Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 1994

Tornado Warning 18, NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX

May 27, 1994Zavala County, Texas

NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX issued this tornado warning at May 27, 1994, 10:53 AM CDT for Zavala County, Texas. It was in force for 67 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 27, 1994, 10:53 AM CDT (15:53 UTC)
Expired
May 27, 1994, 12:00 PM CDT
In force
67 min
Issued by
NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX
Area
Whole counties

County Zavala County, TX

The nearest sounding before it

Del Rio, TX (KDRT), launched 12:00Z, 3.9 hours before the alert went out and 119 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, Del Rio, TX at 12:00Z on 1994-05-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2387 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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, Del Rio, TX at 12:00Z on 1994-05-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 33 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
2387 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-12 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
611 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
41 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
33 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
102 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.8
Supercell composite
4.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KSAT 271558
TORSAT
TXC507-271700-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO TX
1053 AM CDT FRI MAY 27 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SAN ANTONIO HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL NOON CDT FOR PEOPLE IN
THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...
 
IN SOUTH TEXAS
 
   ...ZAVALA COUNTY
 
AT 1050 AM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE RADARS INDICATED A POSSIBLE
TORNADO ABOUT 15 MILES WEST OF LA PRYOR ALONG THE MAVERICK-
ZAVALA COUNTY LINE.  GOLF-BALL SIZED HAIL HAS JUST BEEN
REPORTED WITH THIS STORM NEAR THIS LOCATION.  EARLIER...
SOFTBALL-SIZED HAIL WAS OBSERVED IN BRACKETTVILLE.  THIS STORM
IS MOVING TOWARD THE SOUTHEAST AT 20 TO 25 MPH.
 
IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY REINFORCED
BUILDING.  AS A LAST RESORT...SEEK SHELTER IN A DITCH OR LOW
SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD.
 
PEOPLE IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION
TO PROTECT THEIR LIVES.  GO TO YOUR BASEMENT...THE CENTER OF
BUILDINGS...COVER YOUR HEAD.  DO NOT GO NEAR DOORS OR WINDOWS. GET
OUT OF MOBILE HOMES AND VEHICLES.  GET INTO A STURDY BUILDING.
 
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM SITUATION.  ACT QUICKLY.  IF YOU ARE IN
THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO MOVE TO A SHELTER BELOW GROUND IF
AVAILABLE.  OTHERWISE...GO TO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR POSSIBLE.  AVOID WINDOWS.  ABANDON CARS AND MOBILE HOMES FOR
A REINFORCED BUILDING.
 
 
 
&

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, May 27, 8:35 AM CDT, 2 hours 18 minutes before
TXZ155-171-172-188-190-192-271545-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN TX
837 AM CDT FRI MAY 27 1994

...AN AREA OF RAIN WITH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MOVING EAST INTO
HILL COUNTRY OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS...

AT 830 AM CDT RAIN MIXED WITH SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WAS
FROM RICHLAND SPRINGS AND SAN SABA DOWN TO HARPER AND JUNCTION.

THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN EASTERN MASON COUNTY...NORTH AND
SOUTH OF THE LLANO RIVER.  ALL OF THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE
MOVING TOWARDS THE EAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

BOATERS ON LAKES IN THE HILL COUNTRY SHOULD MOVE TO SAFE HARBOR AS
THESE THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH THEIR LOCATION.  DUE TO THE FAIRLY
RAPID MOVEMENT...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING WILL
ACCOMPANY THE STORMS.
WITHROW
Special weather statement, May 27, 8:37 AM CDT, 2 hours 16 minutes before
TXZ155-171-172-188-190-192-271545-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN TX
837 AM CDT FRI MAY 27 1994

...AN AREA OF RAIN WITH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MOVING EAST INTO
HILL COUNTRY OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS...

AT 830 AM CDT RAIN MIXED WITH SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WAS
FROM RICHLAND SPRINGS AND SAN SABA DOWN TO HARPER AND JUNCTION.

THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN EASTERN MASON COUNTY...NORTH AND
SOUTH OF THE LLANO RIVER.  ALL OF THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE
MOVING TOWARDS THE EAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

BOATERS ON LAKES IN THE HILL COUNTRY SHOULD MOVE TO SAFE HARBOR AS
THESE THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH THEIR LOCATION.  DUE TO THE FAIRLY
RAPID MOVEMENT...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING WILL
ACCOMPANY THE STORMS.
WITHROW
Special weather statement, May 27, 8:56 AM CDT, 1 hour 57 minutes before
TXZ183-271500-

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DEL RIO TX
900 AM CDT FRI MAY 27 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR VAL VERDE COUNTY HAS EXPIRED...

AT 855 AM CDT...RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
LOCATED FROM 35 MILES NORTHWEST OF DEL RIO TO 40 MILES NORTHEAST OF DEL
RIO. MOVEMENT WAS TO THE EAST 25 MPH.

HEAVY RAIN...SMALL HAIL...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS
ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STtORMS..

BOATERS AND FISHERMAN ON LAKE AMISTAD SHOULD BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR
THESE STORMS AND SEEK SAFE HARBOR.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR DETAILS AS THEY DEVELOP.
Special weather statement, May 27, 9:00 AM CDT, 1 hour 53 minutes before
TXZ183-271500-

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DEL RIO TX
900 AM CDT FRI MAY 27 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR VAL VERDE COUNTY HAS EXPIRED...

AT 855 AM CDT...RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
LOCATED FROM 35 MILES NORTHWEST OF DEL RIO TO 40 MILES NORTHEAST OF DEL
RIO. MOVEMENT WAS TO THE EAST 25 MPH.

HEAVY RAIN...SMALL HAIL...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS
ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS..

BOATERS AND FISHERMAN ON LAKE AMISTAD SHOULD BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR
THESE STORMS AND SEEK SAFE HARBOR.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR DETAILS AS THEY DEVELOP.
Special weather statement, May 27, 10:33 AM CDT, 20 minutes before
TXZ142-155-156-171-172-188-190-173-192-191-193-208-194-209-174-
271630-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN TX
1035 AM CDT FRI MAY 27 1994

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM CDT FOR TRAVIS AND ALL NEARBY
COUNTIES INCLUDING THE HILL COUNTRY...

AT 1030 AM CDT AN AREA OF LIGHT RAIN WITH IMBEDDED THUNDERSHOWERS WAS
FROM LAMPASAS AND KILLEEN DOWN TO AUSTIN.

THE STRONGER THUNDERSHOWERS WERE NORTH OF BERTRAM AND WEST OF ROUND
ROCK.  THE RAIN AND SHOWERS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST AT 35 MILES AN
HOUR. THEY HAD DECREASED IN INTENSITY BETWEEN 10 AND 1030 AM CDT.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE
FORMATION OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND POSSIBLE TORNADOES IN AND
CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.
WITHROW
Special weather statement, May 27, 10:35 AM CDT, 18 minutes before
TXZ142-155-156-171-172-188-190-173-192-191-193-208-194-209-174-
271630-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN TX
1035 AM CDT FRI MAY 27 1994

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM CDT FOR TRAVIS AND ALL NEARBY
COUNTIES INCLUDING THE HILL COUNTRY...

AT 1030 AM CDT AN AREA OF LIGHT RAIN WITH IMBEDDED THUNDERSHOWERS WAS
FROM LAMPASAS AND KILLEEN DOWN TO AUSTIN.

THE STRONGER THUNDERSHOWERS WERE NORTH OF BERTRAM AND WEST OF ROUND
ROCK.  THE RAIN AND SHOWERS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST AT 35 MILES AN
HOUR. THEY HAD DECREASED IN INTENSITY BETWEEN 10 AND 1030 AM CDT.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE
FORMATION OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND POSSIBLE TORNADOES IN AND
CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.
WITHROW

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 26, 7:42 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXVal Verde48 min
May 27, 8:10 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXVal Verde50 min
May 27, 8:39 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXKinney66 min
May 27, 9:18 AM CDTTornado WarningEWXKinney57 min
May 27, 9:59 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXUvalde, Zavala61 min
May 27, 10:37 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXMaverick68 min
May 27, 11:58 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXDimmit, Zavala62 min
May 27, 2:42 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXDimmit, Webb63 min
May 27, 3:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXLa Salle62 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Texas, 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.