Alert archive / Texas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1994

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 101, NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX

May 14, 1994Gillespie County, Texas

NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 14, 1994, 8:59 PM CDT for Gillespie County, Texas. It was in force for 61 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 14, 1994, 8:59 PM CDT (01:59 UTC)
Expired
May 14, 1994, 10:00 PM CDT
In force
61 min
Issued by
NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX
Area
Whole counties

County Gillespie County, TX

The nearest sounding before it

Stephenville/Cla, TX (KSEP), launched 00:00Z, 2.0 hours before the alert went out and 226 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, Stephenville/Cla, TX at 00:00Z on 1994-05-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2472 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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, Stephenville/Cla, TX at 00:00Z on 1994-05-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 7 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
2472 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-4 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1340 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
16 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
7 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
73 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 
WUUS1 KAUS 150159
SVREWX
TXC171-150300-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN TX
859 PM CDT SAT MAY 14 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN AUSTIN HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1000 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS
 
   ...GILLESPIE COUNTY
 
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN GILLESPIE COUNTY...
 
AT 855 A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS OVER CENTRAL GILLESPIE COUNTY. THIS
STORM WILL MOVE INTO FREDERICKSBURG BY 93O PM. THESE STORMS HAVE A
HISTORY OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL...HEAVY RAIN...FREQUENT DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING AND DAMAGING WINDS.
 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND AROUND 60 MPH OR
HIGHER...LARGE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.
SLOW DOWN OR MOVE COMPLETELY OFF ROADWAYS IN HEAVY RAINS.
BRIEF LOCALIZED FLOODING ACCOMPANY MANY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.
REMEMBER WE ISSUE WARNINGS ON A COUNTY BASIS.
 
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM.  IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH YOU SHOULD
PREPARE FOR DAMAGING WIND AT OR ABOVE 60 MPH...LARGE HAIL...
AND DEADLY LIGHTNING. HAVE ALL LOOSE YARD ITEMS STOWED. TELL
YOUR KIDS WHAT TO DO AND WHERE TO GO BEFORE THE STORM HITS.
 
TSCHIRHART
 


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What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 14, 5:40 PM CDT, 3 hours 19 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN TX
430PM CDT SAT MAY 14 1994

REFERENCE LOCAL STORM REPORT /SATLSRAUS/ ISSUED 03Z..14 MAY 1994

GROUND SURVEY REPORT OF THE MARBLE FALLS, TEXAS TORNADO
EVENT OF FRIDAY.. 13 MAY 1994..
(SURVEY WAS UNDERTAKEN SATURDAY MORNING, 14 MAY 1994;
SURVEY TEAM: LOU WITHROW, M-I-C, WSO AUSTIN; TROY KIMMEL,
CHIEF METEOROLOGIST, LOWER COLORADO RIVER AUTHORITY;
OTHER INFORMATION GATHERED FROM AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

THE GROUND SURVEY INDICATED A PATH LENGTH OF 3 TO 5 MILES THROUGH THE
WESTERN AND THE NORTHERN PARTS AND THEN EASTERN PARTS OF THE CITY OF
MARBLE FALLS. THE STORM APPROACHED THE CITY'S WEST AND SOUTHWEST SIDE
AROUND 11:30 A.M. CDT. THERE WERE UNCONFIRMED REPORTS OF FUNNEL CLOUDS
IN THE HORSESHOE BAY AREA /4 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MARBLE FALLS/ JUST
BEFORE THE STORM MOVED INTO CITY ITSELF. SOME DAMAGE TO ROOFS AND
DOWNED TREES WAS REPORTED AROUND THE HORSESHOE BAY AREA /ON LAKE
L.B.J./.

