Alert archive / California / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2009

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 14, NWS Eureka, CA

June 3, 2009Humboldt County, Trinity County, California

NWS Eureka, CA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jun 3, 2009, 4:47 PM PDT for Humboldt County, Trinity County, California. It was in force for 13 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Jun 3, 2009, 4:47 PM PDT (23:47 UTC)
Expired
Jun 3, 2009, 5:00 PM PDT
In force
13 min
Issued by
NWS Eureka, CA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Humboldt County, CA, Trinity County, CA

The radar

The Eureka (Bunker Hill) radar (KBHX), 76 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:48 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

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 nearest sounding before it

Medford/Jackson, OR (KMFR), launched 12:00Z, 11.8 hours before the alert went out and 169 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, Medford/Jackson, OR at 12:00Z on 2009-06-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1 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, Medford/Jackson, OR at 12:00Z on 2009-06-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 26 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
1 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
873 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
20 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
26 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
75 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WUUS56 KEKA 032347
SVREKA
CAC023-105-040000-
/O.NEW.KEKA.SV.W.0014.090603T2347Z-090604T0000Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
447 PM PDT WED JUN 3 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  HUMBOLDT COUNTY IN NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...WILLOW CREEK...HOOPA...
  TRINITY COUNTY IN NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA...

* UNTIL 500 PM PDT

* AT 442 PM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE DAMAGING HAIL UP TO
  GOLF BALL SIZE.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR SALYER...OR NEAR
  WILLOW CREEK...AND MOVING NORTHWEST AT 10 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL OTHERWISE REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL
  AREAS OF THE INDICATED COUNTIES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IN ADDITION TO LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS...CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. MOVE INDOORS
IMMEDIATELY LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURES NUMBER ONE KILLERS.
REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

HAIL UP TO THREE QUARTERS OF AN INCH IN DIAMETER HAS BEEN REPORTED 
NEAR HYAMPOM WITH THIS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THE 
STORM...TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY.

&&

LAT...LON 4110 12389 4116 12355 4086 12351 4083 12366
TIME...MOT...LOC 2347Z 156DEG 9KT 4092 12362

$$

TH

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Eureka, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jun 3, 2:09 PM PDT, 2 hours 38 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 3, 2:09 PM PDT, 2 hours 38 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EUREKA CA
210 PM PDT WED JUNE 03 2009

SYNOPSIS...AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE ALONG THE WEST COAST WILL
CONTINUE TO PRODUCE SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS TO NORTHWEST
CALIFORNIA THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK.
&&

.SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY...SATELLITE AND RADAR IMAGERY
SHOW CONVECTION DEVELOPING THIS AFTERNOON. EXPECT SCT SHRA AND ISOLD
TSTMS TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP OVER THE REGION AND PROPAGATE TO THE NW
ACROSS THE CWA AS QUASI STATIONARY UPPER LOW REMAINS OFF THE COAST.
STABILITY INDICES SHOW SLIGHT POTENTIAL FOR LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING
WINDS WITH STORMS THIS AFTERNOON...SO WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR RADAR
TRENDS THROUGH THIS EVENING. EXPECT CONVECTION TO PEAK BY EARLY THIS
EVENING AS A MINOR SHORT WAVE ROTATES AROUND THE PARENT LOW WITH
SHOWERS CONTINUING THROUGH THE NIGHT IN THE UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE. A
SERIES OF VORT MAXES WILL ROTATE AROUND THE LOW AND COMBINE WITH A
RELATIVELY DEEP MOIST LAYER TO CONTINUE THE THREAT OF CONVECTION
THU. MODELS IN GOOD AGREEMENT ON UPPER LOW DRIFTING ONSHORE FRI WITH
AFTERNOON CONVECTION EXPECTED AGAIN. THE THREAT FOR TSTMS WILL
DIMINISH SAT AS THE UPPER LOW MOVES E OF THE REGION. BC

&&

.LONG TERM (SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY)...THE MEDIUM RANGE
MODELS CONTINUE TO SHOW SOME CHANGES IN HOW THE UPPER LOW IS HANDLED
THROUGH THE INITIAL PART OF THE EXTENDED. HOWEVER THE GENERAL IDEA
OF MOVING THE LOW ONSHORE AND DEVELOPING SPLIT FLOW ALOFT IS
MAINTAINED. THE LATEST ITERATION BRINGS THE LOW ONSHORE SOUTH OF
POINT CONCEPTION EARLY SATURDAY EVENING...AND INLAND ACROSS LAS
VEGAS BY 12Z SUNDAY. THE SOUTHERN BRANCH OF THE SPLIT FLOW PUSHES A
LOW WEST TO THE OFFSHORE WATERS EARLY NEXT WEEK. NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
WILL REMAIN IN LIGHT NORTHERLY FLOW WITH LINGERING MOISTURE THROUGH
MONDAY...WITH A WEAK SHORTWAVE FORECAST BY THE GFS TO BRUSH THE CWA
LATE MONDAY INTO TUESDAY...FOLLOWED BY A SIMILAR WEAK SYSTEM EARLY
WEDNESDAY. CILIBERTI

