Alert archive / Tennessee / Tornado Warnings in 1994

Tornado Warning 55, NWS Memphis, TN

November 27, 1994Fayette County, Hardeman County, Haywood County, Tennessee

NWS Memphis, TN issued this tornado warning at Nov 27, 1994, 3:58 PM CST for Fayette County, Hardeman County, Haywood County, Tennessee. It was in force for 47 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Nov 27, 1994, 3:58 PM CST (21:58 UTC)
Expired
Nov 27, 1994, 4:45 PM CST
In force
47 min
Issued by
NWS Memphis, TN
Area
Whole counties

Counties Fayette County, TN, Hardeman County, TN, Haywood County, TN

The nearest sounding before it

Little Rock, AR (KLZK), launched 12:00Z, 10.0 hours before the alert went out and 86 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 1994-11-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1303 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, Little Rock, AR at 12:00Z on 1994-11-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 398 square meters per square second.1939587897117136Sfc1 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
1303 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-59 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
487 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
46 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
398 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
468 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
2.6
Supercell composite
13.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KMEM 272158
TORMEM
TNC047-069-075-272245-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
358 PM CST SUN NOV 27 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  445 PM CST
FOR PERSONS IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...S...
 
IN WEST TENNESSEE
 
   ...FAYETTE COUNTY...NORTHWESTERN HARDEMAN COUNTY
   ...SOUTHEASTERN HAYWOOD COUNTY
 
AT 355 PM..DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO SHOW A POSSIBLE TORNADO AND THERE
HAVE BEEN SEVERAL REPORTS OF DAMAGE ALONG THE PATH OF THE STORM AS IT
ENTERED FAYETTE COUNTY.
 
AT 355 PM..RADAR SHOWED THE GREATEST THREAT OF A TORNADO TO BE OVER THE
NORTH PART OF FAYETTE COUNTY BETWEEN DANCYVILLE AND SOMERVILLE. ANOTHER
POTENTIAL TORNADO WAS LOCATED OVER CENTRAL FAYETTE COUNTY IN THE MACON
AREA. THE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MILES AN HOUR AND AFFECT
SOMERVILLE..LACONIA AND FAYETTE CROSSROADS.
 
 
 
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM SITUATION.  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.  AVOID WINDOWS.  ABANDON CARS AND MOBILE HOMES
FOR A REINFORCED BUILDING OR GET INTO A DITCH OR CULVERT.

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, 1:38 PM CST, 2 hours 20 minutes before
TNZ001-002-003-004-019-020-021-022-048-049-050-051-052-053-054-
055-088-089-090-091-092-MSZ001-002-003-007-008-010-011-012-ARZ009-
018-026-027-028-035-036-048-049-058-272045-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
138 PM CST SUN NOV 27 1994

...TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM FOR ALL OF EAST
ARKANSAS...
...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM FOR EXTREME EAST ARKANSAS..
WEST TENNESSEE AND NORTH MISSISSIPPI...

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE ACROSS PARTS OF THE MID-SOUTH THIS
AFTERNOON. AT 130 PM..DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM JUST SOUTH OF BLYTHEVILLE ARKANSAS TO NEAR
TURRELL..EARLE AND HUGHES. THE STORMS THEN EXTENDED FURTHER SOUTHWEST TO
NEAR DEWITT.

THE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MILES AN HOUR.

AT THEIR PRESENT MOVMENT..THE STORMS WILL CROSS THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
INTO THE MEMPHIS METROPOLITAN AREA BETWEEN 230 AND 330 PM.

THE POTENTIAL REMAINS HIGH FOR THIS AFTERNOON'S THUNDERSTORMS TO
BECOME SEVERE. LARGE HAIL..DAMAGING WINDS AND TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE AND
ALL MID-SOUTH RESIDENTS SHOULD REMAIN WEATHER-ALERT THROUGHOUT THE
AFTERNOON. KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON LOCAL WEATHER CONDITIONS AND MOVE TO A
SAFE PLACE IMMEDIATELY IF SEVERE WEATHER THREATENS OR A WARNING IS
ISSUED.

