Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2006

Tornado Warning 12, NWS Raleigh, NC

May 14, 2006Lee County, North Carolina

NWS Raleigh, NC issued this tornado warning at May 14, 2006, 7:25 PM EDT for Lee County, North Carolina. It was in force for 35 min. 5 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: May 14, 2006, 7:25 PM EDT (23:25 UTC)
Expired: May 14, 2006, 8:00 PM EDT
In force: 35 min
Issued by: NWS Raleigh, NC
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Lee County, NC

The radar

The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 67 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:28 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.

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
May 14, 7:35 PM EDT	TORNADO	Sanford, NC	TREES DOWN AND BUILDINGS DAMAGED NEAR US 1 AND NC 42.
May 14, 7:41 PM EDT	TORNADO	1 Nne Sanford, NC	TREES DOWN AND ROOF TORN OFF WAREHOUSE NEAR COLON.
May 14, 7:41 PM EDT	TORNADO	2 Nnw Broadway, NC	TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN AND BARN DESTROYED AT SALEM CHURCH RD. AND DALRYMPLE RD.
May 14, 7:41 PM EDT	TORNADO	Sanford, NC	TREES DOWN AND ROOF TORN OFF WAREHOUSE IN SANFORD AT 3RD AND COURTLAND.
May 14, 7:55 PM EDT	TORNADO	2 Nnw Broadway, NC	TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN...AND BARN DESTROYED.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 5 storm reports to this tornado warning; the first came 10 minutes after it went out.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
May 14, 12:37 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	7 hr
May 14, 2:47 PM EDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 11.4 hours before the alert went out and 91 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 129 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -113 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 846 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 22 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 15 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 168 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS52 KRAH 142324
TORRAH
NCC105-150000-
/O.NEW.KRAH.TO.W.0012.060514T2325Z-060515T0000Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
725 PM EDT SUN MAY 14 2006

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RALEIGH HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  LEE COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA

* UNTIL 800 PM EDT

* AT 720 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  TORNADO OVER GUM SPRINGS...OR ABOUT 6 MILES WEST OF SANFORD...
  MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  GUM SPRINGS...TRAMWAY...
  SANFORD...
  LEMON SPRINGS...
  BROADWAY...

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE
BUILDING IN A SMALL ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET OR BATHROOM OR IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO PROTECT YOUR BODY FROM
FLYING DEBRIS. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND EXTERIOR WALLS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT SUNDAY EVENING
FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

LAT...LON 3559 7919 3551 7934 3541 7934 3533 7916
      3552 7898

$$

WSS

3 follow-up statements

000 
WWUS52 KRAH 142333
SVSRAH

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
733 PM EDT SUN MAY 14 2006

NCC105-150000-
/O.CON.KRAH.TO.W.0012.000000T0000Z-060515T0000Z/
LEE NC-
733 PM EDT SUN MAY 14 2006

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT FOR LEE
COUNTY...

AT 732 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR GUM SPRINGS...OR
ABOUT NEAR SANFORD...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THE STORM INCLUDE... BROADWAY.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
STURDY SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST
DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT SUNDAY EVENING
FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.


LAT...LON 3559 7919 3551 7934 3541 7934 3533 7916
      3552 7898

$$

WSS

000 
WWUS52 KRAH 142341
SVSRAH

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
739 PM EDT SUN MAY 14 2006

NCC105-150000-
/O.CON.KRAH.TO.W.0012.000000T0000Z-060515T0000Z/
LEE NC-
739 PM EDT SUN MAY 14 2006

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT FOR LEE
COUNTY...

AT 737 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR SANFORD...JUST 
NORTH OF HIGHWAY 42...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

GO TO A BASEMENT OR INTERIOR CLOSET OR HIGHWAY IMMEDIATELY.
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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT SUNDAY EVENING
FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT SUNDAY
EVENING FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

LAT...LON 3559 7919 3551 7934 3541 7934 3533 7916
      3552 7898

$$

23

000 
WWUS52 KRAH 142359
SVSRAH

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
758 PM EDT SUN MAY 14 2006

NCC105-150008-
/O.EXP.KRAH.TO.W.0012.000000T0000Z-060515T0000Z/
LEE NC-
758 PM EDT SUN MAY 14 2006

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR LEE COUNTY EXPIRES AT 800 PM EDT...

