Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 1994
Tornado Warning 19, NWS Blacksburg, VA
NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this tornado warning at Aug 16, 1994, 9:26 PM EDT for Alexander County, North Carolina. It was in force for 34 min.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Aug 16, 1994, 9:26 PM EDT (01:26 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 16, 1994, 10:00 PM EDT
- In force
- 34 min
- Issued by
- NWS Blacksburg, VA
- Area
- Whole counties
County Alexander County, NC
The nearest sounding before it
Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 00:00Z, 1.4 hours before the alert went out and 116 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1105 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -2 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 648 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 44 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 141 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 219 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.6
- Supercell composite
- 5.6
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 TTAA00 KGSO 170128 TORGSO NCC003-170200- BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENSBORO NC 926 PM EDT TUE AUG 16 1994 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENSBORO HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1000 PM EDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION... IN NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA ...NORTHERN ALEXANDER COUNTY AT 923 PM EDT A SKYWARN OBSERVER REPORTED A TORNADO TOUCHDOWN JUST NORTHWEST OF TAYLORSVILLE IN ALEXANDER COUNTY. THIS TORNADO WAS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST AT 25 MPH AND WILL MOVE THROUGH THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE COUNTY BY 1000 PM EDT. TORNADOES WHICH OCCUR AFTER DARK ARE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS. GET TO A PLACE OF SAFETY NOW. STAY AWAY FROM DOORS AND WINDOWS. GET OUT OF MOBILE HOMES AND CARS. IF DAMAGE OCCURS NEAR YOU...DO NOT ATTEMPT TO WALK AROUND IN THE DARK. THERE MAY BE DOWNED POWER LINES AND OTHER HAZARDS THAT CANNOT BE SEEN. SR &
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, Aug 16, 7:26 PM EDT, 2 hours before
VAC590-780-083-143-170130- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LYNCHBURG VA 726 PM EDT TUE AUG 16 1994 ...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 8PM WED AUG 17... AT 715PM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO SOUTHERN HALIFAX AND PITTSYLVANIA COUNTIES. THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE INDICATING HEAVY DOWNPOURS... GUSTY WINDS...AND POSSIBLE SMALL HAIL. NO REPORTS AT THIS TIME OF ANY DAMAGE ASSOCIATED WITH THESE STORMS. PEOPLE IN THE AREA SHOULD BE AWARE OF ANY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER UPDATES. DEVAULT NNNN
Special weather statement, Aug 16, 7:26 PM EDT, 2 hours before
VAC590-780-083-143-170130- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LYNCHBURG VA 726 PM EDT TUE AUG 16 1994 ...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 8PM WED AUG 17... AT 715PM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO SOUTHERN HALIFAX AND PITTSYLVANIA COUNTIES. THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE INDICATING HEAVY DOWNPOURS... GUSTY WINDS...AND POSSIBLE SMALL HAIL. NO REPORTS AT THIS TIME OF ANY DAMAGE ASSOCIATED WITH THESE STORMS. PEOPLE IN THE AREA SHOULD BE AWARE OF ANY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER UPDATES. DEVAULT NNNN
Special weather statement, Aug 16, 7:40 PM EDT, 1 hour 46 minutes before
VAZ012-015-016-017-022-032-033-044-170145- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ROANOKE VIRGINIA 740 PM EDT TUE AUG 16 1994 ...TORNADO WATCH ISSUED COVERS PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST AND SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA... AT 735 PM EDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES AND INDEPENDENT CITIES...GRAYSON...WYTHE... CARROLL...PATRICK...FLOYD...HENRY. THE CITIES INCLUDED IN THE TORNADO WATCH ARE GALAX AND MARTINSVILLE. THE TORNADO WATCH IS EFFECT FROM 800 PM THIS EVENING UNTIL 400 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING. TROPICAL MOISTURE CONTINUES TO SURGE NORTHWARD FROM THE CAROLINAS AND INTO SOUTHERN VIRGINIA. THUNDERSTORMS TO OUR SOUTH HAS PRODUCED TORNADIC ACTIVITY ACROSS THE PIEDMONT REGION OF NORTH CAROLINA WITHIN THE PAST COUPLE OF HOURS. IF SEVERE OR TORNADIC THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH YOUR AREA GO TO SAFE SHELTER AND WAIT TILL THE STORM PASSES OUT OF YOUR VICINITY. THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF SOUTHWEST...WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA UNTIL WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLET FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS AND FURTHER UPDATES THIS EVENING. CACCIAPAGLIA
Special weather statement, Aug 16, 7:41 PM EDT, 1 hour 45 minutes before
