Alert archive / Virginia / Tornado Warnings in 2009

Tornado Warning 8, NWS Morristown, TN

April 10, 2009Lee County, Virginia

NWS Morristown, TN issued this tornado warning at Apr 10, 2009, 4:40 PM EDT for Lee County, Virginia. It was in force for 33 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: Apr 10, 2009, 4:40 PM EDT (20:40 UTC)
Expired: Apr 10, 2009, 5:13 PM EDT
In force: 33 min
Issued by: NWS Morristown, TN
Area: Storm-based polygon

County Lee County, VA

The radar

The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 71 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:43 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 tornado 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 watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Apr 10, 2:51 PM EDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 8.7 hours before the alert went out and 296 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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 102040
TORMRX
VAC105-102130-
/O.NEW.KMRX.TO.W.0008.090410T2040Z-090410T2130Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MORRISTOWN HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  LEE COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF JONESVILLE...

* UNTIL 530 PM EDT

* AT 440 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 13 MILES WEST OF
  JONESVILLE...OR 9 MILES NORTHWEST OF SNEEDVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST
  AT 35 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  JONESVILLE BY 505 PM EDT...
  PENNINGTON GAP BY 515 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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT FRIDAY EVENING 
FOR CENTRAL TENNESSEE AND SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3678 8280 3660 8314 3662 8351 3672 8336
      3675 8315 3683 8311 3686 8307 3688 8291
TIME...MOT...LOC 2040Z 234DEG 29KT 3662 8334

$$

1 follow-up statement

000 
WWUS54 KMRX 102113
SVSMRX

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

VAC105-102122-
/O.CAN.KMRX.TO.W.0008.000000T0000Z-090410T2130Z/
LEE VA-
513 PM EDT FRI APR 10 2009

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

THE STORM THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING HAD WEAKENED BELOW SEVERE 
LEVELS...AND ALSO MOVED OUT OF LEE COUNTY. THEREFORE...THE TORNADO 
WARNING FOR LEE COUNTY HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

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

LAT...LON 3678 8280 3660 8314 3662 8351 3672 8336
      3675 8315 3683 8311 3686 8307 3688 8291
TIME...MOT...LOC 2112Z 234DEG 29KT 3677 8308

$$

TG

What forecasters said that day

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

NWS Morristown, TN wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Apr 10, 2:25 PM EDT, 2 hours 15 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 10, 2:25 PM EDT, 2 hours 15 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
225 PM EDT FRI APR 10 2009

.SHORT TERM...(TONIGHT)...BROKEN LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS
APPROACHING...AND WITH SIGNIFICANT CAPE AND LOW LEVEL WIND
SHEAR...STILL EXPECTING SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF
TORNADOES THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY EVENING.  ONCE THE COLD FRONT
PASSES...SHOULD HAVE SOME SHOWERS LINGERING...ESPECIALLY NORTH...AND
LOW CLOUDS MOVING IN.  WILL NOT STRAY FROM MAV TEMPS FOR TONIGHT.

.LONG TERM...(SATURDAY THROUGH FRIDAY)...RATHER UNSETTLED WEATHER
REGIME IN THE OFFING FOR THE LONG TERM AFTER A MAINLY DRY WEEKEND.
NEXT IN A SERIES OF SYSTEMS APPROACHES BY EARLY MONDAY. THIS DOES
NOT APPEAR TO BE A SEVERE WEATHER THREAT AT THIS TIME AS INSTABILITY
IS DECIDEDLY LACKING PER MODEL FORECAST SOUNDINGS. HOWEVER...UPPER
CLOSED LOW ASSOCIATED WITH THIS EVENT WILL ONLY SLOWLY DRIFT
EASTWARD RESULTING IN THE PERSISTENCE OF SCATTERED PRECIP INTO
WEDNESDAY. BRIEF DRY PERIOD EXPECTED WEDNESDAY NIGHT BEFORE THE NEXT
SYSTEM APPROACHES ON THURSDAY. FOR TEMPS..GENERALLY ONLY TWEAKED
PRECEDING GRIDS/FORECAST AS THEY APPEARED REASONABLE.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
CHATTANOOGA AIRPORT, TN             51  65  43  72  53 /  50  10   0   0  60
KNOXVILLE MCGHEE TYSON AIRPORT, TN  50  62  40  69  47 /  80  10   0   0  30
OAK RIDGE, TN                       51  62  39  69  48 /  70  10   0   0  30
TRI CITIES AIRPORT, TN              49  59  36  67  42 /  90  20   0   0  20

&&

.MRX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...NONE.
TN...NONE.
VA...NONE.
&&

LDW/LCM

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 10, 3:20 AM EDT, 13 hours 20 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
320 AM EDT FRI APR 10 2009

NCZ060-061-TNZ012>018-035>047-067>074-081>087-098>102-VAZ001-002-
005-006-008-110730-
CHEROKEE-CLAY-SCOTT TN-CAMPBELL-CLAIBORNE-HANCOCK-HAWKINS-
SULLIVAN-JOHNSON-MORGAN-ANDERSON-UNION-GRAINGER-HAMBLEN-
NORTHWEST COCKE-COCKE SMOKY MOUNTAINS-NORTHWEST GREENE-
SOUTHEAST GREENE-WASHINGTON TN-UNICOI-NORTHWEST CARTER-
SOUTHEAST CARTER-ROANE-LOUDON-KNOX-JEFFERSON-NW BLOUNT-
BLOUNT SMOKY MOUNTAINS-NORTH SEVIER-SEVIER SMOKY MOUNTAINS-
SEQUATCHIE-BLEDSOE-RHEA-MEIGS-MCMINN-NORTHWEST MONROE-
SOUTHEAST MONROE-MARION-HAMILTON-BRADLEY-WEST POLK-EAST POLK-LEE-
WISE-SCOTT-RUSSELL-WASHINGTON-
320 AM EDT FRI APR 10 2009 /220 AM CDT FRI APR 10 2009/

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST NORTH
CAROLINA...EAST TENNESSEE AND SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON
AND EVENING. STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS
MIDDLE TENNESSEE..CENTRAL KENTUCKY...AND NORTHERN ALABAMA EARLY
THIS AFTERNOON...THEN MOVE EAST ACROSS THE REGION. THE GREATEST
THREAT FOR SEVERE STORMS WILL BE BETWEEN 4 AND 10 PM TODAY WITH
THE MAIN CONCERN BEING LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS...BUT ISOLATED
TORNADOES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

ANOTHER ROUND OF THUNDERSTORMS IS POSSIBLE MONDAY AFTERNOON AND
EVENING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 10, 4:17 PM EDT, 23 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
417 PM EDT FRI APR 10 2009

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

0350 PM     HAIL             JASPER                  35.06N 85.63W
04/10/2009  E0.25 INCH       MARION             TN   EMERGENCY MNGR

0355 PM     HAIL             POWELLS CROSSROADS      35.18N 85.48W
04/10/2009  E0.75 INCH       MARION             TN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            5 MINUTE DURATION.

0405 PM     TORNADO          6 SW DUNLAP             35.31N 85.46W
04/10/2009                   SEQUATCHIE         TN   EMERGENCY MNGR

&&

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 10, 4:27 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Lee	48 min
Apr 10, 5:18 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	MRX	Lee	42 min
Apr 10, 5:45 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	MRX	Lee, Scott, Wise, City of Norton	60 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Virginia, 2009 Every tornado warning in 2009 Tornadoes 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.