Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 1994
Tornado Warning 20, NWS Des Moines, IA
NWS Des Moines, IA issued this tornado warning at Jul 19, 1994, 6:44 PM CDT for Kossuth County, Iowa. It was in force for 31 min.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Jul 19, 1994, 6:44 PM CDT (23:44 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 19, 1994, 7:15 PM CDT
- In force
- 31 min
- Issued by
- NWS Des Moines, IA
- Area
- Whole counties
County Kossuth County, IA
The nearest sounding before it
Minneapolis, MN (KSTC), launched 12:00Z, 11.7 hours before the alert went out and 189 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
- 44 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -204 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 892 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 23 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 10 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 80 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- -0.1
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 TTAA00 KDSM 192344 TORDSM IAC109-147-200015- BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 644 PM CDT TUE JUL 19 1994 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 715 PM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONSS... IN NORTH CENTRAL IOWA ...KOSSUTH COUNTY IN NORTHWEST IOWA ...EASTERN PALO-ALTO COUNTY AT 6:35PM CDT...SEVEREAL REPORTS OF TORNADOES WERE RECEIVED FROM CENTRAL AND EASTERN PALO ALTO COUNTY. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDCICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER PALO ALTO AND NORTHERN KOSSUTH COUNTIES MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. THE TOWNS OF CYLINDER...FENTON... WHITEMORE AND BANCROFT ARE IN THE PATH OF THESE TORNADOES. PEOPLE IN THE PATH OF THESE TORNADOES SHOULD TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY REINFORCED BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT...DITCH OR LOW SPOT AND COVErR YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS. &
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, Jul 19, 5:21 PM CDT, 1 hour 23 minutes before
IAZ022-014-003-004-015-192315- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 515 PM CDT TUE JUL 19 1994 ...THUNDERSTORMS BEGINNING TO DEVELOP ALONG THE IOWA/MINNESOTA BORDER NORTHWEST OF SPENCER... AT 510PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING 30 MILES NORTHWEST OF SPENCER. THE THUNDERSTORMWERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH INTO MINNESOTA. HOWEVER...ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ALONG A COLD FRONT OVER DICKINSON. CLAY...EMMET...PALO ALTO AND BUENA VISTA COUNTIES BEFORE 7PM. THE THUNDERSTORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL AND STRONG WINDS...SO ALL PEOPLE IN THE IOWA LAKES REGION SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS. JUNGBLUTH
Special weather statement, Jul 19, 5:22 PM CDT, 1 hour 22 minutes before
IAZ022-014-003-004-015-192315- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 515 PM CDT TUE JUL 19 1994 ...THUNDERSTORMS BEGINNING TO DEVELOP ALONG THE IOWA/MINNESOTA BORDER NORTHWEST OF SPENCER... AT 510PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING 30 MILES NORTHWEST OF SPENCER. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH INTO MINNESOTA. HOWEVER...ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ALONG A COLD FRONT OVER DICKINSON... CLAY...EMMET...PALO ALTO AND BUENA VISTA COUNTIES BEFORE 7PM. THE THUNDERSTORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL AND STRONG WINDS...SO ALL PEOPLE IN THE IOWA LAKES REGION SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS. JUNGBLUTH
Special weather statement, Jul 19, 6:10 PM CDT, 34 minutes before
IAZ004-005-015-200015- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 610 PM CDT TUE JUL 19 1994 ...THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OVER KOSSUTH...PALO ALTO AND EMMET COUNTIES... THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING FROM 15 MILES EAST OF SPENCER TO 50 MILES NORTHEAST OF SPENCER ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE EAST AND INTENSIFY THROUGH 7 PM. THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS NORTHERN PALO ALTO AND NORTHERN KOSSUTH COUNTIES...INCLUDING THE CITIES OF EMMETSBURG AND BANCROFT BY 630 PM. PEOPLE IN THESE AREAS CAN EXPECT SMALL HAIL...GUSTY WINDS AND VERY HEAVY RAINS. SEVERE WEATHER MAY DEVELOP RAPIDLY...SO PEOPLE EAST OF LINE FROM COUNCIL BLUFFS TO STORM LAKE TO 40 MILES NORTHEAST OF SPENCER SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS THIS EVENING. JUNGBLUTH
Special weather statement, Jul 19, 6:15 PM CDT, 29 minutes before
IAZ006>011-016>019-026>029-038>040-200020- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WATERLOO IA 615 PM CDT TUE JUL 19 1994 ...VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IN NORTHEAST IOWA... AT 610 PM CDT...NWS RADAR INDICATED VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS 5 MILES NORTH OF CHARLES CITY AND 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF NEW HAMPTON. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR AND WILL BE AFFECTING MITCHELL...HOWARD...FLOYD... AND CHICKASAW COUNTIES. VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALSO FORMING IN ADVANCE OF A EASTWARD MOVING COLD FRONT. THESE STORMS WERE IN EMMET AND KOSSUTH COUNTIES... AND SHOULD MOVE INTO WINNEBAGO COUNTY THROUGH 715 PM. THESE STORMS WILL PACK VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS OF RAIN...1/2 HAIL...AND WINDS NEAR 40 MILES AN HOUR. BE PREPARED TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION IF THESE STORMS APPROACH YOUR AREA. STAY TUNED TO COMMERCIAL MEDIA TO KEEP ABREAST OF THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION. DEWALD
Special weather statement, Jul 19, 6:18 PM CDT, 26 minutes before
IAZ006>011-016>019-026>029-038>040-200020- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WATERLOO IA 615 PM CDT TUE JUL 19 1994 ...VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IN NORTHEAST IOWA... AT 610 PM CDT...NWS RADAR INDICATED VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS 5 MILES NORTH OF CHARLES CITY AND 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF NEW HAMPTON. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR AND WILL BE AFFECTING MITCHELL...HOWARD...FLOYD... AND CHICKASAW COUNTIES. VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALSO FORMING IN ADVANCE OF A EASTWARD MOVING COLD FRONT. THESE STORMS WERE IN EMMET AND KOSSUTH COUNTIES... AND SHOULD MOVE INTO WINNEBAGO COUNTY THROUGH 715 PM. THESE STORMS WILL PACK VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS OF RAIN...1/2 H@AIL...AND WINDS NEAR 40 MILES AN HOUR. BE PREPARED TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION IF THESE STORMS APPROACH YOUR AREA. STAY TUNED TO COMMERCIAL MEDIA TO KEEP ABREAST OF THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION. DEWALD
Special weather statement, Jul 19, 6:43 PM CDT, 1 minute before
IAZALL-200040- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 643 PM CDT TUE JUL 19 1994 AT 633 PM CDT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE DEVELOPING OVER PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST IOWA. THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE LOCATED FROM 30 MILES NORTHWEST OF MASON CITY...NEAR BUFFALO CENTER SOUTHWEST TO NEAR EMMETSBURG. ANOTHER STRONG STORM WAS IN NORTHEAST IOWA 35 MILES NORTH OF WATERLOO...NEAR NEW HAMPTON. THESE STORMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE FREQUENT LIGHTNING...GUSTY WINDS...HAIL AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL. THE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR. PETERSEN
The office that day
Everything else NWS Des Moines, IA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 18, 10:43 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Benton | 37 min |
| Jul 19, 12:16 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Grundy | 44 min |
| Jul 19, 1:25 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Buchanan | 29 min |
| Jul 19, 6:24 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Chickasaw | 66 min |
| Jul 19, 6:44 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Palo Alto | 20 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.