Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 1994
Tornado Warning 25, NWS Des Moines, IA
NWS Des Moines, IA issued this tornado warning at Jul 19, 1994, 10:27 PM CDT for Allamakee County, Iowa. It was in force for 37 min.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Jul 19, 1994, 10:27 PM CDT (03:27 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 19, 1994, 11:04 PM CDT
- In force
- 37 min
- Issued by
- NWS Des Moines, IA
- Area
- Whole counties
County Allamakee County, IA
The nearest sounding before it
Minneapolis, MN (KSTC), launched 00:00Z, 3.5 hours before the alert went out and 249 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
- 503 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -73 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 682 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 51 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 14 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 343 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.8
- Supercell composite
- 7.4
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 TTAA00 KALO 200329 TORALO IAC005-200415- BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WATERLOO IA 1027 PM CDT TUE JUL 19 1994 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WATERLOO HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1115 PM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION... IN NORTHEAST IOWA ...SOUTHERN ALLAMAKEE COUNTY AT 1023 PM CDT...A STATE TROOPER REPORTED TORNADOES ON THE GROUND 1 MILE NORTH AND 2 MILES WEST OF WAUKON. THESE TORNADOES WERE MOVING EAST SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH AND WILL AFFECT THE TOWNS OF WAUKON...ROSSVILLE AND WATERVILLE THROUGH 1115 PM CDT. DURING A TORNADO...THE SAFEST PLACE IS IN 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. AVOID WINDOWS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM SITUATION. ACT QUICKLY. YOU SHOULD SEEK SHELTER BELOW GROUND LEVEL IF POSSIBLE. OTHERWISE...GO TO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR POSSIBLE AND AVOID WINDOWS. & TRS
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, 9:22 PM CDT, 1 hour 5 minutes before
IAZ071-200330- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 922 PM CDT TUE JUL 19 1994 AT 920 PM CDT DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THAT THUNDEDERSTORMS WERE BUILDING RAPIDLY SOUTHWARD ALONG A COOL FRONT NOW PUSHING INTO CENTRAL IOWA. A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS NOW LOCATED FROM NEAR DECORAH TO JUST WEST OF AMES. THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD CONTINUE TO BUILD SOUTH TO JUST NORTH OF DES MOINES DURING THE NEXT HOUR. LITTLE MOVEMENT WAS DETECTED ON THE SOUTH END OF THE LINE. TORRENTIAL RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE THE MAIN BY-PRODUCTS OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS. BELLES
Special weather statement, Jul 19, 9:26 PM CDT, 1 hour 1 minute before
IAZ071-200330- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 922 PM CDT TUE JUL 19 1994 AT 920 PM CDT DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THAT THUNDEDERSTORMS WERE BUILDING RAPIDLY SOUTHWARD ALONG A COOL FRONT NOW PUSHING INTO CENTRAL IOWA. A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS NOW LOCATED FROM NEAR DECORAH TO JUST WEST OF AMES. THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD CONTINUE TO BUILD SOUTH TO JUST NORTH OF DES MOINES DURING THE NEXT HOUR. LITTLE MOVEMENT WAS DPETECTED ON THE SOUTH END OF THE LINE. TORRENTIAL RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE THE MAIN BY-PRODUCTS OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS. BELLES
Special weather statement, Jul 19, 9:27 PM CDT, 1 hour before
IAZALL-200330- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 922 PM CDT TUE JUL 19 1994 AT 920 PM CDT DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THAT THUNDERSTORMS WERE BUILDING RAPIDLY SOUTHWARD ALONG A COOL FRONT NOW PUSHING INTO CENTRAL IOWA. A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS NOW LOCATED FROM NEAR DECORAH TO JUST WEST OF AMES. THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD CONTINUE TO BUILD SOUTH TO JUST NORTH OF DES MOINES DURING THE NEXT HOUR. LITTLE MOVEMENT WAS DERTECTED ON THE SOUTH END OF THE LINE. TORRENTIAL RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE THE MAIN BY-PRODUCTS OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS. BELLES
