Alert archive / Arizona / Tornado Warnings in 1994

Tornado Warning 1, NWS Phoenix, AZ

March 7, 1994Pinal County, Arizona

NWS Phoenix, AZ issued this tornado warning at Mar 7, 1994, 1:46 PM MST for Pinal County, Arizona. It was in force for 34 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Mar 7, 1994, 1:46 PM MST (20:46 UTC)
Expired
Mar 7, 1994, 2:20 PM MST
In force
34 min
Issued by
NWS Phoenix, AZ
Area
Whole counties

County Pinal County, AZ

The nearest sounding before it

Tuscon, AZ (KTUS), launched 12:00Z, 8.8 hours before the alert went out and 92 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, Tuscon, AZ at 12:00Z on 1994-03-07Temperature 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, Tuscon, AZ at 12:00Z on 1994-03-07The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 64 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
2609 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
76 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
64 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
187 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KPHX 072047 RRA
TORPHX
AZC021-072120-

BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
146 PM MST MON MAR 7 1994

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PHOENIX AZ HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 220 PM MST FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...

IN SOUTH CENTRAL ARIZONA

  ...EXTREME WESTERN PINAL COUNTY
     INCLUDING INTERSTATE 8

AT 1:28 PM MST A PILOT REPORT INDICATED A TORNADO 30 MILES SOUTH OF SKY
HARBOR AIRPORT. THE TORNADO IS EXPECTED TO MOVE NORTH AND DISSIPATE.

DO NOT WATCH THE TORNADO...SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

IF INDOORS...GO TO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR POSSIBLE.
AVOID WINDOWS.

DO NOT USE YOUR CAR TO TRY TO OUTRUN A TORNADO. LEAVE THE CAR AND GO TO
A STRONG BUILDING OR SEEK SHELTER IN A DITCH OR LOW SPOT.

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO...SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

WILT

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, Mar 7, 8:57 AM MST, 4 hours 49 minutes before
AZZ007-071900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE YUMA AZ
857 AM MST MON MAR 7 1994

...MORE THUNDERSTORMS IN STORE FOR SOUTHWEST ARIZONA...

AN UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM LOCATED JUST WEST OF EXTREME
NORTHERN BAJA CALIFORNIA WILL DRIFT TOWARD SOUTHWEST ARIZONA TODAY,
BRINGING THE THREAT OF MORE THUNDERSTORMS.

EARLY THIS MORNING, THUNDERSTORMS BROUGHT HEAVY RAIN TO PORTIONS LA PAZ
COUNTY, WITH RAINFALLL REPORTS RANGING FROM AROUND 0.5 INCHES IN PARKER
TO 0.8 INCHES IN QUARTZSITE. LIGHTNING HIT A TRANSMITTER IN THE
QUARTZSITE AREA AND LEFT PART OF THE TOWN WITHOUT POWER.

THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN PARKER REPORTED THAT MANY WASHES IN THE AREA
WERE RUNNING WITH WATER, BUT WITH NO INDICATIONS OF MAJOR FLOODING.
HOWEVER, WITH THE EXPECTED ADDITONAL THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY LATER TODAY,
SOME OF THE LOW SPOTS ON AREA ROADS WILL LIKELY BECOME FLOODED,
ESPECIALLY IN LA PAZ COUNTY.

MOTORIST ARE ADVISED TO USE EXTREME CAUTION TODAY WHEN TRAVELING,
ESPECIALLY ON HIGHWAYS 95, 72 AND 60 IN LA PAZ COUNTY. HOWEVER, ANY
WHERE IN YUMA OR LA PAZ COUNTIES TODAY COULD RECEIVE A THUNDERSTORM WITH
HEAVY RAIN, SMALL HAIL, DEADLY LIGHTNING AND STRONG, GUSTY WINDS.

IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...MOVE TO A PLACE OF SHELTER IMMEDIATELY IF A
STORM APPROACHES.  MOTORISTS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR REDUCED
VISIBILITIES DURING DOWNPOURS OF RAIN.  STREETS MAY FLOOD QUICKLY.

&

FAUSETT
Special weather statement, Mar 7, 8:57 AM MST, 4 hours 49 minutes before
AZZ007-071900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE YUMA AZ
857 AM MST MON MAR 7 1994

...MORE THUNDERSTORMS IN STORE FOR SOUTHWEST ARIZONA...

