Alert archive / Rhode Island / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1994

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 6, NWS Boston/Norton, MA

May 23, 1994Providence County, Rhode Island

NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 23, 1994, 3:03 PM EDT for Providence County, Rhode Island. It was in force for 97 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 23, 1994, 3:03 PM EDT (19:03 UTC)
Expired
May 23, 1994, 4:40 PM EDT
In force
97 min
Issued by
NWS Boston/Norton, MA
Area
Whole counties

County Providence County, RI

The nearest sounding before it

Chatham, MA (KCHH), launched 12:00Z, 7.1 hours before the alert went out and 135 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, Chatham, MA at 12:00Z on 1994-05-23Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Chatham, MA at 12:00Z on 1994-05-23The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1157 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
19 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-1 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
87 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KPVD 231909 COR
SVRPVD
RIC007-232100-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING..CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PROVIDENCE RI
303 PM EDT MON MAY 23 1994

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PROVIDENCE HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  500 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...

IN  RHODE ISLAND

   ...PROVIDENCE COUNTY

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS REPORTED BY THE TAUNTON WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE
TO BE WEST OF LINCOLN RHODE ISLAND AT 255 PM EDT...OTHER SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS WERE JUST NORTH OF THE RHODE ISLAND BOARDER IN THE
VICINITY OF WOONSOCKET. THEY WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEEN PRODUCING 1 INCH SIZE HAIL IN
MASSACHUSETTS AND WILL LIKELY CONTAIN LARGE HAIL WITH POSSIBLE DAMAGING
WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN AS THEY MOVE THROUGH PROVIDENCE COUNTY UNTIL AROUND
430 PM THIS AFTERNOON.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM.  IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH YOU SHOULD
PREPARE FOR DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH...LARGE HAIL...AND
DEADLY LIGHTNING.  PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...
PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

MMC

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 23, 1:30 PM EDT, 1 hour 33 minutes before
MAZ004-012-231900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WORCESTER MA
130 PM EDT MON MAY 23 1994

...THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN AND SMALL HAIL ARE OCCURRING IN
CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS...

AT 125 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A THUNDERSTORM
WITH SMALL HAIL NEAR STERLING.  MARBLE SIZED HAIL WAS REPORTED AS
THIS STORM MOVED THROUGH LEOMINSTER AT 1PM.

THE STORM IS MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH AND WILL AFFECT THE EASTERN
PORTION OF WORCESTER COUNTY UNTIL AROUND 3PM.

CULLEN
Special weather statement, May 23, 1:34 PM EDT, 1 hour 29 minutes before
MAZ004-012-231900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WORCESTER MA
130 PM EDT MON MAY 23 1994

...THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN AND SMALL HAIL ARE OCCURRING IN
CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS...

AT 125 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A THUNDERSTORM
WITH SMALL HAIL NEAR STERLING.  MARBLE SIZED HAIL WAS REPORTED AS
THIS STORM MOVED THROUGH LEOMINSTER AT 1PM.
                                                   $
THE STORM IS MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH AND WILL AFFECT THE EASTERN
PORTION OF WORCESTER COUNTY UNTIL AROUND 3PM.

CULLEN
Special weather statement, May 23, 2:05 PM EDT, 58 minutes before
MAZ005-013-014-232000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
203 PM EST MON MAY 23 1994

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE INTO BOSTONS WESTERN AND NORTHERN
SUBURBS BETWEEN 2 AND 4 PM...

AT 2 PM SEVERAL STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE APPROACHING THE WORCESTER
AND MIDDLESEX COUNTY LINE.  A FEW OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY CONTAIN
LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS.  ONE INCH HAIL WAS REPORTED IN
NORTHBORO AT 155 PM.

AT 2 PM THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN THE PEPPERELL AREA AND
APPROACHING THE WESTBORO HOPKINGTON AREA.

BE ALERT FOR ANY LATER WARNINGS OR STATEMENTS.  SEEK SHELTER
IMMEDIATELY IF A WARNING IS ISSUED OR THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES.
THE GREATEST THREAT OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IN EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS
THROUGH 330 PM WILL BE IN MIDDLESEX AND NORFOLK COUNTIES.

