Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 1994

Tornado Warning 22, NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX

October 16, 1994Wilson County, Texas

NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX issued this tornado warning at Oct 16, 1994, 6:29 PM CDT for Wilson County, Texas. It was in force for 61 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Oct 16, 1994, 6:29 PM CDT (23:29 UTC)
Expired
Oct 16, 1994, 7:30 PM CDT
In force
61 min
Issued by
NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX
Area
Whole counties

County Wilson County, TX

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Oct 16, 6:50 PM CDTTornado F0Near Kosciusko, TXA small and short-lived tornado was observed by the Sheriffs Department.

NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in. Storm Data before 1996 records only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail.

The nearest sounding before it

Corpus Christi, TX (KCRP), launched 12:00Z, 11.5 hours before the alert went out and 176 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, Corpus Christi, TX at 12:00Z on 1994-10-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1746 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, Corpus Christi, TX at 12:00Z on 1994-10-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 162 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
1746 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-31 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
677 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
162 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
148 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.1
Supercell composite
9.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KSAT 162331
TORSAT
TXC493-170030-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO TX
629 PM CDT SUN OCT 16 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SAN ANTONIO HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  730 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN SOUTH TEXAS
 
   ...WILSON COUNTY
 
AT 625 PM CDT...THE WILSON COUNTY SHERIFF REPORTED A TORNADO 2 MILES
NORTH OF KOSCIOSKO ON ROUTE 123 AND WAS MOVING NORTH. IN ADDITION,
DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM.
 
THIS STORM WILL BE MOVING INTO THE STOCKDALE AREA WITHIN 15 MINUTES.
 
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.
 
TORNADOES IN TROPICAL WEATHER SYSTEM USUALLY DEVELOP QUICKLY...MOVE
RAPIDLY...AND CAN OCCUR REPEATEDLY FROM THE SAME BAND OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS.  IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNED AREA AND CLOSE TO A
THUNDERSTORM...TAKE COVER UNTIL IT PASSES.
 
 
 
&

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, Oct 16, 2:47 PM CDT, 3 hours 42 minutes before
TXZ205>207-220>223-162100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO TX
250 PM CDT SUN OCT 16 1994

AT 245 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUING OVER MUCH OF SOUTH
CENTRAL TEXAS AND PARTS OF THE HILL COUNTRY.  THIS ACTIVITY EXTENDED
FROM NEAR ALICE, TO SAN ANTONIO, TO ABOUT 30 MILES NORTHWEST OF AUSTIN.

IN THE LOCAL AREA, THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE AFFECTING PARTS
OF COMAL, GONZALES, GUADALUPE, WILSON, AND KARNES COUNTIES.  THERE WERE
ALSO A FEW LIGHT SHOWERS LOCATED OVER NORTHERN AND EASTERN BEXAR
COUNTY.  THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL ACTIVITY AT THIS HOUR WAS LOCATED IN
COMAL COUNTY, NEAR CANYON LAKE.

ALL OF THIS ACTIVITY WAS MOVING OFF TO THE NORTH AT 15 TO 20 MPH.  BRIEF
HEAVY RAINFALL, DANGEROUS LIGHTNING, AND STRONG GUSTY THUNDERSTORM
WINDS WILL ACCOMPANY THE STRONGER STORMS.

SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE OVER SOUTH CENTRAL
TEXAS AND EASTERN SECTIONS OF THE HILL COUNTRY THROUGH EARLY THIS
EVENING.  STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO, OR LOCAL RADIO AND TV
STATIONS FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.
Special weather statement, Oct 16, 2:50 PM CDT, 3 hours 39 minutes before
TXZ205>207-220>223-162100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO TX
250 PM CDT SUN OCT 16 1994

AT 245 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUING OVER MUCH OF SOUTH
CENTRAL TEXAS AND PARTS OF THE HILL COUNTRY.  THIS ACTIVITY EXTENDED
FROM NEAR ALICE, TO SAN ANTONIO, TO ABOUT 30 MILES NORTHWEST OF AUSTIN.