AN UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM LOCATED JUST WEST OF EXTREME
NORTHERN BAJA CALIFORNIA WILL DRIFT TOWARD SOUTHWEST ARIZONA TODAY,
BRINGING THE THREAT OF MORE THUNDERSTORMS.

EARLY THIS MORNING, THUNDERSTORMS BROUGHT HEAVY RAIN TO PORTIONS LA PAZ
COUNTY, WITH RAINFALLL REPORTS RANGING FROM AROUND 0.5 INCHES IN PARKER
TO 0.8 INCHES IN QUARTZSITE. LIGHTNING HIT A TRANSMITTER IN THE
QUARTZSITE AREA AND LEFT PART OF THE TOWN WITHOUT POWER.

THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN PARKER REPORTED THAT MANY WASHES IN THE AREA
WERE RUNNING WITH WATER, BUT WITH NO INDICATIONS OF MAJOR FLOODING.
HOWEVER, WITH THE EXPECTED ADDITONAL THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY LATER TODAY,
SOME OF THE LOW SPOTS ON AREA ROADS WILL LIKELY BECOME FLOODED,
ESPECIALLY IN LA PAZ COUNTY.

MOTORIST ARE ADVISED TO USE EXTREME CAUTION TODAY WHEN TRAVELING,
ESPECIALLY ON HIGHWAYS 95, 72 AND 60 IN LA PAZ COUNTY. HOWEVER, ANY
WHERE IN YUMA OR LA PAZ COUNTIES TODAY COULD RECEIVE A THUNDERSTORM WITH
HEAVY RAIN, SMALL HAIL, DEADLY LIGHTNING AND STRONG, GUSTY WINDS.

IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...MOVE TO A PLACE OF SHELTER IMMEDIATELY IF A
STORM APPROACHES.  MOTORISTS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR REDUCED
VISIBILITIES DURING DOWNPOURS OF RAIN.  STREETS MAY FLOOD QUICKLY.

&

FAUSETT
Special weather statement, Mar 7, 8:58 AM MST, 4 hours 48 minutes before
AZZ007-071900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE YUMA AZ
857 AM MST MON MAR 7 1994

...MORE THUNDERSTORMS IN STORE FOR SOUTHWEST ARIZONA...

AN UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM LOCATED JUST WEST OF EXTREME
NORTHERN BAJA CALIFORNIA WILL DRIFT TOWARD SOUTHWEST ARIZONA TODAY,
BRINGING THE THREAT OF MORE THUNDERSTORMS.

EARLY THIS MORNING, THUNDERSTORMS BROUGHT HEAVY RAIN TO PORTIONS LA PAZ
COUNTY, WITH RAINFALLL REPORTS RANGING FROM AROUND 0.5 INCHES IN PARKER
TO 0.8 INCHES IN QUARTZSITE. LIGHTNING HIT A TRANSMITTER IN THE
QUARTZSITE AREA AND LEFT PART OF THE TOWN WITHOUT POWER.

THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN PARKER REPORTED THAT MANY WASHES IN THE AREA
WERE RUNNING WITH WATER, BUT WITH NO INDICATIONS OF MAJOR FLOODING.
HOWEVER, WITH THE EXPECTED ADDITONAL THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY LATER TODAY,
SOME OF THE LOW SPOTS ON AREA ROADS WILL LIKELY BECOME FLOODED,
ESPECIALLY IN LA PAZ COUNTY.

MOTORIST ARE ADVISED TO USE EXTREME CAUTION TODAY WHEN TRAVELING,
ESPECIALLY ON HIGHWAYS 95, 72 AND 60 IN LA PAZ COUNTY. HOWEVER, ANY
WHERE IN YUMA OR LA PAZ COUNTIES TODAY COULD RECEIVE A THUNDERSTORM WITH
HEAVY RAIN, SMALL HAIL, DEADLY LIGHTNING AND STRONG, GUSTY WINDS.

IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...MOVE TO A PLACE OF SHELTER IMMEDIATELY IF A
STORM APPROACHES.  MOTORISTS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR REDUCED
VISIBILITIES DURING DOWNPOURS OF RAIN.  STREETS MAY FLOOD QUICKLY.

&

FAUSETT
Special weather statement, Mar 7, 12:58 PM MST, 48 minutes before
AZZALL-080200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
100 PM MST MON MAR 7 1994

...THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING JUST WEST OF THE PHOENIX METRO AREA...

