Alert archive / Colorado / Tornado Warnings in 1994

Tornado Warning 75, NWS Goodland, KS

October 4, 1994El Paso County, Colorado

NWS Goodland, KS issued this tornado warning at Oct 4, 1994, 3:57 PM MDT for El Paso County, Colorado. It was in force for 18 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Oct 4, 1994, 3:57 PM MDT (21:57 UTC)
Expired
Oct 4, 1994, 4:15 PM MDT
In force
18 min
Issued by
NWS Goodland, KS
Area
Whole counties

County El Paso County, CO

The nearest sounding before it

Fort Carson/Butt, CO (KFCS), launched 12:00Z, 10.0 hours before the alert went out and 23 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, Fort Carson/Butt, CO at 12:00Z on 1994-10-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 217 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Fort Carson/Butt, CO at 12:00Z on 1994-10-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 64 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 km3 km6 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
217 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-18 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
717 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
64 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
80 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KCOS 042157
TORCOS
COC041-042215-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLORADO SPRINGS CO
357 PM MDT TUE OCT 4 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN COLORADO SPRINGS HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  415 PM MDT
FOR PERSONS IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN EAST CENTRAL COLORADO
 
   ...SOUTHWESTERN EL PASO COUNTY
 
AT 355 PM MDT...FOUNTAIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FORT CARSON COMMAND
POST REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD SOUTHWEST OF FOUNTAIN ALONG 1-25 AT THE 128
MARKER. THIS FUNNEL CLOUD HAS DROPPED AND ASCENDED SEVERAL TIMES DURING
THE LAST FEW MINUTES. THIS STORM IS MOVING NORTHEAST TOWARD FOUNTAIN
AT 20 MPH.
 
 
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.
 
 
 
&

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.

NWS Goodland, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Oct 4, 2:30 PM MDT, 1 hour 27 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 4, 2:30 PM MDT, 1 hour 27 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
230 PM MDT (330 PM CDT) TUE OCT 4 1994

RECOMMENDATIONS:

FOR CURRENT NW KS GROUP 1...MINS 50-55...AREAS OF FOG...30% CHC
    RAIN/TSTMS...SE WND 10-20.  MAXES ARND 70...MRNG FOG...CLDY SKIES
    WITH 20% CHC TSTMS-LATE AFTN...S WND 15-25 AND GUSTY.

FOR CURRENT NW KS GROUP 2...MINS MID 50S...AREAS OF FOG...30% CHC
    RAIN/TSTMS...SE WND 5-15.  MAXES ARND 70...MRNG FOG AND CLDY SKIES
    ...20% OR LESS CHC LATE AFTN TSTMS...S WND 15-25 AND GUSTY.

FOR EXTRM SW NE...MINS LWR 50S...AREAS OF FOG WITH 20% CHC RAIN/TSTMS...
    SE WND 10-15.  MAXES ARND 70...MRNG AND CLDY SKIES WITH 20% CHC
    TSTMS LATE IN AFTN...S WND 15-25 AND GUSTY.

FOR ECNTRL CO...MINS ARND 50...AREAS OF FOG WITH 30-40% CHC RAIN/TSTMS
    ...SE WND 15-25.  MAXES 70-75...30% CHC RW-/TSTMS-MAINLY AFTN...S
    WND 15-30 MPH.

DISCUSSION:

MAIN PROBLEMS CONT TO TEMPS AND CHC OF PCPN THRU TOMORROW.  NEW
GUIDANCE NOT TOO DIFFERENT FROM WHAT IS IN CURRENT FCST.  MDLS IN GENL
AGREEMENT AND BASED ON CURRENT DATA ACCEPT THEIR SOLN.  SPOKE GOING
THRU CWA RIGHT NOW CAUSEING ONLY LIGHT RAIN OR DRIZZLE.  SATL SHOWG JET
MAX/SHORTWAVE OVR SW CO/NW NM.  NGM 24 HR VORT PROG HINTS AT A VORT
LOBE IN THE AREA ARND 12Z AND NGM TIME SCTN SHOWS WEAK UVV INTO THE
EARLY MRNG HOURS.

