Alert archive / Tennessee / Tornado Warnings in 1995

Tornado Warning 7, NWS Morristown, TN

May 18, 1995Knox County, Tennessee

NWS Morristown, TN issued this tornado warning at May 18, 1995, 8:29 PM EDT for Knox County, Tennessee. It was in force for 46 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 18, 1995, 8:29 PM EDT (00:29 UTC)
Expired
May 18, 1995, 9:15 PM EDT
In force
46 min
Issued by
NWS Morristown, TN
Area
Whole counties

County Knox County, TN

The radar

The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 52 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:28 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

Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 00:00Z, 0.5 hours before the alert went out and 240 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, Nashville Metro, TN at 00:00Z on 1995-05-19Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1185 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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, Nashville Metro, TN at 00:00Z on 1995-05-19The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 371 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
1185 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-47 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
942 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
52 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
371 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
460 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
3.0
Supercell composite
17.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KTYS 190029
TORTYS
TNC093-190115-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KNOXVILLE TN
829 PM EDT THU MAY 18 1995
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN KNOXVILLE HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING
EFFECTIVE UNTIL  915 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN EAST CENTRAL TENNESSEE
 
   ...NORTHERN KNOX COUNTY
 
AT 826 PM EDT WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED A TORNADO WILL BE
MOVING INTO NORTHERN KNOX COUNTY WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MINUTES. IN
ADDITION LARGE HAIL THE SIZE OF BASEBALLS HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THE
PAST 30 MINUTES IN ANDERSON COUNTY WITH THIS STORM SYSTEM. MOVEMENT
WAS EAST-NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.
 
IF YOU LIVE IN A HOME OR APARTMENT...SEEK SHELTER IN THE
INNERMOST PORTION OF THE BUILDING ON THE LOWEST FLOOR.  GET TO
A BASEMENT IF ONE IS AVAILABLE.  AVOID WINDOWS AND PROTECT YOUR
BODY FROM FLYING DEBRIS WITH CUSHIONS...BLANKETS...OR PILLOWS.
 
 
 
NNNN

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, May 18, 4:19 PM EDT, 4 hours 10 minutes before
TNZ011-012-034-182045-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KNOXVILLE TN
419 PM EDT (319 PM CDT) THU MAY 18 1995

...A TORNADO WATCH FOR PICKETT COUNTY UNTIL 10 PM CDT...

AT 310 PM CD
Special weather statement, May 18, 4:23 PM EDT, 4 hours 6 minutes before
VAZ001-002-005-006-008-182115-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TRI-CITIES TN
ISSUED BY MORRISTOWN TN
422 PM EDT THU MAY 18 1995

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING FROM SOUTHEAST KY TOWARD SOUTHWEST VA...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR
PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1000 PM EDT.  THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES ARE INCLUDED IN THE WATCH: LEE...WISE...SCOTT...RUSSELL AND
WASHINGTON.  THIS WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT
OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN OR NEAR THE WATCH AREA.  THE MAIN THREAT FROM
THESE STORMS WILL BE FROM DAMAGING WINDS AND HAIL.  HOWEVER ISOLATED TORNADOES
ARE ALSO POSSIBLE IN THE WATCH AREA AS SOME OF THESE STORMS HAVE HAD A HISTORY
OF PRODUCING TORNADOES WHEN THEY WERE LOCATED OVER MIDDLE TN EARLIER THIS
AFTERNOON.

AT 418 PM EDT DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED SEVERAL SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS
SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY.  THESE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 45 TO 50
MPH.  THESE STORMS WILL BEGIN AFFECTING SOUTHWEST VIRIGINIA WITHIN THE NEXT
HOUR.  PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD KEEP ALERT TO YOUR NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE RADIO FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, May 18, 5:17 PM EDT, 3 hours 12 minutes before
VAZ001-002-005-006-008-182115-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TRI-CITIES TN
ISSUED BY MORRISTOWN TN
516 PM EDT THU MAY 18 1995

...A TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM IS OCCURRING OVER SOUTHERN LESLIE COUNTY KY...

AT 510 PM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR IN MORRISTOWN
DETECTED A TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM OVER SOUTHERN LESLIE COUNTY.  THIS IS A
DANGEROUS STORM AND WILL MOST LIKELY AFFECT NORTHERN SECTIONS OF WISE
COUNTY VIRGINIA BY 600 PM EDT.  PERSONS IN WISE COUNTY SHOULD BE PREPARED
FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS AS THIS STORM APPROACHES.  BE
PREPARED TO SEEK TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY IF A TORNADO IS OBSERVED OR A
WARNING IS ISSUED.

ALSO THERE IS A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA
UNTIL 1000 PM EDT.  THIS WATCH INCLUDES LEE...WISE...RUSSELL...SCOTT AND
WASHINGTON COUNTIES.  REMEMBER SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO
PRODUCE TORNADOES.
MPH.  THESE STORMS WILL BEGIN AFFzECTING SOUTHWEST VIRIGINIA WITHIN THE NEXT
HOUR.  PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD KEEP ALERT TO YOUR NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE RADIO FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, May 18, 5:50 PM EDT, 2 hours 39 minutes before
TNZ011-012-013-014-034-035-036-037-038-039-040-041-066-067-068-
069-070-071-072-073-074-086-087-182245-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KNOXVILLE TN
550 PM EDT (450 PM CDT) THU MAY 18 1995

...TORNADO WATCH FOR EAST TENNESSEE UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT...

