Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 1994

Tornado Warning 31, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

June 28, 1994Rutherford County, North Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this tornado warning at Jun 28, 1994, 7:46 PM EDT for Rutherford County, North Carolina. It was in force for 14 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jun 28, 1994, 7:46 PM EDT (23:46 UTC)
Expired
Jun 28, 1994, 8:00 PM EDT
In force
14 min
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area
Whole counties

County Rutherford County, NC

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 11.8 hours before the alert went out and 197 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 1994-06-28Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 1994-06-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 13 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
1 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-88 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
900 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
25 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
13 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
82 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 KAVL 282348
TORAVL
NCC161-290000-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ASHEVILLE NC
746 PM EDT TUE JUN 28 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ASHEVILLE HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  800 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN WEST NORTH CAROLINA
 
   ...EASTERN RUTHERFORD COUNTY
 
AT 745 PM SEVERAL FUNNEL CLOUDS WERE REPORTED IN THE ELLENBORO AREA AND
HIGHWAY 120 AND 74 NEAR THE RUTHERFORD / CLEVELAND COUNTY LINE.
 
 
THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS STORM.  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.
STAY AWAY FROM W`INDOWS.  ABANDON CARS AND MOBILE HOMES FOR A STURDIER
BUILDING.  AS A LAST RESORT...SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT OR A DITCH.

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, Jun 28, 7:04 PM EDT, 42 minutes before
NCZ053-065-064-290000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ASHEVILLE NC
702 PM EDT TUE JUN 28 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM EDT...

AT 700 PM EDT...WEATHER RADAR INDICATED INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY
HEAVY RAIN OVER EASTERN TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY MOVING EAST...INTO SOUTHERN
HENDERSON COUNTY...AT 30 MILES AN HOUR. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE
ACCOMPANIED BY STRONG GUSTY WINDS...POSSIBLY SMALL HAIL...LOCALLY HEAVY
RAIN...AND FREQUENT DEADLY LIGHTNING.

SKYWARN SPOTTERS IN BREVARD REPORT VERY HEAVY RAIN...FREQUENT
LIGHTNING...WIND GUSTS TO AROUND 35 MILES AN HOUR...AND SMALL HAIL.

PEOPLE IN TRANSYLVANIA AND HENDERSON COUNTY SHOULD REMAIN ESPECIALLY
ALERT...LIGHTNING STRIKE DETECTION SYSTEM INDICATES 20 TO 30 CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES EVERY 5 MINUTES.

BE READY TO MOVE TO A SAFE AREA IMMEDIATELY IF THREATENING WEATHER
APPROACHES.
Special weather statement, Jun 28, 7:05 PM EDT, 41 minutes before
NCZ056-068>074-082>084-290030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLOTTE NC
705 PM EDT TUE JUN 28 1994

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR CHEROKEE COUNTY IN SOUTH
CAROLINA UNTIL 11 PM.  STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO MOVE ACROSS
THE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS OF NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTHWESTERN SOUTH
CAROLINA.  A STRONG THUNDERSTORM HAD DEVELOPED ALSO TO THE WEST OF
CLEVELAND COUNTY AND WILL BE MOVING INTO THE COUNTY BY 715 PM TO THE
NORTHWEST OF SHELBY.

MUCH OF THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTH CAROLINA AND WESTERN SOUTH CAROLINA
WERE IN A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH THIS EVENING.  MANY OF THESE
STORMS HAVE PRODUCED SEVERE WEATHER IN THOSE REGIONS ALREADY THIS
EVENING.

SEVERE STORMS MAY DEVELOP TO THE EAST OF THE WATCH AREA.  THESE STORMS
WILL PRODUCE STRONG GUSTY WINDS... DANGEROUS LIGHTNING... AND HEAVY
DOWNPOURS.  IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES... PLEASE TAKE COVER
IMMEDIATELY.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO... AND LOCAL TELEVISION AND RADIO FOR
UPDATES ON THE MOST UP TO DATE WEATHER INFORMATION AND FOR POSSIBLE
ISSUANCE OF WARNINGS.

GK
Special weather statement, Jun 28, 7:08 PM EDT, 38 minutes before
NCZ056-068>074-082>084-290030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLOTTE NC
705 PM EDT TUE JUN 28 1994

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR CHEROKEE COUNTY IN SOUTH
CAROLINA UNTIL 11 PM.  STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO MOVE ACROSS
THE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS OF NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTHWESTERN SOUTH
CAROLINA.  A STRONG THUNDERSTORM HAD DEVELOPED ALSO TO THE WEST OF
CLEVELAND COUNTY AND WILL BE MOVING INTO THE COUNTY BY 715 PM TO THE
NORTHWEST OF SHELBY.

