Alert archive / South Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 1994
Tornado Warning 19, NWS Columbia, SC
NWS Columbia, SC issued this tornado warning at Aug 16, 1994, 6:11 PM EDT for Lexington County, South Carolina. It was in force for 34 min.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Aug 16, 1994, 6:11 PM EDT (22:11 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 16, 1994, 6:45 PM EDT
- In force
- 34 min
- Issued by
- NWS Columbia, SC
- Area
- Whole counties
County Lexington County, SC
The nearest sounding before it
Charleston AFB, SC (KCHS), launched 12:00Z, 10.2 hours before the alert went out and 162 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
- 537 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -55 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 957 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 15 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 131 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 172 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 TTAA00 KCAE 162213 TORCAE SCC063-162245- BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC 611 PM EDT TUE AUG 16 1994 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN COLUMBIA HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 645 PM EDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION... IN SOUTH CAROLINA ...NORTHERN LEXINGTON COUNTY AT 610 PM EDT...WEATHER SERVICE PERSONNEL AND HAM RADIO OPERATORS OBSERVED A FUNNEL CLOUD NORTHWEST OF THE COLUMBIA AIRPORT. MOVEMENT WAS NORTH AT 25 MILES AN HOUR. FUNNEL CLOUDS CAN RAPIDLY REACH THE GROUND...CAUSING DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS...CARS...AND OTHER STRUCTURES. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY REINFORCED BUILDING. AS A LAST RESOVRT...SEEK SHELTER IN A DITCH OR LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS. BE ALERT FOR FLOODING OF LOW AREAS. TORNADOES IN THIS AREA ARE HARD TO SEE BECAUSE OF RAIN ...LOW CLOUDS...AND TREES. R. JONES
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
Local storm report, Aug 16, 2:24 PM EDT, 3 hours 47 minutes before
STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA, SC
223 PM EDT TUE AUG 16 1994
DATE/TIME EVENT
16/130 PM EDT TORNADO REPORTED LEXINGTON COUNTY NEAR RED BANK AND I-20
AREA. A CAR WAS REPORTED OVERTURNED...NO INFORMATION
ON INJURIES HAVE BEEN RECEIVED AT THIS TIME.
16/135 PM EDT TIME APPROX. DAMAGE IN THE LEXINTON AREA REPORTED.
WIDESPREAD POWER OUTAGES AND SOME DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS
AND TREES REPIRTED BY HAM OPERATORS.Local storm report, Aug 16, 2:26 PM EDT, 3 hours 45 minutes before
STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA, SC
226 PM EDT TUE AUG 16 1994
DATE/TIME EVENT
16/130 PM EDT TORNADO REPORTED LEXINGTON COUNTY NEAR RED BANK AND I-20
AREA. A CAR WAS REPORTED OVERTURNED...NO INFORMATION
ON INJURIES HAVE BEEN RECEIVED AT THIS TIME.
16/135 PM EDT TIME APPROX. DAMAGE IN THE LEXINTON AREA REPORTED.
WIDESPREAD POWER OUTAGES AND SOME DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS
AND TREES REPIRTED BY HAM OPERATORS.Special weather statement, Aug 16, 3:30 PM EDT, 2 hours 41 minutes before
GAZ039-040-061>065-074>077-085>088-SCZ018-025-030-035-040-161915- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUGUSTA GA 325 PM TUESDAY AUG 16 1994 ...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT FOR MCCORMICK...EDGEFIELD...AIKEN...BARNWELL AND ALLANDALE COUNTIES OF SOUTH CAROLINA...AS WELL AS LINCOLN...WILKES...HANCOCK...WARREN...MCDUFFIE...COLUMBIA...RICHMOND... WASHINGTON...GLASCOCK...JEFFERSON...BURKE...JOHNSON...JENKINS...SCREVEN AND EMANUEL COUNTIES OF GEORGIA... ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL THE COUNTIES MENTIONED ABOVE THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO TONIGHT... WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT 320 PM EDT INDICATES A LARGE AREA OF LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS AND HEAVY RAINFALL OCCURRING ACROSS EAST-CENTRAL GEORGIA AND INTO SOUTH CAROLINA. THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE OCCURRING IN NORTHWESTERN ALLANDALE...WESTERN BARNWELL AND EASTERN AIKEN COUNTIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND NORTHERN COLUMBIA COUNTY IN GEORGIA WITH MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINFALL IN SOUTHERN LINCOLN AND NORTHERN COLUMBIA COUNTIES IN GEORGIA. IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...MOVE TO A PLACE OF SHELTER IMMEDIATELY IF A STORM APPROACHES. MOTORISTS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR REDUCED VISIBILITIES DURING DOWNPOURS OF RAIN. STREETS MAY FLOOD QUICKLY. REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS THAT TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE IN AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA. LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS MAY ALSO OCCUR. BE READY TO MOVE TO SHELTER IF A WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA.