AS THE TORNADO MOVED ACROSS THE WEST SIDE OF THE CITY.. IT CROSSED
FARM-TO-MARKET ROAD 1431 IN A HEAVILY COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL AREA /AT
AVENUE Q, FM1431 INTERSECTION/. SEVERAL STRUCTURES IN THIS AREA RECEIVED
F1 TO F2 DAMAGE WITH ROOFS SEVERELY DAMAGED.. NUMEROUS LARGE TREES
BROKEN OR UPROOTED.. AND POWER LINES DOWN. A SERVICE STATION FUEL PUMP
METAL CANOPY COLLAPSED UNTO THE PUMPS. ROOFING ON A STORAGE FACILITY..
JUST SOUTHEAST OF THE AVENUE Q/FM1431 INTERSECTION.. WAS REMOVED AND
WAS BLOWN NORTHEASTWARD ACROSS FM1431. SEVERAL BOATS AT A BOAT
DEALERSHIP WERE TOSSED ON TOP OF ONE ANOTHER ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF
THE INTERSECTION. THE ROOFING ON A CHURCH WAS RIPPED OFF AND THROWN
DOWNWIND.. CREATING SHORT DISTANCE AIRBORNE MISSILES. TWO 2 X 4S WERE
BLOWN INTO THE SIDE OF THE CHURCH'S PRESCHOOL CARE CENTER WHERE THEY
FULLY PENETRATED THE OUTSIDE WALL AND EMERGED AT LEAST THREE TO FOUR
FEET INTO A INSIDE CLASSROOM. LUCKILY.. ALL CHILDREN HAD BEEN MOVED INTO
HALLWAYS ABOUT FIVE MINUTES BEFORE AS THEY HAD RECEIVED WORD OF THE
IMPENDING STORM. A LARGE PLYWOOD SHEET.. APPARENTLY FROM THE CHURCH..
WAS IMPALED INTO A TREE ON THE PRESCHOOL GROUNDS. NUMEROUS COMMERCIAL
SIGNS DOWN. DAMAGE TO THE ROOFS OF A STRIP SHOPPING CENTER AS WELL AS
TO THE H-E-B GROCERY STORE. WATER REPORTED UP TO 6 INCHES DEEP ALONG
WITH HAIL ON THE FLOOR OF SOME OF STORES IN THE STRIP CENTER
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE STORM. SOME ROOFING AND AWNING DAMAGE TO
BUILDINGS AT MARBLE FALLS MIDDLE SCHOOL WHICH IS 1/8TH MILE NORTHEAST
OF THE AVENUE Q, FM1431 INTERSECTION. DAMAGE AS WELL TO THE SCHOOL'S
FOOTBALL FIELD PRESSBOX/BLEACHERS. RESIDENTIAL AREAS RECEIVED SOME ROOF
DAMAGE AND TREE DAMAGE.. ESPECIALLY JUST TO THE NORTH AND NORTHWEST OF
THE AVENUE Q/FM1431 INTERSECTION. INTERVIEWS WITH WITNESSES IN THIS
AREA REPORTED THAT POWER FAILED IN THIS AREA SOME TWO TO FOUR MINUTES
BEFORE THE TORNADO HIT; IN ADDITION, MANY REPORTED THAT THEY KNEW THAT
A SEVERE WEATHER "WARNING" WAS OUT (REF: SATSVRAUS ISSUED AT 11:12AM
CDT FOR SOUTHERN BURNET AND WESTERN TRAVIS COUNTIES).. SO MANY REPORTED
THAT THEY WERE PREPARED AND IN SHELTERS.

THE TORNADO CONTINUED ON A NORTHEASTWARD TRACK WITH MAINLY F0 TO F1
DAMAGE IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS NORTHEAST OF MARBLE FALLS MIDDLE SCHOOL.

