Alert archive / Arkansas / Tornado Warnings in 1994

Tornado Warning 2, NWS Memphis, TN

April 15, 1994St. Francis County, Arkansas

NWS Memphis, TN issued this tornado warning at Apr 15, 1994, 1:23 PM CDT for St. Francis County, Arkansas. It was in force for 22 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Apr 15, 1994, 1:23 PM CDT (18:23 UTC)
Expired
Apr 15, 1994, 1:45 PM CDT
In force
22 min
Issued by
NWS Memphis, TN
Area
Whole counties

County St. Francis County, AR

The nearest sounding before it

Little Rock, AR (KLZK), launched 12:00Z, 6.4 hours before the alert went out and 76 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, Little Rock, AR at 12:00Z on 1994-04-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1448 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Little Rock, AR at 12:00Z on 1994-04-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 256 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
1448 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-187 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
614 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
45 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
256 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
229 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
3.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KMEM 151823
TORMEM
ARC123-151845-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
123 PM CDT FRI APR 15 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  145 PM CDT
FOR PERSONS IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS......
 
IN EAST ARKANSAS
 
   ...ST.FRANCIS COUNTY
 
AT 120 PM...THE ARKANSAS STATE POLICE REPORTED A TORNADO ON HIGHWAY 1
NEAR FORREST CITY. THE STORM WAS MOVING EAST AT 30 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 BLANNKETS...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, Apr 15, 8:59 AM CDT, 4 hours 24 minutes before
TNZ001-002-019-048-049-088-MSZ001-007-010-ARZ009-018-028-035-036-
048-151500-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
859 AM CDT FRI APR 15 1994

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 90 IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON FOR NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
... NORTHWEST TENNESSEE AND THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL...

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 91 CONTINUES FOR MOST OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE AND
FOR PARTS OF ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI UNTIL 3 PM...

AREAS OF THUNDERSTORMS WERE ACTIVE IN TWO DISTINCT LOCATIONS AT 850 AM
... ONE OVER NORTHERN ARKANSAS ... SOUTHERN MISSOURI ... AND INTO
EXTREME NORTHWEST TENNESSEE.  THE OTHER AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS
OVER CENTRAL AND EAST MISSISSIPPI AND PARTS OF ALABAMA.

DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR INDICATED THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE OVER NORTHERN
ARKANSAS NEAR BIGGERS IN SOUTHWEST CLAY COUNTY ... CLOSE TO IMBODEN NEAR
THE LAWRENCE / RANDOLPH COUNTY LINE.  THESE STORMS WERE MOVING TOWARD
THE EAST AT NEARLY 40 MPH.  HIGH WIND AND HAIL WERE INDICATED WITH THE
STRONGEST STORMS.

AN AREA OF HIGH WIND AND SHOWERS WAS SHOWN TO BE APPROACHING THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER THROUGH ST FRANCIS .. CROSS .. CRITTENDEN .. AND
MISSISSIPPI COUNTIES OF NORTHEAST ARKANSAS.  THESE AREA OF WIND AND
SHOWERS WILL MOVE ACROSS THE RIVER INTO OBION .. LAKE .. DYER ..
LAUDERDALE .. TIPTON .. AND SHELBY COUNTIES OF WEST TENNESSEE BY 930 AM.

YOU NEED TO STAY ABREAST OF LOCAL WEATHER CONDITIONS DURING THIS
MORNING/S DANGEROUS WEAlTHER SITUATION.  STAY TUNED TO LOCAL RADIO/TV OR
NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND LISTEN FOR LATER BULLETINS.
Special weather statement, Apr 15, 9:07 AM CDT, 4 hours 16 minutes before
MSZ005-006-009-017-016-002-003-004-013-014-015-023-024-030-031-
033-151515-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUPELO MS
907 AM CDT FRI APR 15 1994

.....TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 91 IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM CDT FOR PARTS OF
NORTHEAST AND EASTCENTRAL MISSISSIPPI.....

AT 858 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN TUPELO CONTINUED TO
SHOW SCATTERED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTHWEST ALABAMA AND
EASTCENTRAL MISSISSIPPI MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 35 MILE AN HOUR.

THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS IN EASTCENTRAL MISSISSIPPI WERE LOCATED OVER
KEMPER..NESHOBA..NOXUBEE AND WINSTON COUNTIES.

RESIDENTS OVER NORTH MISSISSIPPI SHOULD REMAIN ALERT TO THE WEATHER
CONDITIONS TODAY AS MORE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP WITH THE
AFTERNOON HEATING AND ALSO MOVE IN FROM THE WEST WITH AN APPROACHING
COLD FRONT.

