Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 1994

Tornado Warning 2, NWS Topeka, KS

July 1, 1994Washington County, Kansas

NWS Topeka, KS issued this tornado warning at Jul 1, 1994, 8:06 PM CDT for Washington County, Kansas. It was in force for 54 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 1, 1994, 8:06 PM CDT (01:06 UTC)
Expired
Jul 1, 1994, 9:00 PM CDT
In force
54 min
Issued by
NWS Topeka, KS
Area
Whole counties

County Washington County, KS

The nearest sounding before it

Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 00:00Z, 1.1 hours before the alert went out and 152 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, Topeka, KS at 00:00Z on 1994-07-02Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 4374 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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, Topeka, KS at 00:00Z on 1994-07-02The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -18 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
4374 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-3 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1521 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
34 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-18 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
86 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.1
Supercell composite
11.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KCNK 020106
TORCNK
KSC201-020200-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONCORDIA KS
806 PM CDT FRI JUL 1 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CONCORDIA HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  900 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS
 
   ...NORTHEASTERN WASHINGTON COUNTY
 
AT 806 PM CDT RADAR INDICATED A POSSIBLE TORNADO 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF
HOLLENBERG...OR 51 MILES NORTHEAST OF CONCORDIA. THIS STORM WILL PASS
JUST NORTH OF HANOVER BY 815 PM CDT.  MOVEMENT WAS TO THE SOUTHEAST AT
20 MPH.
THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS STORM.  ACT QUICKLY.  IF YOU ARE IN THE
PATH OF THIS TORNADO MOVE TO A SHELTER BELOW GROUND IF AVAILABLE.
OTHERWISE... GO TO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
POSSIBLE.  AVOID WINDOWS.  ABANDON CARS AND MOBILE HOMES FOR A
STURDIER BUILDING OR GET INTO A DITCH OR CULVERT.

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, Jul 1, 6:16 PM CDT, 1 hour 50 minutes before
KSZ006>009-018>021-034-035-020015-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONCORDIA KS
615 PM CDT FRI JUL 1 1994

...TORNADO WATCH #534 REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SMITH AND OSBORNE COUNTIES
   OF NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT...

AT 615 PM CDT...NO THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WAS OCCURRING ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL
KANSAS.  HOWEVER...THE ATMOSPHERE ACROSS THE REGION REMAINS VERY UNSTABLE.
THUS...THUNDERSTORMS COULD DEVELOP RAPIDLY AND BECOME SEVERE.  THE AMOUNT
OF INSTABILITY AND WIND PROFILE ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS THIS AFTERNOON
AND EVENING ENHANCES THE CHANCE FOR TORNADOES.

PERSONS ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA SHOULD
MONITOR THIS RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER SITUATION.  LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS
AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY WAY OF NOAA
WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR FAVORITE MEDIA SOURCE.

NOLES
Special weather statement, Jul 1, 7:15 PM CDT, 51 minutes before
KSZ006>009-018>021-034-035-020115-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONCORDIA KS
715 PM CDT FRI JUL 1 1994

...TORNADO WATCH #534 REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SMITH AND OSBORNE COUNTIES
   OF NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT...

AT 715 PM CDT...THUNDERSTORMS WERE NOT OCCURRING ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS.
INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER THE SOUTHERN PART OF NEBRASKA TRACKING
SOUTHEAST AROUND 15 MPH.  CONDITIONS REMAIN FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT
OF THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS THIS EVENING.  THESE STORMS
MAY BECOME SEVERE WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF TORNADOES.

PERSONS ACROSS ALL OF NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS SHOULD REMAIN UP TO DATE ON THIS
CHANGING WEATHER SITUATION.  STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR LOCAL
NEWS MEDIA FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WATCHES AND / OR WARNINGS.

NOLES
Special weather statement, Jul 1, 7:16 PM CDT, 50 minutes before
KSZ006>009-018>021-034-035-020115-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONCORDIA KS
715 PM CDT FRI JUL 1 1994

...TORNADO WATCH #534 REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SMITH AND OSBORNE COUNTIES
   OF NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT...

AT 715 PM CDT...THUNDERSTORMS WERE NOT OCCURRING ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS.
INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER THE SOUTHERN PART OF NEBRASKA TRACKING
SOUTHEAST AROUND 15 MPH.  CONDITIONS REMAIN FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT
OF THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS THIS EVENING.  THESE STORMS
MAY BECOME SEVERE WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF TORNADOES.

PERSONS ACROSS ALL OF NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS SHOULD REMAIN UP TO DATE ON THIS
CHANGING WEATHER SITUATION.  STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR LOCAL
NEWS MEDIA FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WATCHES AND / OR WARNINGS.