Special weather statement, Jul 19, 9:34 PM CDT, 53 minutes before
IAZ006>011-016>019-026>029-038>040-200335- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WATERLOO IA 934 PM CDT TUE JUL 19 1994 ...A TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES UNTIL MIDNIGHT FOR MUCH OF NORTHEAST IOWA... AT 930 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN WATERLOO INDICATED A LINE OF VERY INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM CHICKSAW COUNTY NEAR NEW HAMPTON THROUGH SOUTHEAST FLOYD COUNTY THROUGH NORTHWEST BUTLER COUNTY. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH AND WILL MOVE INTO THE PLAINFIELD...CLARKSVILLE...AND ALLISON AREAS THROUGH 10 PM EVENTUALLY REACHING THE NEW HARTFORD...WAVERLY AND SUMNER AREAS BY 1020 PM CDT. THESE STORMS WILL CONTAIN UP TO 1/2" HAIL...VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF ONE TO TWO INCHES OF RAIN IN A SHORT TIME...AND WIND GUSTS NEAR 50 MILES AN HOUR. TORNADOES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE FROM THESE STORMS WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE NOTICE. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND COMMERCIAL MEDIA TO KEEP INFORMED OF THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION. TRS
Special weather statement, Jul 19, 9:35 PM CDT, 52 minutes before
IAZ006>011-016>019-026>029-038>040-200335- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WATERLOO IA 934 PM CDT TUE JUL 19 1994 ...A TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES UNTIL MIDNIGHT FOR MUCH OF NORTHEAST IOWA... AT 930 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN WATERLOO INDICATED A LINE OF VERY INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM CHICKSAW COUNTY NEAR NEW HAMPTON THROUGH SOUTHEAST FLOYD COUNTY THROUGH NORTHWEST BUTLER COUNTY. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH AND WILL MOVE INTO THE PLAINFIELD...CLARKSVILLE...AND ALLISON AREAS THROUGH 10 PM EVENTUALLY REACHING THE NEW HARTFORD...WAVERLY AND SUMNER AREAS BY 1020 PM CDT. THESE STORMS WILL CONTAIN UP TO 1/2" HAIL...VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF ONE TO TWO INCHES OF RAIN IN A SHORT TIME...AND WIND GUSTS NEAR 50 MILES AN HOUR. TORNADOES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE FROM THESE STORMS WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE NOTICE. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND COMMERCIAL MEDIA TO KEEP INFORMED OF THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION. TRS
Special weather statement, Jul 19, 9:40 PM CDT, 47 minutes before
IAZALL-200340- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 940 PM CDT TUE JUL 19 1994 ...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST IOWA UNTIL MIDNIGHT... AT 930 PM CDT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED OVER NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST IOWA. THE STORMS WERE A 40 MILE WIDE BAND CENTERED FROM JUST NORTH OF AMES NORTHEAST TO NEAR DECORAH. THE STRONGEST STORMS...CAPABLE OF PRODUCING FREQUENT LIGHTNING...WIND GUSTS OVER 50 MILES AN HOUR...SMALL HAIL AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL WERE LOCATED NEAR DECORAH AND 10 MILES NORTH OF AMES...NEAR STORY CITY. MOVEMENT WAS EAST AT 25 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 19, 8:22 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Chickasaw | 30 min |
| Jul 19, 8:27 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Howard | 18 min |
| Jul 19, 8:32 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Cerro Gordo | 28 min |
| Jul 19, 8:47 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Howard | 28 min |
| Jul 19, 9:38 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Winneshiek | 52 min |
| Jul 19, 10:15 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Allamakee | 30 min |
| Jul 20, 1:29 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Johnson, Linn | 31 min |
| Jul 20, 1:52 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Johnson | 23 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.