Alert archive / Arkansas / Tornado Warnings in 2009
Tornado Warning 13, NWS Memphis, TN
NWS Memphis, TN issued this tornado warning at May 6, 2009, 1:51 AM CDT for Lee County, Phillips County, Arkansas. It was in force for 39 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
- May 6, 2009, 1:51 AM CDT (06:51 UTC)
- Expired
- May 6, 2009, 2:30 AM CDT
- In force
- 39 min
- Issued by
- NWS Memphis, TN
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
Counties Lee County, AR, Phillips County, AR
The radar
The Memphis radar (KNQA), 128 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 06:54 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 6, 2:03 AM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | Marvell, AR | SEVERAL TREES DOWN |
| May 6, 2:03 AM CDT | TORNADO 1 | Nw Marvell, AR | DAMAGE TO TREES AND POWERLINES AS WELL AS TO A SUPPLY AND FEED STORE WAS THE RESULT OF A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO HAD ESTIMATED WINDS BETWEEN 95-100MPH MAKING THIS AN EF-1 TORNADO. THE TOTAL PATH WIDTH WAS 25 YARDS AND LENGTH 100 YARDS. THIS TORNADO CROSSED HIGHW |
| May 6, 2:16 AM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | Lexa, AR | SEVERAL TREES DOWN |
| May 6, 2:26 AM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | West Helena, AR | SEVERAL TREES DOWN |
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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 5, 10:27 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 8 hr |
| May 6, 12:54 AM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 5 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Little Rock, AR (KLZK), launched 00:00Z, 6.9 hours before the alert went out and 90 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 3 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -164 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 617 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 37 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 61 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 89 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000
WFUS54 KMEG 060651
TORMEG
ARC077-107-060730-
/O.NEW.KMEG.TO.W.0013.090506T0651Z-090506T0730Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
151 AM CDT WED MAY 6 2009
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A
* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
SOUTH CENTRAL LEE COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
NORTHERN PHILLIPS COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
* UNTIL 230 AM CDT
* AT 151 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING A TORNADO 6 MILES WEST OF WATKINS
CORNER...OR 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MARVELL...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.
* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
LEXA...ST FRANCIS NATIONAL PARK...WEST HELENA AND HELENA.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
.WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR...IT MEANS
THAT STRONG ROTATION HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE STORM. A TORNADO MAY
ALREADY BE ON THE GROUND...OR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SHORTLY. IF YOU
ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS DANGEROUS STORM...MOVE INDOORS AND TO THE
LOWEST LEVEL OF THE BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF DRIVING...DO
NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS.
.THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A STORM SHELTER. IF NO
STORM SHELTER 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.
&&
LAT...LON 3470 9064 3453 9057 3444 9100 3447 9100
3447 9104 3448 9105 3454 9105
TIME...MOT...LOC 0651Z 250DEG 29KT 3446 9104
$$2 follow-up statements
000
WWUS54 KMEG 060709
SVSMEG
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
209 AM CDT WED MAY 6 2009
ARC077-107-060730-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0013.000000T0000Z-090506T0730Z/
PHILLIPS AR-LEE AR-
209 AM CDT WED MAY 6 2009
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 230 AM CDT FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL LEE AND NORTHERN PHILLIPS COUNTIES...
AT 207 AM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG ROTATION. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED
NEAR TRENTON...OR NEAR MARVELL...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.
OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
KINDALL...BARTON...SPRING CREEK...LEXA...LATOUR...WYCAMP...
LAGRANGE...HUMA...WEST HELENA...QUARLES...HELENA...PHILLIPS BAYOU AND
ST FRANCIS NATIONAL PARK.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A STORM SHELTER. IF NO
STORM SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE
BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE
BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM
WINDOWS.
IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.
&&
LAT...LON 3446 9089 3449 9094 3452 9096 3456 9096
3459 9092 3470 9064 3453 9057
TIME...MOT...LOC 0709Z 257DEG 34KT 3450 9083
$$000
WWUS54 KMEG 060718
SVSMEG
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
218 AM CDT WED MAY 6 2009
ARC077-107-060730-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0013.000000T0000Z-090506T0730Z/
PHILLIPS AR-LEE AR-
218 AM CDT WED MAY 6 2009
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 230 AM CDT FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL LEE AND NORTHEASTERN PHILLIPS COUNTIES...
AT 218 AM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG ROTATION. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATOUR...OR 6 MILES WEST OF WEST HELENA...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.
OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
LAGRANGE...WYCAMP...QUARLES...HUMA...ST FRANCIS NATIONAL PARK AND
PHILLIPS BAYOU.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. THIS
STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG TO VIOLENT TORNADOES. IF YOU ARE
IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO...TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY
THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A STORM SHELTER. IF NO
STORM SHELTER 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.
&&
LAT...LON 3450 9080 3454 9082 3456 9083 3459 9082
3463 9082 3470 9064 3453 9057
TIME...MOT...LOC 0718Z 266DEG 27KT 3456 9075
$$The office that day
Everything else NWS Memphis, TN issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 6, 1:21 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Cross, Lee, St. Francis | 69 min |
| May 6, 1:26 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Lee, Phillips | 64 min |
| May 6, 1:27 AM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | MEG | Crittenden, Cross, Lee, Phillips, St. Francis | 6 hr |
| May 6, 2:22 AM CDT | Tornado Warning | MEG | Lee, Phillips | 38 min |
| May 6, 2:31 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Crittenden, Lee, St. Francis | 44 min |
| May 6, 2:40 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Lee, Phillips | 50 min |
| May 6, 2:45 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Phillips | 60 min |
| May 6, 2:58 AM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | MEG | Clay, Craighead, Greene, Lawrence, Poinsett, Randolph | 3 hr |
| May 6, 5:01 AM CDT | River Flood Warning | MEG | Lee, St. Francis | 6 days |
| May 6, 11:55 AM CDT | River Flood Warning | MEG | Mississippi | 17 days |
| May 6, 12:02 PM CDT | Areal Flood Warning | MEG | Lee, Phillips | 6 hr |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Arkansas, 2009Every tornado warning in 2009Tornadoes 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.