AS THE STORM APPROACHED AND CROSSED U. S. HIGHWAY 281 IN THE NORTH
SECTION OF THE CITY.. ROOFING DAMAGE BECAME EXTENSIVE WITH A CORNER OF
THE COMFORT INN MOTEL ROOF /ON THE WEST SIDE OF U. S. 281/ COMPLETELY
REMOVED. A FUNERAL HOME IN THE AREA.. ON THE EAST SIDE OF U. S. 281..
HAD A COLLAPSED ROOF OVER A CAR DRIVEWAY/PASSAGEWAY. MARBLE FALLS
PRIMARY SCHOOL REPORTED ROOFING DAMAGE.. WITH ROOFING MATERIAL REMOVED
FROM TEMPORARY CLASSROOMS. AGAIN, ALL STUDENTS HAD BEEN EVACUATED TO
THE MAIN SCHOOL STRUCTURE MINUTES BEFORE AS THEY REPORTED KNOWING THAT
SEVERE WEATHER WAS IMMINENT. CEILING TILES AND INSULATION FELL DOWN
INTO SCHOOL HALLWAYS.. WATER DAMAGE REPORTED. TREES UPROOTED ON SCHOOL
GROUNDS. ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE SCHOOL.. A STORAGE STRUCTURE /USED
BY AN AIR CONDITIONING FIRM/ COLLAPSED. JUST NORTHEAST OF THE SCHOOL,
THE EAST END OF A METAL REINFORCED STRUCTURE, OCCUPIED BY GOULD
INCORPORATED, WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED WITH ALL EXTERIOR WALLS COMPLETELY
BLOWN OUT. METAL I-BEAMS WERE BENT AND SOME WERE PULLED FROM THE
CONCRETE FOUNDATION. DAMAGE AT THIS POINT IS ESTIMATED TO BE UPPER F2
TO LOWER F3. IMMEDIATELY TO THE NORTH OF THIS METAL STRUCTURE IS THE
MARBLE FALLS WAL-MART STORE.. WHICH RECEIVED EXTENSIVE ROOFING AND
EXTERIOR AWNING DAMAGE. THE STORE'S GARDEN CENTER WAS EXTENSIVELY
DAMAGED. AN EIGHTEEN WHEELER WALMART TRUCK AND A BREAD DELIVERY TRUCK..
PARKED TO THE SOUTH OF THE BUILDING.. WERE OVERTURNED. TWO OTHER
EIGHTEEN WHEEL TRUCKS.. JUST SOUTH OF THE GOULD INCORPORATED
STRUCTURE.. WERE OVERTURNED AS WELL. TWO EMPLOYEES OF LONE STAR SUPPLY
IN THIS AREA REPORTED THAT "THE TWO TRUCKS WERE LIFTED TWO TO THREE
FEET OFF OF THE GROUND" AS THEY WERE OVERTURNED. THE LONE STAR SUPPLY
STRUCTURE.. LOCATED JUST SOUTHEAST OF THE GOULD STRUCTURE.. ALSO
REPORTED HEAVY ROOF DAMAGE.

AN ESTIMATED 100 TO 200 PEOPLE.. EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS.. WERE
IN THE WAL-MART STORE AT THE TIME THE STORM HIT. THE STORE HAS
REGULARLY SCHEDULED MONTHLY FIRE/SEVERE WEATHER DRILLS INCLUDING ONE ON
THURSDAY, 12 MAY 1994. EMPLOYEES HAD HEARD SEVERE WEATHER WAS IMMINENT
AND HAD BEGUN TO MOVE CUSTOMERS TO SAFETY WHEN THE STORM HIT. THE STORE
WAS STILL SEALED OFF BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND STORE OFFICIALS AS OF
SATURDAY MORNING AND WAS OPEN ONLY TO LOCAL RESIDENTS IN NEED OF
EMERGENCY SUPPLIES.

A MECHANIC AT AN AUTO DEALERSHIP.. ON THE EAST SIDE OF U.S. 281.. WAS
BRIEFLY BURIED UNDER DEBRIS WHEN PART OF THE CEILING COLLAPSED IN THE
DEALERSHIP'S OFFICE. EMPLOYEES SAW HIM AND RESCUED HIM.

FROM THIS POINT.. THE STORM CONTINUED EASTWARD WITH DAMAGE TO TREES..
POWER LINES AND SOME STRUCTURES CONTINUING.

AS THE STORM CONTINUED ITS MOVEMENT, MODERATE TO HEAVY ROOFING DAMAGE
WAS REPORTED AT MARBLE FALLS HIGH SCHOOL.. LOCATED NORTH OF FM1431 EAST
OF THE CITY. SCHOOL PRINCIPAL JEFF FORD REPORTS THAT THE SCHOOL HAS
REGULARLY SCHEDULED FIRE/SEVERE WEATHER DRILLS. THE SCHOOL WAS AWARE
THAT SEVERE WEATHER WARNINGS WERE IN EFFECT. HE REPORTS THAT ABOUT FIVE
MINUTES BEFORE THE STORM STRUCK THE SCHOOL, HE GOT ON THE INTERCOM
SYSTEM AND ASKED STUDENTS (APPROXIMATELY 700), FACULTY AND STAFF TO
MOVE TO INTERIOR HALLWAYS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.. AS "INCLEMENT
WEATHER" WAS IMMINENT. THE STORM HIT SHORTLY AFTER 11:30 AM.. WITH
EXTENSIVE PEELING OF METAL FROM THE SCHOOL'S AUDITORIUM AND GYMNASIUM
ROOFS. WATER DAMAGE WAS REPORTED ALONG WITH ONE WINDOW BROKEN OUT. THE
SCHOOL IS RELATIVELY NEW.. HAVING BEEN BUILT IN THE MID 1980S. MANY
TREES BROKEN OFF OR UPROOTED ON SCHOOL GROUNDS.

