Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 1994

Tornado Warning 8, NWS Des Moines, IA

June 12, 1994Wright County, Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this tornado warning at Jun 12, 1994, 9:41 PM CDT for Wright County, Iowa. It was in force for 34 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jun 12, 1994, 9:41 PM CDT (02:41 UTC)
Expired
Jun 12, 1994, 10:15 PM CDT
In force
34 min
Issued by
NWS Des Moines, IA
Area
Whole counties

County Wright County, IA

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KSTC), launched 00:00Z, 2.7 hours before the alert went out and 236 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 00:00Z on 1994-06-13Temperature 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°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Minneapolis, MN at 00:00Z on 1994-06-13The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 61 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
1268 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
43 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
61 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
106 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 130242
TORDSM
IAC197-130315-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
941 PM CDT SUN JUN 12 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1015 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN NORTH CENTRAL IOWA
 
   ...WESTERN WRIGHT COUNTY
 
A DEVELOPING TORNADO WAS INDICATED ON WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR NEAR
EAGLE GROVE...WHICH IS 20 MILES NORTHEAST OF FORT DODGE. THE STORM WAS
MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR. PEOPLE IN CLARION AND EAGLE GROVE
CAN EXPECT THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM BY 1000 PM CDT.
 
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO...THE SAFEST PLACE IS A
BASEMENT.  GET UNDER A WORKB&ENCH 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.
 
PYTLAK

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 12, 7:45 PM CDT, 1 hour 56 minutes before
IAZALL-130140-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
745 PM CDT SUN JUN 12 1994

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR WESTERN AND CENTRAL IOWA UNTIL
1000 PM CDT THIS SUNDAY EVENING...

AT 730 PM...INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED OVER EXTREME
NORTHWEST IOWA. THESE STORMS WERE LLOCATED AROUND SPIRIT LAKE
AND ROCK RAPIDS. HAIL...BRIEF TORENTIAL DOWNPOURS...WINDS GUSTS
IN EXCESS OF 40 MILES AN HOUR AND NEARLY CONTINUOUS DEADLY LIGHTNING
CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. THESE STORMS WERE PART OF AN
EXPANDING AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ALONG AND NORTH OF A
LINE FROM 20 MILES NORTH OF SIOUX CITY NORTHEAST TO TO ESTHERVILLE.
ESTHERVILLE IS 20 MILES NORTHEAST OF SPENCER.

ANOTHER AREA OF SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED OVER THE
NORTHEAST QUARTER OF IOWA. THIS AREA WAS NORTHEAST OF A LINE FROM 10
MILES EAST OF MASON CITY SOUTHEAST TO 10 MILES NORTH OF CEDAR RAPIDS.

THE SHOWERS AND STORMS WERE ALL MOVING EAST AT 30 TO 35 MILES AN HOUR.

BARLOW
Special weather statement, Jun 12, 8:13 PM CDT, 1 hour 28 minutes before
IAZ006>011-016>019-026>029-038>040-130215-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WATERLOO IA
813 PM CDT SUN JUN 12 1994

...A TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL IOWA
   UNTIL 10 PM TONIGHT...

AT 810 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN WATERLOO WAS SHOWING
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUING IN NORTHWEST IOWA...ALONG THE IOWA/
MINNESOTA BORDER.  THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST SOUTHEAST AT 35
MPH.  NORTH CENTRAL IOWANS WILL SEE SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
REDEVELOPING IN THE BRITT...BUFFALO CENTER AND LAKE MILLS AREAS AFTER
930 PM CDT.   SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY TURN SEVERE PRODUCING LARGE
HAIL...DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS...TORRENTIAL RAINS AND POSSIBLY
TORNADOES.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THOSE SECTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL
IOWA ALONG AND TO THE WEST OF I-35.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TV STATION
FOR LATER STATEMENTS OR WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS SEVERE WEATHER
SITUATION.

TRS
Special weather statement, Jun 12, 8:17 PM CDT, 1 hour 24 minutes before
IAZ006>011-016>019-026>029-038>040-130215-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WATERLOO IA
813 PM CDT SUN JUN 12 1994

...A TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL IOWA
   UNTIL 10 PM TONIGHT...

AT 810 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN WATERLOO WAS SHOWING
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUING IN NORTHWEST IOWA...ALONG THE IOWA/
MINNESOTA BORDER.  THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST SOUTHEAST AT 35
MPH.  NORTH CENTRAL IOWANS WILL SEE SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
REDEVELOPING IN THE BRITT...BUFFALO CENTER AND LAKE MILLS AREAS AFTER
930 PM CDT.   SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY TURN SEVERE PRODUCING LARGE
HAIL...DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS...TORRENTIAL RAINS AND POSSIBLY
TORNADOES.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THOSE SECTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL
IOWA ALONG AND TO THE WEST OF I-35.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TV STATION
FOR LATER STATEMENTS OR WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS SEVExRE WEATHER
SITUATION.

