Alert archive / Tennessee / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1995

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 280, NWS Memphis, TN

August 19, 1995Madison County, Tennessee

NWS Memphis, TN issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 19, 1995, 5:24 PM CDT for Madison County, Tennessee. It was in force for 51 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 19, 1995, 5:24 PM CDT (22:24 UTC)
Expired
Aug 19, 1995, 6:15 PM CDT
In force
51 min
Issued by
NWS Memphis, TN
Area
Whole counties

County Madison County, TN

The radar

The Memphis radar (KNQA), 98 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:24 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Little Rock, AR (KLZK), launched 12:00Z, 10.4 hours before the alert went out and 133 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, Little Rock, AR at 12:00Z on 1995-08-19Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1681 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, Little Rock, AR at 12:00Z on 1995-08-19The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -11 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
1681 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-58 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1200 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
2 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-11 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
20 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 KMEM 192230 RRA
SVRMEM
TNC113-192330-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
524 PM CDT SAT AUG 19 1995
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  630 PM CDT
FOR PERSONS IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN WEST TENNESSEE
 
   ...MADISON COUNTY
 
AT 527 PM CDT...DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
OVER NORTHEAST MADISON COUNTY...ABOUT 5 MILES EAST OF FAIRVIEW. THE
STORM WAS MOVING TO THE SOUTHWEST AT 15 MPH...AND WILL MOVE INTO THE
JACKSON AREA BETWEEN 6 PM AND 615 PM.
 
DAMAGING WINDS ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
 
 
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.  HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO
DON'T DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.

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, Aug 19, 12:36 PM CDT, 4 hours 48 minutes before
TNZ001>102-191845-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
1236 PM CDT SAT AUG 19 1995

...HEAT INDEX POSES HEALTH RISK...
TEMPERATURES PUSHED TO BETWEEN 95 AND 100 DEGREES ACROSS THE WEST
TWO-THIRDS OF TENNESSEE BY NOON TODAY. THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY HOVERED
BETWEEN 50 PERCENT AND 60 PERCENT AT THE SAME TIME.

THOSE ELEMENTS COMBINED CREATE A HEAT INDEX IN THE 105 DEGREE TO 120
DEGREE RANGE - HIGH ENOUGH TO POSE A HEALTH OR SAFETY THREAT.

TEMPERATURES WILL CLIMB EVEN FARTHER THIS AFTERNOON - REACHING CLOSE TO
0DEGREES ACROSS MOST OF MIDDLE AND WEST TENNESSEE BY MID-AFTERNOON. THE
HEAT INDEX WILL RISE ACCORDINGLY.

EXCESSIVE HEAT CAN BE A SERIOUS HEALTH THREAT.  PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO
THE HEAT - ESPECIALLY IF ENGAGED IN STRENUOUS EXERCISE CAN LEAD TO
SUNSTROKE .. HEAT EXHAUSTION .. HEAT CRAMPS .. AND POTENTIALLY DEATH.

ELDERLY PERSONS .. SMALL CHILDREN .. PERSONS IN POOR HEALTH .. AND THOSE
TAKING CERTAIN MEDICATIONS ARE AT GREATEST RISK.  LOOK IN ON YOUR
NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS.

SAFETY TIPS -
SLOW DOWN.  REDUCE OR ELIMINATE STRENUOUS ACTIVITY .. OR RESCHEDULE TO
COOLEST PARTS OF THE DAY - EARLY MORNING OR LATE EVENING.

DRESS FOR THE HEAT.  WEAR LOOSE FITTING .. LIGHT COLORED CLOTHING.  WEAR
A HAT IF YOU WILL BE IN THE DIRECT SUN.

DRINK PLENTY OF LIQUID.  YOUR BODY USES A LOT OF WATER TRYING TO KEEP
COOL - YOU NEED TO REPLENISH ITS STORE OF LIQUID.  CONSULT A PHYSICIAN
IF YOU SUFFER FROM HEART .. LIVER .. KIDNEY .. OR FLUID RETENTION
PROBLEMS.

