Alert archive / Florida / Tornado Warnings in 1994

Tornado Warning 7, NWS Jacksonville, FL

July 28, 1994Alachua County, Putnam County, Florida

NWS Jacksonville, FL issued this tornado warning at Jul 28, 1994, 2:54 PM EDT for Alachua County, Putnam County, Florida. It was in force for 66 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 28, 1994, 2:54 PM EDT (18:54 UTC)
Expired
Jul 28, 1994, 4:00 PM EDT
In force
66 min
Issued by
NWS Jacksonville, FL
Area
Whole counties

Counties Alachua County, FL, Putnam County, FL

The nearest sounding before it

Jacksonville, FL (KAYS), launched 12:00Z, 6.9 hours before the alert went out and 101 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, Jacksonville, FL at 12:00Z on 1994-07-28Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1924 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, Jacksonville, FL at 12:00Z on 1994-07-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 97 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
1924 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-7 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
555 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
97 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
112 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.7
Supercell composite
4.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KJAX 281856
TORJAX
FLC001-FLC107-282000-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
254 PM EDT THU JUL 28 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSONVILLE FL   HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  400 PM EDT
...
 
IN NORTH FLORIDA
 
   SOUTHEAST ALACHUA AND SOUTHWEST PUTNAM COUNTY
 
AT 245 PM EDT SKYWARN SPOTTER IN MARION COUNTY FLORIDA AT THE
INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 326 AND INTERSTATE 75 REPORTS A TORNADO ON THE
GROUND AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 TO 30 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 ROOMd
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.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 28, 9:39 AM EDT, 5 hours 15 minutes before
FLZ020-021-022-023-024-025-029-030-031-032-033-035-036-037-FL501-
GA501-GAZ166-165-164-281545-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
942 AM EDT THU JUL 28 1994

....THUNDERSTORMS IN THE GULF OF MEXICO NEAR CEDAR KEY HEADING FOR
NORTHEAST FLORIDA...

AT 940 AM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADARS INDICATE THAT NUMEROUS
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING OUT OF THE GULF OF MEXICO AND
MARCHING INTO NORTH AND NORTHEAST FLORIDA.

OF PARTICULAR INTEREST IS A CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS
GILCHRIST ...LEVY AND ALACHUA COUNTIES. THE LEADING EDGE OF
THUNDERSTORMS IS APPROACHING ARCHER AND NEWBERRY JUST WEST OF THE CITY
OF GAINESVILLE. THE CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS IS MOVING NORTHEAST AT NEAR
15 MPH, AND SHOULD MOVE OVER THE CITY OF GAINESVILLE WITHIN THE HOUR.

LIGHTNING DETECTING EQUIPMENT INDICATES NUMERUOUS LIGHTNING STRIKES IN
WESTERN ALACHUA..LEVY COUNTIES. MOST EXPERTS AGREE THE SINGLE MOST IMPOR
NTHING ONE CAN DO DURING AN ELECTRICAL STORM IS TO GET INDOORS.

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO MARCH FURTHER INLAND TO STARKE...
LAKE CITY..ORANGE PARK AND JACKSONVILLE WITHIN THE NEXT 2 TO 4 HOURS.

MARINE INTERESTS  OPERATING IN THE COASTAL WATERS OFF SOUTHERN GEORGIA
AND NORTHEAST FLORIDA ...A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT....
NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED OVER THE MARINE COASTAL
WATERS AROUND THE NOON HOUR AND CONTINUING THRU LATE THIS EVENING. BE ON
THE WATCH FOR THUNDERSTORMS MOVING OFF THE COAST BY EARLY
AFTERNOON...THE THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED MAY APPROACH SEVERE LIMITS.

....DO NOT VENTURE TOO FAR OFF THE COAST TODAY AND TONIGHT...AS WARNINGS
MAY BE REQUIRED FOR THIS STORM SYSTEM...
Special weather statement, Jul 28, 9:42 AM EDT, 5 hours 12 minutes before
FLZ020-021-022-023-024-025-029-030-031-032-033-035-036-037-FL501-
GA501-GAZ166-165-164-281545-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
942 AM EDT THU JUL 28 1994

....THUNDERSTORMS IN THE GULF OF MEXICO NEAR CEDAR KEY HEADING FOR
NORTHEAST FLORIDA...

AT 940 AM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADARS INDICATE THAT NUMEROUS
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING OUT OF THE GULF OF MEXICO AND
MARCHING INTO NORTH AND NORTHEAST FLORIDA.

OF PARTICULAR INTEREST IS A CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS
GILCHRIST ...LEVY AND ALACHUA COUNTIES. THE LEADING EDGE OF
THUNDERSTORMS IS APPROACHING ARCHER AND NEWBERRY JUST WEST OF THE CITY
OF GAINESVILLE. THE CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS IS MOVING NORTHEAST AT NEAR
15 MPH, AND SHOULD MOVE OVER THE CITY OF GAINESVILLE WITHIN THE HOUR.

LIGHTNING DETECTING EQUIPMENT INDICATES NUMERUOUS LIGHTNING STRIKES IN
WESTERN ALACHUA..LEVY COUNTIES. MOST EXPERTS AGREE THE SINGLE MOST IMPOR
NTHING ONE CAN DO DURING AN ELECTRICAL STORM IS TO GET INDOORS.