TREES WERE BROKEN AND UPROOTED EASTWARD ALONG FM1431 TO ABOUT 5 MILES
EAST OF THE CITY.. WITH ONE RESIDENCE WITH THE ROOF PARTIALLY REMOVED
ABOUT 3 MILES EAST OF THE CITY.

INTERVIEWS WITH WITNESSES INDICATED SEVERAL FUNNEL CLOUD SIGHTINGS..
AND A "LOUD" ROAR.. ALONG WITH HAIL OF UP TO 3/4 INCH WHICH ACCUMULATED
ON THE GROUND. OF WITNESSES INTERVIEWED, NO ONE REPORTED ACTUALLY
SEEING A TORNADO IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. MANY PEOPLE REPORTED THAT
TORRENTIAL RAINS AND HEAVY HAIL WERE OCCURRING AT THE TIME THAT THE
TORNADO HIT.

STORM STATISTICS:
--DEATHS... NONE.
--INJURIES... HIGHLAND LAKES MEDICAL CENTER SPOKESWOMAN REPORTS TWO
PERSONS TREATED AND RELEASED FOR STORM RELATED INJURIES. ACCORDING TO
SOURCES.. THERE WERE NO INJURIES IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, EVEN THOUGH THE
CITY'S FOUR SCHOOLS WERE DAMAGED WHILE IN SESSION. EACH SCHOOL HAD
ACTIVATED THEIR SEVERE WEATHER PLANS IN ADVANCE.
--DOLLAR FIGURE ESTIMATES... FROM MARBLE FALLS MAYOR GRIFF MORRIS'
OFFICE (PRELIMINARY AS OF SATURDAY AFTERNOON).. 4 TO 5 MILLION DOLLARS.
--DAMAGE TO STRUCTURES... AFTER EVALUATION FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY, THE
FOLLOWING STRUCTURE TYPES REPORTED LIGHT TO HEAVY DAMAGE IN THE CITY,
ACCORDING TO MARBLE FALLS MAYOR GRIFF MORRIS: RESIDENTIAL 305;
COMMERCIAL 70; PUBLIC BUILDINGS 6.. INCLUDING THE CITY'S FOUR SCHOOLS;
AND INDUSTRIAL 4. TOTAL.. 385 BUILDINGS AFFECTED.
--DISASTER DECLARATION... BURNET COUNTY JUDGE MARTIN MCLEAN HAS
REQUESTED DISASTER DECLARATION FROM GOVERNOR ANN RICHARDS' OFFICE.

LW/TMK/JVD/WT/CP/SL/MR
Local storm report, May 14, 5:40 PM CDT, 3 hours 19 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN TX
430PM CDT SAT MAY 14 1994

REFERENCE LOCAL STORM REPORT /SATLSRAUS/ ISSUED 03Z..14 MAY 1994

GROUND SURVEY REPORT OF THE MARBLE FALLS, TEXAS TORNADO
EVENT OF FRIDAY.. 13 MAY 1994..
(SURVEY WAS UNDERTAKEN SATURDAY MORNING, 14 MAY 1994;
SURVEY TEAM: LOU WITHROW, M-I-C, WSO AUSTIN; TROY KIMMEL,
CHIEF METEOROLOGIST, LOWER COLORADO RIVER AUTHORITY;
OTHER INFORMATION GATHERED FROM AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

THE GROUND SURVEY INDICATED A PATH LENGTH OF 3 TO 5 MILES THROUGH THE
WESTERN AND THE NORTHERN PARTS AND THEN EASTERN PARTS OF THE CITY OF
MARBLE FALLS. THE STORM APPROACHED THE CITY'S WEST AND SOUTHWEST SIDE
AROUND 11:30 A.M. CDT. THERE WERE UNCONFIRMED REPORTS OF FUNNEL CLOUDS
IN THE HORSESHOE BAY AREA /4 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MARBLE FALLS/ JUST
BEFORE THE STORM MOVED INTO CITY ITSELF. SOME DAMAGE TO ROOFS AND
DOWNED TREES WAS REPORTED AROUND THE HORSESHOE BAY AREA /ON LAKE
L.B.J./.

