Alert archive / Michigan / Tornado Warnings in 1994

Tornado Warning 18, NWS Detroit, MI

July 22, 1994Saint Clair County, Michigan

NWS Detroit, MI issued this tornado warning at Jul 22, 1994, 7:16 PM EDT for Saint Clair County, Michigan. It was in force for 29 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 22, 1994, 7:16 PM EDT (23:16 UTC)
Expired
Jul 22, 1994, 7:45 PM EDT
In force
29 min
Issued by
NWS Detroit, MI
Area
Whole counties

County Saint Clair County, MI

The nearest sounding before it

Detroit, MI (KFNT), launched 12:00Z, 11.3 hours before the alert went out and 67 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, Detroit, MI at 12:00Z on 1994-07-22Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 180 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, Detroit, MI at 12:00Z on 1994-07-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 39 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
180 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-40 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
645 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
34 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
39 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
61 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KDTW 222316
TORDTW
MIC147-222345-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED/EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED 
TORNADO WARNING 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT MI
716 PM EDT FRI JUL 22 1994

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING 
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 745 PM EDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY

   IN THE SOUTHEAST PART OF LOWER MICHIGAN
      NORTHWEST ST. CLAIR

AT 711 PM...THE LAPEER COUNTY SHERIFF REPORTED A TORNADO NEAR I69
BETWEEN IMLAY CITY AND CAPAC OR 47 MILES NORTH OF DOWNTOWN DETROIT.
THIS STORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR AND WILL HIT
THE CITY OF YALE BY 730 PM.

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO...THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE IS IN
A BASEMENT.  GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE.
IF NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...FIND 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, Jul 22, 2:20 PM EDT, 4 hours 56 minutes before
MIZ063-068>070-075-076-082-083-222100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT MI
220 PM EDT FRI JUL 22 1994

...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER SOUTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN...

AT 215 PM...RADAR SHOWED SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING HEAVY
RAINFALL AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IN AN AREA FROM
PONTIAC SOUTH TO PLYMOUTH...23...MILES WEST OF DOWNTOWN DETROIT...
THEN TO JUST WEST OF MONROE.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 TO 30 MILES AN HOUR
AND WILL AFFECT THE DETROIT METRO AREA THROUGH 430 PM.  THE STORMS
WILL BE ISOLATED IN NATURE SO NOT EVERYONE WILL GET ONE...BUT RESIDENTS
OF SOUTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN SHOULD BE ALERT AND MOVE INDOORS WHEN THE
SKY DARKENS.

THUNDERSTORMS WITH CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING WILL BE IN THE LAKE ORION
AREA UNTIL 4 PM...SO PEOPLE ATTENDING THE GOLF TOURAMENT SHOULD BE
PREPARED TO MOVE INDOORS IF A STORM APPROACHES.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.

RIDDLE
Special weather statement, Jul 22, 2:22 PM EDT, 4 hours 54 minutes before
MIZ063-068>070-075-076-082-083-222100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT MI
220 PM EDT FRI JUL 22 1994

...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER SOUTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN...

AT 215 PM...RADAR SHOWED SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING HEAVY
RAINFALL AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IN AN AREA FROM
PONTIAC SOUTH TO PLYMOUTH...23...MILES WEST OF DOWNTOWN DETROIT...
THEN TO JUST WEST OF MONROE.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 TO 30 MILES AN HOUR
AND WILL AFFECT THE DETROIT METRO AREA THROUGH 430 PM.  THE STORMS
WILL BE ISOLATED IN NATURE SO NOT EVERYONE WILL GET ONE...BUT RESIDENTS
OF SOUTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN SHOULD BE ALERT AND MOVE INDOORS WHEN THE
SKY DARKENS.

THUNDERSTORMS WITH CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING WILL BE IN THE LAKE ORION
AREA UNTIL 4 PM...SO PEOPLE ATTENDING THE GOLF TOURAMENT SHOULD BE
PREPARED TO MOVE INDOORS IF A STORM APPROACHES.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER I4NFORMATION.

