Alert archive / Michigan / Tornado Warnings in 1994

Tornado Warning 1, NWS Gaylord, MI

July 4, 1994Osceola County, Michigan

NWS Gaylord, MI issued this tornado warning at Jul 4, 1994, 10:31 PM EDT for Osceola County, Michigan. It was in force for 34 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 4, 1994, 10:31 PM EDT (02:31 UTC)
Expired
Jul 4, 1994, 11:05 PM EDT
In force
34 min
Issued by
NWS Gaylord, MI
Area
Whole counties

County Osceola County, MI

The nearest sounding before it

Detroit, MI (KFNT), launched 00:00Z, 2.5 hours before the alert went out and 208 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, Detroit, MI at 00:00Z on 1994-07-05Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1468 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, Detroit, MI at 00:00Z on 1994-07-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 130 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
1468 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-6 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
920 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
28 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
130 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
217 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.1
Supercell composite
7.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KMKG 050231
TORMKG
MIC133-050315-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MUSKEGON MI
1031 PM EDT MON JUL 4 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MUSKEGON MI  HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1115 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN WEST CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN
 
   ...OSCEOLA COUNTY
 
AT 1030 PM EDT... FIRE OFFICIALS IN ROSE LAKE TOWNSHIP REPORTED A
TORNADO JUST NORTHEAST OF THE TOWN OF LEROY...15 MILES SOUTH OF
CADILLAC. THE TORNADO WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH AND WILL MOVE NEAR
THE TOWN OF DIGHTON...12 MILES SOUTH OF CADILLAC BY 1040 PM.
PEOPLE IN DIGHTON SHOULD TAKE COVER NOW!!!!!
 
 
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 WINDtOWS.
 
 
FELVER

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 4, 8:17 PM EDT, 2 hours 14 minutes before
MIZ022-028-034-035-040-041-050115-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUGHTON LAKE MI
817 PM EDT MON JUL 4 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTH
CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN UNTIL MIDNIGHT. INCLUDED IN THE WATCH ARE
THE COMMUNITIES OF CLARE...GLADWIN...HOUGHTON LAKE...WEST BRANCH...
GRAYLING AND GAYLORD.

AT 813 PM EDT WEATHER RADAR FROM HOUGHTON LAKE INDICATED A LARGE
AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM 15 MILES WEST OF TRAVERSE CITY
IN LEELANAU COUNTY TO 40 MILES WEST OF THE CITY OF CLARE IN CLARE
COUNTY. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST NORTHEAST AT
40 TO 45 MPH.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO REACH THE HOUGHTON LAKE AREA BY
900 PM AND THE GRAYLING AND GAYLORD AREAS BY 915 PM EDT THIS
EVENING. DAMAGING WINDS...FREQUENT DEADLY LIGHTNING...LARGE HAIL
AND TORRENTIAL RAINS ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS.

PERSONS IN THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA ARE STRONGLY URGED TO
MONITOR LOCAL TELEVISION AND RADIO STATIONS FOR THE LATEST UPDATES
ON THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH...ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS...AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS. IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES MOVE INDOORS TO A PLACE
OF SAFETY IMMEDIATELY.

KEIT
Special weather statement, Jul 4, 8:17 PM EDT, 2 hours 14 minutes before
MIZ022-028-034-035-040-041-050115-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUGHTON LAKE MI
817 PM EDT MON JUL 4 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTH
CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN UNTIL MIDNIGHT. INCLUDED IN THE WATCH ARE
THE COMMUNITIES OF CLARE...GLADWIN...HOUGHTON LAKE...WEST BRANCH...
GRAYLING AND GAYLORD.

AT 813 PM EDT WEATHER RADAR FROM HOUGHTON LAKE INDICATED A LARGE
AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM 15 MILES WEST OF TRAVERSE CITY
IN LEELANAU COUNTY TO 40 MILES WEST OF THE CITY OF CLARE IN CLARE
COUNTY. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST NORTHEAST AT
40 TO 45 MPH.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO REACH THE HOUGHTON LAKE AREA BY
900 PM AND THE GRAYLING AND GAYLORD AREAS BY 915 PM EDT THIS
EVENING. DAMAGING WINDS...FREQUENT DEADLY LIGHTNING...LARGE HAIL
AND TORRENTIAL RAINS ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS.

PERSONS IN THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA ARE STRONGLY URGED TO
MONITOR LOCAL TELEVISION AND RADIO STATIONS FOR THE LATEST UPDATES
ON THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH...ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS...AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS. IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES MOVE INDOORS TO A PLACE
OF SAFETY IMMEDIATELY.

KEIT
Special weather statement, Jul 4, 8:42 PM EDT, 1 hour 49 minutes before
MIZ017-016-019-050145-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALPENA MI
842 PM EDT MON JUL 4 1994

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING INTO NORTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN...

AT 840 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO CHARLEVOIX COUNTY FROM THE SOUTHWEST. THIS
LINE WAS MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

IF YOU LIVE IN THE COMMUNITIES OF CHARLEVOIX...BOYNE CITY...BOYNE
FALLS...OR EAST JORDAN SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. MARINERS ON LAKE
MICHIGAN AROUND LITTLE TRAVERSE BAY SHOULD SEEK SAFE HARBOR IMMEDIATELY.