AS THE TORNADO MOVED ACROSS THE WEST SIDE OF THE CITY.. IT CROSSED
FARM-TO-MARKET ROAD 1431 IN A HEAVILY COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL AREA /AT
AVENUE Q, FM1431 INTERSECTION/. SEVERAL STRUCTURES IN THIS AREA RECEIVED
F1 TO F2 DAMAGE WITH ROOFS SEVERELY DAMAGED.. NUMEROUS LARGE TREES
BROKEN OR UPROOTED.. AND POWER LINES DOWN. A SERVICE STATION FUEL PUMP
METAL CANOPY COLLAPSED UNTO THE PUMPS. ROOFING ON A STORAGE FACILITY..
JUST SOUTHEAST OF THE AVENUE Q/FM1431 INTERSECTION.. WAS REMOVED AND
WAS BLOWN NORTHEASTWARD ACROSS FM1431. SEVERAL BOATS AT A BOAT
DEALERSHIP WERE TOSSED ON TOP OF ONE ANOTHER ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF
THE INTERSECTION. THE ROOFING ON A CHURCH WAS RIPPED OFF AND THROWN
DOWNWIND.. CREATING SHORT DISTANCE AIRBORNE MISSILES. TWO 2 X 4S WERE
BLOWN INTO THE SIDE OF THE CHURCH'S PRESCHOOL CARE CENTER WHERE THEY
FULLY PENETRATED THE OUTSIDE WALL AND EMERGED AT LEAST THREE TO FOUR
FEET INTO A INSIDE CLASSROOM. LUCKILY.. ALL CHILDREN HAD BEEN MOVED INTO
HALLWAYS ABOUT FIVE MINUTES BEFORE AS THEY HAD RECEIVED WORD OF THE
IMPENDING STORM. A LARGE PLYWOOD SHEET.. APPARENTLY FROM THE CHURCH..
WAS IMPALED INTO A TREE ON THE PRESCHOOL GROUNDS. NUMEROUS COMMERCIAL
SIGNS DOWN. DAMAGE TO THE ROOFS OF A STRIP SHOPPING CENTER AS WELL AS
TO THE H-E-B GROCERY STORE. WATER REPORTED UP TO 6 INCHES DEEP ALONG
WITH HAIL ON THE FLOOR OF SOME OF STORES IN THE STRIP CENTER
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE STORM. SOME ROOFING AND AWNING DAMAGE TO
BUILDINGS AT MARBLE FALLS MIDDLE SCHOOL WHICH IS 1/8TH MILE NORTHEAST
OF THE AVENUE Q, FM1431 INTERSECTION. DAMAGE AS WELL TO THE SCHOOL'S
FOOTBALL FIELD PRESSBOX/BLEACHERS. RESIDENTIAL AREAS RECEIVED SOME ROOF
DAMAGE AND TREE DAMAGE.. ESPECIALLY JUST TO THE NORTH AND NORTHWEST OF
THE AVENUE Q/FM1431 INTERSECTION. INTERVIEWS WITH WITNESSES IN THIS
AREA REPORTED THAT POWER FAILED IN THIS AREA SOME TWO TO FOUR MINUTES
BEFORE THE TORNADO HIT; IN ADDITION, MANY REPORTED THAT THEY KNEW THAT
A SEVERE WEATHER "WARNING" WAS OUT (REF: SATSVRAUS ISSUED AT 11:12AM
CDT FOR SOUTHERN BURNET AND WESTERN TRAVIS COUNTIES).. SO MANY REPORTED
THAT THEY WERE PREPARED AND IN SHELTERS.

THE TORNADO CONTINUED ON A NORTHEASTWARD TRACK WITH MAINLY F0 TO F1
DAMAGE IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS NORTHEAST OF MARBLE FALLS MIDDLE SCHOOL.

