Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 52, NWS Raleigh, NC

August 27, 2008Alamance County, Chatham County, North Carolina

NWS Raleigh, NC issued this tornado warning at Aug 27, 2008, 4:03 PM EDT for Alamance County, Chatham County, North Carolina. It was in force for 42 min. 3 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
Aug 27, 2008, 4:03 PM EDT (20:03 UTC)
Expired
Aug 27, 2008, 4:45 PM EDT
In force
42 min
Issued by
NWS Raleigh, NC
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Alamance County, NC, Chatham County, NC

The radar

The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 81 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:03 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
Aug 27, 4:08 PM EDTTORNADO5 Nne Siler City, NCAN EF-0 TORNADO TRACKED NORTHEAST ALONG JESSE BRIDGES ROAD CROSSING SILK HOPE LIBERTY ROAD DESTROYING AN OUTBUILDING...CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE TO HOMES AND UPROOTING TREES.
Aug 27, 4:20 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG3 Ssw Snow Camp, NCSEVERAL TREES REPORTED DOWN ALONG SILER CITY/SNOW CAMP ROAD... NEAR MOON LINDLEY ROAD.
Aug 27, 4:30 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG1 Ne Siler City, NCSEVERAL TREES DOWN ABOUT A MILE NORTHEAST OF SILER CITY ON JESSE BRIDGES ROAD.

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
Aug 27, 9:16 AM EDTTornado WatchSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 8.1 hours before the alert went out and 55 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 2008-08-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 229 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 2008-08-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 237 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
229 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-15 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
493 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
33 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
237 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
270 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS52 KRAH 272003
TORRAH
NCC001-037-272045-
/O.NEW.KRAH.TO.W.0052.080827T2003Z-080827T2045Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
403 PM EDT WED AUG 27 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RALEIGH HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHWESTERN CHATHAM COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
  SOUTHERN ALAMANCE COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA

* UNTIL 445 PM EDT

* AT 358 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  TORNADO OVER SILER CITY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 12 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  SNOW CAMP AROUND 430 PM...
  SUTPHIN AROUND 440 PM...

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.

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW IF YOU WAIT
TO SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

LAT...LON 3599 7926 3591 7927 3587 7925 3586 7921
      3566 7937 3573 7955 3579 7954 3605 7941
TIME...MOT...LOC 2003Z 208DEG 11KT 3578 7942

$$

VINCENT
3 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS52 KRAH 272014
SVSRAH

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
414 PM EDT WED AUG 27 2008

NCC001-037-272045-
/O.CON.KRAH.TO.W.0052.000000T0000Z-080827T2045Z/
CHATHAM NC-ALAMANCE NC-
414 PM EDT WED AUG 27 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 445 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN ALAMANCE AND NORTHWESTERN CHATHAM COUNTIES...

AT 412 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR SNOW CAMP...OR 6
MILES NORTHEAST OF SILER CITY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 12 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  SNOW CAMP BY 430 PM EDT
  SUTPHIN...SAXAPAHAW AND 9 MILES SOUTH OF SWEPSONVILLE BY 445 PM EDT

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW IF YOU WAIT
TO SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM EDT WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

LAT...LON 3599 7926 3591 7927 3587 7925 3586 7921
      3566 7937 3573 7955 3579 7954 3605 7941
TIME...MOT...LOC 2014Z 205DEG 11KT 3581 7941

$$

VINCENT
000 
WWUS52 KRAH 272028
SVSRAH

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
428 PM EDT WED AUG 27 2008

NCC001-037-272045-
/O.CON.KRAH.TO.W.0052.000000T0000Z-080827T2045Z/
CHATHAM NC-ALAMANCE NC-
424 PM EDT WED AUG 27 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 445 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN ALAMANCE AND NORTHWESTERN CHATHAM COUNTIES...

AT 421 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED JUST SOUTH OF SNOW 
CAMP...OR DIRECTLY ALONG THE CHATHAM AND ALAMANCE COUNTY BORDER... 
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 12 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  SNOW CAMP BY 430 PM EDT
  SAXAPAHAW AND 9 MILES SOUTH OF SWEPSONVILLE BY 445 PM EDT

HEAVY RAINFALL WILL LIKELY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO...TAKE COVER NOW IF 
YOU WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO GET TO A 
SAFE PLACE.

ADDITIONALLY...LOCATIONS IN NORTHWEST CHATHAM COUNTY SOUTH OF THE 
TORNADIC CIRCULATION CAN EXPECT DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS IN 
EXCESS OF 60 MPH

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM EDT WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

LAT...LON 3599 7926 3591 7927 3587 7925 3586 7921
      3566 7937 3573 7955 3579 7954 3605 7941
TIME...MOT...LOC 2024Z 204DEG 11KT 3584 7939

$$

VINCENT
000 
WWUS52 KRAH 272044
SVSRAH

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
444 PM EDT WED AUG 27 2008

NCC001-037-272053-
/O.EXP.KRAH.TO.W.0052.000000T0000Z-080827T2045Z/
CHATHAM NC-ALAMANCE NC-
443 PM EDT WED AUG 27 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN ALAMANCE AND NORTHWESTERN
CHATHAM COUNTIES EXPIRES AT 445 PM EDT...