THESE STORMS HAVE A HISTORY OF PRODUCING STRONG WINDS. ALSO...DEADLY
LIGHTNING AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL ACCOMPANY THE PASSAGE OF THESE
STORMS.

NORCROSS
Special weather statement, Jul 4, 8:44 PM EDT, 1 hour 47 minutes before
MIZ017-016-019-050145-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALPENA MI
842 PM EDT MON JUL 4 1994

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING INTO NORTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN...

AT 840 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO CHARLEVOIX COUNTY FROM THE SOUTHWEST. THIS
LINE WAS MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

IF YOU LIVE IN THE COMMUNITIES OF CHARLEVOIX...BOYNE CITY...BOYNE
FALLS...OR EAST JORDAN SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. MARINERS ON LAKE
MICHIGAN AROUND LITTLE TRAVERSE BAY SHOULD SEEK SAFE HARBOR IMMEDIATELY.

THESE STORMS HAVE A HISTORY OF PRODUCING STRONG WINDS. ALSO...DEADLY
LIGHTNING AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL ACCOMPANY THE PASSAGE OF THESE
STORMS.

NORCROSS
Special weather statement, Jul 4, 9:08 PM EDT, 1 hour 23 minutes before
MIZ022-028-034-035-040-041-050215-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUGHTON LAKE MI
908 PM EDT MON JUL 4 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT FOR
ALL OF NORTH CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN INCLUDING THE COMMUNITIES OF
CLARE...GLADWIN...HOUGHTON LAKE...WEST BRANCH...GRAYLING AND GAYLORD.

AT 900 PM EDT WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING
FROM 15 MILES SOUTHWEST OF PETOSKEY IN CHARLEVOIX COUNTY TO THE
NORTHWEST PORTION OF NEWAGO COUNTY. THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE
LOCATED IN THE CADILLAC IN WEXFORD COUNTY AND IN LAKE CITY IN MISSAUKEE
COUNTY. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

PERSONS IN OTSEGO COUNTY AND THE COMMUNITIES OF OTSEGO LAKE AND
WATERS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER AS THESE
STORMS WILL PASS THROUGH THE AREA BY 925 PM. THUNDERSTORMS WILL
ALSO MOVE THROUGH GRAYLING BY 930 PM...AND HOUGHTON LAKE BY 945 PM.

IF YOU SEE THREATENING WEATHER APPROACH YOU SHOULD MOVE TO A PLACE
OF SAFETY IMMEDIATELY. FOR FURTHER WEATHER UPDATES PLEASE STAY
TUNED TO LOCAL TELEVISION AND RADIO STATIONS.

KEITH

NNNN
Special weather statement, Jul 4, 9:08 PM EDT, 1 hour 23 minutes before
MIZ022-028-034-035-040-041-050215-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUGHTON LAKE MI
908 PM EDT MON JUL 4 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT FOR
ALL OF NORTH CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN INCLUDING THE COMMUNITIES OF
CLARE...GLADWIN...HOUGHTON LAKE...WEST BRANCH...GRAYLING AND GAYLORD.

AT 900 PM EDT WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING
FROM 15 MILES SOUTHWEST OF PETOSKEY IN CHARLEVOIX COUNTY TO THE
NORTHWEST PORTION OF NEWAGO COUNTY. THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE
LOCATED IN THE CADILLAC IN WEXFORD COUNTY AND IN LAKE CITY IN MISSAUKEE
COUNTY. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

PERSONS IN OTSEGO COUNTY AND THE COMMUNITIES OF OTSEGO LAKE AND
WATERS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER AS THESE
STORMS WILL PASS THROUGH THE AREA BY 925 PM. THUNDERSTORMS WILL
ALSO MOVE THROUGH GRAYLING BY 930 PM...AND HOUGHTON LAKE BY 945 PM.

IF YOU SEE THREATENING WEATHER APPROACH YOU SHOULD MOVE TO A PLACE
OF SAFETY IMMEDIATELY. FOR FURTHER WEATHER UPDATES PLEASE STAY
TUNED TO LOCAL TELEVISION AND RADIO STATIONS.

KEITH

NNNN

The office that day

Everything else NWS Gaylord, MI issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 4, 8:09 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAPXAntrim, Grand Traverse51 min
Jul 4, 8:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAPXMissaukee, Wexford68 min
Jul 4, 9:13 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAPXCheboygan47 min
Jul 4, 10:25 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAPXOscoda30 min
Jul 4, 10:58 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAPXMuskegon, Oceana47 min
Jul 4, 11:38 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAPXNewaygo58 min
Jul 4, 11:51 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAPXMecosta69 min
Jul 5, 12:10 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAPXMissaukee65 min
Jul 5, 6:59 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAPXAntrim46 min
Jul 5, 6:59 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAPXLeelanau46 min
Jul 5, 7:13 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAPXKalkaska47 min
Jul 5, 7:47 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAPXLake, Mason58 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Michigan, 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.