THOMPSON
Special weather statement, May 23, 2:50 PM EDT, 13 minutes before
RIZ001>007-RIZ502-232050-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PROVIDENCE RI
250 PM EDT MON MAY 23 1994

...THUNDERSTORMS WITH POSSIBLE HAIL ARE MOVING TOWARD RHODE ISLAND...

AT 232 PM EDT THE WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE AT WORCESTER MASSACHUSETTS
REPORTED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH LARGE HAIL MOVING THROUGH SOUTHERN
WORCHESTER COUNTY IN MASSACHUSETTS.  THEY WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AND
TOWARD THE NORTHERN RHODE ISLAND BOARDER AT 25 MPH.  THESE
THUNDERSTORMS DO CONTAIN LARGE HAIL AND MAY BE ACCOMPANIED BY STRONG
AND SQUALLY WINDS WITH FREQUENT LIGHTNING.  SOME OF THESE STORMS
WILL BE MOVING INTO NORTHERN RHODE ISLAND IN THE WOONSOCKET AREA BY
AROUND 300 PM...THEN THROUGH THE REST OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY LATER.

PEOPLE IN NORTHERN RHODE ISLAND SHOULD SEEK A SAFE SHELTER BEFORE
THESE STORMS ARRIVE.  REMEMBER...ALL LIGHTNING IS DANGEROUS.

CARBONE
Special weather statement, May 23, 2:52 PM EDT, 11 minutes before
RIZ001>007-RIZ502-232050-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PROVIDENCE RI
250 PM EDT MON MAY 23 1994

...THUNDERSTORMS WITH POSSIBLE HAIL ARE MOVING TOWARD RHODE ISLAND...

AT 232 PM EDT THE WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE AT WORCESTER MASSACHUSETTS
REPORTED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH LARGE HAIL MOVING THROUGH SOUTHERN
WORCHESTER COUNTY IN MASSACHUSETTS.  THEY WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AND
TOWARD THE NORTHERN RHODE ISLAND BOARDER AT 25 MPH.  THESE
THUNDERSTORMS DO CONTAIN LARGE HAIL AND MAY BE ACCOMPANIED BY STRONG
AND SQUALLY WINDS WITH FREQUENT LIGHTNING.  SOME OF THESE STORMS
WILL BE MOVING INTO NORTHERN RHODE ISLAND IN THE WOONSOCKET AREA BY
AROUND 300 PM...THEN THROUGH THE REST OF PRROVIDENCE COUNTY LATER.

PEOPLE IN NORTHERN RHODE ISLAND SHOULD SEEK A SAFE SHELTER BEFORE
THESE STORMS ARRIVE.  REMEMBER...ALL LIGHTNING IS DANGEROUS.

CARBONE
Special weather statement, May 23, 3:03 PM EDT, 0 minutes before
MAZ005-013-014-232000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
203 PM EST MON MAY 23 1994

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE INTO BOSTONS WESTERN AND NORTHERN
SUBURBS BETWEEN 2 AND 4 PM...

AT 2 PM SEVERAL STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE APPROACHING THE WORCESTER
AND MIDDLESEX COUNTY LINE.  A FEW OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY CONTAIN
LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS.  ONE INCH HAIL WAS REPORTED IN
NORTHBORO AT 155 PM.

AT 2 PM THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN THE PEPPERELL AREA AND
APPROACHING THE WESTBORO HOPKINGTON AREA.

BE ALERT FOR ANY LATER WARNINGS OR STATEMENTS.  SEEK SHELTER
IMMEDIATELY IF A WARNING IS ISSUED OR THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES.
THE GREATEST THREAT OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IN EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS
THROUGH 330 PM WILL BE IN MIDDLESEX AND NORFOLK COUNTIES.

THOMPSON

The office that day

Everything else NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 23, 3:49 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOXNewport86 min
May 23, 3:49 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOXBristol, Kent, Providence51 min
May 23, 3:49 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOXWashington116 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Rhode Island, 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.