AS THE STORM APPROACHED AND CROSSED U. S. HIGHWAY 281 IN THE NORTH
SECTION OF THE CITY.. ROOFING DAMAGE BECAME EXTENSIVE WITH A CORNER OF
THE COMFORT INN MOTEL ROOF /ON THE WEST SIDE OF U. S. 281/ COMPLETELY
REMOVED. A FUNERAL HOME IN THE AREA.. ON THE EAST SIDE OF U. S. 281..
HAD A COLLAPSED ROOF OVER A CAR DRIVEWAY/PASSAGEWAY. MARBLE FALLS
PRIMARY SCHOOL REPORTED ROOFING DAMAGE.. WITH ROOFING MATERIAL REMOVED
FROM TEMPORARY CLASSROOMS. AGAIN, ALL STUDENTS HAD BEEN EVACUATED TO
THE MAIN SCHOOL STRUCTURE MINUTES BEFORE AS THEY REPORTED KNOWING THAT
SEVERE WEATHER WAS IMMINENT. CEILING TILES AND INSULATION FELL DOWN
INTO SCHOOL HALLWAYS.. WATER DAMAGE REPORTED. TREES UPROOTED ON SCHOOL
GROUNDS. ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE SCHOOL.. A STORAGE STRUCTURE /USED
BY AN AIR CONDITIONING FIRM/ COLLAPSED. JUST NORTHEAST OF THE SCHOOL,
THE EAST END OF A METAL REINFORCED STRUCTURE, OCCUPIED BY GOULD
INCORPORATED, WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED WITH ALL EXTERIOR WALLS COMPLETELY
BLOWN OUT. METAL I-BEAMS WERE BENT AND SOME WERE PULLED FROM THE
CONCRETE FOUNDATION. DAMAGE AT THIS POINT IS ESTIMATED TO BE UPPER F2
TO LOWER F3. IMMEDIATELY TO THE NORTH OF THIS METAL STRUCTURE IS THE
MARBLE FALLS WAL-MART STORE.. WHICH RECEIVED EXTENSIVE ROOFING AND
EXTERIOR AWNING DAMAGE. THE STORE'S GARDEN CENTER WAS EXTENSIVELY
DAMAGED. AN EIGHTEEN WHEELER WALMART TRUCK AND A BREAD DELIVERY TRUCK..
PARKED TO THE SOUTH OF THE BUILDING.. WERE OVERTURNED. TWO OTHER
EIGHTEEN WHEEL TRUCKS.. JUST SOUTH OF THE GOULD INCORPORATED
STRUCTURE.. WERE OVERTURNED AS WELL. TWO EMPLOYEES OF LONE STAR SUPPLY
IN THIS AREA REPORTED THAT "THE TWO TRUCKS WERE LIFTED TWO TO THREE
FEET OFF OF THE GROUND" AS THEY WERE OVERTURNED. THE LONE STAR SUPPLY
STRUCTURE.. LOCATED JUST SOUTHEAST OF THE GOULD STRUCTURE.. ALSO
REPORTED HEAVY ROOF DAMAGE.

AN ESTIMATED 100 TO 200 PEOPLE.. EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS.. WERE
IN THE WAL-MART STORE AT THE TIME THE STORM HIT. THE STORE HAS
REGULARLY SCHEDULED MONTHLY FIRE/SEVERE WEATHER DRILLS INCLUDING ONE ON
THURSDAY, 12 MAY 1994. EMPLOYEES HAD HEARD SEVERE WEATHER WAS IMMINENT
AND HAD BEGUN TO MOVE CUSTOMERS TO SAFETY WHEN THE STORM HIT. THE STORE
WAS STILL SEALED OFF BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND STORE OFFICIALS AS OF
SATURDAY MORNING AND WAS OPEN ONLY TO LOCAL RESIDENTS IN NEED OF
EMERGENCY SUPPLIES.

A MECHANIC AT AN AUTO DEALERSHIP.. ON THE EAST SIDE OF U.S. 281.. WAS
BRIEFLY BURIED UNDER DEBRIS WHEN PART OF THE CEILING COLLAPSED IN THE
DEALERSHIP'S OFFICE. EMPLOYEES SAW HIM AND RESCUED HIM.

