE WITH THUNDERSTORMS THIS
EVENING.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER
RADIO FOR THE LATEST WEATHER UPDATES AND SEEK A SAFE SHELTER IF STORMS
APPROACH YOUR AREA.

STEPHENS
N

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 21, 6:06 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQBuckingham54 min
Jun 21, 6:25 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQBrunswick, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg50 min
Jun 21, 7:05 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQNottoway40 min
Jun 21, 7:46 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQDinwiddie44 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Virginia, 1994Every tornado warning in 1994Tornadoes 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.