Alert archive / Minnesota / Tornado Warnings in 1994

Tornado Warning 11, NWS Grand Forks, ND

August 27, 1994Lake of the Woods County, Roseau County, Minnesota

NWS Grand Forks, ND issued this tornado warning at Aug 27, 1994, 8:58 AM CDT for Lake of the Woods County, Roseau County, Minnesota. It was in force for 47 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
Aug 27, 1994, 8:58 AM CDT (13:58 UTC)
Expired
Aug 27, 1994, 9:45 AM CDT
In force
47 min
Issued by
NWS Grand Forks, ND
Area
Whole counties

Counties Lake of the Woods County, MN, Roseau County, MN

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Aug 27, 9:12 AM CDTTornado F0Lake Of Woods, MNReports from resort operators of a tornado west of Long Point on the south shore of Lake of the Woods.

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

International Fa, MN (KINL), launched 12:00Z, 2.0 hours before the alert went out and 153 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, International Fa, MN at 12:00Z on 1994-08-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, International Fa, MN at 12:00Z on 1994-08-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 162 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1524 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
61 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
162 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
471 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KINL 271358 RRA
TORINL
MNC077-135-271445-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INTERNATIONAL FALLS MN
858 AM CDT SAT AUG 27 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN INTERNATIONAL FALLS HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  945 AM CDT
FOR PERSONS IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN NORTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA
 
   ...LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY
 
IN NORTHWEST MINNESOTA
 
   ...NORTHEASTERN ROSEAU COUNTY
 
AT 850 AM CDT...THE SHERIFF`S OFFICE IN ROSEAU COUNTY REPORTED A
TORNADO ALONG THE INTERNATIONAL BORDER JUST NORTH OF PINE CREEK...
WHICH IS 28 MILES WEST OF WARROAD. THIS TORNADO HAD PRODUCED SOME
DAMAGE AT AN AIRPORT IN PINEY...WHICH IS JUST NORTH OF PINE CREEK.
 
THIS TORNADO WAS MOVING TO THE EAST-SOUTHEAST AT 40 MPH AND WILL
AFFECT WARROAD...LONGWORTH...SALOL...SWIFT IN ROSEAU COUNTY...AND
WILLIAMS AND ROOSEVELT IN LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY.
 
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO...THE SAFEST PLACE IS A
BASEMENT.  GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE.
IF NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER IN AN INTERIOR ROOM
SUCH AS A CLOSET ON THE LOWEST FLOOR.  USE BLANKETS...PILLOWS...
OR CUSHIONS TO COVER YOUR BODY.  AVOID WINDOWS.
 
PACKINGHAM
 
&

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, Aug 27, 5:25 AM CDT, 3 hours 33 minutes before
NDZ007-008-016-026>030-038-039-048-049-051>053-MNZ001>004-
007>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-039>041-047-271130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
525 AM CDT SAT AUG 27 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA
   UNTIL 9 AM CDT...

AT 520 AM CDT...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN
WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST ACROSS EASTERN PEMBINA AND EASTERN WALSH COUNTIES
OF NORTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 50 MILES AN HOUR AND SHOULD
MOVE ACROSS THE RED RIVER INTO THE COUNTIES OF KITTSON AND WESTERN
MARSHALL BY 530 AM.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE PRODUCED HIGH WIND...VERY HEAVY RAIN...LARGE
HAIL AND DEADLY LIGHTNING IN CAVALIER COUNTY OF NORTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA.
SPIES
Special weather statement, Aug 27, 5:29 AM CDT, 3 hours 29 minutes before
NDZ007-008-016-026>030-038-039-048-049-051>053-MNZ001>004-
007>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-039>041-047-271130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
525 AM CDT SAT AUG 27 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA
   UNTIL 9 AM CDT...

AT 520 AM CDT...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN
WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST ACROSS EASTERN PEMBINA AND EASTERN WALSH COUNTIES
OF NORTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 50 MILES AN HOUR AND SHOULD
MOVE ACROSS THE RED RIVER INTO THE COUNTIES OF KITTSON AND WESTERN
MARSHALL BY 530 AM.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE PRODUCED HIGH WIND...VERY HEAVY RAIN..."LARGE
HAIL AND DEADLY LIGHTNING IN CAVALIER COUNTY OF NORTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA.
SPIES
Special weather statement, Aug 27, 7:50 AM CDT, 1 hour 8 minutes before
NDZ007-008-016-026>030-038-039-048-049-051>053-MNZ001>004-
007>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-039>041-047-271330-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
750 AM CDT SAT AUG 27 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN MINNESOTA UNTIL
   UNTIL 1 PM CDT...