IN THE LOCAL AREA, THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE AFFECTING PARTS
OF COMAL, GONZALES, GUADALUPE, WILSON, AND KARNES COUNTIES.  THERE WERE
ALSO A FEW LIGHT SHOWERS LOCATED OVER NORTHERN AND EASTERN BEXAR
COUNTY.  THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL ACTIVITY AT THIS HOUR WAS LOCATED IN
COMAL COUNTY, NEAR CANYON LAKE.

ALL OF THIS ACTIVITY WAS MOVING OFF TO THE NORTH AT 15 TO 20 MPH.  BRIEF
HEAVY RAINFALL, DANGEROUS LIGHTNING, AND STRONG GUSTY THUNDERSTORM
WINDS WILL ACCOMPANY THE STRONGER STORMS.

SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE OVER SOUTH CENTRAL
TEXAS AND EASTERN SECTIONS OF THE HILL COUNTRY THROUGH EARLY THIS
EVENING.  STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO, OR LOCAL RADIO AND TV
STATIONS FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.
Special weather statement, Oct 16, 5:18 PM CDT, 1 hour 11 minutes before
TXZ193-208-194-162315-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN TX
518 PM CDT SUN OCT 16 1994

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IN PARTS OF SOUTHCENTRAL TEXAS...

AT 515 PM...THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN WERE FROM ELGIN TO BASTROP
TO SOUTHWEST OF LOCKHART.  MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.

PEOPLE IN CALDWELL...BASTROP AND WESTERN LEE COUNTIES CAN EXPECT VERY
HEAVY RAIN AND AREAS OF LOCALIZED FLOODING IN LOW WATER CROSSINGS...
ROADS AND OTHER FLOOD-PRONE LOCATIONS.
PEEK
Special weather statement, Oct 16, 5:19 PM CDT, 1 hour 10 minutes before
TXZ193-208-194-162315-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN TX
518 PM CDT SUN OCT 16 1994

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IN PARTS OF SOUTHCENTRAL TEXAS...

AT 515 PM...THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN WERE FROM ELGIN TO BASTROP
TO SOUTHWEST OF LOCKHART.  MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.

PEOPLE IN CALDWELL...BASTROP AND WESTERN LEE COUNTIES CAN EXPECT VERY
HEAVY RAIN AND AREAS OF LOCALIZED FLOODING IN LOW WATER CROSSING~S...
ROADS AND OTHER FLOOD-PRONE LOCATIONS.
PEEK
Special weather statement, Oct 16, 6:26 PM CDT, 3 minutes before
TXZ193-194-170030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN TX
626 PM CDT SUN OCT 16 1994

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE IN PARTS OF SOUTHCENTRAL TEXAS...

AT 623 PM...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN WERE JUST SOUTHWEST
OF BASTROP...AND NORTHEAST OF BASTROP.  MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 25
MILES AN HOUR.

PEOPLE IN LEE AND THE NORTHERN HALF OF BASTROP COUNTY CAN
EXPECT HEAVY RAIN AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING WITH THESE STORMS.
EVEN THOUGH RAINFALL INTENSITY DECREASED SOMEWHAT BETWEEN 5 AND 6 PM...
HEAVY RAIN WILL CAUSE LOCALIZED FLOODING OF LOW WATER CROSSINGS...ROADS
AND OTHER AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING.
PEEK
Special weather statement, Oct 16, 6:27 PM CDT, 2 minutes before
TXZ193-194-170030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN TX
626 PM CDT SUN OCT 16 1994

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE IN PARTS OF SOUTHCENTRAL TEXAS...

AT 623 PM...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN WERE JUST SOUTHWEST
OF BASTROP...AND NORTHEAST OF BASTROP.  MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 25
MILES AN HOUR.

PEOPLE IN LEE AND THE NORTHERN HALF OF BASTROP COUNTY CAN
EXPECT HEAVY RAIN AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING WITH THESE STOR MS.
EVEN THOUGH RAINFALL INTENSITY DECREASED SOMEWHAT BETWEEN 5 AND 6 PM...
HEAVY RAIN WILL CAUSE LOCALIZED FLOODING OF LOW WATER CROSSINGS...ROADS
AND OTHER AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING.
PEEK

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; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.