&&

.MARINE...LIGHT WINDS AND LOW SEAS WILL PREVAIL THROUGH THE WEEK.
THE SEAS WILL CONTAIN A MIX OF SHORT PERIOD NW SWELL AND LONG PERIOD
SOUTH TO SW SWELL...WITH SIG WAVE HEIGHTS NEAR 3 FEET. ISOLATED
THUNDERSTORMS WILL PERSIST THROUGH FRIDAY...BRINGING OCCASIONAL
CLOUD-TO-WATER LIGHTNING STRIKES...HEAVY RAIN...HAIL AND SUDDEN
BURSTS OF WIND.

&&

.AVIATION...CONTINUED ADVECTION OF MOIST AIR AND
INSTABILITY...ASSOCIATED WITH A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM CENTERED OFF THE
CENTRAL COAST...WILL PRODUCE SHOWERS AND THE THREAT OF THUNDERSTORMS
ACROSS THE REGION. THE STORMS MAY PRODUCE HAIL...HEAVY RAIN AS WELL
AS STRONG AND ABRUPT WINDS. THESE ARE STANDARD FLIGHT HAZARDS
ASSOCIATED WITH CONVECTION...AND ARE THE PRIMARY RISK TO AVIATION.
AS TYPICAL...POCKETS OF IFR TO MVFR CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE ALONG
THE COASTAL STRIP. ASHFORD

&&

.EKA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

NONE.

&&

VISIT US AT HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/EUREKA
Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 3, 5:18 AM PDT, 11 hours 29 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EUREKA CA
518 AM PDT WED JUN 3 2009

CAZ001>004-076-041230-
REDWOOD COAST-MENDOCINO COAST-NORTH COAST INTERIOR-
UPPER TRINITY RIVER-MENDOCINO INTERIOR-
518 AM PDT WED JUN 3 2009

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST
CALIFORNIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WILL CONTINUE ACROSS NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA
TODAY AND TONIGHT. STORMS WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY LIGHTNING...HAIL
...GUSTY WINDS AND POTENTIALLY HEAVY RAIN. ALTHOUGH A MAJORITY OF
THE STORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BECOME SEVERE...THE THREAT OF
ISOLATED STORMS CONTAINING DAMAGING WINDS OR HAIL IS POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WILL CONTINUE ACROSS NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA
THROUGH THURSDAY. STORMS WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY LIGHTNING...HAIL
...GUSTY WINDS AND POTENTIALLY HEAVY RAIN. ALTHOUGH A MAJORITY OF
THE STORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BECOME SEVERE...THE THREAT OF
ISOLATED STORMS CONTAINING DAMAGING WINDS OR HAIL IS POSSIBLE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS SUCH AS LIGHTNING...STRONG WINDS...HAIL OR FLOODING TO
THEIR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 3, 3:51 PM PDT, 56 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EUREKA CA
351 PM PDT WED JUN 3 2009

CAZ003-032330-
HUMBOLDT CA-
351 PM PDT WED JUN 3 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN EUREKA HAS ISSUED A

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR...
  CENTRAL HUMBOLDT COUNTY IN NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA

UNTIL 430 PM PDT

AT 350 PM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 12 MILES NORTH OF DINSMORE..MOVING NORTHWEST AT
10 MPH.

HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  RURAL CENTRAL HUMBOLDT COUNTY...

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A
STURDY BUILDING.

LAT...LON 4064 12394 4081 12380 4068 12362 4059 12358
      4056 12361
TIME...MOT...LOC 2251Z 126DEG 11KT 4064 12368

BC
Local storm report, Jun 3, 4:17 PM PDT, 30 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EUREKA CA
417 PM PDT WED JUN 03 2009

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

0250 PM     HAIL             4 E RUTH                40.29N 123.33W
06/03/2009  M0.50 INCH       TRINITY            CA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            THUNDERSTORM WITH LIGHTNING AND MOSTLY SAMLL PEA SIZE
            HAIL, BUT OCCASIONAL EMBEDDED 1/2 INCH.

0300 PM     HAIL             15 WNW RUTH             40.36N 123.66W
06/03/2009  M0.25 INCH       HUMBOLDT           CA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ACTUAL DOUBLE PEA SIZE HAIL IN TORRENTIAL RAIN.REPORT FOR
            TOP OF SOUTH FORK MOUNTAIN AT 4136 FEET AND 8 MILES WEST
            OF MAD RIVER.

0355 PM     HAIL             HYAMPOM                 40.62N 123.45W
06/03/2009  M1.75 INCH       TRINITY            CA   PUBLIC

            AT THE HYAMPOM GENERAL STORE. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
            WITHRAIN. 1/2 HAIL IN THE VALLEY. GOLF SIZE HAIL ON THE
            MOUNTAIN.

