Alert archive / Virginia / Tornado Warnings in 2001
Tornado Warning 17, NWS Baltimore/Washington
NWS Baltimore/Washington issued this tornado warning at Sep 24, 2001, 4:53 PM EDT for Arlington County, Fairfax County, City of Alexandria, Virginia. It was in force for 37 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline the Iowa Environmental Mesonet reconstructed for it; the warning itself named whole counties, with what was reported inside it.
The facts
- Issued
- Sep 24, 2001, 4:53 PM EDT (20:53 UTC)
- Expired
- Sep 24, 2001, 5:30 PM EDT
- In force
- 37 min
- Issued by
- NWS Baltimore/Washington
- Area
- Whole counties; the outline is the Mesonet’s reconstruction
Counties Arlington County, VA, City of Alexandria, VA, Fairfax County, VA
The radar
The Sterling radar (KLWX), 32 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:55 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.
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 24, 5:06 PM EDT | Tornado F0 | Lincoln Memorial, DC | A weak tornado crossed the 14th Street Bridge from Arlington and moved northeast from the Tidal Basin to just northeast of the Capitol where it dissipated. At least 7 trees were downed and 1000 residents lost power. |
NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in.
The watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 24, 1:30 PM EDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 7 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 12:00Z, 8.9 hours before the alert went out and 25 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
- 674 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -56 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 583 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 34 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 96 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 64 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 1.3
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
323 WFUS51 KLWX 242054 TORLWX DCC001-VAC013-059-510-610-242130- BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON 453 PM EDT MON SEP 24 2001 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A * TORNADO WARNING FOR... DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA IN DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ARLINGTON COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA CITY OF FALLS CHURCH CITY OF ALEXANDRIA IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA EASTERN FAIRFAX COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA * UNTIL 530 PM EDT * AT 449 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A TORNADO OVER FRANCONIA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. * THE TORNADO IS EXPECTED TO BE... OVER ALEXANDRIA AT 506 PM OVER REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT AT 514 PM IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY REINFORCED BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT...DITCH OR LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS. THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS. LAT...LON 3876 7731 3863 7714 3888 7702 3894 7719 $$ JLW/SMZ
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.
NWS Baltimore/Washington wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Sep 24, 3:45 PM EDT, 1 hour 8 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Sep 24, 3:45 PM EDT, 1 hour 8 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON 345 PM EDT MON SEP 24 2001 TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 8 PM FOR EASTERN HALF OF OUR CWA. BACK EDGE OF PRECIP WILL MOVE EAST ACROSS THE REGION MUCH FASTER THAN THE MODLS HAVE IT. 12Z ETA HAD BACK EDGE AT BLU RIDGE BY 11PM AND THE TIP OF ST MARY/S COUNTY AROUND 12Z TUE. AS A S/W MOVES NNE ALONG THE FRONT MAIN AREA OF PRECIP WILL SHIFT OUT OF THE AREA FROM SW TO NE. AT 330 PM...PRECIP WAS ALREADY MOVING OUT OF THE FAR SW TIP OF OUR CWA. MAY BE A FEW ISOLATED SHWRS BEHND THE MAIN AREA AND WILL ACCNT FOR THAT IN THE ZONES. BY 00Z THOUGH...AM EXPCTNG MAIN PRECIP SHIELD TO BE CONFINED TO OUR NE COUNTIES. AFTER THAT...DECRSNG CLDS. THERE WILL BE SEVRL SHRT WVS ROTATING AROUND THE LARGE DVLPNG CUT OFF LOW OVER THE GREAT LAKES. MOST OF THE ENERGY FROM THESE SHOULD STAY TO OUR N AND IT SHOULD BE PSUNNY MOST OF THE WEEK. TUE SHOULD BE PSUNNY WITH SOME CU. WED LOOKS LIKE THE BEST DAY FOR MSUNNY. THEN...THU AND FRI ARE BACK TO PSUNNY. SAT AND SUN A LARGE HIGH MOVES DWN FROM THE NW WITH MSUNNY SKIES. BY EARLY NEXT WEEK ALL THE MDLS HAVE A LEFTOVER PIECE OF ENERGY FROM THE EARLIER CUT OFF LOW OVER THE GULF STATES. THIS MAY BEGIN TO CREEP N WITH SOME CLDS BY MON OR TUE...BUT WILL JUST KEEP PSUNNY FOR MON FOR NOW. WILL OF COURSE HAVE A REST OF THE AFTERNOON PERIOD TO CVR SVR WX. STRONG FCSTID = 78 DCA 61 72 51 67 / 60 20 10 10 BWI 61 72 51 67 / 60 20 10 10 MRB 57 68 46 65 / 30 10 10 10 IAD 57 68 46 65 / 30 10 10 10 CHO 58 70 47 66 / 20 10 10 10 HGR 57 68 46 65 / 30 10 10 10 NHK 61 72 51 67 / 60 20 10 10 W99 56 64 45 64 / 20 10 10 10 .LWX... DC...TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 8 PM. MD...TORNADO WATCH WEST OF THE BAY AND WASHINGTON COUNTY EAST UNTIL 8 PM. VA...TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 8 PM FOR EASTERN THIRD. WV...TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 8 PM FOR BERKELEY JEFFERSON AND MORGAN COUNTIES.