AT 725 AM CDT...AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS...SOME STRONG...WERE MOVING
ACROSS BELTRAMI COUNTY OF NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA...FROM 40 MILES
NORTHWEST TO 10 MILES EAST OF BEMIDJI MINNESOTA.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR AND SHOULD
MOVE ACROSS THE RED LAKE AREA AND NEAR THE CITIES OF RED LAKE AND
BLACKDUCK BY 830 AM CDT.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE STRONG WIND...VERY HEAVY RAIN...HAIL...
AND DEADLY LIGHTNING.  PEOPLE IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS SHOULD BE
PREPARED TO SEEK SHELTER IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES.
Special weather statement, Aug 27, 7:51 AM CDT, 1 hour 7 minutes before
NDZ007-008-016-026>030-038-039-048-049-051>053-MNZ001>004-
007>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-039>041-047-271330-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
750 AM CDT SAT AUG 27 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN MINNESOTA UNTIL
   UNTIL 1 PM CDT...

AT 725 AM CDT...AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS...SOME STRONG...WERE MOVING
ACROSS BELTRAMI COUNTY OF NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA...FROM 40 MILES
NORTHWEST TO 10 MILES EAST OF BEMIDJI MINNESOTA.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR AND SHOULD
MOVE ACROSS THE RED LAKE AREA AND NEAR THE CITIES OF RED LAKE AND
BLACKDUCK BY 830 AM CDT.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE STRONG WIND...VERY HEAVY RAIN...HAIL...
AND DEADLY LIGHTNING.  PEOPLE IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS SHOULD BE
PREPARED TO SEEK SHELTER IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES.
Special weather statement, Aug 27, 8:45 AM CDT, 13 minutes before
NDZ007-008-016-026>030-038-039-048-049-051>053-MNZ001>004-
007>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-039>041-047-271430-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
845 AM CDT SAT AUG 27 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN MINNESOTA UNTIL
   UNTIL 1 PM CDT...

AT 830 AM CDT...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS...ONE STRONG...CONTINUED TO
MOVE RAPIDLY ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA. THE STRONGEST
STORM WAS 50 MILES NORTHEAST OF BEMIDJI NEAR NORTHHOME. GOLF BALL SIZED
HAIL WAS REPORTED FROM THIS STORM AT NORTHHOME. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING
EAST AT 40 TO 50 MILES AN HOUR.

ELSEWHERE...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS HAD DEVELOPED OVER PARTS OF
NORTHWEST MINNESOTA. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE FROM THE DETROIT LAKES
AREA EAST TO NEAR PERHAM.

ALTHOUGH THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE MOVING OUT OF THE REGION THE NEW
THUNDERSTORMS COULD POSE A THREAT TO PERSONS IN THE LAKES AREA OF
NORTHWEST MINNESOTA.

STAY TUNED TO YOUR FAVORITE FORM OF WEATHER INFORMATION FOR LATER
STATEMENTS.
VOELKER
Special weather statement, Aug 27, 8:50 AM CDT, 8 minutes before
NDZ007-008-016-026>030-038-039-048-049-051>053-MNZ001>004-
007>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-039>041-047-271430-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
845 AM CDT SAT AUG 27 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN MINNESOTA UNTIL
   UNTIL 1 PM CDT...

AT 830 AM CDT...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS...ONE STRONG...CONTINUED TO
MOVE RAPIDLY ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA. THE STRONGEST
STORM WAS 50 MILES NORTHEAST OF BEMIDJI NEAR NORTHHOME. GOLF BALL SIZED
HAIL WAS REPORTED FROM THIS STORM AT NORTHHOME. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING
EAST AT 40 TO 50 MILES AN HOUR.

ELSEWHERE...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS HAD DEVELOPED OVER PARTS OF
NORTHWEST MINNESOTA. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE FROM THE DETROIT LAKES
AREA EAST TO NEAR PERHAM.

ALTHOUGH THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE MOVING OUT OF THE REGION THE NEW
THUNDERSTORMS COULD POSE A THREAT TO PERSONS IN THE LAKES AREA OF
NORTHWEST MINNESOTA.

STAY TUNED TO YOUR FAVORITE FORM OF WEATHER INFORMATION FOR LATER
STATEMENTS.
VOELKER

The office that day

Everything else NWS Grand Forks, ND issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 27, 6:16 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFMarshall59 min
Aug 27, 6:35 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFBeltrami55 min
Aug 27, 8:29 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFKoochiching55 min
Aug 27, 9:55 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFKoochiching65 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Minnesota, 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.