AVOID ALCOHOL.  ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ACTUALLY CAUSE YOUR BODY TO LOSE
EVEN MORE FLUID DURING HOT WEATHER.  AND .. ALCOHOL INCREASES BODY HEAT.

AVOID THE SUN.  THE HEAT INDEX INDICATES THE APPARENT TEMPERATURE IN THE
SHADE!  DIRECT SUN INCREASES THE EFFECT BY AS MUCH AS 15 DEGREES.

SPEND TIME IN A COOL PLACE.  GO TO AN AIR CONDITIONED PLACE OF BUSINESS
IF YOU DON'T HAVE AIR CONDITIONING AT HOME.  A BATHTUB OF COOL WATER IS
AN INEXPENSIVE ALTERNATE IF YOU CAN'T GO TO AN AIR CONDITIONED
LOCATION.
Special weather statement, Aug 19, 12:41 PM CDT, 4 hours 43 minutes before
TNZ001>102-191845-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
1236 PM CDT SAT AUG 19 1995

...HEAT INDEX POSES HEALTH RISK...
TEMPERATURES PUSHED TO BETWEEN 95 AND 100 DEGREES ACROSS THE WEST
TWO-THIRDS OF TENNESSEE BY NOON TODAY. THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY HOVERED
BETWEEN 50 PERCENT AND 60 PERCENT AT THE SAME TIME.

THOSE ELEMENTS COMBINED CREATE A HEAT INDEX IN THE 105 DEGREE TO 120
DEGREE RANGE - HIGH ENOUGH TO POSE A HEALTH OR SAFETY THREAT.

TEMPERATURES WILL CLIMB EVEN FARTHER THIS AFTERNOON - REACHING CLOSE TO
0DEGREES ACROSS MOST OF MIDDLE AND WEST TENNESSEE BY MID-AFTERNOON. THE
HEAT INDEX WILL RISE ACCORDINGLY.

EXCESSIVE HEAT CAN BE A SERIOUS HEALTH THREAT.  PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO
THE HEAT - ESPECIALLY IF ENGAGED IN STRENUOUS EXERCISE CAN LEAD TO
SUNSTROKE .. HEAT EXHAUSTION .. HEAT CRAMPS .. AND POTENTIALLY DEATH.

ELDERLY PERSONS .. SMALL CHILDREN .. PERSONS IN POOR HEALTH .. AND THOSE
TAKING CERTAIN MEDICATIONS ARE AT GREATEST RISK.  LOOK IN ON YOUR
NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS.

SAFETY TIPS -
SLOW DOWN.  REDUCE OR ELIMINATE STRENUOUS ACTIVITY .. OR RESCHEDULE TO
COOLEST PARTS OF THE DAY - EARLY MORNING OR LATE EVENING.

DRESS FOR THE HEAT.  WEAR LOOSE FITTING .. LIGHT COLORED CLOTHING.  WEAR
A HAT IF YOU WILL BE IN THE DIRECT SUN.

DRINK PLENTY OF LIQUID.  YOUR BODY USES A LOT OF WATER TRYING TO KEEP
COOL - YOU NEED TO REPLENISH ITS STORE OF LIQUID.  CONSULT A PHYSICIAN
IF YOU SUFFER FROM HEART .. LIVER .. KIDNEY .. OR FLUID RETENTION
PROBLEMS.

AVOID ALCOHOL.  ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ACTUALLY CAUSE YOUR BODY TO LOSE
EVEN MORE FLUID DURING HOT WEATHER.  AND .. ALCOHOL INCREASES BODY HEAT.

AVOID THE SUN.  THE HEAT INDEX INDICATES THE APPARENT TEMPERATURE IN THE
SHADE!  DIRECT SUN INCREASES THE EFFECT BY AS MUCH AS 15 DEGREES.

