Alert archive / Tennessee / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 21, NWS Memphis, TN

February 5, 2008Shelby County, Tipton County, Tennessee

NWS Memphis, TN issued this tornado warning at Feb 5, 2008, 4:43 PM CST for Shelby County, Tipton County, Tennessee. It was in force for 47 min. 4 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
Feb 5, 2008, 4:43 PM CST (22:43 UTC)
Expired
Feb 5, 2008, 5:30 PM CST
In force
47 min
Issued by
NWS Memphis, TN
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Shelby County, TN, Tipton County, TN

The radar

The Memphis radar (KNQA), 21 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:46 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Feb 5, 4:50 PM CSTHAIL 0.753 N Bartlett, TNPENNY SIZE HAIL AT THE INTERSECTION OF PLEASANT RIDGE AND AUSTIN PEAY.
Feb 5, 5:00 PM CSTTORNADO 22 E Bolton, TN*** 1 INJ *** TORNADO INITIALLY TOUCHED DOWN ALONG HWY. 385 APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE EAST OF BRUNSWICK ROAD AT 500 PM. ONE HOME HAD MODERATE DAMAGE. AT THIS POINT THE TORNADO WAS AN EF0 WITH A WIDTH OF 25 YARDS. THE TORNADO TRAVELLED 6 MILES NON-CONTINUOUSLY. TH
Feb 5, 5:03 PM CSTTORNADO5 Ene Bolton, TNTORNADO KNOCKED DOWN TWO 400 FOOT TENNESEE HIGHWAY PATROL/TEMA RADIO TOWERS.
Feb 5, 5:09 PM CSTTORNADO 04 Ese Dixonville, TNTHIS TORNADO TRAVELED NON-CONTINUOUSLY INTO SOUTHEAST TIPTON COUNTY FROM NORTHEAST SHELBY COUNTY. ONE HOME HAD MINOR DAMAGE ON BEAVER CREEK ROAD AND THERE WAS MINOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE...DOWNED UTILITY POLES AND TREE DAMAGE AT THE INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 59 AND

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

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Feb 5, 3:09 PM CSTTornado Watch PDSSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Little Rock, AR (KLZK), launched 12:00Z, 10.7 hours before the alert went out and 68 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 2008-02-05Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 654 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, Little Rock, AR at 12:00Z on 2008-02-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 250 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
654 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-31 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
593 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
52 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
250 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
222 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.8
Supercell composite
3.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS54 KMEG 052243
TORMEG
TNC157-167-052330-
/O.NEW.KMEG.TO.W.0021.080205T2243Z-080205T2330Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
443 PM CST TUE FEB 5 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  EASTERN SHELBY COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE...
  EASTERN TIPTON COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE...

* UNTIL 530 PM CST

* AT 443 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR BARTLETT...MOVING
  NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  ELLENDALE...MILLINGTON...LAKELAND...ARLINGTON...MUNFORD...
  DIXONVILLE...BRIGHTON AND COVINGTON.

.IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 
PENNY SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

.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.

.STAY TUNED TO THIS BROADCAST FOR THE LATEST UPDATES AND INFORMATION.
TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER ONLY...CALL 1 800 4 3 2 0 8 7 5.

LAT...LON 3554 8947 3548 8947 3539 8957 3540 8962
      3538 8964 3531 8964 3508 8985 3520 9002
      3560 8973
TIME...MOT...LOC 2243Z 219DEG 47KT 3522 8987

$$
3 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS54 KMEG 052251
SVSMEG

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
449 PM CST TUE FEB 5 2008

TNC157-167-052330-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0021.000000T0000Z-080205T2330Z/
SHELBY TN-TIPTON TN-
449 PM CST TUE FEB 5 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 PM CST FOR EASTERN
TIPTON AND NORTHEASTERN SHELBY COUNTIES...

AT 449 PM CST...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO NEAR 
THE INTERSECTION OF KIRBY WHITTEN ROAD AND YALE ROAD. THIS TORNADO 
WAS LOCATED NEAR ELLENDALE...OR ABOUT NEAR BARTLETT...MOVING 
NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
MUNFORD...ATOKA...DIXONVILLE...BRIGHTON AND COVINGTON.

.IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 
PENNY SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

.STAY TUNED TO THIS BROADCAST FOR THE LATEST UPDATES AND INFORMATION.
TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER ONLY...CALL 1 800 4 3 2 0 8 7 5.

LAT...LON 3559 8970 3554 8947 3548 8947 3539 8957
      3540 8962 3538 8964 3532 8963 3519 8977
      3525 8997 3561 8973
TIME...MOT...LOC 2249Z 219DEG 47KT 3529 8981

$$
000 
WWUS54 KMEG 052306 RRA
SVSMEG

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
506 PM CST TUE FEB 5 2008

TNC157-167-052330-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0021.000000T0000Z-080205T2330Z/
SHELBY TN-TIPTON TN-
506 PM CST TUE FEB 5 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 PM CST FOR EASTERN
TIPTON AND NORTHEASTERN SHELBY COUNTIES...

AT 506 PM CST...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO IN 
ARLINGTON AT HIGHWAY 70 JUST NORTH OF HIGHWAY 385.  THIS TORNADO WAS 
LOCATED 6 MILES SOUTH OF DIXONVILLE...OR ABOUT 11 MILES EAST OF 
MILLINGTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
BRIGHTON...GARLAND AND COVINGTON.

.IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 
PENNY SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

.STAY TUNED TO THIS BROADCAST FOR THE LATEST UPDATES AND INFORMATION.
TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER ONLY...CALL 1 800 4 3 2 0 8 7 5.

LAT...LON 3559 8970 3554 8947 3548 8947 3540 8957
      3540 8962 3538 8964 3531 8964 3519 8977
      3525 8997 3561 8973
TIME...MOT...LOC 2306Z 223DEG 39KT 3536 8968

$$
000 
WWUS54 KMEG 052317
SVSMEG

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
518 PM CST TUE FEB 5 2008

TNC157-052328-
/O.CAN.KMEG.TO.W.0021.000000T0000Z-080205T2330Z/
SHELBY TN-
518 PM CST TUE FEB 5 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN SHELBY COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

AT 518 PM CST...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THAT THE 
THUNDERSTORMS WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAVE MOVED OUT OF THE AREA 
...AND NO LONGER POSE AN IMMEDIATE THREAT TO LIFE OR PROPERTY. 
THEREFORE...THE TORNADO WARNING IS CANCELLED.

LAT...LON 3559 8970 3554 8947 3548 8947 3542 8956
      3541 8964 3561 8973
TIME...MOT...LOC 2318Z 223DEG 39KT 3545 8957

$$

TNC167-052330-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0021.000000T0000Z-080205T2330Z/
TIPTON TN-
518 PM CST TUE FEB 5 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 PM CST FOR EASTERN
TIPTON COUNTY...

AT 518 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 11 MILES SOUTH OF
COVINGTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL OTHERWISE REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF THE
INDICATED COUNTY..

.IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 
PENNY SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

.STAY TUNED TO THIS BROADCAST FOR THE LATEST UPDATES AND INFORMATION.
TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER ONLY...CALL 1 800 4 3 2 0 8 7 5.

LAT...LON 3559 8970 3554 8947 3548 8947 3542 8956
      3541 8964 3561 8973
TIME...MOT...LOC 2318Z 223DEG 39KT 3545 8957

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 5, 4:27 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGShelby, Tipton33 min
Feb 5, 4:53 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGDyer, Gibson, Lauderdale, Obion52 min
Feb 5, 5:16 PM CSTTornado WarningMEGCrockett, Haywood, Lauderdale, Tipton44 min
Feb 5, 5:20 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGHenry, Obion, Weakley40 min
Feb 5, 5:21 PM CSTTornado Warning EmergencyMEGFayette, Shelby39 min
Feb 5, 5:22 PM CSTTornado WarningMEGWeakley38 min
Feb 5, 5:46 PM CSTTornado WarningMEGCrockett, Dyer, Gibson, Obion, Weakley24 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Tennessee, 2008Every tornado warning in 2008Tornadoes in 2008

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.