STAY TUNED TO THIS STATION FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, Nov 27, 2:30 PM CST, 1 hour 28 minutes before
ARZ009-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MSZ001>003-007-008-010>012-
TNZ001>004-019>022-048>055-088>092-272135-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
231 PM CST SUN NOV 27 1994

...TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM FOR EAST ARKANSAS..WEST
TENNESSEE AND NORTH MISSISSIPPI...

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO RUMBLE ACROSS EAST ARKANSAS..AND AT
225 PM HAD BEGUN TO MOVE INTO WEST TENNESSEE. DOPPLER RADAR AT THAT
TIME SHOWED INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM JUST NORTH OF
DYERSBURG TENNESSEE THROUGH RIPLEY AND THEN INTO EAST ARKANSAS NEAR
HUGHES. THE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MILES AN HOUR.

STRONG WINDS..HAIL AND TORRENTIAL RAINS WILL ACCOMPANY THESE STORMS AS
THEY MOVE THROUGH EAST ARKANSAS AND WEST TENNESSEE. THE STORMS WILL
ALSO AFFECT NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI DURING THE NEXT HOUR.

WHEN THUNDERSTORMS ARE OCCURRING...PEOPLE SHOULD MOVE INSIDE A
STRONG BUILDING.  DO NOT STAND BY WINDOWS.  DO NOT USE TELEPHONES OR
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY UNTIL THE STORM HAS
PASSED.  MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT DRIVE INTO LOW WATER CROSSINGS.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...RADIO OR TELEVISION FOR THE
LATEST UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WARNINGSF CONCERNING THIS DANGEROUS
WEATHER SITUATION.
Special weather statement, Nov 27, 2:31 PM CST, 1 hour 27 minutes before
ARZ009-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MSZ001>003-007-008-010>012-
TNZ001>004-019>022-048>055-088>092-272135-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
231 PM CST SUN NOV 27 1994

...TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM FOR EAST ARKANSAS..WEST
TENNESSEE AND NORTH MISSISSIPPI...

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO RUMBLE ACROSS EAST ARKANSAS..AND AT
225 PM HAD BEGUN TO MOVE INTO WEST TENNESSEE. DOPPLER RADAR AT THAT
TIME SHOWED INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM JUST NORTH OF
DYERSBURG TENNESSEE THROUGH RIPLEY AND THEN INTO EAST ARKANSAS NEAR
HUGHES. THE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MILES AN HOUR.

STRONG WINDS..HAIL AND TORRENTIAL RAINS WILL ACCOMPANY THESE STORMS AS
THEY MOVE THROUGH EAST ARKANSAS AND WEST TENNESSEE. THE STORMS WILL
ALSO AFFECT NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI DURING THE NEXT HOUR.

WHEN THUNDERSTORMS ARE OCCURRING...PEOPLE SHOULD MOVE INSIDE A
STRONG BUILDING.  DO NOT STAND BY WINDOWS.  DO NOT USE TELEPHONES OR
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY UNTIL THE STORM HAS
PASSED.  MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT DRIVE INTO LOW WATER CROSSINGS.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...RADIO OR TELEVISION FOR THE
LATEST UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS DANGEROUS
WEATHER SITUATION.
Special weather statement, Nov 27, 2:52 PM CST, 1 hour 6 minutes before
MSZ005-006-009-017-016-002-003-004-013-014-015-023-024-030-031-
033-272200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUPELO MS
252 PM CST SUN NOV 27 1994

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 907 CONTINUES IN EFFECT UNTIL 7PM THIS EVENING FOR
A LARGE PART OF NORTH NISSISSIPPI...

AT 240 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR WAS INDICATING A VERY
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES NORTH OF RIPLEY TENNESSEE IN EXTREME WEST
CENTRAL TENNESSEE.

THIS STORM WAS MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 45 MILES AN HOUR.

RADAR WAS ALSO INDICATING SCTTERED THUNDERSTORMS AND RAINSHOWERS OVER A
LARGE PART OF NORTH MISSISSIPPI AND SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE.

THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED FROM OXFORD MISSISSIPPI AND
EXTENDED TO THE NORTHEAST TO NORTHERN BENTON COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL
MISSISSIPPI. THESE THUNDERSTORMS AND OTHER SHOWER ACTIVITY WAS MOVING TO
THE NORTHEAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR.

ANYONE LIVING IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS AND SHOWERS
SHOULD REMAIN WEATHER ALERT AND TAKE PRECAUTIONS SHOULD THREATENING
WEATHER APPROACH.

MORE STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED AS CONDITIONS WARRANT.

NNNN

:
C.o:FF?Nvz=W~zmb2&QG
Special weather statement, Nov 27, 2:52 PM CST, 1 hour 6 minutes before
MSZ005-006-009-017-016-002-003-004-013-014-015-023-024-030-031-
033-272200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUPELO MS
252 PM CST SUN NOV 27 1994

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 907 CONTINUES IN EFFECT UNTIL 7PM THIS EVENING FOR
A LARGE PART OF NORTH NISSISSIPPI...

AT 240 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR WAS INDICATING A VERY
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES NORTH OF RIPLEY TENNESSEE IN EXTREME WEST
CENTRAL TENNESSEE.

THIS STORM WAS MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 45 MILES AN HOUR.

RADAR WAS ALSO INDICATING SCTTERED THUNDERSTORMS AND RAINSHOWERS OVER A
LARGE PART OF NORTH MISSISSIPPI AND SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE.

THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED FROM OXFORD MISSISSIPPI AND
EXTENDED TO THE NORTHEAST TO NORTHERN BENTON COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL
MISSISSIPPI. THESE THUNDERSTORMS AND OTHER SHOWER ACTIVITY WAS MOVING TO
THE NORTHEAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR.

ANYONE LIVING IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS AND SHOWERS
SHOULD REMAIN WEATHER ALERT AND TAKE PRECAUTIONS SHOULD THREATENING
WEATHER APPROACH.

MORE STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED AS CONDITIONS WARRANT.

NNNN

:
C.o:FF?Nvz=W~zmb2&QG
Special weather statement, Nov 27, 3:51 PM CST, 7 minutes before
MSZ005-006-009-017-016-002-003-004-013-014-015-023-024-030-031-
033-272300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUPELO MS
351 PM CST SUN NOV 27 1994

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 907 CONTINUES IN EFFECT UNTIL 7PM THIS EVENING FOR
A LARGE PART OF NORTH MISSISSIPPI...

AT 340 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR WAS INDICATING RATHER
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM HELENA ARKANSAS AND EXTENDED TO THE NORTHEAST
TO COVINGTON TENNESSEE.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR AND
HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF PRODUCING LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS...DANGEROUS FREQUENT
LIGHTNING...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL.

OTHER THUNDERSHOWER ACTIVITY WAS INDICATED FROM GRENADA RESEVOIR AND
EXTENDED TO THE NORTHEAST TO CORINTH MISSISSIPPI...AND ALSO FROM BARNETT
RESEVOIR AND EXTENDED TO THE NORTHEAST TO HOUSTON MISSISSIPPI.

THESE THUNDERSHOWERS HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF PRODUCING LOCALLY HEAVY
RAIN...OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS.

THESE THUNDERSHOWERS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR.

ANYONE LIVING IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE THUNDERSTROMS AND
THUNDERSHOWERS SHOULD REMAIN WEATHER ALERT AND TAKE NECESSARY
PRECAUTIONS SHOULD THREATHENING WEATHER APPROACH.

MORE STATEMENTS WILL ISSUED AS CONDITIONS WARRANT.

NNNN

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Nov 27, 2:48 PM CSTTornado WarningMEGCrockett, Dyer, Gibson27 min
Nov 27, 2:50 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGObion, Weakley40 min
Nov 27, 3:03 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGShelby42 min
Nov 27, 3:24 PM CSTTornado WarningMEGFayette, Shelby36 min
Nov 27, 3:31 PM CSTTornado WarningMEGHenry, Weakley44 min
Nov 27, 3:31 PM CSTTornado WarningMEGGibson44 min
Nov 27, 4:50 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGFayette, Hardeman40 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Tennessee, 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.