THIS STORM PRODUCED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE AS IT PASSED THROUGH SANFORD.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT SUNDAY EVENING 
FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA. 

LAT...LON 3559 7919 3551 7934 3541 7934 3533 7916
      3552 7898

$$

11

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 Raleigh, NC wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at May 14, 4:05 PM EDT, 3 hours 20 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 14, 4:05 PM EDT, 3 hours 20 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
405 PM EDT SUN MAY 14 2006

.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
GRIDS/FORECAST WILL BE LATE DUE TO SEVERE WEATHER ACTIVITY. HOPE TO
BE COMPLETED NO LATER THAN 530 PM EDT.

&&

.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...

&&

.AVIATION...

&&

.RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.
&&

SHORT TERM...RHJ/WSS
LONG TERM...WSS
AVIATION...RHJ

Hazardous weather outlook, May 14, 6:07 AM EDT, 13 hours 18 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
607 AM EDT SUN MAY 14 2006

NCZ007>011-021>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088-089-151015-
PERSON-GRANVILLE-VANCE-WARREN-HALIFAX-FORSYTH-GUILFORD-ALAMANCE-
ORANGE-DURHAM-FRANKLIN-NASH-EDGECOMBE-DAVIDSON-RANDOLPH-CHATHAM-
WAKE-JOHNSTON-WILSON-STANLY-MONTGOMERY-MOORE-LEE-HARNETT-WAYNE-
ANSON-RICHMOND-SCOTLAND-HOKE-CUMBERLAND-SAMPSON-
607 AM EDT SUN MAY 14 2006

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL NORTH
CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A LARGE UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER THE OHIO VALLEY AND A
STRONG JET STREAM ALOFT ACROSS THE TENNESSEE VALLEY WILL ENERGIZE
A COLD FRONT AS IT APPROACHES FROM THE WEST THIS AFTERNOON AND
CROSSES CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA TONIGHT. THIS WILL ADD TO AN
ALREADY UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE AND INCREASE THE THREAT OF SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS.

SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE ALREADY OCCURRING
EARLY TODAY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA. BUT A MORE VIGOROUS LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED TO FORM TO OUR WEST AND SOUTHWEST EARLY
AFTERNOON AND MOVE EAST ACROSS THE PIEDMONT BEFORE 5 PM AND
THROUGH THE SANDHILLS AND COASTAL PLAIN BEFORE 8 PM THIS EVENING.

THE MAIN THREAT FROM THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
TODAY WILL BE LARGE HAIL. STRONG...DAMAGING DOWNBURST WINDS ARE
ALSO POSSIBLE...MAINLY IN THE SOUTHERN HALF...INCLUDING THE
SANDHILLS AND SOUTHERN COASTAL PLAIN OF CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH
CAROLINA MAINLY BETWEEN 100 PM AND 800 PM. SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED
TO REPORT THREATENING WEATHER OF ANY KIND TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE.

21

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 14, 6:49 PM EDT, 36 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
649 PM EDT SUN MAY 14 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0643 PM     TORNADO          3 NE ROLESVILLE         35.96N 78.42W
05/14/2006                   WAKE               NC   PUBLIC

            PUBLIC REPORT OF A TORNADO TOUCHING DOWN NEAR THE
            INTERSECTION OF US HWY 401 AND NC HWY 96.

&&

BSD

Local storm report, May 14, 6:51 PM EDT, 34 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
651 PM EDT SUN MAY 14 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0630 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     15 N RALEIGH            36.03N 78.64W
05/14/2006                   WAKE               NC   PUBLIC

            FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED BY PUBLIC NEAR WAKEFIELD PLANTATION
            AT PENROSE TRAIL.