In the hours before
Local storm report, Sep 24, 3:20 PM EDT, 1 hour 33 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTION TO TIME AND LOCATION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON
320 PM EDT MON SEP 24 2001
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0308 PM RIXEYVILLE VA TORNADO
09/24/01 CULPEPER HOUSE STRUCK BY TORNADO ON
ENDEN FORK RD. REPORTED BY
911.
MKMLocal storm report, Sep 24, 3:31 PM EDT, 1 hour 22 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON
331 PM EDT MON SEP 24 2001
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0315 PM JEFFERSONTON VA TORNADO
09/24/01 CULPEPER NUMEROUS TREES DOWN. SOME
TREES FELL ON HOUSES IN
ROUTE 229 AND 211 AREAS.
TWO HOMES DAMAGED. REPORTED
BY 911.
MKMLocal storm report, Sep 24, 3:48 PM EDT, 1 hour 5 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON
348 PM EDT MON SEP 24 2001
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0335 PM 5 SW WARRENTON VA TORNADO
09/24/01 FAUQUIER ROOFS BLOWN OFF ONTO ROUTE
211 NEAR ROUTE 681.
REPORTED BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
MKMLocal storm report, Sep 24, 4:06 PM EDT, 47 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON
406 PM EDT MON SEP 24 2001
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0359 PM THE PLAINS VA TORNADO
09/24/01 FAUQUIER NUMEROUS REPORTS OF DAMAGE
INCLUDING POWER LINES AND
TREES DOWN AND DAMAGE TO
HOMES. REPORT FROM 911.
MKMLocal storm report, Sep 24, 4:13 PM EDT, 40 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON
413 PM EDT MON SEP 24 2001
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0300 PM CULPEPER VA TORNADO
09/24/01 CULPEPER *** 1 INJ ***
MOBILE HOME DAMAGED AND
ONE PERSON INSIDE INJURED.
REPORTED BY 911.
MKMSpecial weather statement, Sep 24, 4:13 PM EDT, 40 minutes before
DCZ001-MDZ003>007-009>011-013-014-016>018-VAZ028-030-031-039>042- 050>057-WVZ051>053-250000- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON 413 PM EDT MON SEP 24 2001 ...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM THIS EVENING... A TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE EASTERN THIRD OF VIRGINIA... THE EASTERNMOST THREE COUNTIES IN WEST VIRGINIA... AND ALL OF MARYLAND WEST OF THE BAY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF GARRETT AND ALLEGANY COUNTIES. THIS ALSO INCLUDES THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND THE WATERS OF THE TIDAL POTOMAC AND THE CHESAPEAKE BAY. A TORNADO WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADO FORMATION THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL BE MONITORING THESE STORMS...AND WILL ISSUE WARNINGS IF TORNADOES OR ANY OTHER SEVERE WEATHER IS IMMINENT IN YOUR AREA. SEVERAL REPORTS OF TORNADOES HAVE ALREADY COME IN FROM NORTHERN AND NORTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA. BE PREPARED TO TAKE SHELTER IF A WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR COUNTY OR CITY. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS IN A LOW LEVEL INTERIOR ROOM. A DEVELOPING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM AND AN ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE MID ATLANTIC STATES THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL ACCOMPANY THIS WEATHER SYSTEM AS IT MOVES THROUGH THE AREA. AS THESE STORMS MOVE EAST OVER THE AREA... THEY WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS... HAIL... AND TORNADOES. ALSO... HEAVY RAINFALL FROM THESE STORMS MAY RESULT IN ISOLATED FLOODING... ESPECIALLY IN URBAN AREAS AND IN LOW LYING AREAS NEAR CREEKS AND STREAMS. THE SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION NETWORK HAS BEEN ACTIVATED. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS FOR UPDATED FORECASTS... STATEMENTS... AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION, CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT HTTP://WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/ER/LWX STRONG
The office that day
Everything else NWS Baltimore/Washington issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 24, 2:36 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | LWX | Culpeper | 34 min |
| Sep 24, 3:08 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | LWX | Culpeper, Fauquier | 37 min |
| Sep 24, 3:45 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | LWX | Fauquier | 30 min |
| Sep 24, 4:00 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | LWX | Fauquier, Loudoun | 45 min |
| Sep 24, 4:09 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | LWX | Prince William, Stafford | 36 min |
| Sep 24, 4:53 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | LWX | City of Falls Church | 37 min |
| Sep 24, 6:15 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | LWX | Fauquier, Loudoun | 2 hr |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Virginia, 2001Tornado Warnings in District of Columbia, 2001Every tornado warning in 2001Tornadoes in 2001
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.