Alert archive / Minnesota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1994

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 144, NWS Twin Cities, MN

July 18, 1994Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 18, 1994, 2:18 PM CDT for Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota. It was in force for 57 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 18, 1994, 2:18 PM CDT (19:18 UTC)
Expired
Jul 18, 1994, 3:15 PM CDT
In force
57 min
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN
Area
Whole counties

County Yellow Medicine County, MN

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KSTC), launched 12:00Z, 7.3 hours before the alert went out and 180 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, Minneapolis, MN at 12:00Z on 1994-07-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Minneapolis, MN at 12:00Z on 1994-07-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 109 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1309 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
41 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
109 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
134 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
-0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WUUS1 KSTC 181918 RRA
SVRSTC
MNC173-182015-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST CLOUD MINNESOTA
218 PM CDT MON JUL 18 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ST CLOUD MINNESOTA  HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  315 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA
 
   ...YELLOW MEDICINE COUNTY
 
AT 210 PM RADAR SHOWED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM LOCATED BETWEEN MONTEVIDEO
AND CANBY WHICH IS 30 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MONTEVIDEO MOVING SOUTHEAST AT
20 MPH. CANBY REPORTED 50 MPH WINDS AND MARBLE SIZE HAIL AT 210 PM.
THIS STORM WILL AFFECT CANBY...CLARKFIELD AND PORTER THROUGH 245 PM
AND GRANITE FALLS...HAZEL RUN AND WOOD LAKE BY 300 PM.
 
 
IF YOU OUTSIDE IN THE OPEN...YOU SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...
PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
DO NOT USE ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES OR THE TELEPHONE UNLESS IT IS
AN EMERGENCY.
 
 
 
&
NNNN

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 18, 9:03 AM CDT, 5 hours 15 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST CLOUD MN
900 AM CDT MON JUL 18 1994

PRELIMINARY REPORT FOR 18 JUL 94

815 AM      BIG STONE COUNTY...AT CLINTON 15 N OF ORTONVILLE...
            PEA TO M*ARBLE HAIL.

900 AM      BIG STONE CTY...14 NE ORTONVILLE...3/4 (DIME) HAIL.

RAY
Local storm report, Jul 18, 1:04 PM CDT, 1 hour 14 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST CLOUD MN
900 AM CDT MON JUL 18 1994

PRELIMINARY REPORT FOR 18 JUL 94

815   AM      BIG STONE COUNTY...AT CLINTON 15 N OF ORTONVILLE...
              PEA TO MARBLE HAIL.

900   AM      BIG STONE CTY...14 NE ORTONVILLE...3/4 (DIME) HAIL.

1220  PM      GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL.  TRAVERSE/BIG STONE COUNTY
              LINE...CITY OF GRACEVILLE. 20 MILES NORTH OF
              ORTONVILLE.

1245 PM       GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL...NUMEROUS REPORTS MARBLE SIZE
              HAIL.  VICINITY OF CLINTON IN BIG STONE COUNTY...
              10 MILES NORTH OF ORTONVILLE.

FRASER
Local storm report, Jul 18, 1:40 PM CDT, 38 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST CLOUD MN
140 PM CDT MON JUL 18 1994

PRELIMINARY REPORT FOR 18 JUL 94

815   AM      BIG STONE COUNTY...AT CLINTON 15 N OF ORTONVILLE...
              PEA TO MARBLE HAIL.

900   AM      BIG STONE CTY...14 NE ORTONVILLE...3/4 (DIME) HAIL.

1220  PM      GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL.  TRAVERSE/BIG STONE COUNTY
              LINE...CITY OF GRACEVILLE. 20 MILES NORTH OF
              ORTONVILLE.

1245 PM       GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL...NUMEROUS REPORTS MARBLE SIZE
              HAIL.  VICINITY OF CLINTON IN BIG STONE COUNTY...
              10 MILES NORTH OF ORTONVILLE.

135  PM       MARBLE SIZE HAIL AND 60 MPH WINDS REPORTED IN NASSAU
              AND MARIETTA IN LAC QUI PARLE COUNTY.

230  PM       DIME SIZE HAIL AND 60 MPH WINDS NEAR CANBY IN YELLOW
              MEDICINE COUNTY...55 MILES NORTHWEST OF REDWOOD FALLS.

