Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 1994

Tornado Warning 14, NWS Des Moines, IA

June 19, 1994Hardin County, Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this tornado warning at Jun 19, 1994, 4:48 PM CDT for Hardin County, Iowa. It was in force for 27 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jun 19, 1994, 4:48 PM CDT (21:48 UTC)
Expired
Jun 19, 1994, 5:15 PM CDT
In force
27 min
Issued by
NWS Des Moines, IA
Area
Whole counties

County Hardin County, IA

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KSTC), launched 12:00Z, 9.8 hours before the alert went out and 276 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, Minneapolis, MN at 12:00Z on 1994-06-19Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 741 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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, Minneapolis, MN at 12:00Z on 1994-06-19The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 121 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
741 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-153 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
734 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
16 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
121 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
130 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 KDSM 192150
TORDSM
IAC083-192215-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
448 PM CDT SUN JUN 19 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  515 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN CENTRAL IOWA
 
   ...SOUTHERN HARDIN COUNTY
 
AT 445 PM CDT A CITIZEN REPORTED A TORDADO NEAR ROLAND...43 MILES NORTH
OF DES MOINES MOVING NORTH AT 15 MILES AN HOUR. DOPPLER RADAR CONFIRMS
THIS REPORT. THIS STORMS WILL REACH THE CITY OF GARDEN CITY BY 455 PM CD
 
 
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO...THE SAFEST PLACE IS A
BASEMENT.  GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE.
IF NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER IN AN INTERIOR ROOM
SUCH AS A CLOSET ON THE LOWEST FLOOR.  USE BLANKETS...PILLOWS...
OR CUSHIONS TO COVER YOUR BODY.  AVOID WINDOWS.
 
 
 
&

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, Jun 19, 2:32 PM CDT, 2 hours 16 minutes before
IAZ071-057-047-045-070-044-059-046-058-061-072-023-060-048-073-
035-192030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
229 PM CDT SUN JUN 19 1994

...THUNDERSTORMS WERE EXPLODING OVER WEST CENTRAL IOWA...

AT 225 PM CDT DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY
HEAVY RAIN...PEA SIZED HAIL AND DEADLY LIGHTNING. SOME GUSTY WINDS UP TO
40 MILES AN HOUR ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS. THE STORMS
WERE LOCATED FROM NEAR ATLANTIC TO GUTHRIE CENTER...WEST TO NEAR
EARLHAM. THE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AND SHOULD ENTER THE
DES MOINES METRO BY 3 PM CDT.

THESE STORMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE TORRENTIAL RAIN.  PONDING OF
WATER WILL OCCUR QUICKLY IN POOR DRAINAGE AND LOW-LYING AREAS.

 BELLES
Special weather statement, Jun 19, 2:42 PM CDT, 2 hours 6 minutes before
IAZ071-057-047-045-070-044-059-046-058-061-072-023-060-048-073-
035-192030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECT DIRECTION 4TH LINE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
229 PM CDT SUN JUN 19 1994

...THUNDERSTORMS WERE EXPLODING OVER WEST CENTRAL IOWA...

AT 225 PM CDT DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY
HEAVY RAIN...PEA SIZED HAIL AND DEADLY LIGHTNING. SOME GUSTY WINDS UP TO
40 MILES AN HOUR ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS. THE STORMS
WERE LOCATED FROM NEAR ATLANTIC TO GUTHRIE CENTER...EAST TO NEAR
EARLHAM. THE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AND SHOULD ENTER THE
DES MOINES METRO BY 3 PM CDT.

THESE STORMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE TORRENTIAL RAIN.  PONDING OF
WATER WILL OCCUR QUICKLY IN POOR DRAINAGE AND LOW-LYING AREAS.

 BELLES
Special weather statement, Jun 19, 2:50 PM CDT, 1 hour 58 minutes before
IAZALL-192100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
250 PM CDT SUN JUN 19 1994

...THUNDERSTORMS STALLING OVER CENTRAL IOWA COUNTIES...

AT 235 PM CDT DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY
HEAVY RAIN AFFECTING TAMA...GRUNDY...AND MARSHALL COUNTIES.  THE MOST
INTENSE RAINS STALLED OVER NORTHERN MARSHALL COUNTY JUST NORTH OF
MARSHALLTOWN.  THE STORM TOTAL PRECIPITATION HAS REACHED AMOUNTS OF
1 TO 3 INCHES HOWEVER DURING THE PAST TEN MINUTES THE STORMS WERE
WEAKENING.