IN COMBINATION WITH UPSLOPE...THOSE FEATURES SHOULD KEEP LGT PCPN GOING
ALL NIGHT WITH A PSBLTY OF A FEW TSTMS AS WELL.  WITH CLDY SKIES AND
EXPECTED WNDS...MINS SHOULD BE AT OR ABOVE GUIDANCE AND VERY SMLR TO
THIS MRNGS LOWS.  AFTER TONIGHTS S/W...PROGS SHOW THAT STRONG PVA...
DIFLUENCE...AND DIF VORT ADVTN MOVE INTO THE WRN PTN OF CWA DURG LATE
AFTN HOURS.  STILL ENUF MSTR ARND BUT UPSLOPE NOT AS STRONG.  SHOULD
STILL SEE CLDY SKIES BUT MAY GET SOME BREAKS IN THE AFTN.

WITH THE PSBLTY OF THAT HAPPENING AND SOME WAA DUE TO THE SLY
WNDS...TEMPS SHUD BE A LTL WARMER.  MOS GUIDANCE IN BALLPARK FOR MOST
AREAS BUT MAY BE A LTL HIGH FOR ERN KS CNTYS.

GLD 52/69 32  HLC 56/68 31
CBK 53/69 32  MCK 52/70 22
TRB 52/71 32  5C0 50/72 33

BULLER

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Oct 4, 10:44 AM MDT, 5 hours 13 minutes before
COZ090>092-NEZ079>081-KSZ001>004-013>016-027>029-041-042-041720-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
1013 AM MDT (1113 AM CDT) TUE OCT 4 1994

...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE OVER THE AREA...

AT 1005 AM MDT (1105 AM CDT)...GOODLAND DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS FROM 20 MILES WEST OF WRAY COLORADO TO MCCOOK NEBRASKA
THEN TO HOXIE KANSAS.  THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL WAS OCCURRING 10 MILES
NORTH OF WRAY AND 10 MILES SOUTH OF OBERLIN.  MOVEMENT OF THESE STORMS
WAS TO THE NORTHEAST AT 20 TO 25 MPH.  AN AREA FROM BENKELMAN TO MCCOOK
TO NORTON AND HILL CITY SHOULD BE AFFECTED THROUGH 11 AM MDT (NOON
CDT).  BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL IS EXPECTED FROM THESE STORMS.

A NEW AREA OF RAINFALL HAD MOVED INTO LIMON AND LAJUNTA COLORADO...AND
IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO FLAGLER AND AROYA OF EXTREME WESTERN KIT CARSON
AND CHEYENNE COUNTIES OF COLORADO AROUND 11 AM MDT.  ONLY LIGHT
RAINFALL IS EXPECTED.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TV STATION
FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.

BULLER
Special weather statement, Oct 4, 10:54 AM MDT, 5 hours 3 minutes before
COZ090>092-NEZ079>081-KSZ001>004-013>016-027>029-041-042-041900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
1054 AM MDT (1154 AM CDT) TUE OCT 4 1994

...THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE REGION HAVE ENDED...

AT 1047 AM MDT (1147 AM CDT)...GOODLAND DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED THAT
THUNDERSTORMS HAD DISSIPATED...OR HAD MOVED OUT OF THE REGION.
HOWEVER...BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL WAS STILL OCCURRING FROM ATWOOD TO NORTON
WITH LIGHT RAIN OR DRIZZLE COVERING THE REST OF NORTHWEST KANSAS...EAST
CENTRAL COLORADO...AND EXTREME SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA.  ALL PRECIPITATION
WAS MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 20 TO 25 MPH.

