Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 1994
Tornado Warning 38, NWS Birmingham, AL
NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Apr 15, 1994, 12:45 PM CDT for Calhoun County, Alabama. It was in force for 15 min.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Apr 15, 1994, 12:45 PM CDT (17:45 UTC)
- Expired
- Apr 15, 1994, 1:00 PM CDT
- In force
- 15 min
- Issued by
- NWS Birmingham, AL
- Area
- Whole counties
County Calhoun County, AL
The nearest sounding before it
Centreville/Bibb, AL (KCKL), launched 12:00Z, 5.8 hours before the alert went out and 160 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1524 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -15 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 573 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 27 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 234 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 378 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 1.3
- Supercell composite
- 8.2
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 TTAA00 KBHM 151751 COR TORBHM ALC015-151800- BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL...CORRECTION TO COUNTY NUMBER. 1245 PM CDT FRI APR 15 1994 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 100 PM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION... IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA ...CALHOUN COUNTY WEATHER SERVICE HAS RECEIVED AN UNCONFIRMED REPORT OF A TORNADO IN CALHOUN COUNTY JUST WEST OF JACKSONVILLE. RADAR SHOWS A WEAK ROTATION IN THIS SAME AREA. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY REINFORCED BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT...DITCH OR LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS. :
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, Apr 15, 7:48 AM CDT, 4 hours 57 minutes before
ALZ012-013-022-151345- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 747 AM CDT FRI APR 15 1994 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING OUT OF EASTERN MISSISSIPPI INTO PICKENS COUNTY WITH AN ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORM ALONG THE FAYETTE/LAMAR COUNTY LINE. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 TO 45 MPH. THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE ACCOMPANIED BY SMALL HAIL, HEAVY RAIN, AND CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTN0ING. PEOPLE IN THESE COUNTIES SHOULD REMAIN INSIDE AWAY FROM WINDS AS THESE THUNDERSTORMS MOVE OVER YOUR AREA.
Special weather statement, Apr 15, 8:13 AM CDT, 4 hours 32 minutes before
ALZALL-151415- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 812 AM CDT FRI APR 15 1994 A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR A LARGE PORTION OF NORTHERN, CENTRAL, AND WESTERN ALABAMA VALID UNTIL 300 PM CDT. WEST CENTRAL AND NORTHERN ALABAMA HAS ALREADY EXPERIENCED SOME SEVERE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY THIS MORNING WHILE A LARGE AREA OF HEAVY RAIN HAS BEEN MOVING ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA WHERE AROUND 2 INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN. TODAY IS SHAPING UP TO BE ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER EVENT FOR MUCH OF ALABAMA. ALREADY THIS MORNING THE WIND FLOW IN THE LOWER SECTIONS OF THE ATMOSPHERE HAVE BEGUN TO SWING AROUND TO THE SOUTHEAST ALLOWING A WIND PROFILE MORE CONDUCIVE TO TORNADO FORMATION. AS A STRONG UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM MOVES CLOSER TO THE STATE DURING THE DAY, THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL INCREASE. PEOPLE ALL ACROSS ALABAMA ARE URGED TO REVIEW SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY RULES. NOW IS THE TIME TO DO A LITTLE ADVANCE PREPARATION SO THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE THE BEST POSSIBLE ACTION SHOULD YOU BECOME THREATENED BY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OR TORNADOES. TORNADO SAFETY RULES WILL FOLLOW SHORTLY. LAW ENFORCEMENT, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, AND MEDIA OUTLETS SHOULD CONSIDER ADDITIONAL STAFFING FOR WEATHER THIS MORNING AND AFTERNOON. ADDITIONAL STAFF IS ALREADY ON DUTY AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM IN PREPARATION FOR THE DAY.
Special weather statement, Apr 15, 8:34 AM CDT, 4 hours 11 minutes before
ALZALL-151415- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 830 AM CDT FRI APR 15 1994 A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR A LARGE PORTION OF NORTHERN, CENTRAL, AND WESTERN ALABAMA VALID UNTIL 300 PM CDT. AT 830 AM CDT STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE INDICATED BY RADAR OVER SOUTHERN LAMAR...NORTHERN FAYETTE...AND WALKER COUNTIES. THE STRONGEST STORM WAS LOCATED OVER FAYETTE COUNTY. ALL THE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST ABOUT 45 MILES AN HOUR. ALREADY SMALL HAIL HAS FALLEN IN LAMAR COUNTY.