MUCH OF THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTH CAROLINA AND WESTERN SOUTH CAROLINA
WERE IN A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH THIS EVENING.  MANY OF THESE
STORMS HAVE PRODUCED SEVERE WEATHER IN THOSE REGIONS ALREADY THIS
EVENING.

SEVERE STORMS MAY DEVELOP TO THE EAST OF THE WATCH AREA.  THESE STORMS
WILL PRODUCE STRONG GUSTY WINDS... DANGEROUS LIGHTNING... AND HEAVY
DOWNPOURS.  IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES... PLEASE TAKE COVER
IMMEDIATELY.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO... AND LOCAL TELEVISION AND RADIO FOR
UPDATES ON THE MOST UP TO DATE WEATHER INFORMATION AND FOR POSSIBLE
ISSUANCE OF WARNINGS.

GK
Local storm report, Jun 28, 7:25 PM EDT, 21 minutes before
STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ASHEVILLE NORTH CAROLINA
725 PM EDT TUE JUN 28 1994

DATE/TIME     EVENT
28/1924 EDT   TREES AND LIMBS REPORT DOWN IN TRYON AND SALUDA IN
              POLK COUNTY.

...CORRECTED COUNTY...

JRB

VILLE.

JRB
Special weather statement, Jun 28, 7:38 PM EDT, 8 minutes before
NCZ053-055-034-065-054-066-067-290045-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ASHEVILLE NC
738 PM EDT TUE JUN 28 1994

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR BUNCOMBE...HENDERSON...TRANSYLVANIA...
BURKE...MCDOWELL..CALDWELL...POLK...RUTHERFORD COUNTIES UNTIL
MIDNIGHT...

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ISSUED EARLIER HAS BEEN CANCELLED..

AT 735 PM EDT NUMEROUS VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN
WERE DETECTED BY WEATHER RADAR. IN BUNCOMBE COUNTY WATER WAS REPORTED
STANDING ON THE ROAD ON HIGHWAY 74 IN FAIRVIEW. HENDERSON COUNTY ALSO
REPORTED VERY HEAVY RAIN...WITH OVER TWO INCHES IN LESS THAN ONE HALF
HOUR AT HOOPERS CREEK. SMALL HAIL...AROUND PEA-SIZE WAS ALSO REPORTED IN
THE AREA.

PEOPLE IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA SHOULD REMIAN ESPECIALLY ALERT...BE
READY TO MOVE INTO A SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY IF THREATENING WEATHER
APPROACHES.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER OR LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION FOR LATER
STATEMENTS AND WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, Jun 28, 7:40 PM EDT, 6 minutes before
NCZ053-055-034-065-054-066-067-290045-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ASHEVILLE NC
738 PM EDT TUE JUN 28 1994

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR BUNCOMBE...HENDERSON...TRANSYLVANIA...
BURKE...MCDOWELL..CALDWELL...POLK...RUTHERFORD COUNTIES UNTIL
MIDNIGHT...

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ISSUED EARLIER HAS BEEN CANCELLED..

AT 735 PM EDT NUMEROUS VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN
WERE DETECTED BY WEATHER RADAR. IN BUNCOMBE COUNTY WATER WAS REPORTED
STANDING ON THE ROAD ON HIGHWAY 74 IN FAIRVIEW. HENDERSON COUNTY ALSO
REPORTED VERY HEAVY RAIN...WITH OVER TWO INCHES IN LESS THAN ONE HALF
HOUR AT HOOPERS CREEK. SMALL HAIL...AROUND PEA-SIZE WAS ALSO REPORTED IN
THE AREA.

PEOPLE IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA SHOULD REMIAN ESPECIALLY ALERT...BE
READY TO MOVE INTO A SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY IF THREATENING WEATHER
APPROACHES.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER OR LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION FOR LATER
STATEMENTS A>ND WARNINGS.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 28, 4:52 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPCherokee, Graham68 min
Jun 28, 5:23 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPMadison52 min
Jun 28, 6:10 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPBuncombe50 min
Jun 28, 7:05 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPMcDowell40 min
Jun 28, 7:45 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPCleveland45 min
Jun 28, 7:52 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPHenderson38 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in North Carolina, 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.