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO MARCH FURTHER INLAND TO STARKE...
LAKE CITY..ORANGE PARK AND JACKSONVILLE WITHIN THE NEXT 2 TO 4 HOURS.

MARINE INTERESTS  OPERATING IN THE COASTAL WATERS OFF SOUTHERN GEORGIA
AND NORTHEAST FLORIDA ...A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT....
NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED OVER THE MARINE COASTAL
WATERS AROUND THE NOON HOUR AND CONTINUING THRU LATE THIS EVENING. BE ON
THE WATCH FOR THUNDERSTORMS MOVING OFF THE COAST BY EARLY
AFTERNOON...THE THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED MAY APPROACH SEVERE LIMITS.

....DO NOT VENTURE TOO FAR OFF THE COAST TODAY AND TONIGHT...AS WARNINGS
MAY BE REQUIRED FOR THIS STORM SYSTEM...
Special weather statement, Jul 28, 11:05 AM EDT, 3 hours 49 minutes before
FLZ020-021-022-023-024-025-029-030-031-032-033-035-036-037-FL501-
GA501-GAZ166-165-164-281600-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
1105 AM EDT THU JUL 28 1994

AT 1100 AM EDT THE NATIONLA WEATHER SERVICE AT JACKSONVILLE HAS ISSUED A
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR NORTH FLORIDA, SOUTH GEORGIA AND ADJACENT
COASTAL WATERS OUT TO 50 NAUTICAL MILES...

...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS HAS DEVELOPED FROM THE ST. MARYS RIVER AT
THE FLORIDA-GEORGIA BORDER SOUTHWARD TO CEDAR KEY...

...WIND GUSTS OF 28 KNOTS WERE REPORTED AT GAINESVILLE AS THE STORMS
APPROACHED, BUT THESE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO INTENSIFY AS THE SYSTEM
DEVELOPS WITH THE MID-DAY HEATING...STORMS ARE MOVING NORTH-NORTH-EAST
AT 25 TO 35 MILES PER HOUR...
...SKYWARN SPOTTERS ACROSS NORTHEAST FLORIDA BE ON THE ALERT AND REPORT
TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE...(904) 741-4411...
Special weather statement, Jul 28, 11:07 AM EDT, 3 hours 47 minutes before
FLZ020-021-022-023-024-025-029-030-031-032-033-035-036-037-FL501-
GA501-GAZ166-165-164-281600-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
1105 AM EDT THU JUL 28 1994

AT 1100 AM EDT THE NATIONLA WEATHER SERVICE AT JACKSONVILLE HAS ISSUED A
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR NORTH FLORIDA, SOUTH GEORGIA AND ADJACENT
COASTAL WATERS OUT TO 50 NAUTICAL MILES...

...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS HAS DEVELOPED FROM THE ST. MARYS RIVER AT
THE FLORIDA-GEORGIA BORDER SOUTHWARD TO CEDAR KEY...

...WIND GUSTS OF 28 KNOTS WERE REPORTED AT GAINESVILLE AS THE STORMS
APPROACHED, BUT THESE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO INTENSIFY AS THE SYSTEM
DEVELOPS WITH THE MID-DAY HEATING...STORMS ARE MOVING NORTH-NORTH-EAST
AT 25 TO 35 MILES PER HOUR...
...SKYWARN SPOTTERS ACROSS NORTHEAST FLORIDA BE ON THE ALERT AND REPORT
TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE...(904) 741-4411...
Special weather statement, Jul 28, 2:23 PM EDT, 31 minutes before
FLC001-107-282030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
223 PM EDT THU JUL 28 1994

...THE NATIONAL SEVERE STORMS FORECAST CENTER HAS ISSUED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR ALACHUA AND PUTNAM COUNTIES OF NORTHEAST
FLORIDA...VALID FROM 230 PM EDT TO 900 PM EDT...

MODERATE THUNDERSTORMS EXIST IN THE AREA AND IN MARION COUNTY MOVING
NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 30 MPH.  THESE STORMS AND OTHERS MAY DEVELOP TO
SEVERE STORM LEVEL WITHIN THE NEXT FEW HOURS...

THE PUBLIC IS ADVISED TO KEEP ABREST OF THIS DEVELOPMENT, AND TO SEEK
SHELTER IMMEDIATELY WHEN THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH...
Special weather statement, Jul 28, 2:24 PM EDT, 30 minutes before
FLC001-107-282030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
223 PM EDT THU JUL 28 1994

...THE NATIONAL SEVERE STORMS FORECAST CENTER HAS ISSUED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR ALACHUA AND PUTNAM COUNTIES OF NORTHEAST
FLORIDA...VALID FROM 230 PM EDT TO 900 PM EDT...

MODERATE THUNDERSTORMS EXIST IN THE AREA AND IN MARION COUNTY MOVING
NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 30 MPH.  THESE STORMS AND OTHERS MAY DEVELOP TO
SEVERE STORM LEVEL WITHIN THE NEXT FEW HOURS...

THE PUBLIC IS ADVISED TO KEEP ABREST OF THIS DEVELOPMENT, AND TO SEEK
SHELTER IMMEDIATELY WHEN THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH...

The office that day

Everything else NWS Jacksonville, FL issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 28, 11:11 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJAXClay, Duval, Saint Johns64 min
Jul 28, 11:11 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJAXNassau64 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Florida, 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.