Alert archive / South Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 1994
Tornado Warning 6, NWS Columbia, SC
NWS Columbia, SC issued this tornado warning at Aug 16, 1994, 1:50 PM EDT for Lexington County, South Carolina. It was in force for 25 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.
The facts
- Issued
- Aug 16, 1994, 1:50 PM EDT (17:50 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 16, 1994, 2:15 PM EDT
- In force
- 25 min
- Issued by
- NWS Columbia, SC
- Area
- Whole counties
County Lexington County, SC
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 16, 1:53 PM EDT | Tornado F0 | Columbia, SC | Tornado funnel cloud observed by FAA Control Tower and National Weather Service personnel at the Columbia Airport. The tornado touched down briefly in a wooded area 3 miles southwest of the Airport destroying a small area of timber and then moved to 3 miles n |
NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in. Storm Data before 1996 records only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail.
The nearest sounding before it
Charleston AFB, SC (KCHS), launched 12:00Z, 5.8 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 161755 COR TORCAE SCC063-161815- BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED .... CORRECTION LOCATION OF TORNADO TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC 150 PM EDT TUE AUG 16 1994 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN COLUMBIA HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 215 PM EDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION... IN SOUTH CAROLINA ...LEXINGTON COUNTY AT 150 PM RADAR INDICATED A TORNADO ABOUT 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE TOWN OF LEXINGTON MOVING NORTH-NORTHWEST AT 25 MPH. THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM! SEEK SHELTER NOW!
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, Aug 16, 12:27 PM EDT, 1 hour 23 minutes before
GAZ039-040-061>065-074>077-085>088-SCZ018-025-030-035-040-161830- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUGUSTA GA 1227 PM EDT TUE AUG 16 1994 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR ALL COUNTIES OF THE CENTRAL SAVANNAH RIVER AREA FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO TONIGHT. AT 1220 PM EDT A LARGE AREA OF LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN WITH A FEW EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS ARE PROGRESSING NORTHEASTWARD INTO THE AREA. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER WESTERN LINCOLN COUNTY IN GEORGIA MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH AND INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS IN EASTERN AIKEN COUNTY MOVING NORTHWARD AT 10-15 MPH. SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY CONTAIN SMALL HAIL...GUSTY WINDS...DEADLY LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS OF RAIN. 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.
Special weather statement, Aug 16, 12:28 PM EDT, 1 hour 22 minutes before
GAZ039-040-061>065-074>077-085>088-SCZ018-025-030-035-040-161830- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUGUSTA GA 1227 PM EDT TUE AUG 16 1994 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR ALL COUNTIES OF THE CENTRAL SAVANNAH RIVER AREA FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO TONIGHT. AT 1220 PM EDT A LARGE AREA OF LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN WITH A FEW EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS ARE PROGRESSING NORTHEASTWARD INTO THE AREA. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER WESTERN LINCOLN COUNTY IN GEORGIA MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH AND INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS IN EASTERN AIKEN COUNTY MOVING NORTHWARD AT 10-15 MPH. SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY CONTAIN SMALL HAIL...GUSTY WINDS...DEADLY LIGHTNING AN`D VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS OF RAIN. 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.
Special weather statement, Aug 16, 1:14 PM EDT, 36 minutes before
GAZ039-040-061>065-074>077-085>088-SCZ018-025-030-035-040-161915- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUGUSTA GA 114 PM EDT TUE AUG 16 1994 ...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN AIKEN COUNTY IN SOUTH CAROLINA EXPIRED AT 100 PM EDT... ...A TORNADO WATCH IS 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 120 PM EDT INDICATES A LARGE AREA OF LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRING ACROSS EAST-CENTRAL GEORGIA AND INTO SOUTH CAROLINA. THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE OCCURRING NEAR THE CITY OF BARNWELL AND JUST SOUTHWEST OF COLUMBIA IN SOUTH CAROINA. THESE STORMS ARE MOVING NORTH AT 15 MPH. 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, 1:16 PM EDT, 34 minutes before
GAZ039-040-061>065-074>077-085>088-SCZ018-025-030-035-040-161915- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUGUSTA GA 114 PM EDT TUE AUG 16 1994 ...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN AIKEN COUNTY IN SOUTH CAROLINA EXPIRED AT 100 PM EDT... ...A TORNADO WATCH IS 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... 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, 1:25 PM EDT, 25 minutes before
GAZ039-040-061>065-074>077-085>088-SCZ018-025-030-035-040-161915- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUGUSTA GA 114 PM EDT TUE AUG 16 1994 ...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN AIKEN COUNTY IN SOUTH CAROLINA EXPIRED AT 100 PM EDT... ...A TORNADO WATCH IS 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 120 PM EDT INDICATES A LARGE AREA OF LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRING ACROSS EAST-CENTRAL GEORGIA AND INTO SOUTH CAROLINA. THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE OCCURRING NEAR THE CITY OF BARNWELL AND JUST SOUTHWEST OF COLUMBIA IN SOUTH CAROINA. THESE STORMS ARE MOVING NORTH AT 15 MPH. 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.
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, 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, 6:11 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CAE | Lexington | 34 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; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.