Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 28, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

April 28, 20116 counties in North Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this tornado warning at Apr 28, 2011, 2:26 AM EDT for 6 counties in North Carolina. It was in force for 49 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 28, 2011, 2:26 AM EDT (06:26 UTC)
Expired
Apr 28, 2011, 3:15 AM EDT
In force
49 min
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Buncombe County, NC, Burke County, NC, Henderson County, NC, McDowell County, NC, Polk County, NC, Rutherford County, NC

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 84 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 06:28 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
Apr 27, 6:52 PM EDTTornado Watch PDSSPC9 hr
Apr 28, 12:56 AM EDTTornado WatchSPC4 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 00:00Z, 6.4 hours before the alert went out and 199 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 00:00Z on 2011-04-28Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2272 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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 00:00Z on 2011-04-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 233 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
2272 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-5 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
766 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
51 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
233 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
271 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
3.5
Supercell composite
14.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

710 
WFUS52 KGSP 280626
TORGSP
NCC021-023-089-111-149-161-280715-
/O.NEW.KGSP.TO.W.0028.110428T0626Z-110428T0715Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
226 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN BUNCOMBE COUNTY IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...
  SOUTHWESTERN BURKE COUNTY IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...
  NORTHEASTERN HENDERSON COUNTY IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...
  SOUTHEASTERN MCDOWELL COUNTY IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF MARION...
  NORTH CENTRAL POLK COUNTY IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...
  NORTHWESTERN RUTHERFORD COUNTY IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...

* UNTIL 315 AM EDT

* AT 224 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR CHIMNEY
  ROCK...OR 12 MILES NORTH OF COLUMBUS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  LAKE LURE...
  OLD FORT...
  SUGAR HILL AND THERMAL CITY...
  GLENWOOD...FERO AND MARION...
  DYSARTSVILLE...
  NEBO AND LAKE JAMES...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TORNADOES WHICH OCCUR AFTER DARK ARE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS. PEOPLE IN
THE WARNED AREA SHOULD PREPARE IMMEDIATELY FOR THIS TORNADO. MOBILE
HOMES AND VEHICLES SHOULD BE ABANDONED FOR STURDIER SHELTER.
OTHERWISE...GO TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST LEVEL OF YOUR HOME
OR PLACE OF BUSINESS.

TO REPORT TORNADOES...DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...OR FLOODING...
THROUGH OUR AUTOMATED REPORTING SYSTEM...CALL OUR TOLL FREE NUMBER...
1 8 7 7...6 3 3...6 7 7 2.

&&

LAT...LON 3585 8195 3562 8167 3533 8222 3548 8237
TIME...MOT...LOC 0626Z 229DEG 42KT 3543 8224

$$

BSH
2 follow-up statements
715 
WWUS52 KGSP 280639
SVSGSP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
239 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

NCC021-089-149-280649-
/O.CAN.KGSP.TO.W.0028.000000T0000Z-110428T0715Z/
BUNCOMBE NC-HENDERSON NC-POLK NC-
239 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL POLK...NORTHEASTERN
HENDERSON AND SOUTHEASTERN BUNCOMBE COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

LAT...LON 3542 8207 3559 8222 3585 8195 3562 8167
TIME...MOT...LOC 0639Z 226DEG 48KT 3555 8207

$$

NCC023-111-161-280715-
/O.CON.KGSP.TO.W.0028.000000T0000Z-110428T0715Z/
MCDOWELL NC-RUTHERFORD NC-BURKE NC-
239 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 AM EDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN BURKE...NORTHWESTERN RUTHERFORD AND SOUTHEASTERN
MCDOWELL COUNTIES...

