Alert archive / North Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1994

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 21, NWS Raleigh, NC

May 15, 1994Vance County, North Carolina

NWS Raleigh, NC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 15, 1994, 11:02 PM EDT for Vance County, North Carolina. It was in force for 43 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 15, 1994, 11:02 PM EDT (03:02 UTC)
Expired
May 15, 1994, 11:45 PM EDT
In force
43 min
Issued by
NWS Raleigh, NC
Area
Whole counties

County Vance County, NC

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 00:00Z, 3.0 hours before the alert went out and 138 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 00:00Z on 1994-05-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1128 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 00:00Z on 1994-05-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 98 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
1128 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-15 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1240 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
33 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
98 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
107 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.3
Supercell composite
2.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KRDU 160303
SVRRDU
NCC181-160345-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH/DURHAM NC
1102 PM EDT SUN MAY 15 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RALEIGH/DURHAM HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1145 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN NORTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
 
   ...SOUTHERN VANCE COUNTY
 
AT 1102 PM DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM MOVING INTO
SOUTHERN VANCE COUNTY. THIS STORM WILL AFFECT KITTRELL BY 1120 PM.
 
PEOPLE SHOULD BE ESPECIALLY ALERT FOR LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND.
FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN CAN POSE A DANGER WITH ANY
THUNDERSTORM.  SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY AND REPORT DAMAGE TO
EMERGENCY OFFICIALS FOR RELAY TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

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, May 15, 9:57 PM EDT, 1 hour 5 minutes before
NCZ007-008-009-010-011-012-024-025-026-027-028-040-041-042-043-
044-075-076-077-078-079-085-086-088-091-160315-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH/DURHAM NC
957 PM EDT SUN MAY 15 1994

AT 955 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM MOVING THROUGH NORTHERN PORTIONS OF DURHAM COUNTY AND
SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF PERSON COUNTY. AS THE STORM MOVES EAST NEAR 30 MPH
IT WILL AFFECT PERSONS LIVING IN SOUTHWEST GRANVILLE COUNTY BY 1015 PM.
OTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED IN RANDOLPH COUNTY AND THESE
WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE EAST NEAR 30 MPH. NORTHERN MOORE AND WESTERN
CHATHAM COUNTIES WILL BE AFFECTED BY THESE STORMS BY 1030 PM.

THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL...STRONG AND GUSTY
WINDS AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL. MOTORISTS IN THE VICINITY OF THESE STORMS
SHOULD BE ALERT FOR PONDING OF WATER ON THE ROADWAYS. IF THREATENING
WEATHER APPROACHES...SEEK SHELTER UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO AND LOCAL TELEVISION
FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS AND/OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

CARR
Special weather statement, May 15, 9:58 PM EDT, 1 hour 4 minutes before
NCZ007-008-009-010-011-012-024-025-026-027-028-040-041-042-043-
044-075-076-077-078-079-085-086-088-091-160315-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH/DURHAM NC
957 PM EDT SUN MAY 15 1994

AT 955 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM MOVING THROUGH NORTHERN PORTIONS OF DURHAM COUNTY AND
SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF PERSON COUNTY. AS THE STORM MOVES EAST NEAR 30 MPH
IT WILL AFFECT PERSONS LIVING IN SOUTHWEST GRANVILLE COUNTY BY 1015 PM.
OTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED IN RANDOLPH COUNTY AND THESE
WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE EAST NEAR 30 MPH. NORTHERN MOORE AND WESTERN
CHATHAM COUNTIES WILL BE AFFECTED BY THESE STORMS BY 1030 PM.

THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL...STRONG AND GUSTY
WINDS AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL. MOTORISTS IN THE VICINITY OF THESE STORMS
SHOULD BE ALERT FOR PONDING OF WATER ON THE ROADWAYS. IF THREATENING
WEATHER APPROACHES...SEEK SHELTER UNTIL THE STORM HAS ^PASSED.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO AND LOCAL TELEVISION
FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS AND/OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

CARR
Special weather statement, May 15, 10:25 PM EDT, 37 minutes before
NCZALL-160315

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH/DURHAM NC
1025 PM EDT SUN MAY 15 1994

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR THE MOUNTAINS
AND FOOTHILLS...
...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT FOR
THE WESTERN AND SOUTHERN PIEDMONT...