FROM THIS POINT.. THE STORM CONTINUED EASTWARD WITH DAMAGE TO TREES..
POWER LINES AND SOME STRUCTURES CONTINUING.

AS THE STORM CONTINUED ITS MOVEMENT, MODERATE TO HEAVY ROOFING DAMAGE
WAS REPORTED AT MARBLE FALLS HIGH SCHOOL.. LOCATED NORTH OF FM1431 EAST
OF THE CITY. SCHOOL PRINCIPAL JEFF FORD REPORTS THAT THE SCHOOL HAS
REGULARLY SCHEDULED FIRE/SEVERE WEATHER DRILLS. THE SCHOOL WAS AWARE
THAT SEVERE WEATHER WARNINGS WERE IN EFFECT. HE REPORTS THAT ABOUT FIVE
MINUTES BEFORE THE STORM STRUCK THE SCHOOL, HE GOT ON THE INTERCOM
SYSTEM AND ASKED STUDENTS (APPROXIMATELY 700), FACULTY AND STAFF TO
MOVE TO INTERIOR HALLWAYS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.. AS "INCLEMENT
WEATHER" WAS IMMINENT. THE STORM HIT SHORTLY AFTER 11:30 AM.. WITH
EXTENSIVE PEELING OF METAL FROM THE SCHOOL'S AUDITORIUM AND GYMNASIUM
ROOFS. WATER DAMAGE WAS REPORTED ALONG WITH ONE WINDOW BROKEN OUT. THE
SCHOOL IS RELATIVELY NEW.. HAVING BEEN BUILT IN THE MID 1980S. MANY
TREES BROKEN OFF OR UPROOTED ON SCHOOL GROUNDS.

TREES WERE BROKEN AND UPROOTED EASTWARD ALONG FM1431 TO ABOUT 5 MILES
EAST OF THE CITY.. WITH ONE RESIDENCE WITH THE ROOF PARTIALLY REMOVED
ABOUT 3 MILES EAST OF THE CITY.

INTERVIEWS WITH WITNESSES INDICATED SEVERAL FUNNEL CLOUD SIGHTINGS..
AND A "LOUD" ROAR.. ALONG WITH HAIL OF UP TO 3/4 INCH WHICH ACCUMULATED
ON THE GROUND. OF WITNESSES INTERVIEWED, NO ONE REPORTED ACTUALLY
SEEING A TORNADO IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. MANY PEOPLE REPORTED THAT
TORRENTIAL RAINS AND HEAVY HAIL WERE OCCURRING AT THE TIME THAT THE
TORNADO HIT.

STORM STATISTICS:
--DEATHS... NONE.
--INJURIES... HIGHLAND LAKES MEDICAL CENTER SPOKESWOMAN REPORTS TWO
PERSONS TREATED AND RELEASED FOR STORM RELATED INJURIES. ACCORDING TO
SOURCES.. THERE WERE NO INJURIES IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, EVEN THOUGH THE
CITY'S FOUR SCHOOLS WERE DAMAGED WHILE IN SESSION. EACH SCHOOL HAD
ACTIVATED THEIR SEVERE WEATHER PLANS IN ADVANCE.
--DOLLAR FIGURE ESTIMATES... FROM MARBLE FALLS MAYOR GRIFF MORRIS'
OFFICE (PRELIMINARY AS OF SATURDAY AFTERNOON).. 4 TO 5 MILLION DOLLARS.
--DAMAGE TO STRUCTURES... AFTER EVALUATION FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY, THE
FOLLOWING STRUCTURE TYPES REPORTED LIGHT TO HEAVY DAMAGE IN THE CITY,
ACCORDING TO MARBLE FALLS MAYOR GRIFF MORRIS: RESIDENTIAL 305;
COMMERCIAL 70; PUBLIC BUILDINGS 6.. INCLUDING THE CITY'S FOUR SCHOOLS;
AND INDUSTRIAL 4. TOTAL.. 385 BUILD
INGS AFFECTED.
--DISASTER DECLARATION... BURNET COUNTY JUDGE MARTIN MCLEAN HAS
REQUESTED DISASTER DECLARATION FROM GOVERNOR ANN RICHARDS' OFFICE.