TRS
Special weather statement, Jun 12, 8:40 PM CDT, 1 hour 1 minute before
IAZALL-130240-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
840 PM CDT SUN JUN 12 1994

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR WESTERN AND CENTRAL IOWA UNTIL
1000 PM CDT THIS SUNDAY EVENING...

AT 829 PM...INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED OVER THE NORTHWEST
QUARTER OF IOWA. THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE LOCATED IN A 25 MILE WIDE
AREA FROM HAWARDEN NORTHEAST THROUGH SPENCER TO 10 MILES EAST OF
ESTHERVILLE. SEVERAL OF THE STORMS IN THIS AREA WILL PRODUCE TORRENTIAL
DOWNPOURS...HAIL...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WINDS AND DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING. HAWARDEN IS 35 MILES NORTH OF SIOUX CITY.

THESE STORMS WERE PART OF AN EXPANDING AREA OF SHOWERS AND STORMS
ALONG AND NORTH OF A LINE FROM 10 MILES NORTH OF SIOUX CITY TO THE
IOWA/MINNESOTA BORDER 20 MILES OF MASON CITY.

ANOTHER CLUSTER OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS APPROACHING THE SIOUX
CITY AND ONAWA AREAS FROM EASTERN NEBRASKA...AND SHOULD BE MOVING INTO
THESE AREAS BY 915 PM.

THE SHOWERS AND STORMS WERE MOVING EAST SOUTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

BARLOW
Special weather statement, Jun 12, 8:55 PM CDT, 46 minutes before
IAZ006>011-016>019-026>029-038>040-130300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WATERLOO IA
855 PM CDT SUN JUN 12 1994

...A TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL IOWA
   UNTIL 10 PM TONIGHT...

AT 850 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN WATERLOO WAS SHOWING
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUING ACROSS THE NORTHWEST THIRD
OF IOWA...ALONG THE IOWA/MINNESOTA BORDER.  THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE
MOVING EAST SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

NORTH CENTRAL IOWANS WILL SEE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY MOVING THROUGH THE
BRITT...BUFFALO CENTER AND FOREST CITY AREAS AFTER 900 PM CDT. THESE
STORMS WILL EVENTUALLY REACH THE NORTHWOOD...CLEAR LAKE AND GARNER
AREAS BY 930 PM.   SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY TURN SEVERE PRODUCING LARGE
HAIL...DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS...TORRENTIAL RAINS AND POSSIBLY
TORNADOES.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THOSE PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL
IOWA TO THE WEST OF I-35 THROUGH 10 PM.

AT SIGNS OF AN IMPENDING STORM...TOWERING THUNDERHEADS...DARKENING
SKIES...LIGHTNING AND INCREASING WINDS...MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY.
TUNE IN NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TV STATION FOR
THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.

TRS
Special weather statement, Jun 12, 8:59 PM CDT, 42 minutes before
IAZ006>011-016>019-026>029-038>040-130300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WATERLOO IA
855 PM CDT SUN JUN 12 1994

...A TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL IOWA
   UNTIL 10 PM TONIGHT...

AT 850 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN WATERLOO WAS SHOWING
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUING ACROSS THE NORTHWEST THIRD
OF IOWA...ALONG THE IOWA/MINNESOTA BORDER.  THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE
MOVING EAST SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

NORTH CENTRAL IOWANS WILL SEE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY MOVING THROUGH THE
BRITT...BUFFALO CENTER AND FOREST CITY AREAS AFTER 900 PM CDT. THESE
STORMS WILL EVENTUALLY REACH THE NORTHWOOD...CLEAR LAKE AND GARNER
AREAS BY 930 PM.   SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY TURN SEVERE PRODUCING LARGE
HAIL...DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS...TORRENTIAL RAINS AND POSSIBLY
TORNADOES.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THOSE PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL
IOWA TO THE WEST OF I-35 THROUGH 10 PM.

AT SIGNS OF AN IMPENDING STORM...TOWERING THUNDERHEADS...DARKENING
SKIES...LIGHTNING AND INCREASING WINDS...MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY.
TUNE IN NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TV STATION FOR
THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.

TRS

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 12, 7:08 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXDickinson37 min
Jun 12, 7:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXEmmet30 min
Jun 12, 7:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXClay, Dickinson30 min
Jun 12, 8:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXClay, Palo Alto30 min
Jun 12, 8:25 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXPalo Alto35 min
Jun 12, 8:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXHumboldt, Kossuth35 min
Jun 12, 9:26 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXHumboldt34 min
Jun 12, 9:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXWebster38 min
Jun 12, 9:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXCerro Gordo, Franklin34 min
Jun 12, 10:14 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXHamilton31 min
Jun 12, 10:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXBlack Hawk47 min
Jun 12, 11:31 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXFayette29 min
Jun 12, 11:38 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXCarroll22 min
Jun 13, 12:10 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXAdams14 min
Jun 13, 12:54 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXBoone, Dallas21 min
Jun 13, 1:03 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXMarion28 min
Jun 13, 1:03 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXPoweshiek28 min
Jun 13, 1:19 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXMahaska26 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.