Alert archive / Virginia / Tornado Warnings in 2009

Tornado Warning 13, NWS Morristown, TN

April 10, 20094 counties in Virginia

NWS Morristown, TN issued this tornado warning at Apr 10, 2009, 5:45 PM EDT for 4 counties in Virginia. It was in force for 60 min. 1 report 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
Apr 10, 2009, 5:45 PM EDT (21:45 UTC)
Expired
Apr 10, 2009, 6:45 PM EDT
In force
60 min
Issued by
NWS Morristown, TN
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties City of Norton, VA, Lee County, VA, Scott County, VA, Wise County, VA

The radar

The Jackson,KY radar (KJKL), 87 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:30 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
Apr 10, 6:10 PM EDTHAIL 0.883 S Norton, VANICKEL HAIL AT HIGH KNOB. REPORTED BY PUBLIC.

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
Apr 10, 2:51 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 9.8 hours before the alert went out and 270 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 2009-04-10Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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 2009-04-10The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 91 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1528 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
39 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
91 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
127 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 
WFUS54 KMRX 102145
TORMRX
VAC105-169-195-720-102245-
/O.NEW.KMRX.TO.W.0013.090410T2145Z-090410T2245Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
545 PM EDT FRI APR 10 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MORRISTOWN HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  CITY OF NORTON IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF NORTON...
  LEE COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...
  SCOTT COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...
  WISE COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF WISE...

* UNTIL 645 PM EDT

* AT 544 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 16 MILES
  SOUTHWEST OF BIG STONE GAP...OR 6 MILES EAST OF JONESVILLE...MOVING
  NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  BIG STONE GAP BY 610 PM EDT...
  NORTON BY 625 PM EDT...
  WISE BY 630 PM EDT...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT OR STORM
SHELTER. GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. 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.

&&

LAT...LON 3707 8248 3703 8248 3700 8240 3692 8233
      3670 8284 3679 8311 3687 8302 3687 8295
      3689 8289 3697 8287 3703 8280 3704 8274
      3708 8273 3719 8258
TIME...MOT...LOC 2145Z 228DEG 33KT 3672 8300

$$
2 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS54 KMRX 102213
SVSMRX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
613 PM EDT FRI APR 10 2009

VAC105-169-195-720-102245-
/O.CON.KMRX.TO.W.0013.000000T0000Z-090410T2245Z/
SCOTT VA-LEE VA-CITY OF NORTON VA-WISE VA-
613 PM EDT FRI APR 10 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM EDT FOR WISE 
COUNTY...THE CITY OF NORTON...AND EXTREME EASTERN LEE AND SCOTT 
COUNTIES OF VIRGINIA... 

AT 611 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR BIG STONE GAP...OR
9 MILES SOUTHWEST OF NORTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF PARDEE BY 620 PM EDT...
  NORTON BY 625 PM EDT...
  WISE BY 630 PM EDT...
  7 MILES NORTHWEST OF COEBURN BY 635 PM EDT...
  7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF POUND BY 640 PM EDT...

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.

IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY REINFORCED
BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT...DITCH OR LOW
SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT FRIDAY EVENING 
FOR MUCH OF EAST TENNESSEE AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3707 8248 3703 8248 3700 8240 3692 8233
      3672 8279 3685 8291 3687 8287 3689 8289
      3697 8287 3703 8280 3704 8274 3708 8273
      3719 8258
TIME...MOT...LOC 2212Z 228DEG 33KT 3688 8276

$$

TG
000 
WWUS54 KMRX 102235
SVSMRX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
635 PM EDT FRI APR 10 2009

VAC105-102243-
/O.CAN.KMRX.TO.W.0013.000000T0000Z-090410T2245Z/
LEE VA-
635 PM EDT FRI APR 10 2009

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EXTREME EASTERN LEE COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT FRIDAY EVENING 
FOR MUCH OF EAST TENNESSEE AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA.

LAT...LON 3707 8248 3703 8248 3700 8240 3692 8233
      3680 8274 3692 8288 3691 8286 3695 8284
      3697 8287 3703 8280 3704 8274 3708 8273
      3719 8258
TIME...MOT...LOC 2233Z 228DEG 33KT 3699 8261

$$

VAC169-195-720-102245-
/O.CON.KMRX.TO.W.0013.000000T0000Z-090410T2245Z/
SCOTT VA-CITY OF NORTON VA-WISE VA-
635 PM EDT FRI APR 10 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM EDT FOR WISE...
CITY OF NORTON AND SCOTT COUNTIES...

AT 632 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR WISE...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  7 MILES NORTHWEST OF COEBURN BY 640 PM EDT...
  7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF POUND BY 645 PM EDT...

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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT FRIDAY EVENING 
FOR MUCH OF EAST TENNESSEE AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3707 8248 3703 8248 3700 8240 3692 8233
      3680 8274 3692 8288 3691 8286 3695 8284
      3697 8287 3703 8280 3704 8274 3708 8273
      3719 8258
TIME...MOT...LOC 2233Z 228DEG 33KT 3699 8261

$$

TG

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 10, 4:27 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXLee48 min
Apr 10, 4:40 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXLee33 min
Apr 10, 5:18 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXLee42 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Virginia, 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.