AN APPROACHING PACIFIC WEATHER SYSTEM CENTERED JUST OFF THE NORTHWEST
BAJA COAST HAS TRIGGERED SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS MUCH OF
SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL ARIZONA.

A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAS DEVELOPED DURING THE PAST HOUR
ABOUT 30 MILES WEST OF THE PHOENIX METROPOLITAN AREA.  DURING THE PAST
45 MINUTES, TWO-THIRDS OF AN INCH OF RAIN HAS FALLEN AT WITTMAN, AND
ONE-QUARTER TO ONE-HALF INCH AMOUNTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED AT SEVERAL OTHER
SITES WEST OF PHOENIX. THIS BAND OF SHOWERS SHOULD MOVE TOWARD THE
NORTHEAST AND AFFECT THE PHOENIX METRO AREA DURING THE NEXT 1-2 HOURS,
BRINGING THE THREAT OF LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN, GUSTY WINDS, SMALL HAIL, AND
INTENSE LIGHTNING.

A 30-MILE WIDE BAND OF LIGHT RAIN SHOWERS EXTENDED FROM TUCSON TO
PAYSON.  INDIVIDUAL SHOWERS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTH AT 25 MILES PER
HOUR, BUT THE RAINBAND WAS NEARLY STATIONARY.  ACROSS THE EAST VALLEY,
RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF THREE TO FOUR TENTHS OF AN INCH HAVE BEEN REPORTED
WITH THIS BAND OF PRECIPITATION.  FOUR TENTHS OF AN INCH HAS FALLEN IN
THE MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS ABOUT 30 MILES NORTH OF PHOENIX, WHILE ABOUT ONE-
THIRD OF AN INCH HAS FALLEN IN THE HUMBOLDT MOUNTAINS NORTH OF CAVE
CREEK AND AT SPOOKHILL PARK IN NORTHEAST MESA.  LIGHT RAIN WILL CONTINUE
WITH THIS BAN:D FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS.

GREEN
Special weather statement, Mar 7, 1:00 PM MST, 46 minutes before
AZZALL-080200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
100 PM MST MON MAR 7 1994

...THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING JUST WEST OF THE PHOENIX METRO AREA...

AN APPROACHING PACIFIC WEATHER SYSTEM CENTERED JUST OFF THE NORTHWEST
BAJA COAST HAS TRIGGERED SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS MUCH OF
SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL ARIZONA.

A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAS DEVELOPED DURING THE PAST HOUR
ABOUT 30 MILES WEST OF THE PHOENIX METROPOLITAN AREA.  DURING THE PAST
45 MINUTES, TWO-THIRDS OF AN INCH OF RAIN HAS FALLEN AT WITTMAN, AND
ONE-QUARTER TO ONE-HALF INCH AMOUNTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED AT SEVERAL OTHER
SITES WEST OF PHOENIX. THIS BAND OF SHOWERS SHOULD MOVE TOWARD THE
NORTHEAST AND AFFECT THE PHOENIX METRO AREA DURING THE NEXT 1-2 HOURS,
BRINGING THE THREAT OF LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN, GUSTY WINDS, SMALL HAIL, AND
INTENSE LIGHTNING.

A 30-MILE WIDE BAND OF LIGHT RAIN SHOWERS EXTENDED FROM TUCSON TO
PAYSON.  INDIVIDUAL SHOWERS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTH AT 25 MILES PER
HOUR, BUT THE RAINBAND WAS NEARLY STATIONARY.  ACROSS THE EAST VALLEY,
RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF THREE TO FOUR TENTHS OF AN INCH HAVE BEEN REPORTED
WITH THIS BAND OF PRECIPITATION.  FOUR TENTHS OF AN INCH HAS FALLEN IN
THE MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS ABOUT 30 MILES NORTH OF PHOENIX, WHILE ABOUT ONE-
THIRD OF AN INCH HAS FALLEN IN THE HUMBOLDT MOUNTAINS NORTH OF CAVE
CREEK AND AT SPOOKHILL PARK IN NORTHEAST MESA.  LIGHT RAIN WILL CONTINUE
WITH THIS BAND FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS.

GREEN

The office that day

Everything else NWS Phoenix, AZ issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 7, 2:32 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPSRPinal63 min
Mar 7, 3:05 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningPSRLa Paz3 hr
Mar 7, 3:20 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPSRMaricopa65 min
Mar 7, 3:27 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPSRPinal63 min
Mar 7, 4:34 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPSRPinal46 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Arizona, 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.