Special weather statement, Aug 16, 5:34 PM EDT, 37 minutes before
GAZ039-040-061>065-074>077-085>088-SCZ018-025-030-035-040-162335- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED FOR TIME NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUGUSTA GA 534 PM EDT TUE AUG 16 1994 ...TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IF EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT FOR ALL EAST-CENTRAL GEORGIA AND WEST-CENTRAL SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTIES... ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THIS EVENING AND THROUGH TONIGHT FOR THE AFOREMENTIONED REGION... WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT 525 PM EDT INDICATED LIGHT TO MODERATE RAINSHOWER ACTIVITY COVERING THE CENTRAL SAVANNAH RIVER AREA WITH A FEW EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRING OVER WESTERN LEXINGTON COUNTY IN SOUTH CAROLINA. THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTH-NORTHEASTERLY AT 15 TO 20 MPH. DURING A TORNADO WATCH...BE READY TO MOVE TO A SHELTER BELOW GROUND OR TO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR POSSIBLE IF A WARNING IS ISSUED OR IF A TORNADO IS SIGHTED. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TV STATION FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.
Special weather statement, Aug 16, 5:36 PM EDT, 35 minutes before
GAZ039-040-061>065-074>077-085>088-SCZ018-025-030-035-040-162335- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUGUSTA GA 534 PM EDT TUE AUG 16 1994 ...TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IF EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT FOR ALL EAST-CENTRAL GEORGIA AND WEST-CENTRAL SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTIES... ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THIS EVENING AND THROUGH TONIGHT FOR THE AFOREMENTIONED REGION... WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT 725 PM EDT INDICATED LIGHT TO MODERATE RAINSHOWER ACTIVITY COVERING THE CENTRAL SAVANNAH RIVER AREA WITH A FEW EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRING OVER SOUTHERN AND WESTERN LEXINGTON COUNTIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA. THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTH-NORTHEASTERLY AT 15 TO 20 MPH. DURING A TORNADO WATCH...BE READY TO MOVE TO A SHELTER BELOW GROUND OR TO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR POSSIBLE IF A WARNING IS ISSUED OR IF A TORNADO IS SIGHTED. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TV STATIO"N FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.
Special weather statement, Aug 16, 5:58 PM EDT, 13 minutes before
GAZ039-040-061>065-074>077-085>088-SCZ018-025-030-035-040-162335- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED FOR TIME NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUGUSTA GA 534 PM EDT TUE AUG 16 1994 ...TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IF EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT FOR ALL EAST-CENTRAL GEORGIA AND WEST-CENTRAL SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTIES... ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THIS EVENING AND THROUGH TONIGHT FOR THE AFOREMENTIONED REGION... WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT 525 PM EDT INDICATED LIGHT TO MODERATE RAINSHOWER ACTIVITY COVERING THE CENTRAL SAVANNAH RIVER AREA WITH A FEW EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRING OVER WESTERN LEXINGTON COUNTY IN SOUTH CAROLINA. THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTH-NORTHEASTERLY AT 15 TO 20 MPH. DURING A TORNADO WATCH...BE READY TO MOVE TO A SHELTER BELOW GROUND OR TO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR POSSIBLE IF A WARNING IS ISSUED OR IF A TORNADO IS SIGHTED. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR XTV STATION FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.
The office that day
Everything else NWS Columbia, SC issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 16, 11:53 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Orangeburg | 37 min |
| Aug 16, 12:23 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CAE | Orangeburg | 37 min |
| Aug 16, 12:32 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CAE | Lexington | 28 min |
| Aug 16, 12:55 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CAE | Lexington, Orangeburg | 50 min |
| Aug 16, 1:37 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CAE | Richland | 38 min |
| Aug 16, 1:50 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CAE | Lexington | 25 min |
| Aug 16, 2:09 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CAE | Newberry, Richland | 36 min |
| Aug 16, 2:13 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CAE | Lexington | 47 min |
| Aug 16, 2:17 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CAE | Fairfield | 43 min |
| Aug 16, 2:54 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CAE | Newberry | 51 min |
| Aug 16, 3:00 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CAE | Kershaw | 45 min |
| Aug 16, 3:11 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CAE | Lexington | 49 min |
| Aug 16, 3:24 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CAE | Chester | 51 min |
| Aug 16, 3:44 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CAE | Newberry | 46 min |
| Aug 16, 4:13 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CAE | Fairfield | 47 min |
| Aug 16, 4:17 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CAE | York | 43 min |
| Aug 16, 5:40 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CAE | Fairfield | 50 min |
| Aug 16, 5:51 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CAE | York | 54 min |
| Aug 16, 6:49 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CAE | Chester | 26 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in South Carolina, 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.