BE AWARE OF PONDING WATER AND LOCALIZED FLOODING IN DITCHES AND LOW
LYING AREAS.

KAUFMAN
Special weather statement, Jun 19, 2:51 PM CDT, 1 hour 57 minutes before
IAZALL-192100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
250 PM CDT SUN JUN 19 1994

...THUNDERSTORMS STALLING OVER CENTRAL IOWA COUNTIES...

AT 235 PM CDT DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY
HEAVY RAIN AFFECTING TAMA...GRUNDY...AND MARSHALL COUNTIES.  THE MOST
INTENSE RAINS STALLED OVER NORTHERN MARSHALL COUNTY JUST NORTH OF
MARSHALLTOWN.  THE STORM TOTAL PRECIPITATION HAS REACHED AMOUNTS OF
1 TO 3 INCHE
S HOWEVER DURING THE PAST TEN MINUTES THE STORMS WERE
WEAKENING.

BE AWARE OF PONDING WATER AND LOCALIZED FLOODING IN DITCHES AND LOW
LYING AREAS.

KAUFMAN
Special weather statement, Jun 19, 4:25 PM CDT, 23 minutes before
IAZ006-007-008-009-010-011-016-017-018-019-026-027-028-029-038-
039-040-192230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WATERLOO IA
425 PM CDT SUN JUN 19 1994

...THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO RUMBLE IN NORTHEAST IOWA...

AT 425 PM SCATTERED STORMS WERE LOCATED FROM WATERLOO AND LAPORTE CITY
NORTH TO NEAR CHARLES CITY (30 MILES NORTH OF WATERLOO) AND EXTENDING
SOUTHEAST TO FAYETTE (30 MILES SOUTH OF DECORAH). OTHER STORMS WERE
DEVELOPING ALONG AND WEST OF I-35 AS WELL. THROUGH 6 PM SCATTERED
STORMS WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE ISOLATED LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS AND DEADLY
LIGHTNING...ESPECIALLY ALONG AND EAST OF HIGHWAY 218 AND SOUTH OF
HIGHWAY 18. SCATTERED STORMS WILL TRAVEL AREAS WEST OF MASON CITY AND
HAMPTON AS WELL.

AN URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR
FLOYD AND BUTLER COUNTIES UNTIL 6 PM. DO NOT CROSS ROADWAYS THAT ARE
FLOODED.

COLLAR
Special weather statement, Jun 19, 4:27 PM CDT, 21 minutes before
IAZ006-007-008-009-010-011-016-017-018-019-026-027-028-029-038-
039-040-192230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WATERLOO IA
425 PM CDT SUN JUN 19 1994

...THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO RUMBLE IN NORTHEAST IOWA...

AT 425 PM SCATTERED STORMS WERE LOCATED FROM WATERLOO AND LAPORTE CITY
NORTH TO NEAR CHARLES CITY (30 MILES NORTH OF WATERLOO) AND EXTENDING
SOUTHEAST TO FAYETTE (30 MILES SOUTH OF DECORAH). OTHER STORMS WERE
DEVELOPING ALONG AND WEST OF I-35 AS WELL. THROUGH 6 PM SCATTERED
STORMS WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE ISOLATED LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS AND DEADLY
LIGHTNING...ESPECIALLY ALONG AND EAST OF HIGHWAY 218 AND SOUTH OF
HIGHWAY 18. SCATTERED STORMS WILL TRAVEL AREAS WEST OF MASON CITY AND
HAMPTON AS WELL.

AN URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR
FLOYD AND BUTLER COUNTIES UNTIL 6 PM. DO NOT CROSS ROADWAYS THAT ARE
FLOODED.

COLLAR

The office that day

Everything else NWS Des Moines, IA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 18, 7:12 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXHumboldt18 min
Jun 19, 2:51 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXGrundy39 min
Jun 19, 4:32 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXStory28 min
Jun 19, 5:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXLinn31 min
Jun 19, 6:09 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXBenton36 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Iowa, 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.