NNNN
Special weather statement, Apr 15, 10:06 AM CDT, 3 hours 17 minutes before
MSZ005-006-009-017-016-002-003-004-013-014-015-023-024-030-031-
033-151615-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUPELO MS
1006 AM CDT FRI APR 15 1994

.....TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 91 IN EFFECT UNTIL 3PM CDT FOR PARTS OF
NORTHEAST AND EASTCENTRAL MISSISSIPPI.....

AT 955 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT TUPELO CONTINUED TO
SHOW SCATTERED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTHERN ALABAMA AND
EASTCENTRAL MISSISSIPPI.  THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS IN EASTCENTRAL
MISSISSIPPI WERE LOCATED IN NOXUBEE AND KEMPER COUNTIES.

DURING THE PAST HOUR...SCATTERED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE STARTING TO
DEVELOP OVER NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI..WESTERN TENNESSEE AND NORTHEAST
ARKANSAS.  THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS IN NORTH MISSISSIPPI WERE LOCATED
OVER CALHOUN..CHICKASAW AND WEBSTER COUNTIES.

ALL THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST-NORTHEAST AT 35 MILES AN
HOUR.

RESIDENTS OVER NORTH MISSISSIPPI SHOULD KEEP AN EYE TO THE SKY A0ND
LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.  THE WEATHER
CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE TO WORSEN AS THE DAY GOES ON.

NNNN
Special weather statement, Apr 15, 11:03 AM CDT, 2 hours 20 minutes before
MSZ005-006-009-017-016-002-003-004-013-014-015-023-024-030-031-
033-151700-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUPELO MS
1103 AM CDT FRI APR 15 1994

.....TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 91 REMAINS IN EFFECT TIL 3 PM CDT FOR PARTS OF
NORTHEAST AND EASTCENTRAL MISSISSIPPI.....

AT 1055 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN TUPELO SHOWED
SCATTERED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING ACROSS NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI
MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR..WHILE THE AREA WAS SLIDING
TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.

THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED OVER
DESOTO..MARSHALL..LAFAYETTE..MONROE AND ITAWAMBA COUNTIES.

RESIDENTS OF NORTH MISSISSIPPI CAN EXPECT GUSTY SURFACE WINDS...SMALL
HAIL AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTENING WITH THE PASSAGE OF THESE
THUNDERSTORMS.

CONDITIONS ACROSS THE AREA IS EXPECTED TO WORSEN AS THE DAY GOES ON WITH
THE APPROACHING COLD FRONT FROM THE WEST.

NNNN
Special weather statement, Apr 15, 12:04 PM CDT, 1 hour 19 minutes before
MSZ005-006-009-017-016-002-003-004-013-014-015-023-024-030-031-
033-151800-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUPELO MS
1204 PM CDT FRI APR 15 1994

.....TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 91 REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM CDT FOR PARTS
OF EASTERN MISSISSIPPI.....

.....SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WATCH NUMBER 94 REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM
CDT FOR MOST OF NORTH AND CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI.....

AT 1155 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN TUPELO SHOWED
SCATTERED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTHERN ALABAMA..WESTERN TENNESSEE
AND NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI.  THE INDIVIDUAL STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE
NORTHEAST AT 45 MILES AN HOUR WHILE THE SYSTEM WAS SLIDING TO THE
SOUTHEAST AT 20 MILES AN HOUR.

IN NORTH MISSISSIPPI THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED NORTHWEST
OF A LINE FROM CORINTH TO OXFORD TO CLARKSDALE.

RESIDENTS OF NORTH MISSISSIPPI SHOULD KEEP AN EYE ON THE SKY AND LISTEN
FOR LATER STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

NNNN
Special weather statement, Apr 15, 1:04 PM CDT, 19 minutes before
MSZ005-006-009-017-016-002-003-004-013-014-015-023-024-030-031-
033-151900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUPELO MS
104 PM CDT FRI APR 15 1994

.....TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 91 REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 M CDT FOR PARTS
OF EASTERN MISSISSIPPI.....

.....SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 94 REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM
CDT FOR MOST OF NORTHERN AND CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI.....

AT 1255 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN TUPELO CONTINUED TO
SHOW SCATTERED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER WESTERN TENNESSEE...NORTHERN
ALABAMA AND NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 40 MILES AN
HOUR.

THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED IN PRENTISS..TIPPAH..UNION..
MARSHALL..0PANOLA AND SUNFLOWER COUNTIES.

RESIDENTS OF NORTH MISSISSIPPI SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING
WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND TAKE NECESSARY
ACTIONS IF A WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR LOCATION.

NNNN

The office that day

Everything else NWS Memphis, TN issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 15, 9:28 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGGreene47 min
Apr 15, 1:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCrittenden33 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.