Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 7, NWS Raleigh, NC

March 4, 2008Edgecombe County, Halifax County, North Carolina

NWS Raleigh, NC issued this tornado warning at Mar 4, 2008, 8:46 PM EST for Edgecombe County, Halifax County, North Carolina. It was in force for 28 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
Mar 4, 2008, 8:46 PM EST (01:46 UTC)
Expired
Mar 4, 2008, 9:14 PM EST
In force
28 min
Issued by
NWS Raleigh, NC
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Edgecombe County, NC, Halifax County, NC

The radar

The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 96 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:48 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
Mar 4, 8:50 PM ESTTSTM WND DMG5 Ese Enfield, NCTREES TWISTED AT DOUGLAS HILL FARM RD AND THIRTEEN BRIDGES ROAD.
Mar 4, 8:50 PM ESTTORNADO 05 Ese Enfield, NCA WEAK TORNADO PRODUCED TREE DAMAGE AND TOOK SHINGLES OFF ONE HOME NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF THIRTEEN BRIDGES ROAD AND DOUGLAS HILL FARM ROAD. AFTER PRODUCING THE TREE AND ROOF DAMAGE... THE TORNADO TRACKED INTO A SWAMPY AREA WHERE IT THEN LIFTED BACK UP. THIS
Mar 4, 8:53 PM ESTTSTM WND DMG5 Sw Tillery, NCTHREE SHEDS AND A COTTON TRAILER DAMAGED AND TREES TWISTED ALONG HIGHWAY 125.
Mar 4, 8:56 PM ESTTSTM WND DMG4 Wsw Tillery, NCLARGE STEEL REINFORCED BARN DESTROYED

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
Mar 4, 4:31 PM ESTTornado WatchSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Newport, NC (KMHX), launched 00:00Z, 1.8 hours before the alert went out and 172 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 00:00Z on 2008-03-05Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 221 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 00:00Z on 2008-03-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 285 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
221 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-8 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
663 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
42 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
285 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
290 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 050146
TORRAH
NCC065-083-050230-
/O.NEW.KRAH.TO.W.0007.080305T0146Z-080305T0230Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
846 PM EST TUE MAR 4 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RALEIGH HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHWESTERN EDGECOMBE COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
  CENTRAL HALIFAX COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA

* UNTIL 930 PM EST

* AT 844 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  TORNADO OVER WHITAKERS...OR ABOUT 10 MILES NORTHEAST OF ROCKY
  MOUNT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  TILLERY...HALIFAX...

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.

TORNADOES ARE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT BECAUSE THEY ARE HARD TO
SEE. TAKE COVER NOW IF A BASEMENT IS NOT AVAILABLE...MOVE TO AN
INTERIOR ROOM OR HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS
AND EXTERIOR WALLS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST WEDNESDAY
MORNING FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

LAT...LON 3602 7776 3613 7771 3615 7775 3614 7776
      3615 7777 3643 7758 3640 7754 3632 7757
      3632 7745 3627 7740 3597 7764
TIME...MOT...LOC 0146Z 213DEG 41KT 3609 7767

$$


BLAES
2 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS52 KRAH 050157
SVSRAH

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
857 PM EST TUE MAR 4 2008

NCC065-083-050230-
/O.CON.KRAH.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-080305T0230Z/
EDGECOMBE NC-HALIFAX NC-
857 PM EST TUE MAR 4 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 930 PM EST FOR CENTRAL
HALIFAX AND NORTHWESTERN EDGECOMBE COUNTIES...

AT 853 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR ENFIELD...OR ABOUT
12 MILES SOUTH OF HALIFAX...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. 

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

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST WEDNESDAY
MORNING FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

LAT...LON 3602 7776 3613 7771 3615 7775 3614 7776
      3615 7777 3643 7758 3640 7754 3632 7757
      3632 7745 3627 7740 3597 7764
TIME...MOT...LOC 0157Z 213DEG 41KT 3620 7758

$$

BLAES
000 
WWUS52 KRAH 050214
SVSRAH

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
910 PM EST TUE MAR 4 2008

NCC065-083-050220-
/O.CAN.KRAH.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-080305T0230Z/
EDGECOMBE NC-HALIFAX NC-
910 PM EST TUE MAR 4 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL HALIFAX AND NORTHWESTERN EDGECOMBE
COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

THE THUNDERSTORM HAS MOVED NORTHEAST OUT OF HALIFAX AND EDGECOMBE 
COUNTIES AND THE TORNADO WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED. 

ANOTHER AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED TO MOVE THROUGH THE AREA 
BETWEEN 1000 PM AND MIDNIGHT...AND THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE 
SEVERE. A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST 
WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

LAT...LON 3602 7776 3613 7771 3615 7775 3614 7776
      3615 7777 3643 7758 3640 7754 3632 7757
      3632 7745 3627 7740 3597 7764
TIME...MOT...LOC 0210Z 213DEG 41KT 3637 7750

$$

BLAES

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 4, 8:00 PM ESTTornado WarningRAHGranville, Vance25 min
Mar 4, 8:12 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHDavidson, Forsyth63 min
Mar 4, 8:49 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHGuilford, Randolph71 min
Mar 4, 9:00 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHAnson, Stanly60 min
Mar 4, 9:12 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHMontgomery, Richmond63 min
Mar 4, 9:26 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHChatham, Lee, Moore64 min
Mar 4, 9:28 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHAlamance, Orange, Person62 min
Mar 4, 9:46 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHDurham44 min
Mar 4, 9:46 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHHoke, Scotland59 min
Mar 4, 9:57 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHDurham, Granville, Person48 min
Mar 4, 10:06 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHFranklin, Granville, Vance, Wake54 min
Mar 4, 10:08 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHCumberland67 min
Mar 4, 10:10 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHHarnett65 min
Mar 4, 10:20 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHVance40 min
Mar 4, 10:24 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHChatham, Lee, Moore56 min
Mar 4, 10:40 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHHalifax, Warren65 min
Mar 4, 10:41 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHHoke, Scotland43 min
Mar 4, 10:49 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHCumberland, Harnett, Johnston, Sampson, Wake56 min
Mar 4, 10:57 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHFranklin63 min
Mar 4, 11:00 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHWake46 min
Mar 4, 11:29 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHFranklin, Nash54 min
Mar 4, 11:33 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHSampson42 min
Mar 4, 11:35 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHWayne, Wilson55 min
Mar 4, 11:45 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHHalifax, Warren47 min
Mar 4, 11:57 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHEdgecombe, Halifax51 min
Mar 5, 12:03 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHEdgecombe47 min

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.