LW/TMK/JVD/WT/CP/SL/MR
Special weather statement, May 14, 7:05 PM CDT, 1 hour 54 minutes before
TXZ183>187-189-202>207-150300-

SPECAIL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO TX
705 PM CDT SAT MAY 14 1994

...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OVER THE HILL COUNTRY AND
   SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS TONIGHT...

A WEATHER SYSTEMS ALOFT OVER WEST TEXAS THIS EVENING WILL MOVE OVER
SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS TONIGHT AND EAST OF THE AREA SUNDAY.  THIS WEATHER
SYSTEM AND ITS ASSOCIATED COOL FRONT, WILL CAUSE AN INCREASING CHANCE
OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT OVER SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS AND THE
HILL COUNTRY.

AT 655 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTROMS DEVELOPING NORTH OF KERRVILLE AND WEST OF DEL RIO.
THIS WEATHER COULD DEVELOP FURTHER SOUTH AND EAST TONIGHT.
Special weather statement, May 14, 7:05 PM CDT, 1 hour 54 minutes before
TXZ183>187-189-202>207-150300-

SPECAIL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO TX
705 PM CDT SAT MAY 14 1994

...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OVER THE HILL COUNTRY AND
   SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS TONIGHT...

A WEATHER SYSTEMS ALOFT OVER WEST TEXAS THIS EVENING WILL MOVE OVER
SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS TONIGHT AND EAST OF THE AREA SUNDAY.  THIS WEATHER
SYSTEM AND ITS ASSOCIATED COOL FRONT, WILL CAUSE AN INCREASING CHANCE
OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT OVER SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS AND THE
HILL COUNTRY.

AT 655 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTROMS DEVELOPING NORTH OF KERRVILLE AND WEST OF DEL RIO.
THIS WEATHER COULD DEVELOP FURTHER SOUTH AND EAST TONIGHT.
Special weather statement, May 14, 8:40 PM CDT, 19 minutes before
TXZ171-172-188-190-173-192-191-193-208-194-209-174-150245-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN TX
840 PM CDT SAT MAY 14 1994

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHEAST TRAVIS COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

AT 835 PM STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE FROM JUNCTION TO AUSTIN TO WACO.
MOVEMENT WAS SOUTH AT 25 MILES AN HOUR. THE STORM THAT WAS OVER
NORTHEAST TRAVIS COUNTY WEAKENED TO BELOW SEVERE LIMITS. THESE STORMS HA
 PRODUCING FREQUENT LIGHTNING...SMALL HAIL AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS. IF YOU
LIVE IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS YOU SHOULD SECURE ALL LOOSE OUTDOOR
EQUIPMENT AND SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY BUILDING.

TSCHIRHART
Special weather statement, May 14, 8:41 PM CDT, 18 minutes before
TXZ171-172-188-190-173-192-191-193-208-194-209-174-150245-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN TX
840 PM CDT SAT MAY 14 1994

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHEAST TRAVIS COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

AT 835 PM STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE FROM JUNCTION TO AUSTIN TO WACO.
MOVEMENT WAS SOUTH AT 25 MILES AN HOUR. THE STORM THAT WAS OVER
NORTHEAST TRAVIS COUNTY WEAKENED TO BELOW SEVERE LIMITS. THESE STORMS HA
 PRODUCING FREQUENT LIGHTNING...SMALL HAIL AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS. IF YOU
LIVE IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS YOU SHOULD SECURE ALL LOOSE OUTDOOR
EQUIPMENT AND SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY BUILDING.

TSCHIRHART

The office that day

Everything else NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 14, 7:33 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXLlano42 min
May 14, 8:09 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXTravis51 min
May 14, 9:46 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXDimmit59 min
May 14, 9:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXSan Saba66 min
May 14, 10:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXBastrop, Fayette65 min
May 15, 12:10 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXGuadalupe65 min
May 15, 12:30 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningEWXEdwards3 hr
May 15, 12:43 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningEWXUvalde3 hr
May 15, 12:55 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningEWXVal Verde2 hr
May 15, 1:17 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningEWXComal, Guadalupe3 hr
May 15, 1:20 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXGonzales55 min
May 15, 4:08 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningEWXGuadalupe3 hr

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Texas, 1994Every severe thunderstorm warning 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.