THE CIRCULATION IN THE STORM THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS WEAKENED 
AND IS NO LONGER EXPECTED TO PRODUCE A TORNADO. THEREFORE...THE 
TORNADO WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE. 

HOWEVER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 
PM FOR CENTRAL CHATHAM...SOUTHERN ALAMANCE AND SOUTHWEST ORANGE 
COUNTIES.

IF YOU EXPERIENCED SEVERE WEATHER PLEASE PASS THE INFORMATION ALONG 
TO YOUR NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND ASK THEM TO RELAY YOUR 
REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM EDT WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

LAT...LON 3599 7926 3591 7927 3587 7925 3586 7921
      3566 7937 3573 7955 3579 7954 3605 7941
TIME...MOT...LOC 2043Z 204DEG 11KT 3589 7936

$$

VINCENT

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 27, 4:27 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHDavidson4 hr
Aug 27, 6:44 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHAlamance3 hr
Aug 27, 6:49 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHRandolph116 min
Aug 27, 7:24 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRAHForsyth, Guilford111 min
Aug 27, 7:33 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHGuilford117 min
Aug 27, 7:48 AM EDTTornado WarningRAHHoke27 min
Aug 27, 8:06 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRAHChatham, Cumberland, Durham, Harnett, Lee, Orange and 2 more114 min
Aug 27, 9:10 AM EDTTornado WarningRAHCumberland, Sampson20 min
Aug 27, 9:27 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHGuilford2 hr
Aug 27, 9:48 AM EDTTornado WarningRAHHarnett27 min
Aug 27, 10:07 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRAHDurham, Franklin, Granville, Johnston, Nash, Person and 3 more3 hr
Aug 27, 10:17 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHForsyth103 min
Aug 27, 10:45 AM EDTTornado WarningRAHJohnston, Sampson30 min
Aug 27, 11:00 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHJohnston, Sampson3 hr
Aug 27, 11:01 AM EDTFlash Flood WatchRAHAlamance, Anson, Davidson, Forsyth, Guilford, Montgomery and 5 more13 hr
Aug 27, 11:39 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHGuilford81 min
Aug 27, 12:09 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHAlamance3 hr
Aug 27, 12:33 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHSampson42 min
Aug 27, 12:37 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHGuilford, Randolph23 min
Aug 27, 12:38 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHGuilford47 min
Aug 27, 12:46 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHFranklin, Vance44 min
Aug 27, 12:50 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHAlamance25 min
Aug 27, 12:56 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHRandolph34 min
Aug 27, 1:01 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHChatham44 min
Aug 27, 1:03 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHAlamance, Guilford42 min
Aug 27, 1:06 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHGuilford3 hr
Aug 27, 1:14 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHChatham, Moore, Randolph46 min
Aug 27, 1:22 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHRandolph113 min
Aug 27, 1:23 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHNash, Wilson37 min
Aug 27, 1:29 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHGuilford, Randolph46 min
Aug 27, 1:41 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHFranklin, Johnston, Nash, Wake34 min
Aug 27, 1:55 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHNash, Wilson35 min
Aug 27, 2:10 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHFranklin, Johnston, Nash, Wake35 min
Aug 27, 2:14 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHSampson31 min
Aug 27, 2:20 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRAHSampson, Wayne3 hr
Aug 27, 2:31 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHNash27 min
Aug 27, 2:33 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHAlamance, Chatham42 min
Aug 27, 2:38 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHLee37 min
Aug 27, 2:42 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHAlamance3 hr
Aug 27, 2:43 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHSampson47 min
Aug 27, 2:48 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHHalifax42 min
Aug 27, 2:53 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRAHEdgecombe, Halifax112 min
Aug 27, 3:20 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHHarnett25 min
Aug 27, 3:32 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRAHHarnett118 min
Aug 27, 3:42 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHDurham27 min
Aug 27, 4:01 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRAHDurham, Harnett, Johnston, Nash, Wake3 hr
Aug 27, 4:23 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRAHAlamance, Chatham, Lee, Orange, Randolph2 hr
Aug 27, 4:32 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHChatham3 hr
Aug 27, 4:39 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHAlamance, Chatham, Orange51 min
Aug 27, 4:54 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHAlamance, Orange41 min
Aug 27, 5:08 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHDavidson, Randolph3 hr
Aug 27, 5:19 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHChatham, Orange3 hr
Aug 27, 6:10 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningRAHAlamance14 hr
Aug 27, 6:14 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningRAHChatham27 hr
Aug 27, 6:16 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHHarnett, Lee, Moore3 hr
Aug 27, 6:53 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHGuilford3 hr
Aug 27, 7:29 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHChatham3 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in North Carolina, 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.