FRASER
Local storm report, Jul 18, 1:43 PM CDT, 35 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST CLOUD MN
140 PM CDT MON JUL 18 1994

PRELIMINARY REPORT FOR 18 JUL 94

815   AM      BIG STONE COUNTY...AT CLINTON 15 N OF ORTONVILLE...
              PEA TO MARBLE HAIL.

900   AM      BIG STONE CTY...14 NE ORTONVILLE...3/4 (DIME) HAIL.

1220  PM      GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL.  TRAVERSE/BIG STONE COUNTY
              LINE...CITY OF GRACEVILLE. 20 MILES NORTH OF
              ORTONVILLE.

1245 PM       GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL...NUMEROUS REPORTS MARBLE SIZE
              HAIL.  VICINITY OF CLINTON IN BIG STONE COUNTY...
              10 MILES NORTH OF ORTONVILLE.

135 PM        MARBLE SIZE HAIL AND 60 MPH WINDS REPORTED IN NASSAU
              AND MARIETTA IN LAC QUI PARLE COUNTY.

FRASER/PARKIN
Special weather statement, Jul 18, 2:16 PM CDT, 2 minutes before
MNZ065-073-182020-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL MN
217 PM CDT MON JUL 18 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS NORTHWEST OF REDWOOD AND RENVILLE COUNTIES...

AT 215 PM...A CLUSTER OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED OVER
CHIPPEWA...SOUTHERN LAC QUI PARLE AND NORTHERN YELLOW MEDICINE
COUNTIES. THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORM WAS ABOUT 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF
MONTEVIDEO OR ABOUT 25 MILES WEST OF WILLMAR.  ANOTHER STRONG AND
POSSIBLY SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS NEAR PROVIDENCE IN SOUTHERN LAC QUI
PARLE COUNTY.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH AND
WILL BEGIN TO AFFECT WESTERN RENVILLE AND THE FAR NORTHWEST PORTIONS
OF REDWOOD COUNTY AFTER 245 PM.  SOME TOWNS THAT LIE IN THE PATH
OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS INCLUDE MINNESOTA FALLS...SACRED HEART AND
BELVIEW.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND
DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH IN ADDITION TO FREQUENT CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING AND TORRENTIAL RAINFALL.

AT SIGNS OF AN IMPENDING STORM...TOWERING THUNDERHEADS...DARKENING
SKIES...LIGHTNING AND INCREASING WINDS...MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY.
TUNE IN NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TV STATION FOR
TVHE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.

KAVINSKY
Special weather statement, Jul 18, 2:17 PM CDT, 1 minute before
MNZ065-073-182020-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL MN
217 PM CDT MON JUL 18 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS NORTHWEST OF REDWOOD AND RENVILLE COUNTIES...

AT 215 PM...A CLUSTER OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED OVER
CHIPPEWA...SOUTHERN LAC QUI PARLE AND NORTHERN YELLOW MEDICINE
COUNTIES. THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORM WAS ABOUT 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF
MONTEVIDEO OR ABOUT 25 MILES WEST OF WILLMAR.  ANOTHER STRONG AND
POSSIBLY SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS NEAR PROVIDENCE IN SOUTHERN LAC QUI
PARLE COUNTY.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH AND
WILL BEGIN TO AFFECT WESTERN RENVILLE AND THE FAR NORTHWEST PORTIONS
OF REDWOOD COUNTY AFTER 245 PM.  SOME TOWNS THAT LIE IN THE PATH
OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS INCLUDE MINNESOTA FALLS...SACRED HEART AND
BELVIEW.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND
DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH IN ADDITION TO FREQUENT CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING AND TORRENTIAL RAINFALL.

AT SIGNS OF AN IMPENDING STORM...TOWERING THUNDERHEADS...DARKENING
SKIES...LIGHTNING AND INCREASING WINDS...MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY.
TUNE IN NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TV STATION FOR
THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.

KAVINSKY

The office that day

Everything else NWS Twin Cities, MN issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 18, 8:18 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXBig Stone57 min
Jul 18, 12:31 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXBig Stone59 min
Jul 18, 1:36 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXLac qui Parle54 min
Jul 18, 2:06 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXChippewa54 min
Jul 18, 3:10 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXRedwood65 min
Jul 18, 5:05 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXMartin40 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Minnesota, 1994Every severe thunderstorm warning 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.