Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 1995

Tornado Warning 12, NWS Raleigh, NC

May 19, 1995Sampson County, Wayne County, North Carolina

NWS Raleigh, NC issued this tornado warning at May 19, 1995, 10:28 AM EDT for Sampson County, Wayne County, North Carolina. It was in force for 32 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 19, 1995, 10:28 AM EDT (14:28 UTC)
Expired
May 19, 1995, 11:00 AM EDT
In force
32 min
Issued by
NWS Raleigh, NC
Area
Whole counties

Counties Sampson County, NC, Wayne County, NC

The radar

The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 61 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 14:31 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

Newport, NC (KMHX), launched 12:00Z, 2.5 hours before the alert went out and 127 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, Newport, NC at 12:00Z on 1995-05-19Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1665 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, Newport, NC at 12:00Z on 1995-05-19The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 165 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
1665 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-75 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
916 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
38 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
165 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
184 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.3
Supercell composite
9.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KRDU 191429
TORRDU
NCC191-163-191500-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH/DURHAM NC
1028 AM EDT FRI MAY 19 1995
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RALEIGH/DURHAM HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1100 AM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN EAST CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
 
   ...SOUTHWESTERN WAYNE COUNTY
 
IN SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA
 
   ...NORTHEASTERN SAMPSON COUNTY
 
AT 1028 AM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN RALEIGH INDICATED A
TORNADO NEAR NEWTON GROVE IN NORTHERN SAMPSON COUNTY MOVING TO THE
NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH. THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND
DAMAGING WINDS ALONG WITH HEAVY RAINS AND LIGHTNING.
 
 
 
PEOPLE NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM SHOULD ACT NOW TO PROTECT THEIR
LIVES. GO TO THE LOWEST FLOOR...A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM OR CLOSET.
COVER YOUR HEAD. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. GET OUT OF MOBILE HOMES
AND VEHICLES AND INTO A STURDY BUILDING OR A DITCH.  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 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 19, 9:08 AM EDT, 1 hour 20 minutes before
NCZ011-028-191400-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH/DURHAM NC
903 AM EDT FRI MAY 19 1995

AT 900 AM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN RALEIGH INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING INTO EDGECOMBE COUNTY...AND WILL CONTINUE INTHALIFAX COUNTY. THE STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR ROCKY MOUNT AND LEGGETT AND
LAWRENCE MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. THIS STORM HAS PRODUCED
SMALL HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS AND HEAVY RAINS WITH LIGHTNING.

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS OR OTHER STORMS SEEK SAFE SHELTER. STAY
TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO TODAY FOR UP TO THE MINUTE DETAILS.
Local storm report, May 19, 9:33 AM EDT, 55 minutes before
STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH/DURHAM, NC
930 AM EDT FRI MAY 19 1995

TIME           EVENT
830 AM EDT     FROM SCOTLAND COUNTY 911...A SCOTLAND COUNTY POLICE OFFICER
               REPORTED 2GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL...STRONG WINDS AND A FUNNEL
               CLOUD IN NORTHERN SCOTLAND COUNTR NEAR THE HOKE COUNTY LINE.
WJB
Local storm report, May 19, 9:40 AM EDT, 48 minutes before
STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH/DURHAM, NC
939 AM EDT FRI MAY 19 1995

TIME           EVENT
938 AM EDT     FROM HOKE COUNTY 911...NUMEROUS REPORTS OF TREES DOWN IN
               SOUTHERN POTVION OF COUNTY.

WJB
Special weather statement, May 19, 9:44 AM EDT, 44 minutes before
NCZ042-191445-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH/DURHAM NC
943 AM EDT FRI MAY 19 1995

AT 943 AM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT RALEIGH INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR INTERSTAE 95 IN JOHNSTON COUNTY. THE STORM WAS
MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. THE STORM WAS JUST 5 MILES TO THE
NORTH OF SMITHFIELD WITH A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS ALL ALONG INTERSTATE
95.

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS YOU CAN EXPECT STRONG DAMAGING
WINDS...SMALL HAIL...HEAVY RAINS AND LIGHTNING. PLEASE SEEK SAFE SHELTER
IMMEDIATELY IF YOU ARE THE STORMS PATH. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL HAVE A
LOT OF LOW HANGING CLOUDS NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH A ROTATING CLOUDS
ASSOCIATED W^ITH A FUNNEL CLOUD.
Special weather statement, May 19, 10:04 AM EDT, 24 minutes before
NCZ057-191600

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENSBORO NC
1005 AM EDT FRI MAY 19 1995

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR ROWAN COUNTY UNTIL 200 PM EDT....

AT 1000 AM EDT RADAR SHOWED A FEW LIGHT SHOWERS OVER ROWAN
COUNTY. HEAVIER RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS HAD PUSHED EAST OF THE
COUNTY.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ROWAN COUNTY UNTIL
200 PM EDT. ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE IN ROWAN
COUNTY. ANY THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS...
LARGE HAIL AND TORNADOS.

IF YOU ARE LOCATED WITHIN OR CLOSE TO ROWAN COUNTY...STAY TUNED
TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO OR TELEVISION FOR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

SR
Local storm report, May 19, 10:28 AM EDT, 0 minutes before
STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH/DURHAM, NC
1021 AM EDT FRI MAY 19 1995

TIME           EVENT
938 AM EDT     FROM HOKE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR...TORNADO DAMAGE
               ACROSS THE COUNTY FROM STATE ROADS #401 AND #1207 EASTWARD
               TO NEAR STATE ROAD 211.  NUMEROUS TREES DOWN...SOME ACROSS
                HOUSES.  DAMAGE TO SEVERAL MOBIL HOMES IN THE PUPPY CREEK
                MOBIL HOME PARK IN THE NORTHEAST PORTION OF COUNTY.

WJB

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 19, 5:06 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHDavidson39 min
May 19, 5:20 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHGuilford, Randolph40 min
May 19, 6:05 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHChatham, Orange40 min
May 19, 6:21 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHDurham39 min
May 19, 6:31 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHDavidson, Guilford, Randolph44 min
May 19, 6:35 AM EDTTornado WarningRAHWake40 min
May 19, 6:43 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHFranklin, Granville, Vance47 min
May 19, 7:22 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHDurham38 min
May 19, 7:28 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHRandolph47 min
May 19, 7:39 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHGranville, Vance51 min
May 19, 7:59 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHChatham31 min
May 19, 8:19 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHDurham, Wake41 min
May 19, 9:22 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHScotland38 min
May 19, 9:49 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHCumberland26 min
May 19, 10:07 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHJohnston, Sampson38 min
May 19, 10:21 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHWayne39 min
May 19, 10:41 AM EDTTornado WarningRAHWayne23 min
May 19, 2:39 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHStanly51 min
May 19, 3:02 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHMontgomery28 min
May 19, 3:28 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHMoore47 min
May 19, 3:55 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHHoke35 min
May 19, 3:58 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHHoke32 min
May 19, 4:06 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHCumberland54 min
May 19, 4:18 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHRichmond27 min
May 19, 4:45 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHJohnston45 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in North Carolina, 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.