Alert archive / Maine / Tornado Warnings in 1994

Tornado Warning 4, NWS Caribou, ME

September 9, 1994Aroostook County, Maine

NWS Caribou, ME issued this tornado warning at Sep 9, 1994, 6:14 PM EDT for Aroostook County, Maine. It was in force for 16 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Sep 9, 1994, 6:14 PM EDT (22:14 UTC)
Expired
Sep 9, 1994, 6:30 PM EDT
In force
16 min
Issued by
NWS Caribou, ME
Area
Whole counties

County Aroostook County, ME

The nearest sounding before it

Caribou, ME (KCAR), launched 12:00Z, 10.2 hours before the alert went out and 51 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, Caribou, ME at 12:00Z on 1994-09-09Temperature 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, Caribou, ME at 12:00Z on 1994-09-09The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 34 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
730 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
44 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
34 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
120 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 KCAR 092214
TORCAR
MEC003-092230-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU ME
614 PM EDT FRI SEP 9 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CARIBOU HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  630 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS......
 
IN NORTH MAINE
 
   ...NORTHEASTERN AROOSTOOK COUNTY
 
AS OF 615 PM EDT...A FUNNEL CLOUD WAS OBSERVED 5 MILES NORTH-NORTHWEST
OF THE CARIBOU MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. THIS STORM IS MOVING
NORTHEAST...PERSONS IN NORTH CARIBOU...CONNOR...AND LIMESTONE SHOULD
TAKE IMMEADIATE SHELTER.
 
 
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM SITUATION.  ACT QUICKLY.  IF YOU ARE
IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO MOVE TO A SHELTER BELOW GROUND IF
AVAILABLE.  XOTHERWISE...GO TO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR POSSIBLE.  AVOID WINDOWS.  ABANDON CARS AND MOBILE HOMES
FOR A REINFORCED BUILDING OR GET INTO A DITCH OR CULVERT.
 
 
 
&
NNNN

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, Sep 9, 2:01 PM EDT, 4 hours 13 minutes before
MEZ001-002-092000-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU ME
156 PM EDT FRI SEP 9 1994

...THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DEVELOPED OVER WESTERN AROOSTOOK COUNTY...

AS OF 150 PM EDT...PORTLAND WEATHER RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF
THUNDERSTORMS HAS DEVELOPED OVER WESTERN AROOSTOOK COUNTY NEAR
THE TOWN OF CLAYTON LAKE.  THIS AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS IS MOVING TO
THE EAST-NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH AND WILL MOVE INTO THE TOWNS OF PORTAGE
AND ASHLAND AREAS WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY CONTAIN STRONG WINDS...HEAVY RAINS...SMALL
HAIL...AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING.

AREA RESIDENTS AND PERSONS ENGAGED IN OUTDOOR ACTIVITY SHOULD SEEK
ADEQUATE SHELTER IMMEADIATELY IF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH YOUR
LOCATION.

FURTHER STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AS
CONDITIONS WARRANT.

BAKER/LIGHTBOWN WSO CARIBOU ME
Special weather statement, Sep 9, 2:03 PM EDT, 4 hours 11 minutes before
MEZ001-002-092000-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU ME
159 PM EDT FRI SEP 9 1994

...THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DEVELOPED OVER WESTERN AROOSTOOK COUNTY...

AS OF 150 PM EDT...PORTLAND WEATHER RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF
THUNDERSTORMS HAS DEVELOPED OVER WESTERN AROOSTOOK COUNTY NEAR
THE TOWN OF CLAYTON LAKE.  THIS AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS IS MOVING TO
THE EAST-NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH AND WILL MOVE INTO THE TOWNS OF PORTAGE
AND ASHLAND WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY CONTAIN STRONG WINDS...HEAVY RAINS...SMALL
HAIL...AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING.

AREA RESIDENTS AND PERSONS ENGAGED IN OUTDOOR ACTIVITY SHOULD SEEK
ADEQUATE SHELTER IMMEADIATELY IF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH YOUR
LOCATION.

FURTHER STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AS
CONDITIONS WARRANT.

BAKER/LIGHTBOWN WSO CARIBOU ME
Special weather statement, Sep 9, 3:26 PM EDT, 2 hours 48 minutes before
MEZ001-006-092130-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU ME
326 PM EDT FRI SEP 9 1994

...THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP ACROSS NORTHERN MAINE...

AS OF 320 PM EDT...PORTLAND WEATHER RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS
DEVELOPING ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTHERN MAINE.  ONE AREA OF
THUNDERSTORMS WAS EAST OF THE TOWN OF CLAYTON LAKE.  THIS AREA OF
THUNDERSTORMS IS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH AND WILL MOVE INTO
THE TOWN OF EAGLE LAKE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS.