Special weather statement, Apr 15, 10:36 AM CDT, 2 hours 9 minutes before
ALZ040>044-054-151740- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MONTGOMERY AL 1035 AM CDT FRI APR 15 1994 ...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 91 IS IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF NORTH AND WEST ALABAMA...INCLUDING DALLAS COUNTY...UNTIL 3PM CDT... WEATHER RADAR AT MONTGOMERY SHOWED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTH AND WEST ALABAMA AT 1025 AM CDT. THE LINE STRETCHED FROM NEAR GADSDEN...SOUTHWEST TO NEAR MERIDIAN MISSISSIPPI. ELSEWHERE...NUMEROUS PATCHES OF LIGHT RAIN...ALONG WITH A FEW SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...WERE OCCURRING OVER MUCH OF NORTH AND CENTRAL ALABAMA. THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR. NO SEVERE WEATHER WAS INDICATED BY RADAR OVER EAST CENTRAL OR SOUTH ALABAMA AT THIS TIME. THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND TORNADOES WILL REMAIN HIGH IN...AND CLOSE TO...THE WATCH AREA FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS HOWEVER. PEOPLE IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH ALABAMA ARE URGED TO MONITOR WEATHER CONDITIONS CLOSELY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. STAY TUNED TO YOUR LOCAL BROADCAST MEDIA...OR NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS CONCERNING THIS DEVELOPING WEATHER SITUATION.
Special weather statement, Apr 15, 10:41 AM CDT, 2 hours 4 minutes before
ALZ063-064-FLZ001>015-151800 SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 1040 AM CDT FRI APR 15 1994 ...DENSE FOG ADVISORY CANCELLED FOR THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE AND COASTAL ALABAMA... THE DENSE FOG ADVISORY FOR COASTAL ALABAMA AND THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE HAS BEEN CANCELLED. PATCHY FOG WAS STILL PRESENT NEAR THE COAST AT MID MORNING...PRIMARILY IN THE PENSACOLA AREA. HOWEVER...VISIBILITIES HAD MOSTLY INCREASED TO ONE MILE OR BETTER...AND SHOULD CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THROUGH THE EARLY AFTERNOON.
Special weather statement, Apr 15, 12:13 PM CDT, 32 minutes before
ALZ040>044-054-151915- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MONTGOMERY AL 1210 PM CDT FRI APR 15 1994 ...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 91 REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR DALLAS COUNTY UNTIL 3 PM CDT... WEATHER RADAR AT MONTGOMERY SHOWED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTH AND CENTRAL ALABAMA AT 12 PM CDT. THE LINE STRETCHED FROM JUST WEST OF ANNISTON...SOUTHWEST TO NEAR DEMOPOLIS. THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MILES AN HOUR...WHILE INDIVIDUAL THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR. ELSEWHERE...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORM...SOME WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN...WERE OCCURRING OVER WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALABAMA. NO SEVERE WEATHER WAS INDICATED BY RADAR OVER EAST CENTRAL OR SOUTHEAST ALABAMA AT THIS TIME...HOWEVER THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND TORNADOES WILL REMAIN HIGH IN...AND CLOSE TO...THE WATCH AREA FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS. PEOPLE IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH ALABAMA SH$OULD MONITOR WEATHER CONDITIONS VERY CLOSELY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. STAY TUNED TO YOUR LOCAL BROADCAST MEDIA...OR NOAA WEATHER RADIO...FOR LATER STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
The office that day
Everything else NWS Birmingham, AL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 15, 5:51 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Cullman | 69 min |
| Apr 15, 7:28 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Marion | 32 min |
| Apr 15, 8:49 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Cullman | 41 min |
| Apr 15, 8:52 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Greene | 68 min |
| Apr 15, 8:58 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Marshall | 62 min |
| Apr 15, 9:42 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Cullman | 33 min |
| Apr 15, 9:59 AM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Cullman | 16 min |
| Apr 15, 10:03 AM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Blount | 27 min |
| Apr 15, 10:56 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Bibb | 34 min |
| Apr 15, 11:11 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Shelby | 49 min |
| Apr 15, 11:30 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Bibb | 30 min |
| Apr 15, 12:45 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Perry | 30 min |
| Apr 15, 2:00 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Colbert, Lauderdale | 60 min |
| Apr 15, 3:16 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Marshall | 59 min |
| Apr 15, 3:25 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Marion | 35 min |
| Apr 15, 3:32 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Lamar, Pickens | 43 min |
| Apr 15, 3:52 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Chilton | 38 min |
| Apr 15, 3:57 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Blount | 33 min |
| Apr 15, 4:03 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Talladega | 42 min |
| Apr 15, 4:17 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Pickens | 28 min |
| Apr 15, 4:26 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Fayette | 49 min |
| Apr 15, 4:34 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Tuscaloosa | 41 min |
| Apr 15, 4:44 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Walker | 61 min |
| Apr 15, 4:47 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Clay | 58 min |
| Apr 15, 5:13 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Jefferson | 62 min |
| Apr 15, 5:26 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Shelby | 49 min |
| Apr 15, 5:36 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | St. Clair | 54 min |
| Apr 15, 5:48 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | DeKalb, Marshall | 57 min |
| Apr 15, 6:05 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Calhoun | 25 min |
| Apr 15, 6:06 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Madison | 69 min |
| Apr 15, 6:08 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Cherokee | 52 min |
| Apr 15, 6:19 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Etowah | 26 min |
| Apr 15, 6:20 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Jackson | 55 min |
| Apr 15, 6:25 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Talladega | 35 min |
| Apr 15, 6:28 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Calhoun | 47 min |
| Apr 15, 6:37 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Clay | 38 min |
| Apr 15, 6:46 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Cleburne, Randolph | 59 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Alabama, 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.