THE HEAVIER RAINFALL SHOULD CONTINUE IN THE NORTON AREA THROUGH 2 PM CDT
WHILE THE REMAINDER OF THE TRI STATE REGION WILL STILL HAVE DRIZZLE OR
LIGHT RAIN UNTIL 1 PM MDT (2 PM CDT).

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TV STATION
FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.

BULLER
Special weather statement, Oct 4, 2:27 PM MDT, 1 hour 30 minutes before
COZ090>092-042145-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
227 PM MDT TUE OCT 4 1994

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR SOUTHWEST CHEYENNE
COUNTY OF COLORADO UNTIL 6 PM MDT...

THUNDERSTORMS...A FEW POSSIBLY SEVERE...MAY MOVE INTO CHEYENNE COUNTY
OF COLORADO FROM THE SOUTHWEST DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON HOURS.

AT 225 PM MDT...GOODLAND DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THE NEAREST STORM
ABOUT 50 MILES SOUTHWEST OF THE COMMUNITY OF KIT CARSON.  THIS STORM
WAS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHEAST AT 20 TO 25 MPH.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE IN
AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA.  PERSONS SHOULD WATCH FOR THREATENING WEATHER
AND LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO... COMMERCIAL RADIO OR TELEVISION FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION.

VJN
Special weather statement, Oct 4, 2:28 PM MDT, 1 hour 29 minutes before
COZ090>092-042145-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
227 PM MDT TUE OCT 4 1994

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR SOUTHWEST CHEYENNE
COUNTY OF COLORADO UNTIL 6 PM MDT...

THUNDERSTORMS...A FEW POSSIBLY SEVERE...MAY MOVE INTO CHEYENNE COUNTY
OF COLORADO FROM THE SOUTHWEST DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON HOURS.

AT 225 PM MDT...GOODLAND DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THE NEAREST STORM
ABOUT 50 MILES SOUTHWEST OF THE COMMUNITY OF KIT CARSON.  THIS STORM
WAS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHEAST AT 20 TO 25 MPH.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE IN
AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA.  PERSONS SHOULD WATCH FOR THREATENING WEATHER
AND LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO... COMMERCIAL RADIO OR TELEVISION FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION.

VJN
Special weather statement, Oct 4, 3:35 PM MDT, 22 minutes before
COZ090>092-042255-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
335 PM MDT TUE OCT 4 1994

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWEST CHEYENNE
COUNTY OF COLORADO UNTIL 6 PM MDT...

AT 330 PM MDT...GOODLAND DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED NO THUNDERSTORMS
ACROSS THE REGION.  HOWEVER...THUNDERSTORMS MAY MOVE INTO OR FORM
IN OR AROUND THE WATCH AREA DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE IN
AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA.  PERSONS SHOULD WATCH FOR THREATENING WEATHER
AND LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO... COMMERCIAL RADIO OR TELEVISION FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION.

DURING A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH...BE READY TO MOVE TO A SMALL
INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR POSSIBLE IF A WARNING IS ISSUED.

VJN
Special weather statement, Oct 4, 3:36 PM MDT, 21 minutes before
COZ090>092-042255-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
335 PM MDT TUE OCT 4 1994

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWEST CHEYENNE
COUNTY OF COLORADO UNTIL 6 PM MDT...

AT 330 PM MDT...GOODLAND DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED NO THUNDERSTORMS
ACROSS THE REGION.  HOWEVER...THUNDERSTORMS MAY MOVE INTO OR FORM
IN OR AROUND THE WATCH AREA DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE IN
AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA.  PERSONS SHOULD WATCH FOR THREATENING WEATHER
AND LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO... COMMERCIAL RADIO OR TELEVISION FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION.

DURING A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH...BE READY TO MOVE TO A SMALL
INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR POSSIBLE IF A WARNING IS ISSUED.

VJN

The office that day

Everything else NWS Goodland, KS issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 3, 11:29 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningGLDEl Paso103 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Colorado, 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.