AT 236 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
SUGAR HILL...OR 12 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MARION...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55
MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO THERMAL
CITY...FERO...GLENWOOD...DYSARTSVILLE...NEBO AND LAKE JAMES

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TORNADOES WHICH OCCUR AFTER DARK ARE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS. PEOPLE IN
THE WARNED AREA SHOULD PREPARE IMMEDIATELY FOR THIS TORNADO. MOBILE
HOMES AND VEHICLES SHOULD BE ABANDONED FOR STURDIER SHELTER.
OTHERWISE...GO TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST LEVEL OF YOUR HOME
OR PLACE OF BUSINESS.

&&

LAT...LON 3542 8207 3559 8222 3585 8195 3562 8167
TIME...MOT...LOC 0639Z 226DEG 48KT 3555 8207

$$

BSH
002 
WWUS52 KGSP 280649
SVSGSP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
249 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

NCC161-280659-
/O.CAN.KGSP.TO.W.0028.000000T0000Z-110428T0715Z/
RUTHERFORD NC-
249 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN RUTHERFORD COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

LAT...LON 3585 8195 3562 8167 3560 8171 3561 8175
      3559 8178 3559 8180 3558 8180 3558 8182
      3554 8185 3553 8192 3553 8195 3560 8211
TIME...MOT...LOC 0649Z 229DEG 41KT 3561 8195

$$

NCC023-111-280715-
/O.CON.KGSP.TO.W.0028.000000T0000Z-110428T0715Z/
MCDOWELL NC-BURKE NC-
249 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 AM EDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN BURKE AND EASTERN MCDOWELL COUNTIES...

AT 245 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR FERO...OR 7 MILES
SOUTH OF MARION...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
DYSARTSVILLE...NEBO AND LAKE JAMES

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO THREAT...DAMAGING HAIL TO THE SIZE OF 
GOLF BALLS WILL PRECEDE THE TORNADO. WIND DRIVEN HAIL OF THIS SIZE 
POSES A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF INJURY AND DAMAGE. MOBILE HOMES AND 
VEHICLES SHOULD BE ABANDONED FOR STURDIER SHELTER. OTHERWISE...GO TO 
AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST LEVEL OF YOUR HOME OR PLACE OF 
BUSINESS.

TORNADOES WHICH OCCUR AFTER DARK ARE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS. PEOPLE IN
THE WARNED AREA SHOULD PREPARE IMMEDIATELY FOR THIS TORNADO. MOBILE
HOMES AND VEHICLES SHOULD BE ABANDONED FOR STURDIER SHELTER.
OTHERWISE...GO TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST LEVEL OF YOUR HOME
OR PLACE OF BUSINESS.

&&

LAT...LON 3585 8195 3562 8167 3560 8171 3561 8175
      3559 8178 3559 8180 3558 8180 3558 8182
      3554 8185 3553 8192 3553 8195 3560 8211
TIME...MOT...LOC 0649Z 229DEG 41KT 3561 8195

$$

BSH

The office that day

Everything else NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 27, 10:43 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPMacon47 min
Apr 27, 11:22 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPHaywood, Jackson, Macon, Transylvania38 min
Apr 28, 12:04 AM EDTTornado WarningGSPJackson, Macon41 min
Apr 28, 12:41 AM EDTTornado WarningGSPHaywood, Jackson, Macon, Transylvania34 min
Apr 28, 12:54 AM EDTTornado WarningGSPJackson, Macon, Transylvania51 min
Apr 28, 1:17 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPBuncombe, Burke, McDowell43 min
Apr 28, 1:31 AM EDTTornado WarningGSPHenderson, Transylvania44 min
Apr 28, 2:03 AM EDTTornado WarningGSPBuncombe, Henderson, Polk, Rutherford42 min
Apr 28, 2:56 AM EDTTornado WarningGSPAlexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, McDowell64 min
Apr 28, 5:26 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPCaldwell34 min
Apr 28, 5:51 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPBurke24 min
Apr 28, 5:55 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPBurke35 min
Apr 28, 6:04 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPAlexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba29 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in North Carolina, 2011Every tornado warning in 2011Tornadoes in 2011

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.