RIDDLE
Special weather statement, Jul 22, 5:31 PM EDT, 1 hour 45 minutes before
MIZ063-068>070-075-076-082-083-222230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT MI
531 PM EDT FRI JUL 22 1994

...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS SOUTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN...

AT 526 PM...RADAR INDICATED SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING HEAVY
RAINFALL AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING EXTENDED FROM 10 MILES NORTHEAST OF
PONTIAC THROUGH THE DETROIT METRO AREA TO NEAR TEMPERANCE...46 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF DOWNTOWN DETROIT. THE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE
NORTHEAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR AND WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE ACROSS PARTS
OF OAKLAND...WASHTENAW...WAYNE...MACOMB...AND MONROE COUNTIES THROUGH
630 PM.

PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS SHOULD SEEK SHELTER IN A STRONG
BUILDING. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE TORRENTIAL
RAINFALL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AS THEY PASS OVERHEAD.

STAY TUNED TO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADIO STATION KEC-63 FOR THE
LATEST STATEMENTS ON THIS WEATHER SITUATION.

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Special weather statement, Jul 22, 5:33 PM EDT, 1 hour 43 minutes before
MIZ063-068>070-075-076-082-083-222230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT MI
531 PM EDT FRI JUL 22 1994

...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS SOUTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN...

AT 526 PM...RADAR INDICATED SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING HEAVY
RAINFALL AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING EXTENDED FROM 10 MILES NORTHEAST OF
PONTIAC THROUGH THE DETROIT METRO AREA TO NEAR TEMPERANCE...46 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF DOWNTOWN DETROIT. THE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE
NORTHEAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR AND WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE ACROSS PARTS
OF OAKLAND...WASHTENAW...WAYNE...MACOMB...AND MONROE COUNTIES THROUGH
630 PM.

PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS SHOULD SEEK SHELTER IN A STRONG
BUILDING. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE TORRENTIAL
RAINFALL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AS THEY PASS OVERHEAD.

STAY TUNED TO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADIO STATION KEC-63 FOR THE
LATEST STATEMENTS ON THIS WEATHER SITUATION.

BBN
Special weather statement, Jul 22, 5:50 PM EDT, 1 hour 26 minutes before
MIZ047>049-053>055-060>062-222355-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FLINT  MI
550 PM EDT FRI JUL 22 1994

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM IN TUSCOLA COUNTY...

AT 546 PM...RADAR INDICATED THAT A VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED
JUST NORTHEAST OF CASS CITY. THIS THUNDERSTORM WAS MOVING NORTH
NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH AND WILL AFFECT THE COMMUNITIES OF BAD AXE...61
MILES NORTHEAST OF SAGINAW BY 605 PM...AND HARBOR BEACH BY 630 PM.

MOTORISTS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR REDUCED VISIBILITIES DURING
DOWNPOURS OF RAIN.  STREETS MAY FLOOD QUICKLY.

STAY TUNED TO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL
RADIO OR TELEVISION STATION FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS
WEATHER SITUATION.

WSF
Special weather statement, Jul 22, 5:51 PM EDT, 1 hour 25 minutes before
MIZ047>049-053>055-060>062-222355-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FLINT  MI
550 PM EDT FRI JUL 22 1994

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM IN TUSCOLA COUNTY...

AT 546 PM...RADAR INDICATED THAT A VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED
JUST NORTHEAST OF CASS CITY. THIS THUNDERSTORM WAS MOVING NORTH
NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH AND WILL AFFECT THE COMMUNITIES OF BAD AXE...61
MILES NORTHEAST OF SAGINAW BY 605 PM...AND HARBOR BEACH BY 630 PM.

MOTORISTS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR REDUCED VISIBILITIES DURING
DOWNPOURS OF RAIN.  STREETS MAY FLOOD QUICKLY.

STAY TUNED TO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL
RADIO OR TELEVISION STATION FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS
WEATHER6 SITUATION.

WSF

The office that day

Everything else NWS Detroit, MI issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 22, 6:40 PM EDTTornado WarningDTXLapeer65 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Michigan, 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.