Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2009

Tornado Warning 13, NWS Raleigh, NC

May 5, 2009Johnston County, Nash County, Wilson County, North Carolina

NWS Raleigh, NC issued this tornado warning at May 5, 2009, 4:12 PM EDT for Johnston County, Nash County, Wilson County, North Carolina. It was in force for 48 min. 3 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 5, 2009, 4:12 PM EDT (20:12 UTC)
Expired
May 5, 2009, 5:00 PM EDT
In force
48 min
Issued by
NWS Raleigh, NC
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Johnston County, NC, Nash County, NC, Wilson County, NC

The radar

The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 28 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:11 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
May 5, 4:38 PM EDTFUNNEL CLOUD11 Ese Linwood, NCSHERIFF DEPUTY REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD OVER BUCKHORN RESERVOIR MOVING EAST NORTHEAST.
May 5, 4:52 PM EDTTORNADO5 S Bailey, NCTORNADO DAMAGE TO RESIDENCE ON ROCK RIDGE SCHOOL ROAD. POSSIBLE INJURY.
May 5, 5:01 PM EDTFUNNEL CLOUD5 Wnw Wilson, NCSPOTTER REPORTED FUNNEL CLOUD LOOKING NORTHEAST FROM I-95 AND U.S. 264.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Newport, NC (KMHX), launched 12:00Z, 8.2 hours before the alert went out and 157 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 12:00Z on 2009-05-05Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1742 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, Newport, NC at 12:00Z on 2009-05-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 155 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
1742 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-5 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
547 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
155 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
160 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.1
Supercell composite
7.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS52 KRAH 052012
TORRAH
NCC101-127-195-052100-
/O.NEW.KRAH.TO.W.0013.090505T2012Z-090505T2100Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
412 PM EDT TUE MAY 5 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RALEIGH HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHEASTERN JOHNSTON COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
  WESTERN WILSON COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
  SOUTHWESTERN NASH COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA

* UNTIL 500 PM EDT

* AT 412 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  TORNADO OVER FLOWERS...OR 7 MILES NORTH OF SMITHFIELD...MOVING
  NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  MICRO AROUND 420 PM...
  EMIT AROUND 435 PM...
  SIMS AROUND 500 PM...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3588 7810 3569 7792 3548 7833 3562 7847
TIME...MOT...LOC 2013Z 233DEG 17KT 3560 7831

$$

VINCENT
4 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS52 KRAH 052018
SVSRAH

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
418 PM EDT TUE MAY 5 2009

NCC101-127-195-052100-
/O.CON.KRAH.TO.W.0013.000000T0000Z-090505T2100Z/
JOHNSTON NC-WILSON NC-NASH NC-
418 PM EDT TUE MAY 5 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN NASH...WESTERN WILSON AND NORTHEASTERN JOHNSTON
COUNTIES...

AT 418 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR SELMA...OR 7 MILES
NORTHEAST OF SMITHFIELD...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW IF YOU WAIT
TO SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE.

&&

LAT...LON 3566 7841 3588 7810 3569 7792 3550 7828
TIME...MOT...LOC 2018Z 236DEG 17KT 3560 7829

$$

VINCENT
000 
WWUS52 KRAH 052025
SVSRAH

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
425 PM EDT TUE MAY 5 2009

NCC101-127-195-052100-
/O.CON.KRAH.TO.W.0013.000000T0000Z-090505T2100Z/
JOHNSTON NC-WILSON NC-NASH NC-
425 PM EDT TUE MAY 5 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN NASH...WESTERN WILSON AND NORTHEASTERN JOHNSTON
COUNTIES...

AT 424 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR MICRO...OR 10
MILES SOUTHEAST OF LINWOOD...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  KENLY BY 435 PM EDT
  SIMS...BAILEY AND 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF LUCAMA BY 455 PM EDT

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW IF YOU WAIT
TO SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE.

&&

LAT...LON 3567 7835 3584 7807 3569 7792 3552 7824
TIME...MOT...LOC 2025Z 238DEG 21KT 3563 7823

$$

VINCENT
000 
WWUS52 KRAH 052034
SVSRAH

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
434 PM EDT TUE MAY 5 2009

NCC101-127-195-052100-
/O.CON.KRAH.TO.W.0013.000000T0000Z-090505T2100Z/
JOHNSTON NC-WILSON NC-NASH NC-
434 PM EDT TUE MAY 5 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN NASH...WESTERN WILSON AND NORTHEASTERN JOHNSTON
COUNTIES...

