Alert archive / Tennessee / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1994

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 253, NWS Atlanta, GA

July 21, 1994Hamilton County, Rhea County, Tennessee

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 21, 1994, 5:26 PM EDT for Hamilton County, Rhea County, Tennessee. It was in force for 49 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 21, 1994, 5:26 PM EDT (21:26 UTC)
Expired
Jul 21, 1994, 6:15 PM EDT
In force
49 min
Issued by
NWS Atlanta, GA
Area
Whole counties

Counties Hamilton County, TN, Rhea County, TN

The nearest sounding before it

Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 12:00Z, 9.4 hours before the alert went out and 162 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, Nashville Metro, TN at 12:00Z on 1994-07-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1097 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, Nashville Metro, TN at 12:00Z on 1994-07-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 48 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
1097 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-36 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
885 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
11 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
48 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
38 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 KCHA 212125 RRA
SVRCHA
TNC065-143-212215-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHATTANOOGA TN
526 PM EDT THU JUL 21 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHATTANOOGA HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  615 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN SOUTHEAST TENNESSEE
 
   ...HAMILTON COUNTY...NORTHERN RHEA COUNTY
 
AT 520 PM EDT...THE CHATTANOOGA WEATHER RADAR INDICATED SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS IN NORTHERN RHEA COUNTY JUST WEST OF SPRING CITY
AND IN WESTERN HAMILTON COUNTY NEAR MOWBRAY MOUNTAIN.
 
THESE STORMS ARE MOVING EAST AROUND 20 MPH AND WILL CONTAIN
STRONG WINDS...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...HAIL AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL.
 
STAY TUNED TO YOUR WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL TV AND RADIO STATIONS
FOR THE LATEST IN WEATHER INFORMATION.
 
 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55
MPH...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.
FOR YJOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.  HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO
DON'T DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.

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

Special weather statement, Jul 21, 1:42 PM EDT, 3 hours 44 minutes before
GAZ059-060-072-082>084-095-107-108-130-131-211945-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MACON GA
143 PM EDT THU JUL 21 1994

AT 135 PM WEATHER RADAR SHOWED SHOWERS AND STRONG THUNDERTORMS
MOVING ACROSS CENTRAL GEORGIA. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN A LINE FROM
MONTICELLO IN JASPER COUNTY AND EXTENDED SOUTH TO MACON AND ON TO
HAWKINSVILLE IN PULASKI COUNTY. ALSO THUNDERSTORMS WERE NOTED FROM NEAR
ABBEVILLE IN WILCOX COUNTY SOUTH TO FITZGERALD IN BEN HILL COUNTY.
MOVMENT WAS EAST AT 10 MPH.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING SLOW AND DUE TO THE SATURATED GROUND
CONDITIONS AND HEAVY RAINFALL SOME FLOODING OF STREETS AND LOW LYING
POOR DRAINAGE AREAS IS POSSIBLE.

SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY CONTAIN SMALL HAIL...GUSTY WINDS...DEADLY
LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS OF RAIN.

REMEMBER...LIGHTNING MAY STRIKE SOME MILES AWAY FROM THE PARENT
CLOUD.  PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN EVEN THOUGH THE THUNDERSTORM IS
NOT DIRECTLY OVERHEAD.
l
IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...MOVE TO A PLACE OF SHELTER IMMEDIATELY IF A
STORM APPROACHES.  MOTORISTS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR REDUCED
VISIBILITIES DURING DOWNPOURS OF RAIN.  STREETS MAY FLOOD QUICKLY.
Special weather statement, Jul 21, 1:43 PM EDT, 3 hours 43 minutes before
GAZ059-060-072-082>084-095-107-108-130-131-211945-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MACON GA
143 PM EDT THU JUL 21 1994

AT 135 PM WEATHER RADAR SHOWED SHOWERS AND STRONG THUNDERTORMS
MOVING ACROSS CENTRAL GEORGIA. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN A LINE FROM
MONTICELLO IN JASPER COUNTY AND EXTENDED SOUTH TO MACON AND ON TO
HAWKINSVILLE IN PULASKI COUNTY. ALSO THUNDERSTORMS WERE NOTED FROM NEAR
ABBEVILLE IN WILCOX COUNTY SOUTH TO FITZGERALD IN BEN HILL COUNTY.
MOVMENT WAS EAST AT 10 MPH.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING SLOW AND DUE TO THE SATURATED GROUND
CONDITIONS AND HEAVY RAINFALL SOME FLOODING OF STREETS AND LOW LYING
POOR DRAINAGE AREAS IS POSSIBLE.

SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY CONTAIN SMALL HAIL...GUSTY WINDS...DEADLY
LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS OF RAIN.

REMEMBER...LIGHTNING MAY STRIKE SOME MILES AWAY FROM THE PARENT
CLOUD.  PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN EVEN THOUGH THE THUNDERSTORM IS
NOT DIRECTLY OVERHEAD.

IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...MOVE TO A PLACE OF SHELTER IMMEDIATELY IF A
STORM APPROACHES.  MOTORISTS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR REDUCED
VISIBILITIES DURING DOWNPOURS OF RAIN.  STREETS MAY FLOOD QUICKLY.
Local storm report, Jul 21, 3:00 PM EDT, 2 hours 26 minutes before
STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
300 PM EDT THU JUL 21 1994

...FOR STORM DAMAGE ON TUESDAY...JULY 19...1994...

COUNTY......  FAYETTE
SOURCE......  OFF-DUTY NWS METEOROLOGIST
TIME........  2:10 PM EDT
LOCATION....  PEACHTREE CITY
TYPE STORM..  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
WEATHER.....  WIND DAMAGE
DAMAGE......  2 LARGE TREES (50-60 FEET) HAD CROWNS SNAPPED OFF HALF
              WAY UP THE TREE.

ZALESKI
Local storm report, Jul 21, 3:01 PM EDT, 2 hours 25 minutes before
STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
300 PM EDT THU JUL 21 1994

...FOR STORM DAMAGE ON TUESDAY...JULY 19...1994...

COUNTY......  FAYETTE
SOURCE......  OFF-DUTY NWS METEOROLOGIST
TIME........  2:10 PM EDT
LOCATION....  PEACHTREE CITY
TYPE STORM..  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
WEATHER.....  WIND DAMAGE
DAMAGE......  2 LARGE TREES (50-60 FEET) HAD CROWNS SNAPPED OFF HALF
              WAY UP THE TREE.

ZALESKI
Special weather statement, Jul 21, 4:50 PM EDT, 36 minutes before
GAZ008>010-014>018-023>029-035>038-047>051-212150-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATHENS GA
450 PM EDT THU JUL 21 1994

...AN INTENSE CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL IN
   WALTON AND BARROW COUNTIES...

AT 445 PM EDT RADAR INDICATED AN INTENSE CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS NEAR
THE BORDER OF WALTON AND BARROW COUNTIES MOVING EAST AT ABOUT 15 MILES
AN HOUR. THEY HAVE VERY HEAVY RAINFALL AND FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS IS
POSSIBLE. THESE STORMS ARE ALSO CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG GUSTY WINDS...
FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND POSSIBLY SMALL HAIL. KEEP ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING
WEATHER CONDITIONS.

ELSEWHERE SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...A FEW WITH VERY HEAVY
RAIN WERE OCCURING ACROSS MUCH OF GEORGIA...WESTERN AND CENTRAL SOUTH
CAROLINA...EASTERN ALABAMA NAD EAST TENNESSEE. THE HEAVIEST OF THESE
SHOWERS WAS LOCATED IN HAZLEHURST.
MOVEMENT WAS TO THE EAST AT 15 MILES AN HOUR.
Special weather statement, Jul 21, 4:54 PM EDT, 32 minutes before
GAZ008>010-014>018-023>029-035>038-047>051-212150-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATHENS GA
450 PM EDT THU JUL 21 1994

...AN INTENSE CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL IN
   WALTON AND BARROW COUNTIES...

AT 445 PM EDT RADAR INDICATED AN INTENSE CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS NEAR
THE BORDER OF WALTON AND BARROW COUNTIES MOVING EAST AT ABOUT 15 MILES
AN HOUR. THEY HAVE VERY HEAVY RAINFALL AND FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS IS
POSSIBLE. THESE STORMS ARE ALSO CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG GUSTY WINDS...
FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND POSSIBLY SMALL HAIL. KEEP ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING
WEATHER CONDITIONS.

ELSEWHERE SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...A FfEW WITH VERY HEAVY
RAIN WERE OCCURING ACROSS MUCH OF GEORGIA...WESTERN AND CENTRAL SOUTH
CAROLINA...EASTERN ALABAMA NAD EAST TENNESSEE. THE HEAVIEST OF THESE
SHOWERS WAS LOCATED IN HAZLEHURST.
MOVEMENT WAS TO THE EAST AT 15 MILES AN HOUR.

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Tennessee, 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.