Alert archive / Virginia / Tornado Warnings in 2009
Tornado Warning 8, NWS Blacksburg, VA
NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this tornado warning at Jun 4, 2009, 2:56 PM EDT for Pittsylvania County, Virginia. It was in force for 49 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
- Jun 4, 2009, 2:56 PM EDT (18:56 UTC)
- Expired
- Jun 4, 2009, 3:45 PM EDT
- In force
- 49 min
- Issued by
- NWS Blacksburg, VA
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
County Pittsylvania County, VA
The radar
The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 92 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:57 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 4, 3:25 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | Gretna, VA | SEVERAL TREES DOWN ALONG MUSIC STREET |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 4, 2:52 PM EDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 4 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 12:00Z, 6.9 hours before the alert went out and 36 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
- 123 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -96 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1008 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 26 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 88 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 69 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 WFUS51 KRNK 041856 TORRNK VAC143-041945- /O.NEW.KRNK.TO.W.0008.090604T1856Z-090604T1945Z/ BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 256 PM EDT THU JUN 4 2009 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A * TORNADO WARNING FOR... CENTRAL PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA * UNTIL 345 PM EDT. * AT 255 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 6 MILES WEST OF GRETNA...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. * LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... GRETNA... CHALK LEVEL... MT AIRY... 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 IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A STURDY SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS. 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. 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. 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 3689 7914 3689 7943 3702 7940 3706 7911 TIME...MOT...LOC 1856Z 267DEG 13KT 3698 7946 $$ SK
3 follow-up statements
000 WWUS51 KRNK 041915 SVSRNK SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 315 PM EDT THU JUN 4 2009 VAC143-041945- /O.CON.KRNK.TO.W.0008.000000T0000Z-090604T1945Z/ PITTSYLVANIA VA- 315 PM EDT THU JUN 4 2009 ...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 345 PM EDT FOR NORTHEASTERN PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY... AT 314 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR GRETNA...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... GRETNA... CHALK LEVEL... MT AIRY... PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY REINFORCED BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT...DITCH OR LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS. THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. && LAT...LON 3691 7939 3702 7938 3706 7911 3689 7914 TIME...MOT...LOC 1915Z 270DEG 11KT 3697 7936 $$ SK
000 WWUS51 KRNK 041932 SVSRNK SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 332 PM EDT THU JUN 4 2009 VAC143-041945- /O.CON.KRNK.TO.W.0008.000000T0000Z-090604T1945Z/ PITTSYLVANIA VA- 332 PM EDT THU JUN 4 2009 ...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 345 PM EDT FOR NORTHEASTERN PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY... AT 330 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED ABOUT 4 MILES EAST OF GRETNA...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... MT AIRY... 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. 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 3691 7933 3702 7931 3706 7911 3689 7914 TIME...MOT...LOC 1931Z 270DEG 11KT 3696 7929 $$ SK
000 WWUS51 KRNK 041944 SVSRNK SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 344 PM EDT THU JUN 4 2009 VAC143-041953- /O.EXP.KRNK.TO.W.0008.000000T0000Z-090604T1945Z/ PITTSYLVANIA VA- 344 PM EDT THU JUN 4 2009 ...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY EXPIRES AT 345 PM EDT... THE STORM THAT PROMPTED THE TORNADO WARNING HAS WEAKENED AND THE THREAT FOR THE TORNADO HAS DISSIPATED. HOWEVER...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA. IF A TORNADO IS SPOTTED... ACT QUICKLY AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IN A STURDY STRUCTURE...SUCH AS A BASEMENT OR SMALL INTERIOR ROOM. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...TV OR YOUR LOCAL NEW SOURCE FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION. REPORT ANY SEVERE WEATHER OR STORM RELATED DAMAGE TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS AND ASK THEM TO IMMEDIATELY RELAY THE REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG. LAT...LON 3691 7933 3702 7931 3706 7911 3689 7914 TIME...MOT...LOC 1943Z 270DEG 11KT 3696 7924 $$ SK
The office that day
Everything else NWS Blacksburg, VA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 4, 4:48 AM EDT | Flood Watch | RNK | Alleghany, Amherst, Appomattox, Bath, Bedford, Bland and 31 more | 31 hr |
| Jun 4, 11:42 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Floyd, Montgomery | 63 min |
| Jun 4, 12:39 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Floyd, Franklin, Roanoke | 66 min |
| Jun 4, 1:43 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Bedford, Franklin, Pittsylvania | 50 min |
| Jun 4, 1:45 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Pulaski, Wythe | 47 min |
| Jun 4, 1:51 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | RNK | Bedford, Franklin, Pittsylvania | 54 min |
| Jun 4, 2:10 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Halifax | 65 min |
| Jun 4, 2:18 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | RNK | Franklin, Pittsylvania | 57 min |
| Jun 4, 2:24 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RNK | Grayson, Smyth | 4 hr |
| Jun 4, 2:43 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RNK | Wythe | 4 hr |
| Jun 4, 2:44 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Bedford, Pittsylvania | 50 min |
| Jun 4, 2:54 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | City of Danville | 66 min |
| Jun 4, 3:00 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RNK | Pittsylvania, City of Danville | 6 hr |
| Jun 4, 3:04 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Halifax, Pittsylvania, City of Danville | 56 min |
| Jun 4, 3:15 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Bland, Giles, Grayson, Montgomery, Pulaski, Smyth and 2 more | 60 min |
| Jun 4, 3:17 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RNK | Pulaski | 6 hr |
| Jun 4, 3:17 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Charlotte | 29 min |
| Jun 4, 3:50 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Carroll, Floyd, Montgomery, Pulaski | 39 min |
| Jun 4, 3:52 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Bland, Giles | 32 min |
| Jun 4, 4:07 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Bland, Giles, Pulaski | 26 min |
| Jun 4, 4:11 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RNK | Halifax | 6 hr |
| Jun 4, 4:23 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Smyth, Tazewell | 67 min |
| Jun 4, 4:26 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Henry, City of Martinsville | 64 min |
| Jun 4, 5:03 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RNK | Tazewell | 5 hr |
| Jun 4, 5:06 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RNK | Pittsylvania | 6 hr |
| Jun 4, 7:54 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RNK | Bland, Wythe | 6 hr |
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.