Alert archive / Arkansas / Tornado Warnings in 1994

Tornado Warning 13, NWS Little Rock, AR

November 27, 1994Van Buren County, Arkansas

NWS Little Rock, AR issued this tornado warning at Nov 27, 1994, 7:37 AM CST for Van Buren County, Arkansas. It was in force for 53 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
Nov 27, 1994, 7:37 AM CST (13:37 UTC)
Expired
Nov 27, 1994, 8:30 AM CST
In force
53 min
Issued by
NWS Little Rock, AR
Area
Whole counties

County Van Buren County, AR

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Nov 27, 7:50 AM CSTTornado F1Clinton To, ARAn F1 tornado touched down in Clinton and travelled about 2 miles before lifting. The worst damage occurred at the Clinton airport, where four planes were destroyed and 8 others were damaged. Eight houses and several businesses in Clinton were also damaged.

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

Springfield, MO (KUMN), launched 12:00Z, 1.6 hours before the alert went out and 186 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, Springfield, MO at 12:00Z on 1994-11-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1118 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, Springfield, MO at 12:00Z on 1994-11-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 338 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
1118 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-8 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
736 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
57 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
338 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
336 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
2.5
Supercell composite
9.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KLIT 271338
TORLIT
ARC141-271430-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
737 AM CST SUN NOV 27 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LITTLE ROCK HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  830 AM CST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS......
 
IN NORTH CENTRAL ARKANSAS
 
   ...VAN BUREN COUNTY
 
AT 735 AM...DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR SHOWS A TORNADO 12 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
CLINTON MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MILES AN HOUR.
 
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 BLANKETbS...PILLOWS...
OR CUSHIONS TO COVER YOUR BODY.  AVOID WINDOWS.
 
 
25

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, Nov 27, 4:14 AM CST, 3 hours 23 minutes before
ARZ001>003-010>012-271600-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
414 AM CST SUN NOV 27 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR EXTREME NORTHWEST ARKANSAS...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR 6 COUNTIES IN EXTREME
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS. THIS WATCH WILL BE IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 AM CST.

DURING THE PAST COUPLE OF HOURS...THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEGUN TO DEVELOP
IN PARTS OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE MOVING RAPIDLY TO THE NORTHEAST...AND SOME
OF THEM WILL MOVE ACROSS EXTREME NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.

DUE TO STRONG WINDS JUST ABOVE THE GROUND...THE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE THE
POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE VERY STRONG OR EVEN DAMAGING WINDS IN THE
COUNTIES COVERED BY THE WATCH.

PEOPLE IN EXTREME NORTHWEST ARKANSAS SHOULD BE ON THE ALERT FOR
THUNDERSTORMS THIS MORNING...AND SHOULD KEEP IN MIND THAT DUE TO THEIR
RAPID MOVEMENT...THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE INTO A GIVEN
AREA VERY QUICKLY.

28
Special weather statement, Nov 27, 4:15 AM CST, 3 hours 22 minutes before
ARZ001>003-010>012-271600-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
414 AM CST SUN NOV 27 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR EXTREME NORTHWEST ARKANSAS...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR 6 COUNTIES IN EXTREME
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS. THIS WATCH WILL BE IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 AM CST.

DURING THE PAST COUPLE OF HOURS...THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEGUN TO DEVELOP
IN PARTS OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE MOVING RAPIDLY TO THE NORTHEAST...AND SOME
OF THEM WILL MOVE ACROSS EXTREME NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.

DUE TO STRONG WINDS JUST ABOVE THE GROUND...THE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE THE
POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE VERY STRONG OR EVEN DAMAGING WINDS IN THE
COUNTIES COVERED BY THE WATCH.

PEOPLE IN EXTREME NORTHWEST ARKANSAS SHOULD BE ON THE ALERT FOR
THUNDERSTORMS THIS MORNING...AND SHOULD KEEP IN MIND THAT DUE TO THEIR
RAPID MOVEMENT...THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE INTO A GIVEN
AREA VERY QUICKLY.