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP ACROSS CENTRAL PORTIONS OF
NORTH CAROLINA THIS EVENING. AT 1020 PM WEATHER RADAR WAS SHOWING
A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE NORTHEAST PIEDMONT IN VANCE...
GRANVILLE AND DURHAM COUNTIES. OTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED
IN RANDOLPH...CABARRUS AND DAVIDSON COUNTIES. ALL OF THE ACTIVITY WAS
MOVING EAST NEAR 30 MPH

PEOPLE IN THE WATCH AREzA SHOULD KEEP INFORMED OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTIONS IF A WARNING IS ISSUED.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...LOCAL TELEVISION AND LOCAL RADIO
FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS AND/OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

CARR
Special weather statement, May 15, 10:25 PM EDT, 37 minutes before
NCZALL-160315

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH/DURHAM NC
1025 PM EDT SUN MAY 15 1994

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR THE MOUNTAINS
AND FOOTHILLS...
...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT FOR
THE WESTERN AND SOUTHERN PIEDMONT...

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP ACROSS CENTRAL PORTIONS OF
NORTH CAROLINA THIS EVENING. AT 1020 PM WEATHER RADAR WAS SHOWING
A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE NORTHEAST PIEDMONT IN VANCE...
GRANVILLE AND DURHAM COUNTIES. OTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED
IN RANDOLPH...CABARRUS AND DAVIDSON COUNTIES. ALL OF THE ACTIVITY WAS
MOVING EAST NEAR 30 MPH

PEOPLE IN THE WATCH AREzA SHOULD KEEP INFORMED OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTIONS IF A WARNING IS ISSUED.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...LOCAL TELEVISION AND LOCAL RADIO
FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS AND/OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

CARR
Special weather statement, May 15, 10:34 PM EDT, 28 minutes before
NCZ007-008-009-010-011-012-024-025-026-027-028-040-041-042-043-
044-075-076-077-078-079-085-086-088-091-160330-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH/DURHAM NC
1034 PM EDT SUN MAY 15 1994

AT 1032 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS VANCE...CENTRAL GRANVILLE AND
NORTHERN DURHAM COUNTIES. THE STRONGEST STORM WAS LOCATED IN SOUTHERN
GRANVILLE COUNTY AND THIS STORM WILL MOVE INTO WARREN AND FRANKLIN
COUNTIES BY 1050 PM. ANOTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS IN SOUTHWEST
CHATHAM COUNTY.

THESE STORMS COULD CONTAIN SMALL HAIL AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS ALONG WITH
VERY HEAVY RAIN AND DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING.

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES...SEEK SAFE SHELTER UNTIL THE STORM
HAS PASSED.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...LOCAL RADIO AND TV FOR FURTHER
STATEMENTS AND/OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

CARR
Special weather statement, May 15, 10:35 PM EDT, 27 minutes before
NCZ007-008-009-010-011-012-024-025-026-027-028-040-041-042-043-
044-075-076-077-078-079-085-086-088-091-160330-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH/DURHAM NC
1034 PM EDT SUN MAY 15 1994

AT 1032 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS VANCE...CENTRAL GRANVILLE AND
NORTHERN DURHAM COUNTIES. THE STRONGEST STORM WAS LOCATED IN SOUTHERN
GRANVILLE COUNTY AND THIS STORM WILL MOVE INTO WARREN AND FRANKLIN
COUNTIES BY 1050 PM. ANOTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS IN SOUTHWEST
CHATHAM COUNTY.

THESE STORMS COULD CONTAIN SMALL HAIL AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS ALONG WITH
VERY HEAVY RAIN AND DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING.

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES...SEEK SAFE SHELTER UNTIL THE STORM
HAS PASSED.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...LOCAL RADIO AND TV FOR FURTHER
STATEMENTS AND/OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

CARR

The office that day

Everything else NWS Raleigh, NC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 15, 10:38 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHChatham52 min
May 15, 11:20 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHFranklin40 min
May 16, 12:45 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHJohnston45 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in North Carolina, 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.