AT 432 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR KENLY...OR 10 
MILES SOUTHEAST OF LINWOOD...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH. THIS STORM 
WILL CROSS HIGHWAY 42 IN WESTERN WILSON COUNTY BY 445 PM.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW IF YOU WAIT
TO SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE.

&&

LAT...LON 3555 7818 3570 7830 3584 7807 3569 7792
TIME...MOT...LOC 2033Z 237DEG 21KT 3565 7818

$$

VINCENT
000 
WWUS52 KRAH 052047
SVSRAH

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
447 PM EDT TUE MAY 5 2009

NCC101-127-052052-
/O.CAN.KRAH.TO.W.0013.000000T0000Z-090505T2100Z/
JOHNSTON NC-NASH NC-
447 PM EDT TUE MAY 5 2009

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN NASH AND NORTHEASTERN
JOHNSTON COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

THE RADAR INDICATED TORNADO HAS MOVED NORTHEAST OF JOHNSTON COUNTY 
INTO WILSON COUNTY...THEREFORE THE WARNING FOR JOHNSTON COUNTY HAS 
BEEN CANCELLED. ADDITIONALLY...THIS STORM IS EXPECTED TO PASS JUST 
SOUTH OF NASH COUNTY...AND THEREFORE THE WARNING FOR NASH COUNTY HAS 
BEEN CANCELLED AS WELL.

IF YOU OBSERVED A TORNADO...DAMAGING WINDS...OR LARGE HAIL...PLEASE
NOTIFY YOUR NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND ASK THEM TO RELAY YOUR
REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN RALEIGH.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM EDT
TUESDAY EVENING FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

LAT...LON 3559 7811 3560 7813 3566 7815 3567 7816
      3571 7816 3573 7818 3576 7811 3579 7802
      3569 7792
TIME...MOT...LOC 2042Z 241DEG 23KT 3567 7812

$$

NCC195-052100-
/O.CON.KRAH.TO.W.0013.000000T0000Z-090505T2100Z/
WILSON NC-
447 PM EDT TUE MAY 5 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM EDT FOR WESTERN
WILSON COUNTY...

AT 442 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR THE INTERSECTION 
OF HIGHWAY 42 AND ROUTE 581 IN WESTERN WILSON COUNTY...MOVING 
NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH. THE TORNADO IS EXPECTED TO PASS VERY NEAR THE 
INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 42 AND INTERSTATE 95 BY 455 PM.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW IF YOU WAIT
TO SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE.

&&

LAT...LON 3559 7811 3560 7813 3566 7815 3567 7816
      3571 7816 3573 7818 3576 7811 3579 7802
      3569 7792
TIME...MOT...LOC 2042Z 241DEG 23KT 3567 7812

$$

VINCENT

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 5, 2:10 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHCumberland, Sampson50 min
May 5, 2:51 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHJohnston, Wayne39 min
May 5, 3:20 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHEdgecombe, Wilson25 min
May 5, 3:39 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHWayne36 min
May 5, 4:04 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHJohnston, Nash, Wilson41 min
May 5, 4:58 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHEdgecombe, Nash, Wilson18 min
May 5, 5:21 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHChatham, Durham, Wake39 min
May 5, 5:22 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHJohnston, Nash, Wilson38 min
May 5, 5:28 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHJohnston, Nash, Wilson47 min
May 5, 5:41 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHChatham, Durham, Wake49 min
May 5, 5:49 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHMontgomery, Stanly41 min
May 5, 6:10 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHEdgecombe, Nash, Wilson26 min
May 5, 6:29 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHWake46 min
May 5, 6:31 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHMontgomery, Moore, Stanly44 min
May 5, 6:53 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHAnson, Montgomery, Stanly52 min
May 5, 6:54 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHWake111 min
May 5, 7:10 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHFranklin, Wake12 min
May 5, 7:13 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHFranklin, Wake26 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in North Carolina, 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.