28
Special weather statement, Nov 27, 5:32 AM CST, 2 hours 5 minutes before
ARZALL-271600-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
532 AM CST SUN NOV 27 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE IN ARKANSAS TODAY...

A WARM FRONT MOVED RAPIDLY NORTH THROUGH ARKANSAS OVERNIGHT...BRINGING
WARM...MOIST...AND UNSTABLE AIR UP INTO THE STATE.

DURING THE DAY TODAY...A STRONG AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WILL BE PASSING
BY TO THE NORTH OF ARKANSAS. A COLD FRONT TRAILING SOUTH FROM THE LOW
WILL SWEEP ACROSS THE STATE.

EARLY THIS MORNING...THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPED IN EASTERN OKLAHOMA.
WITHIN JUST A COUPLE OF HOURS...A NEARLY SOLID LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS
DEVELOPED AND ENTERED WESTERN ARKANSAS.

THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF THESE STORMS IN A CLEAR INDICATION OF HOW
UNSTABLE THE AIR OVER ARKANSAS IS.

THERE WILL BE A THREAT OF SOME SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN ALL SECTIONS OF
THE STATE TODAY.

THE WINDS ALOFT ARE QUITE STRONG. THIS MEANS THAT THE THUNDERSTORMS
WILL MOVE RAPIDLY...AND THAT THEY WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY
STRONG...POSSIBLY DAMAGING...WIND GUSTS.

PEOPLE IN ARKANSAS SHOULD BE ON THE ALERT FOR THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT
TODAY. THOSE PLANNING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES SHOULD KEEP IN MIND THAT THE
STORMS WILL BE MOVING RAPIDLY...AND THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE
INTO A GIVEN AREA VERY QUICKLY.

THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN WESTERN ARKANSAS EARLY THIS MORNING WAS
WELL OUT AHEAD OF THE APPROACHING COLD FRONT. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT
THUNDERSTORMS COULD ALSO DEVELOP ALONG THE FRONT AS IT MOVES IN LATER
TODAY.

28
Special weather statement, Nov 27, 5:33 AM CST, 2 hours 4 minutes before
ARZALL-271600-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
532 AM CST SUN NOV 27 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE IN ARKANSAS TODAY...

A WARM FRONT MOVED RAPIDLY NORTH THROUGH ARKANSAS OVERNIGHT...BRINGING
WARM...MOIST...AND UNSTABLE AIR UP INTO THE STATE.

DURING THE DAY TODAY...A STRONG AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WILL BE PASSING
BY TO THE NORTH OF ARKANSAS. A COLD FRONT TRAILING SOUTH FROM THE LOW
WILL SWEEP ACROSS THE STATE.

EARLY THIS MORNING...THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPED IN EASTERN OKLAHOMA.
WITHIN JUST A COUPLE OF HOURS...A NEARLY SOLID LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS
DEVELOPED AND ENTERED WESTERN ARKANSAS.

THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF THESE STORMS IN A CLEAR INDICATION OF HOW
UNSTABLE THE AIR OVER ARKANSAS IS.

THERE WILL BE A THREAT OF SOME SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN ALL SECTIONS OF
THE STATE TODAY.

THE WINDS ALOFT ARE QUITE STRONG. THIS MEANS THAT THE THUNDERSTORMS
WILL MOVE RAPIDLY...AND THAT THEY WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY
STRONG...POSSIBLY DAMAGING...WIND GUSTS.

PEOPLE IN ARKANSAS SHOULD BE ON THE ALERT FOR THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT
TODAY. THOSE PLANNING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES SHOULD KEEP IN MIND THAT THE
STORMS WILL BE MOVING RAPIDLY...AND THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE
INTO A GIVEN AREA VERY QUICKLY.

THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN WESTERN ARKANSAS EARLY THIS MORNING WAS
WELL OUT AHEAD OF THE APPROACHING COLD FRONT. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT
THUNDERSTORMS COULD ALSO DEVELOP ALONG THE FRONT AS @IT MOVES IN LATER
TODAY.