ANOTHER AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED IN SOUTHERN PISCATAQUIS
COUNTY.  THIS AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS IS ALSO MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40
MPH AND WILL MOVE INTO PORTIONS OF NORTHERN PENOBSCOT AND SOUTHERN
AROOSTOOK COUNTIES OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY CONTAIN STRONG WINDS...HEAVY RAINS...SMALL
HAIL...AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING.

AREA RESIDENTS AND PERSONS ENGAGED IN OUTDOOR ACTIVITY SHOULD SEEK
ADEQUATE SHELTER IMMEADIATELY IF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH YOUR
LOCATION.

FURTHER STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AS
CONDITIONS WARRANT.

DASARO/LIGHTBOWN WSO CARIBOU ME
Special weather statement, Sep 9, 3:30 PM EDT, 2 hours 44 minutes before
MEZ001-006-092130-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU ME
326 PM EDT FRI SEP 9 1994

...THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP ACROSS NORTHERN MAINE...

AS OF 320 PM EDT...PORTLAND WEATHER RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS
DEVELOPING ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTHERN MAINE.  ONE AREA OF
THUNDERSTORMS WAS EAST OF THE TOWN OF CLAYTON LAKE.  THIS AREA OF
THUNDERSTORMS IS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH AND WILL MOVE INTO
THE TOWN OF EAGLE LAKE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS.

ANOTHER AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED IN SOUTHERN PISCATAQUIS
COUNTY.  THIS AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS IS ALSO MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40
MPH AND WILL MOVE INTO PORTIONS OF NORTHERN PENOBSCOT AND SOUTHERN
AROOSTOOK COUNTIES OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY CONTAIN STRONG WINDS...HEAVY RAINS...SMALL
HAIL...AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING.

AREA RESIDENTS AND PERSONS ENGAGED IN OUTDOOR ACTIVITY SHOULD SEEK
ADEQUATE SHELTER IMMEADIATELY IF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH YOUR
LOCATION.

FURTHER STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AS
CONDITIONS WARRANT.

DASARO/LIGHTBOWN WSO CARIBOU ME
Special weather statement, Sep 9, 4:52 PM EDT, 1 hour 22 minutes before
MEZ001>006-092300-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU ME
452 PM EDT FRI SEP 9 1994

...THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP ACROSS NORTHERN MAINE...

AS OF 440 PM EDT...PORTLAND WEATHER RADAR, AND WEATHER SPOTTERS IN
WESTMANLAND INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING ACROSS PORTIONS OF
NORTHERN MAINE. ONE AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS WESTNORTHWEST OF THE
TOWN OF PORTAGE AND IS MOVING EASTWARD AT APROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THIS
AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE INTO THE TOWN OF PERHAM DURING THE
NEXT HOUR.

ANOTHER AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS IS LOCATED OVER NORTHERN SOMERSET AND
PISCATIQUIS COUNTIES.  THESE STORMS ARE ALSO  MOVING IN AN EASTERLY

DIRECTION, AND WILL EFFECT THE CLAYTON LAKE AND ALLAGASH AREAS FOR
NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY CONTAIN STRONG WINDS...HEAVY RAINS...SMALL
HAIL...AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING.

AREA RESIDENTS AND PERSONS ENGAGED IN OUTDOOR ACTIVITY SHOULD SEEK
ADEQUATE SHELTER IMMEADIATELY IF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH YOUR
LOCATION.

FURTHER STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AS
CONDITIONS WARRANT.

DASARO WSO CARIBOU ME
Special weather statement, Sep 9, 4:56 PM EDT, 1 hour 18 minutes before
MEZ001>006-092300-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU ME
452 PM EDT FRI SEP 9 1994

...THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP ACROSS NORTHERN MAINE...

AS OF 440 PM EDT...PORTLAND WEATHER RADAR, AND WEATHER SPOTTERS IN
WESTMANLAND INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING ACROSS PORTIONS OF
NORTHERN MAINE. ONE AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS WESTNORTHWEST OF THE
TOWN OF PORTAGE AND IS MOVING EASTWARD AT APROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THIS
AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE INTO THE TOWN OF PERHAM DURING THE
NEXT HOUR.

ANOTHER AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS IS LOCATED OVER NORTHERN SOMERSET AND
PISCATIQUIS COUNTIES.  THESE STORMS ARE ALSO  MOVING IN AN EASTERLY

DIRECTION, AND WILL EFFECT THE CLAYTON LAKE AND ALLAGASH AREAS FOR
NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY CONTAIN STRONG WINDS...HEAVY RAINS...SMALL
HAIL...AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING.

AREA RESIDENTS AND PERSONS ENGAGED IN OUTDOOR ACTIVITY SHOULD SEEK
ADEQUATE SHELTER IMMEADIATELY IFt THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH YOUR
LOCATION.

FURTHER STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AS
CONDITIONS WARRANT.

DASARO WSO CARIBOU ME

The office that day

Everything else NWS Caribou, ME issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 9, 5:45 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCARAroostook30 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Maine, 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.