AT 540 PM EDT WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A FEW SHOWERS OVER THE NORTH
PART OF THE CUMBERLAND PLATEAU...HOWEVER...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND
SEVERAL TORNADOES HAVE OCCURRED OVER MIDDLE AND WEST TENNESSEE DURING
THE DAY.  THE SHOWERS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A PLAN OF ACTION TO TAKE IN THE EVENT OF TORNADOES
OR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS HERE ARE A FEW SUGGESTIONS...STAY AWAY FROM
WINDOWS..SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS..
GET UNDER A BED OR TABLE IF POSSIBLE..ABANDON MOBILE HOMES...AND TRY
TO REMAIN CALM FOR CLEARER THINKING.

WATCH THE SKY FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND SEEK SHELTER IN
A STURDY BUILDING.

CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE WEATHER ON NOAA WEATHER RADIO..OR YOUR FAVORITE
RADIO OR TV STATION. LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

WS

NNNN
Special weather statement, May 18, 7:20 PM EDT, 1 hour 9 minutes before
TNZ015>018-042>047-VAZ001-002-005-006-008-190000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TRI-CITIES TN
ISSUED BY MORRISTOWN TN
720 PM EDT THU MAY 18 1995

...TORNADIC THUNDERSTORMS ARE APPROACHING THE CUMBERLAND PLATEAU...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTHEAST TN AND SOUTHWEST
VIRGINIA UNTIL MIDNIGHT.  THE WATCH DOES INCLUDE THE TRI-CITIES AREA.  AT
715 PM EDT THE MORRISTOWN DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM
APPROACHING CUMBERLAND COUNTY.  SEVERAL OTHER TORNADIC THUNDERSTORMS WERE
NOTED FURTHER NORTH IN CENTRAL KY AND FURTHER SOUTHWEST OVER MIDDLE TN AND
NORTHERN ALABAMA.  THEREFORE RESIDENTS LIVING ACROSS NORTHEAST TN AND
SOUTHWEST VA WL NEED TO~ MONITOR THIS VERY DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION.
CURRENTLY THERE ARE NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE REGION BUT THIS MAY
CHANGE LATER AS SEVERE AND POSSIBLY TORNADIC THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH THE AREA
FROM THE WEST.
Special weather statement, May 18, 8:20 PM EDT, 9 minutes before
TNZ015>018-042>047-VAZ001-002-005-006-008-190115-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TRI-CITIES TN
ISSUED BY MORRISTOWN TN
820 PM EDT THU MAY 18 1995

...DANGEROUS TORNADIC SITUATION CONTINUES TO DEVELOP OVER EAST TN...

AT 813 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED SEVERAL
TORNADIC THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS EAST TN.  THE CLOSEST TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM
WAS LOCATED ABOUT 5 MILES TO THE WEST OF OAK RIDGE.  OTHER TORNADIC
THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED OVER VAN BUREN AND HAMILTON COUNTIES.  ALL OF
THESE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST-NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

RESIDENTS ARE REMINDED THAT A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF
NORTHEAST TN AND SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA UNTIL MIDNIGHT.  PERSONS LIVING IN
THESE AREAS SHOULD KEEP ABREAST OF THIS VERY DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION
AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY IF A TORNADO IS OBSERVED OR A
WARNING IS ISSUED.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 18, 8:03 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXAnderson, Roane42 min
May 18, 8:52 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXGrainger, Union53 min
May 18, 9:02 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXLoudon, Monroe28 min
May 18, 9:07 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXHamblen, Jefferson53 min
May 18, 9:25 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXHawkins63 min
May 18, 9:33 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXAnderson, Knox42 min
May 18, 9:33 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXGreene57 min
May 18, 9:52 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXKnox68 min
May 18, 10:02 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXMonroe43 min
May 18, 10:09 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXSullivan, Washington66 min
May 18, 10:10 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXGrainger, Jefferson50 min
May 18, 10:26 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXCumberland, Roane64 min
May 18, 10:31 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXHamblen44 min
May 18, 10:33 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXMonroe42 min
May 18, 10:35 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXLoudon55 min
May 18, 10:45 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXHawkins60 min
May 18, 10:47 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXBlount58 min
May 18, 10:52 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXLoudon53 min
May 18, 10:58 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXKnox62 min
May 18, 11:07 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXBlount68 min
May 18, 11:20 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXJefferson, Sevier55 min
May 18, 11:36 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXCocke, Hamblen69 min
May 18, 11:43 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXGreene, Hawkins62 min
May 18, 11:53 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXMonroe67 min
May 19, 12:23 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXUnicoi60 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Tennessee, 1995Every tornado warning in 1995Tornadoes 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.