28
Special weather statement, Nov 27, 6:10 AM CST, 1 hour 27 minutes before
ARZ003>007-012>016-020>024-030>033-037>044-050>055-059>062-066-
070>072-271600-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
610 AM CST SUN NOV 27 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL AND WESTERN ARKANSAS...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH WILL BE IN EFFECT FOR 41 COUNTIES IN
CENTRAL AND WESTERN ARKANSAS UNTIL 1000 AM CST.

A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPED RAPIDLY EARLY THIS MORNING NEAR THE
ARKANSAS/OKLAHOMA BORDER. THIS LINE HAS BEEN MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST
AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

THE LINE WILL BE PUSHING THROUGH A WARM...MOIST...UNSTABLE AIR MASS...
SO SOME OF THE STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE.

THE WINDS ALOFT ARE QUITE STRONG. THIS MEANS THAT THE THUNDERSTORMS
WILL MOVE RAPIDLY...AND THAT THEY WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY
STRONG...POSSIBLY DAMAGING...WIND GUSTS.

PEOPLE IN THE AREA COVERED BY THE WATCH SHOULD KEEP IN MIND THE RAPID
MOVEMENT OF THE STORMS. THERE WILL NOT BE VERY MUCH TIME FROM THE TIME
THE STORM IS FIRST SEEN UNTIL IT IS OVERHEAD.

THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN WESTERN ARKANSAS EARLY THIS MORNING WAS
WELL OUT AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT
THUNDERSTORMS COULD ALSO DEVELOP ALONG THE FRONT AS IT MOVES IN LATER
TODAY.

28
Special weather statement, Nov 27, 6:11 AM CST, 1 hour 26 minutes before
ARZ003>007-012>016-020>024-030>033-037>044-050>055-059>062-066-
070>072-271600-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
610 AM CST SUN NOV 27 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL AND WESTERN ARKANSAS...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH WILL BE IN EFFECT FOR 41 COUNTIES IN
CENTRAL AND WESTERN ARKANSAS UNTIL 1000 AM CST.

A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPED RAPIDLY EARLY THIS MORNING NEAR THE
ARKANSAS/OKLAHOMA BORDER. THIS LINE HAS BEEN MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST
AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

THE LINE WILL BE PUSHING THROUGH A WARM...MOIST...UNSTABLE AIR MASS...
SO SOME OF THE STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE.

THE WINDS ALOFT ARE QUITE STRONG. THIS MEANS THAT THE THUNDERSTORMS
WILL MOVE RAPIDLY...AND THAT THEY WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY
STRONG...POSSIBLY DAMAGING...WIND GUSTS.

PEOPLE IN THE AREA COVERED BY THE WATCH SHOULD KEEP IN MIND THE RAPID
MOVEMENT OF THE STORMS. THERE WILL NOT BE VERY MUCH TIME FROM THE TIME
THE STORM IS FIRST SEEN UNTIL IT IS OVERHEAD.

THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN WESTERN ARKANSAS EARLY THIS MORNING WAS
WELL OUT AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT
THUNDERSTORMS COULD ALSO DEVELOP ALONG THE FRONT AS IT MOVES IN LATER
TODAY.

28

The office that day

Everything else NWS Little Rock, AR issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Nov 27, 4:55 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKFranklin50 min
Nov 27, 6:44 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKLogan, Pope46 min
Nov 27, 7:21 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKVan Buren69 min
Nov 27, 7:51 AM CSTTornado WarningLZKStone39 min
Nov 27, 8:36 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKSharp54 min
Nov 27, 9:59 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKHot Spring46 min
Nov 27, 10:17 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKSaline43 min
Nov 27, 10:42 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKPulaski48 min
Nov 27, 1:05 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKOuachita40 min
Nov 27, 1:27 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKArkansas33 min
Nov 27, 1:34 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKCleveland, Jefferson56 min
Nov 27, 1:53 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKCleveland37 min
Nov 27, 2:12 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKLincoln48 min
Nov 27, 2:23 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKBradley52 min
Nov 27, 2:40 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKUnion35 min
Nov 27, 2:48 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKDrew42 min
Nov 27, 3:16 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKUnion44 min
Nov 27, 3:57 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKAshley48 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Arkansas, 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.