&&

BSD

Local storm report, May 14, 7:04 PM EDT, 21 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
704 PM EDT SUN MAY 14 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0702 PM     HAIL             APEX                    35.73N 78.85W
05/14/2006  E1.00 INCH       WAKE               NC   NWS EMPLOYEE

            QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED BY NWS EMPLOYEE.

&&

BSD

Local storm report, May 14, 7:12 PM EDT, 13 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
712 PM EDT SUN MAY 14 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0708 PM     HAIL             1 N APEX                35.74N 78.85W
05/14/2006  E1.75 INCH       WAKE               NC   TRAINED SPOTTER

            GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL NEAR US 64 AND LAKE PINE.

&&

BSD

Local storm report, May 14, 7:14 PM EDT, 11 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
714 PM EDT SUN MAY 14 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0704 PM     HAIL             CARY                    35.78N 78.80W
05/14/2006  E0.75 INCH       WAKE               NC   TRAINED SPOTTER

            PENNY SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN CARY.

&&

BSD

Local storm report, May 14, 7:23 PM EDT, 2 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
723 PM EDT SUN MAY 14 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0719 PM     HAIL             RALEIGH                 35.81N 78.64W
05/14/2006  M1.00 INCH       WAKE               NC   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            QUARTER SIZE HAIL OBSERVED AT THE NWS OFFICE IN RALEIGH.

&&

BSD

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 14, 7:48 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Granville	42 min
May 14, 8:32 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Granville	28 min
May 14, 1:02 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Guilford	28 min
May 14, 1:19 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Alamance	26 min
May 14, 1:30 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Guilford	30 min
May 14, 1:32 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Davidson, Randolph	43 min
May 14, 1:44 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Anson	31 min
May 14, 1:45 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Alamance	30 min
May 14, 1:58 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Richmond	21 min
May 14, 2:09 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Moore	51 min
May 14, 2:12 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Durham, Orange	48 min
May 14, 2:15 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Davidson	15 min
May 14, 2:15 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Guilford, Randolph	30 min
May 14, 2:21 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Lee	24 min
May 14, 2:29 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Harnett	31 min
May 14, 2:35 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Granville	40 min
May 14, 2:42 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Alamance	33 min
May 14, 2:46 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Person	44 min
May 14, 2:47 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Wake	43 min
May 14, 2:54 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Davidson, Stanly	41 min
May 14, 3:02 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Franklin, Vance	43 min
May 14, 3:02 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Vance	23 min
May 14, 3:06 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Orange	24 min
May 14, 3:12 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Montgomery	33 min
May 14, 3:29 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Durham, Orange	31 min
May 14, 3:34 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Wake	26 min
May 14, 3:41 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Franklin	19 min
May 14, 3:47 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Montgomery	28 min
May 14, 3:49 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Durham	26 min
May 14, 3:52 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Randolph	23 min
May 14, 3:56 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Halifax, Nash	49 min
May 14, 3:58 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Moore	47 min
May 14, 4:02 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Granville, Wake	28 min
May 14, 4:04 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Guilford	41 min
May 14, 4:32 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Lee	28 min
May 14, 4:38 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Anson	37 min
May 14, 4:41 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Person	24 min
May 14, 4:58 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Alamance	17 min
May 14, 5:14 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Orange	31 min
May 14, 5:20 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Richmond	25 min
May 14, 5:29 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Orange	16 min
May 14, 5:47 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Durham	28 min
May 14, 6:07 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Wake	23 min
May 14, 6:09 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Granville, Vance	36 min
May 14, 6:24 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Franklin	51 min
May 14, 6:35 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Franklin	25 min
May 14, 6:40 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Chatham	16 min
May 14, 6:48 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Chatham	27 min
May 14, 6:50 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Wake	40 min
May 14, 6:58 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Franklin, Nash	47 min
May 14, 7:12 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Lee	19 min
May 14, 7:31 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Wake	29 min
May 14, 7:43 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Chatham	17 min
May 14, 7:44 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Edgecombe	46 min
May 14, 7:57 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Harnett	33 min
May 14, 7:58 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Wake	32 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in North Carolina, 2006 Every tornado warning in 2006 Tornadoes in 2006

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.