Alert archive / Arizona / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1994

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 21, NWS Phoenix, AZ

July 28, 1994Gila County, Arizona

NWS Phoenix, AZ issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 28, 1994, 4:33 PM MST for Gila County, Arizona. It was in force for 47 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 28, 1994, 4:33 PM MST (23:33 UTC)
Expired
Jul 28, 1994, 5:20 PM MST
In force
47 min
Issued by
NWS Phoenix, AZ
Area
Whole counties

County Gila County, AZ

The nearest sounding before it

Winslow (Autob), AZ (KINW), launched 12:00Z, 11.6 hours before the alert went out and 136 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, Winslow (Autob), AZ at 12:00Z on 1994-07-28Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 518 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, Winslow (Autob), AZ at 12:00Z on 1994-07-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 152 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
518 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-256 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2017 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
14 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
152 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
241 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WUUS1 KPHX 282338 RRA
SVRPHX
AZC007-290020-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
433 PM MST THU JUL 28 1994

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PHOENIX AZ HAS ISSUED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 520 PM MST FOR PEOPLE IN THE
FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...

IN EAST CENTRAL ARIZONA

  ...SOUTHERN GILA COUNTY
     INCLUDING GLOBE AND MIAMI

AT 435 PM MST, PHOENIX DOPPLER RADAR DETECTED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
ABOUT 6 MILES NORTH OF GLOBE. THE STORM WAS MOVING TOWARD THE
SOUTHWEST AT 10 MPH.   

SEEK SHELTER IN A STRONG BUILDING...BUT STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 57 MPH
...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.

OKULSKI

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

Special weather statement, Jul 28, 1:47 PM MST, 2 hours 46 minutes before
AZZ004-005-006-282300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
147 PM MST THU JUL 28 1994

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER ARIZONAS HIGH COUNTRY THIS AFTERNOON...

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR SHOWS A BROKEN LINE OF
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE MOGOLLON RIM FROM THE WHITE MOUNTAINS
NEAR HANNAGAN MEADOWS NORTHWEST TO THE SAN FRANCISCO PEAKS NEAR
FLAGSTAFF EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.  THE STORMS WERE DRIFTING VERY SLOWLY
TOWARD THE SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST.

RADAR RAINFALL ESTIMATES OF ONE HALF TO 1 INCH PER HOUR WERE SHOWN WITH
THESE STORMS.  SMALL HAIL, STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING
WERE ALSO INDICATED.

CAMPERS, BOATERS, AND HIKERS IN ARIZONAS HIGH COUNTRY SHOULD TAKE
SHELTER IF THESE STORMS APPROACH.  LIGHTNING IS A KILLER, AND SAFETY
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST LIGHTNING STRIKES SHOULD BE TAKEN WHEN THUNDERSTORMS
ARE NEAR.

CARPENTER
Special weather statement, Jul 28, 1:58 PM MST, 2 hours 35 minutes before
AZZ004-005-006-282300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
147 PM MST THU JUL 28 1994

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER ARIZONAS HIGH COUNTRY THIS AFTERNOON...

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR SHOWS A BROKEN LINE OF
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE MOGOLLON RIM FROM THE WHITE MOUNTAINS
NEAR HANNAGAN MEADOWS NORTHWEST TO THE SAN FRANCISCO PEAKS NEAR
FLAGSTAFF EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.  THE STORMS WERE DRIFTING VERY SLOWLY
TOWARD THE SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST.

RADAR RAINFALL ESTIMATES OF ONE HALF TO 1 INCH PER HOUR WERE SHOWN WITH
THESE STORMS.  SMALL HAIL, STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING
WERE ALSO INDICATED.

CAMPERS, BOATERS, AND HIKERS IN ARIZONAS HIGH COUNTRY SHOULD TAKE
SHELTER IF THESE STORMS APPROACH.  LIGHTNING IS A KILLER, AND SAFETY
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST LIGHTNING STRIKES SHOULD BE TAKEN WHEN THUNDERSTORMS
ARE NEAR.

CARPENTER
Special weather statement, Jul 28, 3:25 PM MST, 1 hour 8 minutes before
AZZ008-009-010-290000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
325 PM MST THU JUL 28 1994

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEAST ARIZONA THIS
AFTERNOON AND UNTIL 8 PM MST TONIGHT...

AT 3 PM MST, NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO SHOW
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST ARIZONA. IN
PARTICULAR, A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN CENTRAL ARIZONA EXTENDED FROM
NEAR WILLIAMS WEST OF FLAGSTAFF SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE MOGOLLON RIM
INCLUDING PAYSON TO NORTH OF SAFFORD IN SOUTHEAST ARIZONA. THESE
THUNDERSTORMS WERE BEGINNING TO MOVE OFF THE MOGOLLON RIM TOWARD THE
SOUTHWEST. THE THUNDERSTORMS IN SOUTHEAST ARIZONA WERE DEVELOPING
RAPIDLY AND MOVING TOWARD THE SOUTHWEST OR WEST.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 57 MPH
...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN WITH DANGER
OF LOCAL FLOODING.