VAZ012-015-016-017-022-032-033-044-170145- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ROANOKE VIRGINIA 740 PM EDT TUE AUG 16 1994 ...TORNADO WATCH ISSUED COVERS PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST AND SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA... AT 735 PM EDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES AND INDEPENDENT CITIES...GRAYSON...WYTHE... CARROLL...PATRICK...FLOYD...HENRY. THE CITIES INCLUDED IN THE TORNADO WATCH ARE GALAX AND MARTINSVILLE. THE TORNADO WATCH IS EFFECT FROM 800 PM THIS EVENING UNTIL 400 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING. TROPICAL MOISTURE CONTINUES TO SURGE NORTHWARD FROM THE CAROLINAS AND INTO SOUTHERN VIRGINIA. THUNDERSTORMS TO OUR SOUTH HAS PRODUCED TORNADIC ACTIVITY ACROSS THE PIEDMONT REGION OF NORTH CAROLINA WITHIN THE PAST COUPLE OF HOURS. IF SEVERE OR TORNADIC THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH YOUR AREA GO TO SAFE SHELTER AND WAIT TILL THE STORM PASSES OUT OF YOUR VICINITY. THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF SOUTHWEST...WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA UNTIL WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLET FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS AND FURTHER UPDATES THIS EVENING. CACCIAPAGLIA $
Special weather statement, Aug 16, 8:47 PM EDT, 39 minutes before
VAZ012-013-015-016-017-022-032-033-170245- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ROANOKE VIRGINIA 847 PM EDT TUE AUG 16 1994 ...STRONG STORMS MOVING TOWARDS VIRGINIA FROM NORTH CAROLINA... ...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST AND SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA UNTIL 400 AM WEDNESDAY... ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWEST...SOUTH CENTRAL...AND WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA INTO WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON... AT 845 PM EDT...THE LEADING EDGE OF THE MOISTURE FROM TROPICAL DEPRESSION BERYL IS MOVING INTO SOUTHWEST AND SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA. AS OF 800 PM THIS EVENING. STRONG STORMS ARE NEARING THE VIRGINIA STATELINE FROM NORTH CAROLINA. THE STRONGEST STORMS ARE LOCATED IN WESTERN STOKES COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA. THESE STORMS ARE MOVING NORTHWARD AROUND 15 MPH AND WILL MOVE INTO WESTERN PORTIONS OF PATRICK COUNTY BY 900 PM THIS EVENING. THESE STORMS HAVE A PAST HISTORY OF PRODUCING TORNADOES AND FUNNEL CLOUDS. ALSO HEAVY DOWNPOURS OF RAIN IS BEING PRODUCED IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. PEOPLE IN GRAYSON...CARROLL...AND PATRICK COUNTIES SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER AS THE STORMS APPROACH YOUR AREA. REMEMBER GO INDOORS TO SAFE SHELTER IF THE STORMS MOVE INTO YOUR AREA. NEVER TRY TO DRIVE ACROSS FLOODED ROADWAYS AND BRIDGES. LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL TV OR RADIO STATION FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS AND UPDATES. CACCIAPAGLIA
Special weather statement, Aug 16, 8:49 PM EDT, 37 minutes before
VAZ012-013-015-016-017-022-032-033-170245- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ROANOKE VIRGINIA 847 PM EDT TUE AUG 16 1994 ...STRONG STORMS MOVING TOWARDS VIRGINIA FROM NORTH CAROLINA... ...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST AND SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA UNTIL 400 AM WEDNESDAY... ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWEST...SOUTH CENTRAL...AND WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA INTO WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON... AT 845 PM EDT...THE LEADING EDGE OF THE MOISTURE FROM TROPICAL DEPRESSION BERYL IS MOVING INTO SOUTHWEST AND SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA. AS OF 800 PM THIS EVENING. STRONG STORMS ARE NEARING THE VIRGINIA STATELINE FROM NORTH CAROLINA. THE STRONGEST STORMS ARE LOCATED IN WESTERN STOKES COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA. THESE STORMS ARE MOVING NORTHWARD AROUND 15 MPH AND WILL MOVE INTO WESTERN PORTIONS OF PATRICK COUNTY BY 900 PM THIS EVENING. THESE STORMS HAVE A PAST HISTORY OF PRODUCING TORNADOES AND FUNNEL CLOUDS. ALSO HEAVY DOWNPOURS OF RAIN IS BEING PRODUCED IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. PEOPLE IN GRAYSON...CARROLL...AND PATRICK COUNTIES SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER AS THE STORMS APPROACH YOUR AREA. REMEMBER GO INDOORS TO SAFE SHELTER IF THE STORMS MOVE INTO YOUR AREA. NEVER TRY TO DRIVE ACROSS FLOODED ROADWAYS AND BRIDGES. LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL TV OR RADIO STATION FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS AND UPDATES. CACCIAPAGLIA
The office that day
Everything else NWS Blacksburg, VA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 16, 8:03 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | RNK | Stokes | 27 min |
| Aug 16, 8:28 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | RNK | Alleghany, Wilkes | 32 min |
| Aug 16, 8:59 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | RNK | Alleghany | 16 min |
| Aug 17, 12:03 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | RNK | Iredell | 27 min |
| Aug 17, 12:59 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | RNK | Iredell | 16 min |
| Aug 17, 1:04 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RNK | Iredell | 3 hr |
| Aug 17, 3:01 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RNK | Alleghany | 3 hr |
| Aug 17, 3:19 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RNK | Wilkes | 3 hr |
| Aug 17, 6:00 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RNK | Alleghany, Wilkes | 3 hr |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in North Carolina, 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.