&&

ASHFORD
Local storm report, Jun 3, 4:17 PM PDT, 30 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EUREKA CA
417 PM PDT WED JUN 03 2009

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

0250 PM     HAIL             4 E RUTH                40.29N 123.33W
06/03/2009  M0.50 INCH       TRINITY            CA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            THUNDERSTORM WITH LIGHTNING AND MOSTLY SMALL PEA SIZE
            HAIL, BUT OCCASIONAL EMBEDDED 1/2 INCH.

0300 PM     HAIL             15 WNW RUTH             40.36N 123.66W
06/03/2009  M0.25 INCH       HUMBOLDT           CA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ACTUAL DOUBLE PEA SIZE HAIL IN TORRENTIAL RAIN.  REPORT
            FROM TOP OF SOUTH FORK MOUNTAIN AT 4136 FEET AND 8 MILES
            WEST OF MAD RIVER.

0355 PM     HAIL             HYAMPOM                 40.62N 123.45W
06/03/2009  M1.75 INCH       TRINITY            CA   PUBLIC

            AT THE HYAMPOM GENERAL STORE. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
            WITH RAIN. 1/2 HAIL IN THE VALLEY. GOLF SIZE HAIL ON
            THE MOUNTAIN.

&&

ASHFORD
Special weather statement, Jun 3, 4:26 PM PDT, 21 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EUREKA CA
426 PM PDT WED JUN 3 2009

CAZ003-032345-
HUMBOLDT CA-
426 PM PDT WED JUN 3 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN EUREKA HAS ISSUED A

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR...
  SOUTHWESTERN HUMBOLDT COUNTY IN NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA

UNTIL 445 PM PDT

AT 422 PM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MYERS FLAT...OR 4 MILES
EAST OF HONEYDEW...MOVING NORTHWEST AT 15 MPH.

HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A
STURDY BUILDING.

LAT...LON 4048 12420 4048 12416 4045 12409 4023 12388
      4014 12397 4030 12431 4033 12430 4038 12432
TIME...MOT...LOC 2325Z 132DEG 14KT 4023 12399

BK
Special weather statement, Jun 3, 4:36 PM PDT, 11 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EUREKA CA
436 PM PDT WED JUN 3 2009

CAZ076-040000-
MENDOCINO CA-
436 PM PDT WED JUN 3 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN EUREKA HAS ISSUED A

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR...
  NORTH CENTRAL MENDOCINO COUNTY IN NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA

UNTIL 500 PM PDT

AT 436 PM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 9 MILES SOUTHEAST OF COVELO..MOVING NORTH AT 20
MPH.

HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

LAT...LON 3991 12338 3995 12309 3964 12306 3962 12325
TIME...MOT...LOC 2336Z 170DEG 16KT 3969 12318

BK
Special weather statement, Jun 3, 4:42 PM PDT, 5 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EUREKA CA
442 PM PDT WED JUN 3 2009

CAZ002-076-040015-
MENDOCINO CA-
442 PM PDT WED JUN 3 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN EUREKA HAS ISSUED A

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR...
  WEST CENTRAL MENDOCINO COUNTY IN NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA

UNTIL 515 PM PDT

AT 441 PM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES SOUTH OF LAYTONVILLE..MOVING NORTHWEST AT
15 MPH.

HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

LAT...LON 3982 12362 3959 12338 3950 12347 3964 12378
      3967 12380
TIME...MOT...LOC 2342Z 132DEG 15KT 3958 12349

BK

The office that day

Everything else NWS Eureka, CA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 2, 6:15 PM PDTSpecial Weather StatementEKAMendocino45 min
Jun 2, 6:32 PM PDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEKAMendocino28 min
Jun 2, 7:15 PM PDTSpecial Weather StatementEKASiskiyou45 min
Jun 3, 2:43 PM PDTAreal Flood AdvisoryEKAMendocino3 hr
Jun 3, 2:47 PM PDTSpecial Weather StatementEKATrinity43 min
Jun 3, 3:04 PM PDTSpecial Weather StatementEKA56 min
Jun 3, 3:21 PM PDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEKAHumboldt, Trinity24 min
Jun 3, 3:28 PM PDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEKAMendocino, Trinity32 min
Jun 3, 3:44 PM PDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEKAHumboldt, Trinity46 min
Jun 3, 3:51 PM PDTSpecial Weather StatementEKAHumboldt39 min
Jun 3, 4:00 PM PDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEKAMendocino18 min
Jun 3, 4:05 PM PDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEKATrinity25 min
Jun 3, 4:20 PM PDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEKAHumboldt25 min
Jun 3, 4:26 PM PDTSpecial Weather StatementEKAHumboldt19 min
Jun 3, 4:36 PM PDTSpecial Weather StatementEKAMendocino24 min
Jun 3, 4:42 PM PDTSpecial Weather StatementEKAMendocino33 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in California, 2009Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2009

Sources

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