SPEND TIME IN A COOL PLACE.  GO TO AN AIR CONDITIONED PLACE OF BUSINESS
IF YOU DON'T HAVE AIR CONDITIONING AT HOME.  A BATHTUB OF COOL WATER I S
AN INEXPENSIVE ALTERNATE IF YOU CAN'T GO TO AN AIR CONDITIONED
LOCATION.
Special weather statement, Aug 19, 12:43 PM CDT, 4 hours 41 minutes before
TNZ001>102-191845-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT  ... CORRECTED AFTERNOON TEMPERATURE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
1236 PM CDT SAT AUG 19 1995

...HEAT INDEX POSES HEALTH RISK...
TEMPERATURES PUSHED TO BETWEEN 95 AND 100 DEGREES ACROSS THE WEST
TWO-THIRDS OF TENNESSEE BY NOON TODAY. THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY HOVERED
BETWEEN 50 PERCENT AND 60 PERCENT AT THE SAME TIME.

THOSE ELEMENTS COMBINED CREATE A HEAT INDEX IN THE 105 DEGREE TO 120
DEGREE RANGE - HIGH ENOUGH TO POSE A HEALTH OR SAFETY THREAT.

TEMPERATURES WILL CLIMB EVEN FARTHER THIS AFTERNOON - REACHING CLOSE TO
100 EGREES ACROSS MOST OF MIDDLE AND WEST TENNESSEE BY MID-AFTERNOON.
THE HEAT INDEX WILL RISE ACCORDINGLY.

EXCESSIVE HEAT CAN BE A SERIOUS HEALTH THREAT.  PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO
THE HEAT - ESPECIALLY IF ENGAGED IN STRENUOUS EXERCISE CAN LEAD TO
SUNSTROKE .. HEAT EXHAUSTION .. HEAT CRAMPS .. AND POTENTIALLY DEATH.

ELDERLY PERSONS .. SMALL CHILDREN .. PERSONS IN POOR HEALTH .. AND THOSE
TAKING CERTAIN MEDICATIONS ARE AT GREATEST RISK.  LOOK IN ON YOUR
NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS.

SAFETY TIPS -
SLOW DOWN.  REDUCE OR ELIMINATE STRENUOUS ACTIVITY .. OR RESCHEDULE TO
COOLEST PARTS OF THE DAY - EARLY MORNING OR LATE EVENING.

DRESS FOR THE HEAT.  WEAR LOOSE FITTING .. LIGHT COLORED CLOTHING.  WEAR
A HAT IF YOU WILL BE IN THE DIRECT SUN.

DRINK PLENTY OF LIQUID.  YOUR BODY USES A LOT OF WATER TRYING TO KEEP
COOL - YOU NEED TO REPLENISH ITS STORE OF LIQUID.  CONSULT A PHYSICIAN
IF YOU SUFFER FROM HEART .. LIVER .. KIDNEY .. OR FLUID RETENTION
PROBLEMS.

AVOID ALCOHOL.  ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ACTUALLY CAUSE YOUR BODY TO LOSE
EVEN MORE FLUID DURING HOT WEATHER.  AND .. ALCOHOL INCREASES BODY HEAT.

AVOID THE SUN.  THE HEAT INDEX INDICATES THE APPARENT TEMPERATURE IN THE
SHADE!  DIRECT SUN INCREASES THE EFFECT BY AS MUCH AS 15 DEGREES.
SPEND TIME IN A COOL PLACE.  GO TO AN AIR CONDITIONED PLACE OF BUSINESS
IF YOU DON'T HAVE AIR CONDITIONING AT HOME4.  A BATHTUB OF COOL WATER IS
AN INEXPENSIVE ALTERNATE IF YOU CAN'T GO TO AN AIR CONDITIONED
LOCATION.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Memphis, TN issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 19, 4:23 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGLake37 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Tennessee, 1995Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1995

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.