Alert archive / Virginia / Tornado Warnings in 2009

Tornado Warning 2, NWS Blacksburg, VA

May 8, 20094 counties in Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this tornado warning at May 8, 2009, 9:26 PM EDT for 4 counties in Virginia. It was in force for 51 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
May 8, 2009, 9:26 PM EDT (01:26 UTC)
Expired
May 8, 2009, 10:17 PM EDT
In force
51 min
Issued by
NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Bland County, VA, Smyth County, VA, Tazewell County, VA, Wythe County, VA

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 126 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:29 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.

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 8, 6:32 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 00:00Z, 1.4 hours before the alert went out and 194 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, Roanoke, VA at 00:00Z on 2009-05-09Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 113 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, Roanoke, VA at 00:00Z on 2009-05-09The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 84 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
113 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-42 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1561 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
44 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
84 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
103 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS51 KRNK 090126
TORRNK
VAC021-173-185-197-090230-
/O.NEW.KRNK.TO.W.0002.090509T0126Z-090509T0230Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
926 PM EDT FRI MAY 8 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN SMYTH COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA
  NORTHWESTERN WYTHE COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA
  SOUTHWESTERN BLAND COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA
  TAZEWELL COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA

* UNTIL 1030 PM EDT.

* AT 926 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 7 MILES WEST OF
  GLEN BURKE...OR 11 MILES NORTHWEST OF RICHLANDS...MOVING EAST AT 45
  MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  GLEN BURKE...
  JEWELL RIDGE...
  BANDY...
  AMONATE...
  TAZEWELL...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO...PLEASE RELAY YOUR SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS
TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL FREE AT...1...8 6
6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4.

&&

LAT...LON 3715 8190 3719 8183 3720 8178 3725 8174
      3724 8170 3721 8167 3721 8154 3722 8153
      3717 8111 3691 8135 3702 8182 3710 8189
      3713 8191
TIME...MOT...LOC 0126Z 275DEG 38KT 3718 8197

$$

DS
3 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS51 KRNK 090144
SVSRNK

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
944 PM EDT FRI MAY 8 2009

VAC021-173-185-197-090230-
/O.CON.KRNK.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-090509T0230Z/
SMYTH VA-WYTHE VA-BLAND VA-TAZEWELL VA-
944 PM EDT FRI MAY 8 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1030 PM EDT FOR
TAZEWELL...SOUTHWESTERN BLAND...NORTHWESTERN WYTHE AND NORTHERN SMYTH
COUNTIES...

AT 941 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR JEWELL RIDGE...OR
NEAR RICHLANDS...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 
PENNY SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

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 3715 8190 3719 8183 3720 8178 3725 8174
      3724 8170 3721 8167 3721 8154 3722 8153
      3717 8111 3691 8135 3702 8182 3710 8189
      3713 8191
TIME...MOT...LOC 0143Z 278DEG 37KT 3716 8175

$$

DS
000 
WWUS51 KRNK 090157
SVSRNK

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
957 PM EDT FRI MAY 8 2009

VAC021-173-185-197-090230-
/O.CON.KRNK.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-090509T0230Z/
SMYTH VA-WYTHE VA-BLAND VA-TAZEWELL VA-
957 PM EDT FRI MAY 8 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1030 PM EDT FOR
TAZEWELL...SOUTHWESTERN BLAND...NORTHWESTERN WYTHE AND NORTHERN SMYTH
COUNTIES...

AT 954 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR AMONATE...OR NEAR
TAZEWELL...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. 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.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...PLEASE CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG AT...1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4...WHEN YOU CAN
DO SO SAFELY.

&&

LAT...LON 3703 8166 3710 8172 3721 8167 3721 8154
      3722 8153 3717 8111 3691 8135
TIME...MOT...LOC 0156Z 278DEG 37KT 3714 8158

$$

DS
000 
WWUS51 KRNK 090217
SVSRNK

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1017 PM EDT FRI MAY 8 2009

VAC021-173-185-197-090226-
/O.CAN.KRNK.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-090509T0230Z/
SMYTH VA-WYTHE VA-BLAND VA-TAZEWELL VA-
1017 PM EDT FRI MAY 8 2009

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR TAZEWELL...SOUTHWESTERN BLAND...
NORTHWESTERN WYTHE AND NORTHERN SMYTH COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

THE STORM THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS WEAKENED. 

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...PLEASE CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG AT...1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA. IF A TORNADO
IS SPOTTED... ACT QUICKLY AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IN A STURDY
STRUCTURE...SUCH AS A BASEMENT OR SMALL INTERIOR ROOM.

LAT...LON 3703 8166 3710 8172 3721 8167 3721 8154
      3722 8153 3717 8111 3691 8135
TIME...MOT...LOC 0216Z 278DEG 32KT 3709 8133

$$

DS

The office that day

Everything else NWS Blacksburg, VA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 8, 9:31 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKBland, Giles, Tazewell6 hr
May 8, 9:34 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKBland, Tazewell41 min
May 8, 10:20 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKGiles, Montgomery, Pulaski, City of Radford40 min
May 8, 10:24 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKBland66 min
May 8, 10:39 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKSmyth, Tazewell, Wythe41 min
May 8, 10:43 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKBotetourt, Craig47 min
May 8, 11:00 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKMontgomery45 min
May 8, 11:05 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKGrayson, Smyth, Wythe40 min
May 8, 11:41 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCarroll, Grayson, Patrick, City of Galax64 min
May 8, 11:48 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKFranklin, Henry, Patrick, Pittsylvania42 min
May 9, 12:23 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKAppomattox, Campbell, Charlotte, Halifax, Pittsylvania63 min
May 9, 12:29 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKFranklin, Halifax, Henry, Pittsylvania33 min
May 9, 12:46 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKBland, Grayson, Smyth, Tazewell, Wythe4 hr
May 9, 3:24 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKBland, Craig, Giles, Tazewell6 hr
May 9, 4:44 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCraig, Giles, Montgomery, Roanoke, City of Salem46 min
May 9, 6:35 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKGiles, Montgomery, Roanoke55 min
May 9, 9:11 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRNKBland, Craig, Giles, Tazewell6 hr
May 9, 1:04 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKFranklin, Henry, Patrick, Pittsylvania56 min
May 9, 1:14 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKBedford, Campbell, Franklin, Pittsylvania40 min
May 9, 5:07 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKFluvanna23 min
May 9, 6:04 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCity of Danville26 min
May 9, 6:18 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCharlotte, Halifax42 min
May 9, 7:02 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCharlotte43 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.