NOLES
Special weather statement, Jul 1, 7:33 PM CDT, 33 minutes before
KSZ010>012-022>026-036>040-054>056-058-059-020135-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
733 PM CDT FRI JUL 1 1994

...VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE APPROACHING NORTHEAST KANSAS...

AT 725 PM...RADAR SHOWED VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS SOUTHEAST
NEBRASKA ABOUT 20 MILES NORTH OF MARYSVILLE.

THE STORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MILES AN HOUR.

THESE STORM WILL BE MOVING INTO NORTHERN MARSHALL AND NORTHERN NEMAHA
COUNTIES BETWEEN 800 AND 830 PM.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH...
DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN. FOR YOUR
PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR
HOME OR BUSINESS.

WALAWENDER
Special weather statement, Jul 1, 7:49 PM CDT, 17 minutes before
KSZ006>009-018>021-034-035-020115-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONCORDIA KS
750 PM CDT FRI JUL 1 1994

TORNADO WATCHES #534 AND #536 COVER ALL OF NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS UNTIL
MIDNIGHT CDT.

AT 750 PM CDT RADAR INDICATED INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTHERN
NEBRASKA MOVING SOUTHEAST TOWARDS THE NORTHERN COUNTIES OF NORTH
CENTRAL KANSAS...INCLUDING JEWELL...REPUBLIC AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES.
THESE STORMS HAVE HAD A HISTORY OF STRONG DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE
HAIL AND TORRENTIAL RAINFALL.

PERSONS ACROSS ALL OF NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS SHOULD STAY TUNED FOR
THE LATEST INFORMATION FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY WAY
OF NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR LOCAL NEWS MEDIA.  BE PREPARED TOX TAKE
ACTION IMMEDIATELY SHOULD THREATENING WEATHER APPROACH.

NOLES
Special weather statement, Jul 1, 7:50 PM CDT, 16 minutes before
KSZ006>009-018>021-034-035-020115-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONCORDIA KS
750 PM CDT FRI JUL 1 1994

TORNADO WATCHES #534 AND #536 COVER ALL OF NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS UNTIL
MIDNIGHT CDT.

AT 750 PM CDT RADAR INDICATED INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTHERN
NEBRASKA MOVING SOUTHEAST TOWARDS THE NORTHERN COUNTIES OF NORTH
CENTRAL KANSAS...INCLUDING JEWELL...REPUBLIC AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES.
THESE STORMS HAVE HAD A HISTORY OF STRONG DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE
HAIL AND TORRENTIAL RAINFALL.

PERSONS ACROSS ALL OF NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS SHOULD STAY TUNED FOR
THE LATEST INFORMATION FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY WAY
OF NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR LOCAL NEWS MEDIA.  BE PREPARED TO TAKE
ACTION IMMEDIATELY SHOULD THREATENING WEATHER APPROACH.

NOLES

The office that day

Everything else NWS Topeka, KS issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 1, 7:51 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPJewell, Republic54 min
Jul 1, 7:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPMarshall62 min
Jul 1, 8:18 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPRepublic, Washington27 min
Jul 1, 8:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPCloud48 min
Jul 1, 8:29 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPNemaha61 min
Jul 1, 8:50 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPBrown55 min
Jul 1, 8:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPClay, Washington38 min
Jul 1, 8:56 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPOttawa34 min
Jul 1, 8:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPOsborne48 min
Jul 1, 8:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPMarshall, Pottawatomie, Riley62 min
Jul 1, 9:06 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPClay54 min
Jul 1, 9:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPSmith34 min
Jul 1, 9:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPPottawatomie, Riley58 min
Jul 1, 9:26 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPBrown, Jackson, Nemaha64 min
Jul 1, 9:26 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPAtchison64 min
Jul 1, 9:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPMitchell47 min
Jul 1, 9:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPDickinson41 min
Jul 1, 9:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPGeary, Wabaunsee68 min
Jul 1, 9:41 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPMitchell, Osborne49 min
Jul 1, 9:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPShawnee62 min
Jul 1, 9:53 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPMorris67 min
Jul 1, 9:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPClay33 min
Jul 1, 9:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPJefferson62 min
Jul 1, 10:02 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPCloud43 min
Jul 1, 10:02 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPLyon, Osage58 min
Jul 1, 10:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPAtchison64 min
Jul 1, 10:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPDouglas62 min
Jul 1, 10:38 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPCoffey, Franklin67 min
Jul 1, 11:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPAnderson57 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Kansas, 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.