IF THREATENING WEATHER DEVELOPS OR APPROACHES YOUR LOCATION ...BE
PREPARED TO MOVE TO SAFE HARBOR QUICKLY. SEEK SHELTER IN A STRONG
BUILDING...BUT STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. ALSO, WIND DRIVEN DUST OR SAND
MAY REDUCE VISIBILITY TO NEAR ZERO AT TIMES. IF THE VISIBILITY BECOMES
TO POOR TO DRIVE, PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURN YOUR LIGHTS
OFF, PARK, AND TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE.

CRAIG ELLIS
Special weather statement, Jul 28, 3:26 PM MST, 1 hour 7 minutes before
AZZ008-009-010-290000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
325 PM MST THU JUL 28 1994

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEAST ARIZONA THIS
AFTERNOON AND UNTIL 8 PM MST TONIGHT...

AT 3 PM MST, NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO SHOW
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST ARIZONA. IN
PARTICULAR, A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN CENTRAL ARIZONA EXTENDED FROM
NEAR WILLIAMS WEST OF FLAGSTAFF SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE MOGOLLON RIM
INCLUDING PAYSON TO NORTH OF SAFFORD IN SOUTHEAST ARIZONA. THESE
THUNDERSTORMS WERE BEGINNING TO MOVE OFF THE MOGOLLON RIM TOWARD THE
SOUTHWEST. THE THUNDERSTORMS IN SOUTHEAST ARIZONA WERE DEVELOPING
RAPIDLY AND MOVING TOWARD THE SOUTHWEST OR WEST.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 57 MPH
...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN WITH DANGER
OF LOCAL FLOODING.

IF THREATENING WEATHER DEVELOPS OR APPROACHES YOUR LOCATION ...BE
PREPARED TO MOVE TO SAFE HARBOR QUICKLY. SEEK SHELTER IN A STRONG
BUILDING...BUT STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. ALSO, WIND DRIVEN DUST OR SAND
MAY REDUCE VISIBILITY TO NEAR ZERO AT TIMES. IF THE VISIBILITY BECOMES
TO POOR TO DRPIVE, PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURN YOUR LIGHTS
OFF, PARK, AND TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE.

CRAIG ELLIS
Special weather statement, Jul 28, 4:20 PM MST, 13 minutes before
AZZ004-008-009-010-290100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
420 PM MST THU JUL 28 1994

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEAST ARIZONA
UNTIL 8 PM MST TONIGHT...

AT 4 PM MST, PHOENIX DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST ARIZONA. THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS
WERE LOCATED IN THE VICINITY OF PAYSON WEST OF YOUNG, AND AROUND
PRESCOTT. A SPOTTER AT KOHLS RANCH, 20 MILES EAST OF PAYSON,
REPORTED DIME SIZED HAIL BETWEEN 3 PM AND 315 PM MST. THESE
THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE SOUTHWEST AT 10 TO 15 MPH.

OTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED IN THE VICINITY OF
TUSCON. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE WEST AT 10
TO 15 MPH.

RAPIDLY DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALSO NOTED BETWEEN SUPERIOR
AND MIAMI, ABOUT 50 MILES EAST OF PHOENIX, AND ALONG HIGHWAY 77, ABOUT
10 MILES NORTH OF GLOBE. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING SLOWLY TO THE
SOUTHWEST TO WEST AT 5 TO 10 MPH. BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL AND STRONG GUSTY
WINDS CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.

WIND DRIVEN DUST OR SAND MAY REDUCE VISIBILITIES TO NEAR ZERO AT TIMES.
IF THREATENING WEATHER DEVELOPS OR APPROACHES YOUR LOCATION ...BE
PREPARED TO MOVE TO SAFE HARBOR QUICKLY.

OKULSKI
Special weather statement, Jul 28, 4:21 PM MST, 12 minutes before
AZZ004-008-009-010-290100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
420 PM MST THU JUL 28 1994

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEAST ARIZONA
UNTIL 8 PM MST TONIGHT...

AT 4 PM MST, PHOENIX DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST ARIZONA. THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS
WERE LOCATED IN THE VICINITY OF PAYSON WEST OF YOUNG, AND AROUND
PRESCOTT. A SPOTTER AT KOHLS RANCH, 20 MILES EAST OF PAYSON,
REPORTED DIME SIZED HAIL BETWEEN 3 PM AND 315 PM MST. THESE
THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE SOUTHWEST AT 10 TO 15 MPH.

OTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED IN THE VICINITY OF
TUSCON. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE WEST AT 10
TO 15 MPH.

RAPIDLY DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALSO NOTED BETWEEN SUPERIOR
AND MIAMI, ABOUT 50 MILES EAST OF PHOENIX, AND ALONG HIGHWAY 77, ABOUT
10 MILES NORTH OF GLOBE. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING SLOWLY TO THE
SOUTHWEST TO WEST AT 5 TO 10 MPH. BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL AND STRONG GUSTY
WINDS CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.

WIND DRIVEN DUST OR SAND MAY REDUCE VISIBILITIES TO NEAR ZERO AT TIMES.
IF THREATENING WEATHER DEVELOPS OR APPROACHES YOUR LOCATION ...BE
PREPARED TO MOVE TO SAFE HARBOR QUICKLY.

OKULSKI

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Arizona, 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.